Less Is More: How Embracing A Minimal-ish Lifestyle Can Make Motherhood Much Easier
Motherhood is one of life’s greatest joys, but let’s be real - it's also one of life’s biggest challenges. Between the never-ending laundry piles, the constant barrage of toys, and the never-ending to-do lists, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. No matter our exact situations, I think it’s safety say we long for many of the same things:
A little more time for “us” - to breathe, think, just be…
The energy to keep going
To get a handle on the housework
To exercise more patient with our little ones
Having an identity beyond mom
And, no I’m not saying get rid of everything, completely overhaul your life or to deprive yourself in any way. But, simplifying key areas of my daily life has led to me having more time, space and freedom for the things that matter more to me.
It’s about finding your own level of enough, and creating a space that actually functions well for you.
HOW ADOPTING A MINIMALIST LIFESTYLE CAN MAKE YOU A BETTER MOM:
More Time to Actually Spend with the Kids
One of the best benefits of minimalism is the gift of time. By reducing the amount of “stuff” in your life - whether it’s unnecessary things, excessive commitments, or mental clutter - you free up precious hours that can be better spent with your children. When your home, for instance, is less cluttered, you spend less time cleaning, organizing, and managing those belongings. This gives you more time to engage in activities with your kids, whether it’s playing a game, reading a book, or simply talking and laughing together.
Minimalism also helps streamline your daily routines, making them more efficient. With fewer distractions and a more organized living space, the time you used to spend looking for lost items or managing clutter can now be redirected towards meaningful interactions with your children. These moments of connection are invaluable and create lasting memories that your kids will cherish as they grow older.
Being a Calmer, More Patient Mom
Motherhood can be a lot, and it’s easy to feel stressed and frazzled when you’re constantly surrounded by chaos. Minimalism helps create a sense of calm by reducing the clutter and noise in your environment. A simplified, more organized space can have such a profound effect on your mental state, helping you feel more relaxed and in control.
When your surroundings are calm, it’s easier to maintain a calm demeanor yourself. You’re less likely to snap or lose your patience when things get tough because you’re not already feeling overloaded. This calmness allows you to approach parenting challenges with more patience and understanding, making you a more effective and compassionate mom.
Feeling Less Overwhelmed and More Empowered
Minimalism isn’t just about de-cluttering your physical space - it’s also about de-cluttering your mind and schedule. That mental load that weighs us down. By focusing on what truly matters and letting go of the rest, you reduce the feelings of overwhelm that often accompany motherhood. You’re no longer bogged down by the pressure to keep up with endless activities, social obligations, or the accumulation of stuff.
As you simplify your life, you begin to feel more empowered. You take control of your environment, your time, and your priorities, which allows you to be more intentional in your parenting, and life in general. This gives you the confidence to make decisions that are best for you and your family.
Encouraging Independence and Responsibility in Kids
Minimalism can also positively impact your children by fostering independence and responsibility. When there are systems in place and where everything has a place, children can more easily learn to take care of their belongings and keep their spaces tidy. When there are fewer toys and distractions, for instance, kids are more likely to engage in creative play and use their imagination, which fosters self-reliance.
Moreover, involving your children in the process of decluttering and simplifying teaches them valuable life skills. They learn the importance of making thoughtful choices, prioritizing what’s important, and taking responsibility for their actions. These lessons in independence and responsibility will serve them well throughout their lives, helping them become confident, capable individuals.
A Decluttered, Well-Organized Home Creates a More Peaceful Atmosphere
You may not realize it, but your space has a huge impact on your mental and emotional well-being. A cluttered, chaotic home can significantly add to feelings of stress, anxiety, and overwhelm. On the other hand, a decluttered, better-organized space promotes a sense of peace and calm.. When your home is in order, it feels more like a sanctuary - a place where you and your family can relax and recharge.
A peaceful home environment sets the tone for a positive family dynamic. It lessens the tension and conflict. In this kind of environment, you’re better able to nurture your children’s emotional well-being, providing them with the stability and security they need to thrive.
PRACTICAL WAYS FOR YOU TO PRACTICE MINIMALISM:
1 - DECLUTTER YOUR SPACE + PUT SYSTEMS IN PLACE TO MAINTAIN ORGANIZATION
Room-by-Room Approach: Keep it simple. Tackle one room at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Prioritize…think of where do you spend the most time or what area is the most problematic for you.
Set Goals: Keep in mind, it’s ultimately up to you to define your minimalist style, so don’t feel you have to throw out your stuff just because you think that’s what minimalism “should” look like. Just be sure to set clear, achievable goals for each space. For example, aim to reduce the number of items in a closet by 50% or to clear off all flat surfaces in a living room.
2 - CREATE EASY + FUNCTIONAL STORAGE SOLUTIONS
Use Clear Containers: Store items in clear bins or containers so you can easily see what’s inside without having to dig through everything. This works really well for toys, pantry items, and seasonal decorations.
Label Everything: Designate a home for everything you can, and label, label, label… Label shelves, bins, and drawers to ensure that everyone in the household knows where things belong. This makes it easier to maintain order and helps kids learn to put how and where to put things away. One less thing for the mom's mental load.
Entryway Solutions: Set up a drop zone near your entryway with hooks for coats, a tray for keys, and a basket for mail, etc. This keeps daily essentials organized and prevents clutter from spreading throughout the house.
3 - IMPLEMENT A DAILY “EVENING RESET” ROUTINE
10-Minute Tidy-Up: This has been a game changer for us. Before your bedtime routine, do a quick walkthrough of your home, and just take 10-15 minutes to do a quick tidy of the common areas. This can include putting away dishes or clearing off the counters.
I get the kids involved and assign a task; they can tidy up their toys, for example. This goes a long way in preventing clutter from accumulating, and less build up of chores for mom. What a difference it makes to wake up to a clean, organized space. It sets a much better tone for the day.
4 - SIMPLIFY YOUR WARDROBE
Create a Capsule Wardrobe: Go through items for you and your children, and aim to create a wardrobe for each of you that has a number of versatile pieces that can easily be mixed and matched. This reduces decision fatigue and keeps your closet clutter-free.
Seasonal Rotation: Store out-of-season clothes in bins or under-bed storage to free up space in your closet. Simply rotate them as the seasons change.
5 - SET UP (VISUAL) CLEANING SCHEDULE
Divide Responsibilities: Create a weekly cleaning schedule that divides tasks among family members. Rotate responsibilities so everyone contributes to keeping the home tidy. And, yes even the little ones can help out with age-appropriate tasks.
Focus on Maintenance: Regularly clean and declutter to maintain your minimalist home. Don’t go crazy. Create a simple list of daily must dos to maintain your home such as making the bed or clearing the dishes. Also make a list of once a week tasks, like mopping or cleaning out the pantry.
Just be sure to have this out of your head, onto paper and placed in an area where you will easily see it and be reminded.
6 - CREATE VISUAL SCHEDULES FOR KIDS
Visual schedules for kids can be a great way to help your kids by organizing their day, routines, and reducing overwhelm (on you and them). With visual schedules you use images to show the different tasks or activities like brushing teeth or getting dressed, making it easier for children to understand and follow along.
Keep it simple with 4-5 key tasks. You can use a magnetic board or a laminated sheet where your child can move a marker or check off each task as they complete it.
Some examples of visual schedules are:
Morning and Evening Routines (placed on bathroom wall)
After School Routine (hung in living room or other common area)
Chore Chart
Tip: Rotate chores weekly to keep things fresh and prevent boredom. Also, include a reward system, like earning a small privilege or treat after completing a set number of chores.
7 - OPEN-ENDED TOYS + TOY ROTATION SYSTEM
Stop and think for a moment, how many toys your kids have…do they actually play with them much? As parents, this is one of the easiest things to get quickly out of hand, toy clutter. And, we end up with many toys that barely even get used. You don’t need to just chuck all their toys, but assess the toys that your kids realistically get good use out of.
OPEN-ENDED TOYS: Regardless of the trends, I’ve found that there are just certain toys that have continued to be a hit for kids across the board. That sparks creativity, imagination, and problem-solving skills by. Children use the toys in multiple ways.
Types of Open-Ended Toys:
Blocks: Items like wooden blocks, LEGO sets, or magnetic tiles can be used to create anything from simple structures to complex designs. They encourage spatial awareness and creativity.
Art Supplies: Materials such as crayons, markers, paints, and clay allow children to express themselves through drawing, painting, and sculpting. These supplies are versatile and can be used in countless ways.
Pretend Play Items: Toys like dress-up clothes, kitchen sets, and toolkits promote imaginative play. Children can pretend to be different characters, professionals, or explore various scenarios.
Sensory: Items such as kinetic sand, rocks, shells, buttons, and fabric scraps can be used for a variety of creative activities. They encourage exploration and experimentation.
Puzzles and Board Games: Games that require strategy and problem-solving skills can be played in various ways and provide opportunities for learning and interaction.
Benefits of These Toys:
Encourages Creativity: Open-ended toys stimulate imaginative play and allow children to invent their own games.
Adaptable for Different Ages: They can grow with your child, and give new ways to play as their skills/interests develop.
Promotes Learning: With exploration, children develop critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
TOY ROTATION SYSTEM:
Rotation System: With this you simply lower the number of toys you have out and available to play with at any given time. This prevents overwhelm and actually helps to maintain interest in the toys that are out. When my kids see a toy out that they had already forgotten about, it’s like Christmas again. I’ve noticed the toys will get far less use, if they are all just out all the time.
How to Realistically Implement This:
Sort and Categorize: Start by sorting your child’s toys into categories (e.g., building blocks, art supplies, puzzles), and organize them into labeled, preferably, clear bins.
Select a Rotation Schedule: Create a schedule for rotating toys. This could be weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, depending on how many toys you have and your child’s play habits.
Store Out-of-Rotation Toys: Keep toys that are not currently in use in a designated storage area. Use bins, boxes, or closet shelves to keep them organized and out of sight.
Introduce and Swap: At the start of each rotation period, introduce a new set of toys from the storage. Swap out the current toys and store them away for the next rotation.
Observe and Adjust: Pay attention to how your child interacts with the rotated toys. Adjust the rotation schedule and categories based on their interests and engagement.
8 - SIMPLIFY YOUR SCHEDULE
As moms a major source of overwhelm for us is the constant juggling act of trying to manage everyone’s schedules. Between school runs, extracurricular activities, playdates, and your own commitments, it can feel like you’re always on the go.
Minimalism can help here, too, by encouraging you to simplify your schedule and focus on what’s truly important.
Prioritize Your Commitments: Take a good, hard look at how you’re spending your time. Are there activities or commitments that you or your family members are doing only out of obligation? If so, it might be time to let them go.
Minimalism is all about focusing on what adds value to your life and letting go of the rest. By prioritizing your commitments, you can create a schedule that’s less hectic and more fulfilling.
Learn to Say No: As moms, we often feel pressured to say yes to everything, whether it’s volunteering at school, organizing a playdate, or attending yet another social event.
But here’s the thing: It’s okay to say no. In fact, learning to say no is a good thing. By only saying yes to the things that truly matter, you can protect your time and energy, making it easier to be the best mom you can be. A burned out mommy is no good for anyone.
CONCLUSION: ENGAGE AND SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE TODAY
Minimalism is a powerful tool that can transform your life as a mom. By reducing the mess, simplifying your schedule, cutting out the noise, and embracing minimalist parenting, you can create a home that’s more peaceful, a schedule that’s more manageable, and a life that’s more fulfilling.
If you’re ready to start your minimalist journey, I encourage you to begin with just one small change. Maybe it’s decluttering one room or simplifying one aspect of your schedule. Every small step you take brings you closer to a life with less stress and more joy.
I’d love to hear from you! Have you tried minimalism in your own life? What challenges or successes have you experienced? Share your thoughts, and let’s start a conversation about how minimalism can make motherhood easier for all of us.
If you like this post, share to Pinterest!
