environment and are more mindful of our material goods. In this conscious and attentive attitude we regularly feel deep gratitude. Gratitude is the basis of happiness. But minimalism is not only about clearing out, but also about setting new priorities. So the time with our dearest ones can become our highest priority and in the beautiful hours with these dear people lies a great treasure buried: Happiness. But how do these feelings of happiness actually develop? Our feelings come from our thoughts. If we have negative thoughts, we will feel this in our negative emotions. You think you can't influence your thoughts and emotions? Yes, you can! However, this requires a little practice. Every situation in life can be interpreted and evaluated in many different ways. Through this interpretation and evaluation our thoughts arise. Usually these are unconscious and subconscious processes. By concentrating more on what makes us happy on our minimalist path, we also learn to attach more or less importance to situations and to integrate the beautiful situations into our everyday life. This is the optimal way of shaping our lifetime - we fill our lives with happy moments. So minimalism and our happiness are connected. We learn to consciously separate ourselves from negative influences, to make our material and spiritual life more minimalistic and thus to create more space for the things and people that really make us happy. The freedom and self-determination that go hand in hand with minimalism give our lives a whole new dynamic and enable us to perceive and strengthen unknown facets of life. What happiness means to you in detail is of course up to you and a very individual matter. To determine these subtleties for yourself becomes definitely easier through the lived minimalism.
Checklists for more order in the own four walls
In this chapter you will find some checklists to help you clean up your apartment or house. In the case of a larger clearing out action with helpers, it is advisable to hang these lists clearly visible on the door of the respective room, so that everyone keeps track and the whole project runs as effectively as possible. With the following checklists I recommend you to declutter with the red/yellow/green categories! Clearing out is easier when you actually have three large boxes to sort into, each with its own category. This makes the process much easier! Have fun clearing out!
Checklist Study: Minimalism made easy!
- What is your vision of the perfect study? Write your vision on your checklist so you don't lose focus! (Suggestion: A large, tidy desk and a small chest of drawers with neatly arranged paperwork? All right, here we go!
- Empty the study and wipe thoroughly.
- Make any necessary design changes: Paint, install new lamp, ...
- The red categories include: Documents, notices, account statements and letters older than 10 years, advertising brochures, defective cables, useless technology, defective pens and the like.
- Throw things out of the red category, sell or give away.
- The yellow category includes things that you are not sure whether they will be needed again. In the study these could be old documents and letters. Everything that is older than 10 years doesn't have to be in the yellow category anymore... Sign the calendar that you go through this box again in exactly 30 days and then make final decisions.
- The green categories include all electronic devices, writing utensils and current paperwork from the last 10 years. That can be quite a lot under circumstances, so the trick here is also to stow these things as logically as possible.
- Establish an order: Store the paperwork sorted by category and year in a chest of drawers or a beautiful shelf, store functioning pens in a beautiful glass and sort small items using a crate system. It also often helps to keep this order by doing a "To Do Stack" from which you do three things daily. In the study it is not done with a unique clearing out action, here it concerns daily employment!
Checklist Bathroom: Minimalism made easy!
- What does your perfect bathroom look like? Write your vision on your checklist so you don't lose focus! (Suggestion: A beautiful mug with toothbrushes, a pot of homemade toothpaste, a brush, a homemade deodorant, olive oil to cream in, a homemade shampoo, two fluffy towels, a stack of toilet paper rolls and a large antique mirror. The bathroom is coloured in pastel colours and shines with its simplicity!)
- Empty the bathroom (plants, curtains, everything!) and store things in another room.
- Remove broken and/or superfluous furniture.
- Put towels, rugs and similar items in the laundry.
- Thoroughly clean the bathroom - including the light switches, edges, mouldings, windows and the back corners.
- Make any necessary design changes: Paint, install new lamp, ...
- Sort out the red category: Half empty mascara, unused shampoo, dusty perfume bottles, the third hairdryer, expired medication, decorative items, the broken drying hood and the like no longer belong in your bathroom.
- Throw all things out of the red category, sell or give away.
- The yellow category are things you are not sure whether they will be needed again. Make a note in the calendar that you will go through this box again in exactly 30 days and then make final decisions.
- The green category includes all items that have been used in the last four weeks. These may now be granted again.
- Establish an order: Things you use every day should be within reach, less frequently used items can stay in the back rows of your shelf or the like.
Checklist Corridor: Minimalism made easy!
- The corridor is chaotic for many people: shoes pile up, deposit bottles, waste paper and dozens of dog leashes can be found there. How would you like to be welcomed home every day? Write your vision on your checklist so you don't lose focus!
- Clear the hallway completely empty and store things in another room between.
- Use the free space and clean it thoroughly.
- Make any necessary design changes: Paint, install new lamp, ...
- The red category includes stray keys, bits and pieces, unnecessary decorative items, unused sports items and similar ballast.
- Throw things out of the red category, sell or give away.
- The yellow category are things you are not sure whether they will be needed again: Spare keys, several umbrellas and bags. Make a note in the calendar that you will go through this box again in exactly 30 days and then make final decisions.
- The green category naturally includes jackets, shoes, linen, house keys, helmets and everything you need for everyday life.
- Establish an order: The trick is to make wise use of the usually small space in the hallway. The best way to do this is with a crate system! So there are no open objects lying around and you always have the overview!
Checklist Living Room: Minimalism made easy!
- What's your vision of the perfect living room like? Write your vision on your checklist so you don't lose focus! (Suggestion: A super comfortable sofa, a big fluffy carpet, a small table, a big ball lamp at the corner, a great picture on the wall, a noble piano and... the war ́s! The dominant colours are pastel shades, beige and dark green. Here
