Minimalism has evolved. It’s not about clearing out closets, removing clutter from your countertops, donating a few things, and finding an excuse to buy that cool Rothko-style print you’ve had your eye on. Now, it’s about something deeper. It’s about paring down the mental, emotional, and habitual clutter that we carry with us through our day.
The things we own — our physical objects — weigh us down. We become attached to them because they are psychologically connected to the time, place, and who we were when we bought them. For some, getting rid of objects feels like getting rid of a memory, and that makes it feel like we are letting go of a part of our identity.
The truth is we treat our thoughts the same way. And you’d better believe that they are way heavier than any object we own. But — like with physical minimalism — if we can learn to let go of our looping worries, outgrown habits, and unprocessed emotions, we can bring a spaciousness into our lives that provides an unmatched level of freedom, peacefulness, and clarity.
Applying minimalism from the inside out
Step 1: Simplify your thoughts
Our minds are amazing processing machines. But they’re hoarders. Old worries, random to-dos, bad memories, existential dread—it all piles up, adding noise and tension to our mental landscape. To start clearing away some of that clutter, try these two exercises:
- Mind sweep: Each morning, do a “mind sweep” by writing down everything floating in your head. No structure, no rules — just empty it all out on paper. Think of this like dusting your kitchen table, wiping your countertops, or brushing off your front porch. It’s a way to invite the freshness of today by clearing out what yesterday left behind.
- Set thought boundaries: Become aware of when your mind spins off into unproductive loops and gently steer it back. When you notice this happening, consciously slow down and choose to point your focus elsewhere. Doing this is a way to keep your mind from going down a rabbit hole of distraction. Be stubborn about it. No matter how many times the negative thought arises, keep pointing your focus at another task, thought, or action. Eventually, the unhelpful thought will evaporate.
Step 2: Release old habits
We often hold on to habits that don’t serve us anymore, staying stuck in these routines because they’re familiar or we think they define us. But minimalism asks us to let go of what’s unnecessary, freeing up space for us to live lighter lives. Mental minimalism is no different. By releasing old habits, we will allow who we are today to thrive by saying goodbye to what we grasp that is no longer in alignment.
- Evaluate your routines: Look at the small, daily habits you follow without thinking. Ask yourself if they’re still contributing to your well-being or if they’re just running on autopilot. If you notice you’re doing things “just because,” then stop. Like ordinary minimalism, if your behaviors aren’t serving a positive purpose, then you should let them go.
- Replace, don’t just remove: Of course, no one is expecting you to get rid of all your habits because some habits are good—great, even. Mental minimalism is about letting go of outdated habits and replacing them with helpful ones. For example, you could replace endless scrolling with 10 minutes of intentional breathing or a short walk. Rather than firing up Netflix before bed, spend that time stretching so you’ll sleep well and feel good the next day.
Step 3: Let go of emotional baggage
Minimalism also helps us release emotional weight. Mentally hoarding past disappointments, negative ways of thinking of ourselves, toxic relationships, and unresolved feelings can create invisible clutter that shapes our experience of the present. Learning to identify, release, and move on from these thoughts is not only a beautiful form of healing but a way to positively alter your view of the future.
- Name what you’re holding: Sometimes, simply identifying what you’re carrying—anger, regret, sadness—can be enough to start letting it go. When you feel a negative emotion or thought, sit with it for a moment. Don’t immediately shut it down. Get curious. Allow yourself to feel it. Let it speak to you. By doing this, you’ll be able to hear what your subconscious is trying to get you to process, and that’s the first step to letting go.
- Practice small releases: Instead of aiming to “move on” from something entirely, start with small releases. Realistically, it takes a while for heavy thoughts to process. You often have to go through multiple rounds of noticing them, sitting with them, and intentionally letting them go before they are gone for good. Journaling, meditation, or focused self-reflection can help you process emotions in gentle and manageable ways.