Combat Stress with Minimalism: 3-Day Challenge
Combat Stress with Minimalism: 3-Day Challenge
How can you combat stress with minimalism? First, give yourself grace for the season you are in.
My family is 54 days into our Floridian “shelter-in-place” life. What’s your count? Have you lost count?
I think today is Wednesday. And when did May happen?
Years before 2020, God began to whisper a calling into our hearts. One that looked oddly different than the life we were chasing.
We were glorifying busy. We were on the hunt for prestige. And we wanted quick success and the right to brag about such achievement. It’s the American way, right?
The one who gets to the top first wins. The one who has more is hailed. And, unfortunately, the one who looks the most aesthetically pleasing during it all gets the loudest applause.
How can we combat stress with minimalism?
Thank goodness we decided to listen to God and do things differently (and thank goodness I didn’t fall for the trap that every picture I shared had to be perfect)
We want to give you a small surprise. In the spirit of introducing a 3-Day Challenge to combat stress with minimalism, here is an excerpt from our upcoming book, Love Fast Live Slow (LFLS), that we feel fits quite well.
‘“Humanity is overwhelmed with feelings of distress now more than ever. The world is looking for a solution to the angst.
A trending solution to this overarching misalignment is to fill our lives with more. More stuff. More money. More exercise. More volunteering. More prestige. We look outward to satisfy our hunger for happiness.
When the pendulum swings too far in our pursuit for more, it leads us to counter that busyness with a desperate evacuation: having less, doing less, spending less, conquering less.
However, owning less or doing less is still an external solution to an internal problem.”
This 3-Day Challenge is not a solution to any internal angst you feel.
It’s merely an external expression of you clearing out excessive or unnecessary objects from your life and home. It really can be therapeutic.
What is minimalism?
Before we give you the challenge, let’s make sure we are all on the same page. What is minimalism?
1. a trend in sculpture and painting that arose in the 1950s and used simple, typically massive, forms.
2. an avant-garde movement in music characterized by the repetition of very short phrases which change gradually, producing a hypnotic effect. (dictionary.com)
Typically, one associates minimalism with simple or small quantities of material possessions. That is not inaccurate. But I apply it deeper.
Minimalism to yours truly is a way of life. A way of seeing the world. I choose to live with low maintenance up keep, with a down-to-earth personality and a simple list of things that bring me joy.
Like waking up slowly. I drink my tea while listening to a piano station on Pandora. Playing a board game with the kids (albeit they fight the entire time).
Raising a business and nurturing three kids is not a walk in the park. My days are rarely quiet or on task. However, I’ve had to sharpen my skills in self-discipline to keep a LFLS attitude alive. It takes work, believe you me.
Take this 3-Day Challenge to combat stress with minimalism:
This may be easy for some but it takes being very intentional to use what ya got. I’m talking random drive-thru’s, quick Amazon purchases, even bribery trinket toys for your kids.
None of that for the next 3 days. It all adds up and a sure fire way to feel less stress is to get a better handle on your spending habits.
On day 4, ease back into what MOST important but note where every penny goes.
Today and tomorrow try to use the same few dishes. Try to re-wear clothes that aren’t dirty. Try to minimize your footprint by recycling what you can. Try to make a mental note of the things in your home that are not of daily necessity.
Is your home full of things that you never use? Is your closet overflowing with outfits you should have donated years ago? Are your shelves cluttered?
Those old shoes that you will never wear again, why are you keeping them? I know some things hold sentimental value. But perhaps it’s time to let the value come elsewhere.
Get creative and use less of anything you can.
You heard me right. And hearing is essentially what we are working on today. Many moments are missed because we are saying too much.
What if you took today to listen to your kids play? What if today you didn’t nag your spouse about your pet peeves (tough)?
Take today to speak less and think more. It’s a beautiful practice to process your thoughts and allow introspection to develop confidence in your choices.
Without saying a word, do a few nice things for your family or friends.
No need to explain or brag. Just be kind.
As you can see, these 3 tasks can build off one another. It adds up and by the last day of this challenge, you may have some new revelations to share with us.
Tell us below if you took this 3-Day Challenge! Did it help you decrease stress in your life? Perhaps you sprouted some new ideas of loving fast and living slow.
PS. If this 3-Day Challenge helped you, don’t miss the chance to learn more about our Love Fast Live Slow book.
I am so excited for this 3 day challenge. I have been living in a whirlwind of emotions and stress and this is honestly just what I needed. I am starting tomorrow and am over joyed to take this step!! Thank you for offering this simple yet inspiring challenge.
Love and Blessings!
Jenn Amerson
@Jenn it is so amazing hearing you share about your stressful season — yet pushing through and doing the right thing. How did your 3-Day Challenge go? Also, I’d love to send you a copy of our favorite minimalism book. Can you email me your address: laura@lovefastliveslow.com