lotion there is then a high-quality olive oil on the skin. Body care can also be minimalist - and much healthier than the artificial alternatives! Rethinking one's own beauty standards can at best have a positive effect on one's own body image, mood and the stock of cosmetics in the bathroom.
The wardrobe
Many people are sensitive when it comes to wardrobes because there are unbelievably beautiful items of clothing hidden in them that one day could be put on again. The reality, however, is usually different: We hoard what the stuff (or the wardrobe) holds and usually only put on our favorite clothes. What does it sound like to you when we tell you that we only own clothes for a week? First of all, frighteningly little! However, we don't have to worry about what to wear on a single morning, because in the wardrobe there are only the favourite clothes in which we feel comfortable, look good and which can all be combined with each other. Enjoy the lightness of a wonderfully structured wardrobe! Anything that no longer fits, never will fit again and never has fitted, must be removed.
Investing the right way
It is worth investing in high quality things. Just for the simple reason that these items (mostly) break less quickly and you produce less garbage. In the long run you will save money - tip: buying high quality used things saves money! Minimalism also includes consciously deciding for or against the purchase of a product. To be careful, to choose carefully and not to buy the first product, gives the whole thing a whole new touch. Minimalism as it is lived is often about mindfulness. This should of course also be reflected in purchasing behaviour. So careful investing is a good way to live out minimalism to the full! This tip should be particularly heeded, because most people fail exactly here with the conversion!
Plastic minimalism
The awareness for an environmentally friendly lifestyle is getting bigger and bigger and therefore this is of course also a topic of minimalism. Environmental protection has many facets, one of which is the conscious use of plastics. You know that discarded plastic bags and plastic products are rarely recycled and most of them end up in our oceans. As a result, animals suffocate and the microplastic particles continue to spread. It is not easy to lead a plastic-free life, but a plastic-free life is definitely a worthwhile adventure. First ask yourself: Where do you use plastic in your everyday life and what environmentally friendly alternatives are there? The plastic bag when shopping can be replaced by a fabric bag, the plastic water bottle by a reusable bottle made of stainless steel and the tomatoes packed in plastic are certainly also available without plastic packaging! The possibilities here are manifold, so stay open for new ideas and enjoy every progress or improvement.
Food shopping - is it minimalistic?
Of course, minimalism also works wonderfully with food purchases. But that doesn't mean that you will have to eat only rice and dry bread for the next few years. Rather, it means that you consciously and carefully choose what ends up in your shopping cart. Shopping lists are very helpful here. You should think in advance about what you should eat during the week and what foods should be on the shopping list accordingly. This will save you time, money and reduce your waste production. Maybe Foodsharing and Meal Prep are not yet familiar terms for you - then it's time for a little research! With minimalist food handling, the aim is to throw away as little food as possible and at the same time leave as little plastic waste as possible behind. Many minimalists also focus on the environmentally friendly production of food. My tip: Plan your meals and stick to your shopping list!
Social Minimalism
Social minimalism is related to material socialism. After all, our consumer behaviour does not come about by chance, but is shaped above all by our social environment. Do you have friends and acquaintances for whom friendly words are less important than expensive gifts? Even blasphemies, constant problem-shooting and bad communication can rob you of your energy. Instead you should spend your time with people who give you energy, because these people take you further in your development (and hopefully you take them further in their development). They give you unconditional love, inspire you and the time you spend with these people is just beautiful. You don't have to end friendships (if they are friendships), but simply focus more on the people who enrich your life and contribute to your happiness - that's social minimalism.
What is your optimal order?
Chaos does not only arise because too many things accumulate in one place, but also when many things are not stored sensibly. For example, if half of your bank statements are on your desk and the other half is somewhere on the bookshelf, chaos is inevitable. A simple rule for more order is to keep the same things in the same place. So you will quickly notice when you store things double and triple. Another trick is to store things that you often use in such a way that they are ready to hand. Placing a waffle iron in front of your favourite pan is only clever to a limited extent. Only very few people think about what their optimal order might look like. Do you already have a system or do you urgently need one? There are no limits to your creativity.
Digital Clearing Out
Even on a laptop, smartphone and similar electronic devices, a lot of bits and pieces can accumulate. Cleaning up and sweeping out the corners is just as liberating as clearing out the wardrobe. Which apps and programs have you not used for ages? Get rid of it! Which photos and videos are older than one month? To the cloud or to an external hard drive with it! Which documents and notes are no longer needed? Get rid of it! We use our laptops and smartphones every day and yet we fail to keep them tidy, although this makes them much easier to use. How many email addresses do you have and how many unused accounts on different websites? Here, too, a lot will have accumulated, free yourself from it!
A little library?
Probably over the years you've accumulated a small pile of books. That's wonderful, because books are great! But have you ever thought about selling the books, which only serve as dust catchers, on the Internet? On corresponding portals for the sale of books a considerable sum can be collected. The books can also be given to the local library. There are many nice ways to better house the dusty treasures. In times of urban libraries and digital libraries, reading should not be too difficult either. You can invest the profit from the sale of the books in new literature! Maybe you have also subscribed to one or the other magazine - is this subscription still worthwhile or can you also read the newspaper comfortably in your local library? Do you know someone with whom you could share your subscription or is your subscription perhaps not so important to you? Here, too, the motto is: Be creative!
No more presents for you?
Can you imagine a birthday where your guests don't bring presents for you? For example, how about asking your guests not to bring gifts, but to raise money for a charity instead? Wouldn't that be a wonderful enrichment for your anniversary? Otherwise the money can also be used to organize an unforgettable party! Hopefully, you will spend your birthday with many loved ones, so that you will have a wonderful time even without gifts, of which you will have many great memories. Remember what is really important and put it into practice on your own birthday: Collect memories, not objects!
Insurances, contributions and Co
We Germans are careful and that's great! But maybe you have one or the other insurance that you really don't need anymore. What about contributions for associations and the like? Take a look at your regular financial commitments and sort them out vigorously. We are sure that half of these financial obligations do not enrich your life, but rather burden it. This is not "just" about the financial aspect, but also about making your
