| Feature | Details | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
🔗 Affiliate Disclosure
|
Minimalist living is the intentional practice of removing the “extra” from your physical | |||||
| , digital, and mental life so you can focus on what actually matters.
I was successful, sure, but I was also vibrating with anxiety and suffering from chronic back pain that no amount of expensive physical therapy could fix. My life was “full,” but I felt completely empty. Then, on a rainy Tuesday morning—January 14th, to be exact—I realized that my stuff was actually suffocating my spirit. I decided to try minimalist living , not as a design trend, but as a survival mechanism. It wasn’t about white walls or owning only one fork; it was about reclaiming the mental energy I was wasting on maintaining things I didn’t even like. Since then, my cortisol levels have plummeted, and my chronic pain. GONE. Here is how I actually did it, the messy parts included. The Science of Why Your Brain is Screaming for LessCortisol and the “Clutter Effect”When I was at my worst, my house felt like a physical weight on my chest. I’d come home from a 10-hour shift and see a pile of mail, three half-finished books, and a collection of “wellness gadgets” I never used. My brain stayed in a state of high alert. Transitioning to a minimalist living approach allowed my parasympathetic nervous system—the “rest and digest” mode—to finally kick in. It’s why com/. p=1846″ rel=”noopener noreferrer”>healing burnout through art or other simple hobbies works so much better when you aren’t surrounded by junk. //www.nourishedlivingtoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/minimalist_living_5.webp” alt=”minimalist living – relevant illustration” />
|
Decision Fatigue is RealDid you know the average person makes 35,000 decisions a day. Back in 2024, I spent 15 minutes every morning just picking out a workout outfit. Now, I have five identical sets of charcoal leggings and black tops. It sounds boring, but that’s one less decision draining my “brain battery” before 8 AM. By removing choices that don’t matter, you save your energy for the ones that do—like how to help my clients at the clinic or which trail to hike in the Palisades. How I Purged 70% of My Life Without Having a MeltdownI didn’t do this overnight. I tried the “KonMari” thing, and honestly. It didn’t work for me. I felt too much guilt saying “thank you” to a pair of jeans that didn’t fit. Over the next three weeks, I only took things out of the boxes when I actually needed them. After 21 days, 80% of the boxes were still taped shut. I realized I had been “storing” a life I wasn’t actually living. I ended up donating 14 bags to the Westside Food Bank’s thrift partner. The relief was instant. It felt like I could finally breathe. 💡 Pro Tip Start with your “junk drawer.” It’s a low-stakes win that gives you the dopamine hit needed to tackle the big stuff, like the garage or your wardrobe. Minimalist NutritionWhy Your Pantry Needs a Detox Too
| As a nutritionist, I see people overcomplicating their health every single day. They have 20 different supplements, five types of “superfood” powders, and a fridge full of wilting kale they bought because a TikTok told them to. Minimalist living extends to your plate. When I simplified my kitchen, my digestion improved because I wasn’t constantly shocking my system with 50 different ingredients. //www.nourishedlivingtoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/minimalist_living_11.webp” alt=”minimalist living – relevant illustration” />
|
The 5-Ingredient RuleI started a rule ; it’s about being intentional. For example, a piece of wild-caught salmon, steamed asparagus, quinoa, lemon, and olive oil. That’s it. It’s nutrient-dense and takes 15 minutes to prep. I stopped buying “convenience” snacks that were actually just processed clutter for my gut. I actually wrote about this in my guide on I was taking things just because I saw them on Instagram. I cut it down to the essentials , Magnesium, and an Omega-3. I saved money, and my liver probably thanked me. Don’t let the “wellness industry” clutter your body just like the “fashion industry” clutters your closet. ⚠️ Warning Beware of “Minimalist Marketing.” Companies will try to sell you expensive “minimalist” aesthetic jars and organizers. You don’t need more stuff to have less stuff. Use what you have first!
|
Reclaiming the Digital Space (The Hardest Part)If you think your physical house is cluttered, look at your phone. In 2026, our brains are being bombarded by “digital junk” 24/7. Part of my minimalist living journey involved a ruthless digital audit. I had 4,200 unread emails and 156 apps. My screen time was averaging 5 hours a day—mostly spent looking at other people’s “minimalist” lives. The irony was not lost on me. The “One-Screen” RuleI’ve found that com/? p=1828″ rel=”noopener noreferrer”>using music notes to silence pain is far more effective than any “smart home” gadget I used to own. Minimalism is as much about what you let into your ears as what you put in your closet. The Honest DownsideIt’s Not All White Linens and Lattes
|
I want to be real with you—minimalism can be lonely at first. When I stopped “shopping as a hobby,” I realized I didn’t have much in common with a few of my friends. We used to spend Saturdays at the Santa Monica Place mall, and when I suggested a hike in Temescal Canyon instead, they weren’t interested. I had to navigate the “social clutter” of my life too. There’s also the “What If” anxiety. What if I need that specific 1/2 inch wrench in three years. What if I regret throwing away my college sorority sweatshirt. I did regret a few things. I accidentally donated a pair of vintage boots that I actually loved, and it cost me $85 to find a similar pair on eBay six months later. But you know what? That’s okay. The mental freedom I gained was worth the $85 mistake. [PRODUCT_BOX name=”The Five Minute Journal” price=”$29.00″ link=”https Follow this schedule I used when I was first starting out in early 2025. It’s designed to be low-stress but high-impact.
The Digital Trash. Delete 10 apps you haven’t used in a month. Unsubscribe from 5 retail email lists.
|
|
|
|
The Bathroom Edit. Throw away expired makeup and sunscreens. Most of us have half-empty bottles from 2022—get rid of them. | |||||
|
|
The “Uniform” Experiment. Pick 10 pieces of clothing and wear only those for the rest of the week. See how much time you save. | |||||
|
|
The Kitchen Clear-Out. Check your spice rack. If it’s a solid block of dust | |||||
| , it goes. Donate duplicates (how many spatulas do you actually need?).
|
The Flat Surface Rule. Clear every kitchen counter and dining table. Put the items in a box. Only bring back what you use that day. | |||||
|
|
The “One-In | |||||
| , One-Out” Commitment. For every new thing you bring into your house today, one thing must leave.
|
The Mental Inventory. Sit in your new |
Key Takeaways
- The Science of Why Your Brain is Screaming for Less
- How I Purged 70% of My Life Without Having a Meltdown
- Reclaiming the Digital Space (The Hardest Part)
Final Thoughts on the 2026 Minimalist World
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| In a world that is getting louder and more digital, minimalist living isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity for your mental health. I’m not perfect at it. I still have a “junk corner” in my guest room, and I occasionally buy a ceramic mug I don’t need from the Brentwood Farmers Market. But the difference is that those items no longer own me. I own them.
I struggled with this hard when I got rid of a $600 designer blazer I wore once. I realized the money was already gone. Keeping the jacket didn’t put the money back in my bank account; it just took up space and made me feel guilty every time I saw it. I sold it on Poshmark for $120 and donated that money to a local charity. It felt like “clearing the debt” rather than wasting it.
Absolutely not. In fact, I saved roughly $450 a month in the first year just by stopping the “impulse buys” at Target or on Amazon. The only “cost” is your time. Don’t buy expensive organizing bins! Use old shoe boxes or just have fewer items so you don’t need bins at all.
Stop reading and start doing. You’ve got this. |