Recently, I have noticed a change in the approach to how a lot of things are communicated, created, and cared for right now. At times, it can be overwhelming to see an increase in misinformation in the media. The cycle of stress can be hard to break without intention.
However, the best way to begin to live simpler is by evaluating what you already have right now. Regardless of your stressors, there are many ways to achieve minimalism in the day-to-day (even in a global pandemic) which in turn, may help reduce stress.
Simple changes can make a big impact.
For example, within the field of corporate advertising, many of the ‘rigid rules’ for creative or branding have been temporarily modified. There’s almost a sense of creativity in the simplicity of these actions. If you stop by a local branch of a corporate chain, you may notice the exterior decorated with homemade ‘open’ signs. Simple or minimal doesn’t have to mean less valuable. A shop window spelled out ‘open’ using only 8.5″ x 11″ blank sheets of paper stacked in the window frames. Message received.
Similarly, if you walk into a strip mall of stores, chances are you are seeing simple signage with instructions on how the business has changed in the global pandemic with a floor marker displayed for spacing people. (In my hometown, I have personally seen this everywhere from coffee shops to the local gas station.) The pandemic has taken a toll on everyone. But there are some ways that it has changed things that maybe for the better.
How can you create minimalism in your life, today? The following tips are three ways to declutter and eliminate stress:
- Evaluate the items in your home. Do you have old clothes you’ll never wear again that you have held onto for years? Ask yourself if you were to go to the store right now…would you purchase the item again? If the answer is no, either donate or toss what you no longer need.
- Cut back on tech time. Ever look at the notification on screen time and realize you are on your phone more than you’d like to be? Or maybe more than often your streaming service has asked, ‘Are you still there?’ “According to Nielsen, every day the average person watches 4 hours, 35 minutes of television.” (USA Today) Evaluate where you are spending too much time scrolling, streaming, or both, and consider limiting your tech time to specific times of the day.
- Decide where you are overspending and cut back. Maybe you would really like to give back to a particular cause or local business but can’t seem to find any additional money; evaluate your spending. Upon evaluating, find what you can eliminate: subscriptions, extra storage space you aren’t using, or even monthly service fees.
What ways are you changing to minimize stress during the pandemic? How do you achieve minimalism in the day-to-day?