10 Things Minimalists Do Every Morning To Keep Their Homes Neat And Tidy

Starting your day on the right foot is a delicate balance of relaxation and productivity. You want time to enjoy your coffee, but you also likely have all sorts of tasks that are vying for your attention first thing in the morning. If you're hoping to find a little more peace and order, now may be the right time to take a page from the minimalists' rule book. Whether you realize it or not, people who live in alignment with minimalism (which prioritizes intentionality, not having too many physical possessions, and regularly using what you have) have a number of practices they employ every single day that help to keep their homes and lives running smoothly.

If having a neat and tidy house sounds like something you want, you can integrate several of these actions into your morning routine — and the good news is that none of them takes too long or requires you to purchase anything new. Some simple minimalist tricks to keep your home operating well are to make your bed as soon as you wake up, round up laundry that is cluttering up the floors, and manage waste. With just a bit of effort and resolve, you'll soon be on your way to a home that would make any minimalist proud.

Making your bed as soon as you wake up is one of the most basic tidying principles, but it is also highly effective at making the space look neater. As soon as you make your bed, it signals a sense of bringing order to your life in a real, tangible way. It's why minimalist giants, such as Joshua Becker, are such proponents of this ritual. Want to take your bed-making to the next level? Here's how to make your bed the right way according to designer Emily Henderson.

Mornings are often movement-heavy parts of the day. Whether you have kids to get out the door to school or you're rushing to work yourself, it's common to have a bit of a mess first thing. One minimalist tip to keep your home tidy is to put things where they belong once everyone is on their way; any shared family space (like the living room or foyer) can have a quick reset each and every morning. Put remote controls away, fold blankets that have been balled up, and put away shoes.

Folding your laundry might not seem like an inherently minimalist thing to do, but this mundane task can easily be taken to the next level. When you fold your family's laundry, you are getting up close and personal with every item of clothing. This makes it easier to see what items need to be taken out of rotation, such as a sock that is missing a match or a ripped pair of jeans. If you see something that isn't worthy of being worn again, toss it out right away. Then, proceed with putting folded items away.

Laundry is one chore that seems to never end (especially if you live with several other individuals or are a part of a family). One minimalist trick that will help your home stay tidy every morning is to go around the house and round up any laundry that has been left on the floor after everyone showers and gets changed. If it's something that will be worn again, pick it up, and add it to the basket to fold and return to the right place. If it's dirty enough to be washed, it goes into the hamper.

A clear surface might seem out of reach for you, but this is something that many minimalists prioritize. In the morning, after you've had a chance to wash dishes, empty the dishwasher, and drink your coffee, spend a few minutes clearing countertops by tossing random debris, wiping surfaces, and hiding small appliances for a clutter-free kitchen. This can look different for each person, depending on how minimalist you like your home (some people even put their coffee makers into a cabinet until the next morning). The important thing is to keep your counters as clear as possible.

Paper clutter has a way of accumulating at alarmingly fast rates. Whether it's your child's completed worksheets, junk mail, bills you have paid, or receipts from your last grocery trip, the best way to stay on top of these excessive papers is to sort through them on a regular basis. Adding this organizing ritual to your mornings won't take long but can help bring order to your home.

We live in an age of hyper-consumerism, where everything you could possibly want for your life is just a click away. All of those Amazon Prime orders, however, have an unpleasant side effect: a plethora of cardboard boxes. If you want to keep your home tidy, spend a few minutes each morning breaking down any boxes that have started to pile up, and take them out to the bin with the rest of the recycling. This will prevent your home from being inundated by piles of empty boxes and a lengthier break-down session in the future.

Even when you aren't going to run the dishwasher right away, it's imperative to get your dirty dishes out of the way if you're hoping for a tidy home. Rather than leaving your dishes in the sink to soak, rinse them as soon as possible and load them into the dishwasher. You'll be one step closer to a clean kitchen when it comes time to run the load, and you'll keep messy visuals and dirty plate smells out of the way.

Some people like to empty their trash cans in the evenings after dinner. But if you aren't in the habit of doing it every night, it might be time to adopt it in the mornings. Emptying your trash regularly will keep your home operating efficiently without ever getting backed up (which can lead to unpleasant effects like flies and trash odors).

If you're truly wanting your home to stay neat and tidy, adopt a simple cleaning method that'll keep your home sparkling clean. There's no need to employ fancy equipment or cleaners — a spray bottle of vinegar and water and a rag or microfiber cloth can accomplish a lot of cleaning, especially if you do a quick wipe-down every day. Wipe down windows, surfaces, and bathroom areas that tend to get grimy to keep your house feeling fresh in the morning and make your regular cleaning routine quick and effortless.