Sixteen years of Professionally Organizing families has lead me to a few bits of knowledge I’d like to pass along to you.
Some great advice from minimalist, Leo Babauta.
You really can’t push your family to change unless they want to. So what I do is change myself, and be a living example that there’s a different way, and that it might be interesting and maybe better. I talk to them about the change so they know why I’m doing it, what made me consider it, what steps I’m taking, whether it’s hard or not, whether I like the change. In seeing my change, they might consider trying the change, or they might just think dad’s crazy, but either way they see a different possibility. So for example I might start decluttering my closet and drawers, or scanning all my paperwork so I can go digital, or clear out a storage shed. This is a great thing for them to see, but at the same time I’m letting them be themselves with no expectations that they’ll join me.
As a Certified Professional Organizer I am not a minimalist. I believe we all have minimalism at heart, and accepting this at varying degrees helps others.
You can live with less and if you start now, your children will strive to enjoy experiences rather then fill any voids with stuff.
