There are many couples out there whose core beliefs don’t always coincide. There are vegans and vegetarians married to meat eaters, Christians engaged to atheists and there are of course- minimalists who are in love with partners who would consider themselves the exact opposite. So, what happens if you fall into the latter category? Here are my top tips to keep the peace in this situation.
Don't throw away their things
Focus on your own space- If you have your own wardrobe, set of drawers, bedside cabinet and or room in the house- you have complete control over these areas, so focus on these as they are the ones that don’t affect your lover in any way.
Set by example- Minimalism can be infectious, so if your partner sees how much easier it is for you to find things and how much neater your space looks, they might naturally follow suit. If they do- encourage them every step of the way.
Talk about your motivations- If they ask you why you have decided to adopt this lifestyle- have a healthy discussion about it so they can understand it from your point of view. They may not agree, but they will be able to see things from your perspective.
Don’t throw away their stuff- Although the temptation might be there, their things are their things and it’s up to them what they do with them. They will lose trust in you if you suddenly start and get rid of their belongings behind their back.
Encourage them when they declutter- Even the messiest of people reach a point where they want to sort out their homes- even if it’s only once a year. Be present while they do it and praise them for being able to let go of their items. If they see it as a positive process, they may wish to keep paring down their items.
Help them to organise- If they aren’t ready to get rid of their things- you can suggest better storage solutions for their items, so they can locate their belongings more easily and have a sense of order to their designated spaces. Be mindful not to push too hard for this if they are totally against it.
Acceptance- You may never convert them to your way of thinking, and they may not lean towards it either. If this is the case, you need to find a happy medium. Come to an agreement that their things won’t encroach on your spaces and that you wont force minimalism on them if it’s definitely not for them. You need to agree to disagree and live as best you can in your joint space because all relationships are about compromise.
Tagged in Minimalism Declutter Decluttering