Clearing clutter—be it physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual—brings about ease and inspires a sense of peace, calm, and tranquility. —Laurie Buchanan

To follow up on this week’s podcast with ideas on living a more minimalist lifestyle, let’s consider small steps to simplify our everyday lives.

Although we may not run off to the woods à la Thoreau, we can hit the pause button from time to time to check in with ourselves from the comfort of our own home and reset.

Below are five ideas to get us started:

1. Limit media consumption. According to the New York Times, Americans spend five hours watching TV and Entrepreneur notes that another two hours is spent on social media daily.

2. Establish routines. Housework, grocery shopping, bill pay, meals, morning and evening rituals, bathing, and travel prep. Routines give us a sense of structure and control—which is especially helpful when life feels out of control.

3. Create space. On your desk, in your life, in your schedule, in your handbag, and in your mind. Shed what’s draining you—relationships, commitments, stuff.

4. Reflect. Make a list of what you value most right now. Note if they’re getting time and space in your planner and in your day-to-day.

5. Contribute. Volunteer, donate, raise awareness, support your favorite causes, host awareness-raising events, be of service.

May we live in a way that aligns most with what we hold dear. Remember, there’s no “right” way to practice minimalism. It’s your interpretation of the minimalist movement that matters most.

Identify what is important and shed those non-essentials. Oh, and read Essentialism! Bisous. x