Intentional Living Starts With Decluttering

Intentional Living Starts With Decluttering. Decluttering, Minimalism, and Mindfulness are words I see popping up all over the place lately.

I did a dive into discovering the nuances, myths & commonalities of the catchphrases Intentional Living, Decluttering, and Minimalism Key Differences. I threw Mindfulness into my research for good measure.

Intentional Living

A Mindful Approach to Daily Life

Intentional Living centers around making conscious choices in all aspects of life. It involves setting clear goals and aligning daily actions with those objectives. Whether in terms of personal development, relationships, or career, intentional living emphasizes mindfulness and purposeful decision-making. 

Your core values play a role in your practice of Intentional Living. Making a conscious effort to form practical strategies that fit your own life and personal values is all a part of intentional living.

Decluttering

Simplifying the Physical and Mental Space

The Decluttering process focuses on simplifying one’s physical space and mental clutter. It goes beyond merely organizing belongings and involves a deliberate effort to rid oneself of unnecessary possessions and thoughts. This process aims to create a harmonious environment that promotes mental well-being.

Decluttered homes and minds are far more efficient because clutter distracts us. I cannot focus when I am surrounded by an overabundance of stuff. I avoid large stores for this very reason. There is just too much stuff in stores like Macy’s and Bloomingdales. Online shopping, using a good filter system, is perfect for me!

Minimalism

Embracing Simplicity

To live a minimalist lifestyle takes intentional living and decluttering a step further by advocating for simple pleasures and a sense of purpose. It encourages individuals to evaluate their priorities, letting go of excess material possessions and distractions.

Minimalism is a lifestyle that prioritizes experiences and relationships over material accumulation. The key to living a minimalist lifestyle is knowing what you want.

With fewer possessions in our physical environment and more focused thinking, we can make conscious decisions about how we choose to spend our time. This will include the most important things to us.

I don’t know about you, but when I am doing the things I love I feel all is right in the world, which of course it is not, it does bring me a sense of control though.

Because clothes do not mean a whole lot to me I learned years ago to adopt a minimalist wardrobe. If you want to simplify your life starting with the clothes you wear is a great place to start. Diet is another thing to simplify and easy for me because food is not an important component of my life.

Mindfulness

A Foundation for Conscious Living

Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and engaged in the current moment. It involves cultivating awareness without judgment, paying attention to thoughts and feelings, and accepting them without attachment.

Mindfulness is like the foundation in a home. Intentional living, decluttering, and minimalism, are all built on top of the mindfulness foundation. Being mindful brings us a heightened sense of consciousness in our daily life.

What’s Are The The Differences?

Myth 1

Minimalism is only about material possessions

Contrary to popular belief, minimalism is not solely about decluttering the material things we have in our physical spaces it extends to decluttering mental spaces as well, focusing on intentional living and making mindful choices in all aspects of life. The practice of minimalism can make you feel more in control of your life.

Minimalism does not mean living uncomfortably in empty spaces without any possessions.

Myth 2

Decluttering is a one-time task

While the act of decluttering may start as something to just get through once, it is, in fact, an ongoing process. Regular reassessment and adjustments are necessary to maintain a clutter-free and organized living space.

Being mindful before you consider making a purchase will help to limit what you do and don’t allow into your home.

Myth 3

Intentional living is time-consuming 

Intentional living is about making a simpler lifestyle. This doesn’t require an excessive amount of time. Small changes in daily habits can lead to significant improvements. It’s more about aligning actions with goals rather than adding more tasks to an already busy schedule.

Myth 4

Mindfulness is a Quick Fix for Stress

While mindfulness can be a powerful stress management tool, it is not a quick fix. Like intentional living, decluttering, and minimalism, mindfulness is a continuous practice that requires consistency and patience to realize its full benefits.

Commonalities Among Intentional Living, Decluttering, and Minimalism

Conscious choices in daily life

All three concepts advocate for making conscious choices in daily life. Whether it’s deciding what possessions to keep, how to spend time, or setting personal goals, mindfulness and intentionality are key. There are numerous benefits to the concept of intentional living, decluttering, and a minimalist lifestyle.

Focus on the personal and the simple

Intentional living, decluttering, and minimalism emphasize a personal and simplified approach to life. It’s about quality over quantity, prioritizing what truly matters. I have come to find we really do have a say in how we live our lives.

Incorporating mindfulness practices into daily life

Time is a precious resource

A commonality among intentional living, decluttering, and minimalism is the recognition of time as a valuable resource. Intentional living involves prioritizing time for activities aligned with personal goals.

Decluttering allows for more efficient use of time by eliminating distractions, while minimalism encourages investing time in experiences that bring joy and fulfillment.

Think of it this way- if you have less stuff you have fewer responsibilities to maintain these things. By doing so the amount of stuff that has to be front and center in your head is absent. This in itself has to bring more peace.

Prioritizing mental well-being

All three concepts emphasize the importance of mental well-being. Intentional living promotes self-awareness and mental clarity through conscious decision-making. Decluttering, both physically and mentally, contributes to reducing stress and anxiety.

Minimalism, by encouraging a focus on essential aspects of life, brings a sense of peace and contentment as well as a feeling you do have a say in your life.

Embracing small changes for big impact

While the ultimate aim may be a significant transformation, all three lifestyles recognize the power of small changes. Intentional living encourages individuals to make gradual adjustments in their daily routines.

Decluttering advocates for small, consistent efforts in organizing spaces, and minimalism often begins with minor shifts in mindset that accumulate over time. Doing little things, taking baby steps, to make changes is a great way to reach your long-term goals.

Check out my new free Shift Into Action course I made for all my cluttered friends! This course will show you how to finally get yourself decluttered!

Simplifying the daily routine

Simplicity is a recurring theme in intentional living, decluttering, and minimalism. These lifestyles encourage individuals to streamline their daily routines, eliminating unnecessary complexities. Again, with fewer distractions you will be able to create space for what you really care about.

Personal development through clear goals

Knowing what you want, setting clear goals are the first steps to intentional living, decluttering, and minimalism. Whether it’s personal growth, career achievements, or improved relationships, setting and pursuing clear goals is the key.

You will find it motivating to start taking small action steps toward reaching your goal.

Sustainable practices for a conscious lifestyle

All three lifestyles promote sustainable practices. Intentional living encourages choices that align with personal values often contributing positively to the environment.

In my my decluttered life I consume less and choose quality over quantity. I practice mindful consumption and responsible disposal. I try to do this in all the areas of my life. Do I always reach 100%? No! I will keep practicing though.

Intentional living, decluttering, and minimalism share common threads of mindfulness, simplicity, and a focus on conscious choices. I hope by understanding the distinctions between them you will be able to tailor these principles to your unique preferences and circumstances, ultimately leading to a more purposeful and fulfilling life

As if all that I speak of is not enough I was just introduced to the ideas of Human Design by my friend Jenny, who is well-versed in all these disciplines!

Like everything, remember to take what you need and leave the rest…

Marj Bates is a life long ridiculously organized declutter-er and artist. Less is more are words Marj lives by in everything she does except collecting dogs. “Dogs are like potato chips! Can’t have just one.” says Marj. Marj wonders if growing up with a fanatically clean Jewish mom means her decluttering and organizational skills are in her blood.

For more Declutterbuzz & Freebies check out our safe and private Decluttering community on our Facebook page. We are a safe and private space of like minded folks tackling this all encompassing clutter thing once and for all. No shame allowed! We will have a few laughs too!

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