4 Ways Minimalism Makes Mom Life Easier

Hello Moms! Ever find yourself caught in the whirlwind of mom life, surrounded by toys, tasks, and a constant quest for balance?

This blog post explores how minimalism benefits mothers, from saving time to reducing stress. Discover how a minimalist lifestyle can make motherhood more peaceful and intentional.

First, let me share with you my personal journey with minimalist life.

My personal journey

I’ve been living a minimalist lifestyle for almost four years. And it all started as an “accident” because of COVID.

In early 2020, our family of 3 arrived in our new unfurnished home in North Carolina from Asia with just two suitcases. Before we had a chance to shop for furniture, COVID hit. Stores and businesses were shut down, and we were ordered to stay at home.

So for the following 3-4 months or so, we lived in our nearly empty house (with only a king-size mattress, three counter stools, and a few cushions) with minimal possessions.

By the time our furniture finally started to arrive, I had already gotten used to, and even enjoyed this so-called ‘minimalist lifestyle.’

This marked the beginning of my minimalist journey.

I became interested in minimalism and began researching and learning about it. Though there wasn’t much to declutter in our new home, I practiced being more conscious and intentional with my purchases.

At first, I was more focused on how minimalism could help with personal growth. After experiencing many amazing benefits of minimalism as a mother, I realized that minimalist living is an excellent lifestyle option for all moms.

Based on my personal experience, this article explains the 4 benefits of being a minimalist mom. Whether you are a working mom or a stay-at-home mom, I’m sure you’ll be interested in giving it a try once you understand how minimalism can help you in areas of home-keeping, parenting, and personal growth.

distinguish between “what the child needs” and “what the mother wants”

I don’t know about you, but I’ve become so easily drawn to parenting and kids-related products after becoming a mother.

And since clothes, shoes, toys, art supplies, and books are all considered ‘essentials’ for a child’s growth and development, shopping for these items can quickly get out of control if we are not intentional.

However, have you ever thought about this: other than food/clothes for survival, love, and companionship from parents, do children really “need” so many items?

Or is it because we mothers cannot resist the temptation of these products, and we use “my child needs this” as an excuse to buy?

With the help of minimalism, you will be able to analyze your child’s needs more rationally and, avoid regrets after making impulsive purchases. You will spend your money on what your child truly needs, and avoid (or reduce) the hassle of decluttering later on.

Spend less time “managing stuff”

Did you know that we all have the duty of a ‘stuff manager’? Because we are responsible for our belongings, we need to devote our time, energy, and even money to manage (tidying up, cleaning, and maintaining) them.

Obviously, the more items we own, the more time and energy we need to spend managing them. And vice versa. Ask yourself this question: How much time and energy do I want to spend on my “stuff manager’s daily duty”?

For us busy moms, in addition to our own stuff, we also have to manage our young children’s stuff. But let me guess: you’d rather spend your time and energy doing something you enjoy than constantly picking up your children’s toys and tidying up their rooms, right?

When we first moved into our nearly empty house and lived with minimal possessions, tidying and cleaning the place was so effortless. For the first time in my life, I felt I had the potential to be a “good housewife,” as long as I kept the number of our possessions under control!

Since then, I started to think of myself as a “gatekeeper” when making purchase decisions. The goal is to keep the unnecessary things out of the house, and only allow in the essential items. This way, I only need to spend little time and energy on my ‘stuff manager’ duty, thus having more freedom to do what I enjoy.

Sometimes I think that living a minimalist lifestyle is an excellent solution for a lazy housewife like me! But I believe that whether hardworking or lazy, staying at home or having a career, all mothers would appreciate more freedom to enjoy life.

Find your purpose and focus in life

I used to think “not buying” and “throwing away” were ALL a minimalist would think about.

Boy, was I wrong!

Now that I am living a minimalist life, I understand that though it must start with decluttering and intentionally buying, as you progress further, minimalism is no longer only about “things.”

As you declutter, you will have the opportunity to evaluate your relationship with each item: Why did I buy this particular item in the first place? Why don’t I want to keep it anymore? What items do I have a hard time letting go of and why? If this particular item was a reckless buy, how do I prevent it from happening again?

Take myself as an example: I discovered that I tended to buy things to solve problems. When my home was messy, I bought storage boxes; when my home was dirty, I bought cleaning supplies and tools; and when I wanted to lose weight, I bought lots of exercise equipment and workout clothes…etc.

However, I ignored the fact that “changing myself” should be the fundamental solution.

Looking back, I now realize that if I didn’t develop the habits of regularly cleaning and exercising, my problems would not be solved no matter how great the purchased items were. Those wonderful products would still end up as clutters that take up space at home.

After discovering the roots cause of the problems, I became more motivated to form good habits, instead of thinking about “buy, buy, buy” as the only solution.

So, a minimalist lifestyle starts with ‘stuff’, but it gradually becomes a self-discovery journey.

Be a role model for your children

As all mothers do, since the day my son was born, I’ve often thought about my expectations for him. And I constantly re-evaluate my way of parenting to make sure that we are on the right track.

And I understand, that instead of “preaching”, the best way to teach my child is to be a role model for him.

Think about all the benefits you can gain by minimalism: shopping rationally, making space for things you truly love, finding focus, working hard for goals…etc. These are the excellent qualities that your children will learn from you.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the benefits that minimalism can bring to mothers.

Although minimalism initially starts with rational buying and decluttering, as you gain experience, you will naturally shift your focus from “objects” to “individuals,” learn about yourself, and be motivated to become better.

The time and freedom you regain by reducing your possessions gives you more room to do things that are more meaningful to you. By enjoying your life, your children will naturally look up to you as a role model.