Parenting is a unique journey filled with sleepless nights, being on call 24/7, and occasional funny moments. You might get feedback on your cooking, find yourself playing pretend as the babysitter, or even forget to put on deodorant – oops! Amid all this, it’s easy to feel tired and overwhelmed.
What if we redefine perfection and let go of some unfinished tasks? Maybe there are things we don’t need to do; we just need to release them. Embracing minimalism has helped me identify what’s unnecessary, allowing me to parent without feeling burdened by unnecessary baggage.
Less Multi-tasking
Being a mom often involves multitasking, but more doesn’t always mean better! If you’re feeling overwhelmed, think about this: you might be just as happy, or even happier, by decluttering half of your belongings and cutting 40% of activities from your schedule. Simplify to beat multitasking burnout.
Better mental health
Not getting enough sleep for months can make you feel really unwell. For me, motherhood has been one of the toughest tests for my mental health. Parenting is often mentally exhausting. Many of us aim for the impossible idea of being the “perfect mother.” By reducing responsibilities, possessions, and activities, you can see the unrealistic expectations you’ve set for yourself and understand how they impact your mental well-being. When we take on too much, own more than we can handle, and schedule activities every single day, it affects how we experience motherhood.
Better finances
All parents want to support their children financially. Sometimes, we aim to give them everything we didn’t have when we were kids. Minimalism helps you prioritize spending on things that truly matter and bring value. When you adopt a minimalist approach, you understand that buying another toy won’t necessarily improve your child’s life or make them happier, especially if they already have plenty of toys.
Fewer distractions
I don’t know about you, but I get easily distracted. Being a parent comes with constant interruptions – you have to stop what you’re doing and attend to your child’s needs. There are already enough unavoidable distractions. So, why add non-essential distractions by keeping a home filled with unnecessary stuff? It becomes overwhelming, causing stress and making it challenging to focus on our main purpose – caring for our children. Adopting minimalism in parenting means getting rid of distractions that don’t really matter.
You will model what matters
That old saying, “Do as I say, not as I do,” doesn’t work well. Kids learn from our actions. When you consistently show the habits that truly matter, you’re teaching and nurturing what is important to them. When you purposefully reject unnecessary things, you’re also demonstrating what holds real value.
Change the balance of your ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ Saying ‘yes’ to unnecessary stuff means saying ‘no’ to the things that truly matter. Saying ‘no’ to busyness and excess allows you to say ‘yes’ to meaningful requests from your children.
More time for what matters
You might find yourself repeating, “I didn’t get to it yet.” When you’re tired of all the things left undone, consider that some of them may not need to be done at all. Maybe it’s time to let go.
Minimalism in motherhood doesn’t solve everything, but it can be a better way to face challenges. Getting rid of many possessions made me more aware of other things in my life that needed decluttering.
I don’t have to have it all, do it all, and be it all. Trying to meet society’s expectations of a super mom just leaves me exhausted. Embracing a more minimalist lifestyle helps create space for my values, passion, and purpose in life.
Perhaps it could do the same for you, too?
