We all like our stuff, and probably do not want to live out of a suitcase, but there's something to be said for cutting out the unnecessary. You don't have to go full-blown minimalist, but take a little time this weekend and audit what you own and what you do. You might find you can survive with a lot less and feel better doing it.


Get Rid of Unnecessary Possessions


Few people can say they have too little these days. It's easy to accumulate possessions in a consumer society. While there's nothing wrong with having stuff, you don't want to go crazy and keep more than you can fit in your home. You also want to allow yourself some breathing room. Getting rid of your stuff accomplishes both goals and can even earn you some money in the process. We have a few relevant guides to help you out with this task:

While clutter doesn't look great, minimalism can look bad, too, if you don't do anything with it. We've posted a few workspaces over the years that can give you some inspiration if you need to make a few home adjustments to accommodate your lack of clutter:

If your new minimalism in the physical world leads to an awesome workspace, be sure to share it in our Workspace Showcase.

Declutter Your Desktop


Just as physical minimalism provides a nicer, cleaner space to live, a cleaner computer desktop offers a better place to work and play. That can start with something as simple as a minimalist wallpaper, but if your desktop is a disaster area you'll want to do a little more than just change out a picture. Whether you have a small mess or a big one, follow or desktop organization and customization guide to get yours to a functional, more aesthetically-pleasing place. If you're looking for a little inspiration, here are a few simple featured desktops that can help:


Don't stop at just your desktop—make sure your home folder is nicely organized, too. With both of those in order, you won't find yourself often encumbered by digital clutter.


Apply the Principles of Minimalism to Your Actions


Minimalism isn't just about having less stuff in your home and on your computer—it applies to how you think and act as well. People are ditching their cars, turning their smartphones into dumphones, storing less data, and sticking to pen and paper instead of using technology. You don't have to cut out the things that you love, but consider how you can minimize their use so that when you do need them you're focused on a task rather than distracted by a toy.


Images by Michael Dolan, Sebastian Wiertz, and me.