By performing minimalism in your daily lifestyle, you will begin noticing the things that really matter. There is something magical about seeing everything around you and realizing that it is all yours; only  then do you realize that all this stuff is simply burdensome.

Having the freedom of living with only what you need (and not owning anything extra) is something that will make you happier and more content.

Benefits of Minimalism: Less stress, More focus – A clear mind resulting in better productivity More money – Spending less time shopping and more time doing things you enjoy. More time – All the saved up free time to do what you really want

Minimalism is not something that can be forced upon you, or will happen overnight (although it does happen quite frequently). Understanding the principles and practicing them in everyday life is important. Here are seven steps to help anyone embrace minimalism in their own lives.

Step 1: Declutter Your Home

This is the first step you need to take, and probably the easiest. Our homes are filled with stuff that we don’t use or want anymore; simply put everything you haven’t used within the last 6 months into a box for donation. It will feel good to rid yourself of these things, and your home will begin to look much cleaner.

Step 2: Declutter Your Mind – Eliminate Negative Thoughts

Getting rid of all that excess stuff from your mind will be a lot harder that getting rid of the “junk” from around you. The purpose of this step is to clean up all those thoughts in your head that are negative. Start from one end to the other, and get rid of all that unnecessary clutter in your head – especially the worry thoughts.

Step 3: Declutter Your Schedule

Start scheduling each minute of everyday on a calendar or schedule planner; this will allow you to see how much time you spend doing certain activities (and therefor wasting your time) and freeing yourself from them.

Step 4: Declutter Your Relationships

Be aware of people who are a source of negative energy in your life, and try to free yourself from these people by either distancing yourself from them or talking it out with them. The purpose of this step is to eliminate stress caused by other people who are not truly important in your life.

Step 5: Declutter Your Social Media Feeds

Social media feeds are cluttered with tons of distracting posts – it is time to start uncluttering them. Removing the clutter will allow you to see what’s really important and help improve your focus on tasks throughout the day. It will also reduce the amount of time you spend on social media, allowing you to feel more accomplished.

Step 6: Declutter Your Work Space

This step is about freeing up your work space so that you can focus better and stop wasting time searching for things. Get rid of all the clutter in your office or home workspace, and organize it so that everything has its place and you can spend less time looking for stuff.

Step 7: Declutter Your Schedule Once Again

Take a look at your schedule planner/calendar and review what you have scheduled, as well as what you need to be more productive during the day/week/month. Make sure that every minute of your day is used effectively, and that you are focusing on the tasks at hand.

Minimalism is all about not buying more stuff than you need, and being efficient with your time so no one has to wait for you. This lifestyle strategy will free up much-needed space in your life so that you can enjoy it without distractions or much cleaning up to do once it’s over.