How many things do you own without really using them? And why is there so much talk right now about minimalism, which is supposed to bring more peace than chaos? Can a few simple questions change the way we look at our own home?
Less things, more peace
Minimalism is not just a trend for young people. It’s a silent resistance to a time when consumption has become the measure of success. Younger generations are beginning to understand that owning less does not mean having less, but breathing more freely. Even us elders shouldn’t be afraid of it. It’s not about empty walls and a black and white interior, but about a space where nothing lives.
It is from this idea that the 90/90 method is based. You don’t need storage boxes for it either. Just two questions that will give you clarity before you get tired of decisions.
60, 90 or 120: Define your own rules
It’s ridiculously easy. Just ask yourself when was the last time you used a particular household item. Was it in the last 90 days? Or will you be using the item in the next 90 days? If you answer “no” to both questions, then it’s clear. The thing has to leave the house. Sell it, donate it or just take it to the scrap yard.
Authors Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, known as The Minimalists, argue that this very simplicity eliminates hesitation. You don’t have to analyze the past or think that “it might still work”. This rule works precisely because it forces you to be honest with yourself.
However, the number 90 is not a dogma. It can also be 60 or 120 daysaccording to the type of things. It is important that only those that make sense now remain around you. Set yourself up make your own rules and follow them.
Every rule has an exception
But there are things to which the rule simply does not apply. Family photos, letters, favorite book after grandma. The value of these objects is not determined by time, but also by memories. Minimalism does not mean cold impersonality. It leaves room for things that really mean something. Donate books that are not yours or do not matter to you to the library.
But beware, this method is not a competition for who has less. Learn to recognize what brings you peace and what takes it away. When cleaning using the 90/90 method repeats regularlyperhaps once a season, cleaning does not become a chore, but a natural habit. You will also look at things differently you are shopping.
When we see a bunch of things around us that we haven’t used, it often unconsciously sends a message to our brain: “you have to take care of this now”. , that a person living in spaces with a large number of things, pending tasks or divided projects, shows a higher level of the stress hormone cortisol. So the body reacts, even if we are not aware of it.
Simply put, a task that’s just “waiting” is also something you’ve never used. When there are more of those things, the brain is overwhelmed and less able to focus or relax. states that such a reduction of unnecessary items in the home contributes to mental health and well-being.
Checklist for the household
- Kitchen: when was the last time you used that blender or a special utensil like heart-shaped pancakes? If you don’t remember, you probably don’t need them anymore.
- Closet: if you haven’t worn something in three months, it’s probably just hanging there out of habit. Due to the season, a longer period of time should be set for clothing. However, there will certainly be something to get rid of.
- Bathroom: half-empty bottles, expired creams or even different gift sets on display. Use them or leave them!
- Living room: cables, old magazines, gifts you never liked. Time to let them out into the world.
- Digital space: unnecessary photos, files, e-mails. Cleaning also starts on the phone and will certainly take more time than you would expect. Today there are also programs that help with dividing into folders and reducing the number of photos and files.
