15 Ways to Become a Minimalist in 2010

(You can get my eBook Minimalism: 7 Steps to a Simpler Life by clicking here)

As with 99% of other people, you probably established New Years Resolutions in the past week and started implementing them today. I support positive lifestyle changes, but fall on the side of caution when entering the world of New Years Resolutions. I think they are a great idea, but do not stress the idea that TODAY could be your New Years Resolution day no matter what the calendar date says. Despite my stance on New Years Resolutions, I think you, as well as myself, can benefit from the idea of developing new, better habits in our life.

With that said, I would like to present 15 Ways to Become a Minimalist in 2010 in lieu of the new year…

Step back from your responsibilities and survey which are truly important to YOU.
Write down your goals and objectives for the next day/month/year & then write a daily action step towards them.
Make 5 Minimalist Changes in 5 Minutes
Buy and use smaller plates to eat less.
Implement the word ‘less’ 3 times a day (i.e. browsing, shopping, eating, etc.).
Start Saying No
Throw away or sell one thing you own daily.
Start a blog about your attempt at a reduction lifestyle.
Address your finances by starting a Mint account. Also check out 10 Ways to Financially Kick A** in 2010 & Pick up Automatic Millionaire
Start Praying LESS and DOING more. (Article coming soon on this)
Recognize and live a more simple day daily.
Simplify Your Desktop
Before buying anything (other than food), visit your local second hand store for desired item.
Stop using plastic.
Subscribe to The Minimalist Path.

Good luck this year to everyone on their New Years Resolutions. Hope I can help in some way.

David Damron
The Minimalist Path

Tags: new year, Simple

This entry was posted on Friday, January 1st, 2010 at 10:10 pm and is filed under minimalism. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

20 Responses to “15 Ways to Become a Minimalist in 2010”

January 2nd, 2010 at 3:26 am
Steven Ponec says:

I love these habits you suggest! I think the most important is to reassess what you do.
I often look at what is on my todo list, what my twitter and rss feeds are, and what I’m doing at the moment and ask “How important is this really?”
January 2nd, 2010 at 5:20 am
Greg says:

Your right, it doesnt really matter which day of the year changes are made, u just got to make sure that you stick to it and dont give up at the slightest inconveniance.

I personally prefer to reassess my goals at the end of each year, simply because it just a great way to reflect over your achievements in the holiday period and think about the new year ahead.

Greg
January 2nd, 2010 at 6:21 am
Charley says:

Hi David,

Lots of great little tips here. It’s funny that you mention the small plates for smaller portions tip. I was scrounging threw packed boxes from our recent move yesterday and pulled out a set of small Ikea plates that I dusted off and brought up to replace are healthy round plates for the express reason to minimize my waistline in 2010.

For #2, I’m busy setting up project plans for all of my goals this year because “project planning” is a language I easily understand. So, treating each goal like a project, with milestones, daily, weekly and monthly tasks helps me track things even if the overhead of managing the plan may slow me down initially.

And number 13, I’m trying a few no spend challenges in 2010 on some common areas where money has typically flown away from me freely. i.e. No Spend Clothing, No Spend Books, No Spend Music, etc. As a fellow aspiring minimalist, we understand that it’s not forced discipline in order to lead a monastic life, but rather, a shifting of focus on resources toward the truly important things in life.

Thank you for the article,

- Charley
Charley´s last blog ..2010 Marathon Training Schedule
January 2nd, 2010 at 10:57 am
admin says:

@Steven Ponec – I think you pose a great question we can all ask ourselves…”“How important is this really?”” …Thanks for sharing. I try to implement your suggestion daily.

@Greg – I think I feel the same as you. I think it is an easy guideline for setting goals. I just wish more people would focus on resolutions daily,monthly,annualy not based on the calendar so much but THAT DAY.

@Charley – Project planning is something I intend to implement ASAP. Thanks for your comment!

David Damron
The Minimalist Path
January 3rd, 2010 at 5:26 pm
Vita Reid says:

Since I don’t know what a spam bot is, I’ll check that I’m not one.

I began the process of minimalizing my apartment about three weeks ago … I did not see any point in waiting unil January 1 to begin.

I have only two areas of clutter: (1) 500 books I own; and (2) 20 boxes full of unorganized paperwork.

I’m finding it extremely painful to get rid of my stuff, but I want to do it. Frankly I see no point in having so many books … I can only read one at a time …

I’ve decided to take a milk-crate full of books and place them outside my apartment building each day. I live in a trendy area of Philadelphia where hundreds of people pass my apartment building … The crate of books I put out today where picked immediately as I was placing the crate on the ground … The gentleman said, “I’m just in time” and took the whole crate right there on the spot …

I’d like to set a time limit to have all the books out of my apartment by the end of the month … any suggestions as to how I can get rid of them?

Is there anything I can do to make the process of getting rid of my stuff less painful … or maybe that part of becoming a minimilist … i’m changing … I like change actually even if it hurts a little.

Vita
January 3rd, 2010 at 6:26 pm
admin says:

Hey Vita—

Thanks for participating over at The Minimalist Path. I really do appreciate it.

I am happy to hear you successfully used “less” more. Keep it up!

Just a suggestion to making it easier to rid yourself of the books….

1. Start a blog about books you have read at wordpress.com
2. Every week (or more often) write a review of a book you have
3. Offer to give that book to the commenter whose response you
enjoyed the most

This approach will help you connect with other readers, get rid of the clutter of the books, and build some excitement around your blog.

Good luck!!!!

David Damron
The Minimalist Path
January 4th, 2010 at 4:55 am
JulieSLQ says:

Re: #10

My brother talks about “Leaning on a shovel praying for a hole.”
January 4th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
Vita Reid says:

@JulieSLQ: I like that … I’m going to post that one on my refrigerator as a daily reminder … thanks.

To all: In keeping with one of Dave’s suggestions with respect to minimilizing my library, I found a great website for selling books called dealoz.com. Simply enter the ISBN of the book you like to sell, and the website will search its database of over 600 booksellers who would like to buy the book from you. It also gives you option to sell the book yourself (and not to a bookseller) as well … I highly recommend it … I found out today that one bookseller is willing to buy one of my books for $34.95. Now how cool is that …

I’m proud to say that I took two crates of books to the bookseller around the corner who gave me $55 dollars in store credits. The books he did not want I took across the street to Thrift for AIDS, which was pretty crowed with many people like myself who were donating things.

Thanks, David, for giving me such great ideas. I’ve decided I’ll do a combination of selling my books to booksellers, donating some to Thrift for AIDS, and obtain store credit for others … Were I to sell all my 500 books, I could make about $1,000.

I’ll pass on the idea of a blog for now, as I am in the process of getting my voice over career off the ground. I am also an avid contract bridge player and I must study that at least three hours per day … The blog was a great suggestion nonetheless and I thank you for that …

I thought inintally that minimalizing meant only minimilazing my personal possessions, but I see from reading this blog that a whole lifestyle and philosophy goes along with The Minimalist Path … and you know what … I really really like it … For example, today I went to the store with the sole purpose in mind of spending $4.50 and that is precisely what i did … I purchased no more than what I NEEDED. The clutter in my apartment clearly shows that my WANTS are oh so short-lived and transitory. I WANT something day, and won’t even remember why I wanted it tomorrow.

I’m loving this Minimalist Path. I’ll add another link to this blog on my facebook page.

Are you on Facebook, David.
January 4th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
Vita Reid says:

One of the more difficult endeavors for me will be eating out only one meal per week. For most of 2009, I ate out for every single meal … My saying use to be, “I don’t make dinner, but I make reservations.” Although I am a Southern girl who knows how to cook quite well, it takes up approximately 2 hours of my time each night … even for the most simplest meals … any suggestions for shortening the process?

I also see that solving one problem (the clutter in my apartment) will solve numerous others as well. Once my abode is neater, I will be more inclined to stay home. This has certainly been the case thus far.
January 4th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
Vita Reid says:

Oh … with respect to no spending: For me I’ve selecting No Books, No Chocolate and No Starbucks. The “No Starbucks” one is going to be tough because I love Iced Vanilla Lattes. I’ll save $50 per week on that alone …
January 6th, 2010 at 2:34 am
365girl says:

Happy New Year David! Great post as always. 2010 is going to be the year I really assess how I can simplify my life – 2009 was a learning curve and thanks to your and similar blogs/books I have access to the info and support I need. My personal spend is going to be drastically reduced this year and as recommended in your article I have started a blog about it (hmmm well one post to be exact!) – problem is I am still trying to convince myself that what I write will be of any interest! Regardless, so far this year I have spend zero on myself – so just the threat of having to publically write about my endeavours is working!! Thanks for your blogs they really are an inspiration… Just off to purge my daughter’s wardrobe whilst shes at school and start chucking stuff away – I’ve even got a sitter for my son so I can do it in peace and enjoy the cleansing process even more!
January 6th, 2010 at 7:45 am
Vita Reid says:

@365 girl: I have a similar concern as to whether what I write will be of interest to anyone. There are so many bloggers that I cannot possibly see how what I say will stand out among the crowd. Dave, do you have any suggestions or comments to address my concern?

I took another crate of books to the book trader yesterday. I figure, that one crate a day and in 30 days about 50% of my clutter will be reduced. I’m liking all this.

I really like your suggestion that I not buy anything today, and to limit my spending days to twice a week. Brilliant. This suggestion helps so beautifully, Dave, because your words bring into my conscious awareness those habitual ways of thinking that lead to compulsive purchasing and eating.

Thanks for this blog. It is so helpful and I love it.

Have a great day.

Vita Reid
January 6th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
admin says:

I promise to get back to you by this weekend (probably Thursday night) but an non-urgent emergency (oxymoron?) calls so I cannot answer at the moment….Sorry

David Damron
The Minimalist Path
January 7th, 2010 at 5:49 am
365girl says:

@Vita Reid; If it’s of any help I finally got the ball rolling by using my blog as a dumping ground for my thoughts rather than being overly concious of writing what may be deemed ‘interesting’ (It can be edited afterwards anyway). I hadn’t really been aware until recently of the volume of thoughts I have each day and how a constant narrative goes through my head. Having somewhere to put these thoughts and move on is helping somewhat on my own journey toward minimalism and simplifying my life – decluttering of the mind! I have Dave to thank for the inspiration!
January 8th, 2010 at 2:10 am
admin says:

Hey Joanne—

I am glad you were able to find an outlet. I think blogging opens your mind to all your thoughts, desires, opinions, dreams and so much more.

Glad I was able to inspire a bit.

David Damron
TMP
January 8th, 2010 at 2:13 am
admin says:

Hey Vita—

I am glad to hear you are making such big strides in the minimalizing department.

As for blogging, you wouldn’t imagine how many people want to hear from you. I didn’t think anyone would want to listen to me and now, just 3.5 months removed from starting TMP, I have 400+ faithful followers. You will be heard if you are willing to become part of a niche. Talk to others in the community you want and they will respond.

Good luck Vita and thanks for participating so much here at TMP

David Damron
TMP
January 8th, 2010 at 2:14 am
admin says:

Hey Joanne

I responded to Vita’s comment. Check that out for my thoughts on blogging. Plus let me know what your blog address is so I can check it out.

David Damron
TMP
January 9th, 2010 at 6:27 pm
Vita Reid says:

Less space. Less things. More Life. What a wonderful blog, David and thanks so much for the YouTube videos of Oprah’s visit to Denmark. The homes in Denmark are exactly how I envision my apartment once I’ve finished. Very sleek lines and few possessions. The bare minimum.

FYE purchased 8 CD’s from me today for $17 cash. Not bad, ey?

My family will be quite shocked when they see my place … from clutter to minimalism. A stark contrast to my former days of mounds of boxes and paperwork. I’m so excited.

I’ve made another decision: I shall henceforth purchase items of they are on sale … and will do my best to rarely pay full price for anything unless it is absolutely necessary.

I’m going to watch the Oprah video every day to remind myself of exactly how I wish to live from here on out: “Less space. Less things. More life.”
January 15th, 2010 at 8:47 am
Sam says:

Starting a blog about simplicity/minimalism has been one of the biggest positive decisions I’ve made in the past couple months. Forcing myself to sit down and clarify my thoughts about this type of lifestyle in writing is a very beneficial exercise. On top of clarifying my own thoughts, I now have the aspect of being held accountable by my (admittedly few) readers.

If I could give one piece of advice to anyone who wants to get better at anything, spend some time writing about it. You don’t have to start a public blog (but you could) and you don’t even have to be a great writer (I’m certainly not). The act of clarifying your thoughts is a huge step in improving in whatever you do.
January 15th, 2010 at 9:42 pm
admin says:

Great points made Sam.

Thanks for sharing and encouraging the faithful minimalist followers.

I like the simplicity of your site. I am going to go read some more articles by you to see if you are cool or extremely kick a** minimalist cool.

Have a good weekend

David Damron
TMP
@DavidDamron