Simple Sustainability: Minimalism and New Year’s Resolutions

by Sky Trombly –

It is a mistake to make “go minimalist” your new year’s resolution. Many aspiring minimalists see this as a worthy goal, something to check off your list for a new, better you.

But that isn’t how minimalism works. Minimalism is not a goal to be achieved. It can’t be checked off and thus you’re setting yourself up to fail. Lifestyle minimalism is about continual observation and refinement so that the ever changing life you lead is filled with conscious, essential choices.

I do make minimalist goals, however. These are things I can change by using the process of minimalism. Below is a list of 12 minimalist changes you might like to make in 2019. By having 12, one change could be tackled each month. If you’ve already tackled a topic or if one of these topics just doesn’t appeal to you, try substituting with some other.

To reiterate, the reason I have 12 goals here is so that one can be the focus for each month. If you try to make too many changes at once, nothing will stick. We’re just too busy with all of our other obligations. A 30 day challenge is where you try something out for 30 days. If you find the change useful, you keep it and if it doesn’t suit you, you let it drop. Any of the above can be made into a 30 day challenge as well as a host of other trials. Happy experimenting!

Until next time, be the light by living lightly!