10 Minimalist Rules That Changed My Life

Summary

The speaker shares transformative life rules that have enhanced their daily life, including the 'House on Fire' rule to declutter by assessing the necessity of possessions, the '2020 Rule' for items replaceable under $20 in 20 minutes, and the 'Box Rule' for uncertain items. They also emphasize the importance of establishing habits with the 'Two Day Rule', investing in experiences rather than material things, assigning a 'Home' for every item, and not doing things for 'Other People'. Additional rules like the '90 Rule' for high-quality purchases and commitments, the 'Two Minute Rule' for immediate tasks, and the 'Nightly Reset' for daily preparation, contribute to a more organized and intentional lifestyle.

Takeaways

• 🔥 The 'House on Fire' Rule: Realize that material possessions don't define you, and letting go of unnecessary items can lead to mental clarity and calm.
• 🗑️ The '2020 Rule': If you can replace an item for under $20 within 20 minutes, consider letting it go to declutter your life.
• 📦 The 'Box Rule': For items you're unsure about decluttering, put them in a box and revisit after six months to see if you really need them.
• 🚫 The 'Two Day Rule': Establish habits by ensuring you don't miss them two days in a row to maintain consistency.
• 💰 The 'Investing Rule': Focus on investing in experiences rather than material things, as they enrich your life and create lasting memories.
• 🏠 The 'Home Rule': Ensure every item in your home has a designated place to avoid clutter and disorganization.
• 👥 The 'Other People Rule': Recognize when you're doing things for the approval of others and prioritize your own needs and desires.
• 📈 The '90 Rule': Only commit to purchases or opportunities that are a 90 or above on your personal satisfaction scale to ensure they bring value to your life.
• ⏱️ The 'Two Minute Rule': Complete tasks that take two minutes or less immediately to prevent procrastination and maintain productivity.
• 🌙 The 'Nightly Reset': Prepare for the next day by tidying up and setting up tasks before going to bed to start fresh each morning.
• 👕 The 'Favorite Stuff': Only keep items that you love and use regularly, ensuring that everything you own is something you truly value.

Q & A

What is the 'House on Fire Rule' and how can it help in decluttering?

The 'House on Fire Rule' is a mindset where you consider whether you would be relieved or overly attached to the items you own, imagining that they were lost in a house fire. It helps in decluttering by making you realize that many possessions are not essential to your happiness, leading to a more minimalist lifestyle.

What is the '2020 Rule' and how does it apply to decluttering?

The '2020 Rule' suggests that if you can replace an item for twenty dollars in under 20 minutes, you should let it go during the decluttering process. It helps in deciding what to keep or discard by focusing on the practicality and ease of replacement.

Can you explain the 'Box Rule' for decluttering?

The 'Box Rule' involves placing items you are unsure about into a box and setting a reminder to revisit it after six months. If you haven't needed anything from the box by then, it's likely that you can either sell, donate, or discard the contents.

What is the 'Two Day Rule' and how does it help with habit formation?

The 'Two Day Rule' is a habit-forming strategy where you commit to not missing a new habit two days in a row. It helps maintain consistency in habits like reading or exercising by preventing a break in routine from becoming a habit-breaking pattern.

What is the 'Investing Rule' and how does it differ from traditional investing?

The 'Investing Rule' encourages investing in experiences rather than material possessions. It is based on the idea that experiences enrich your life more than stuff, leading to greater happiness and personal growth.

What does the 'Home Rule' suggest for organizing items in your house?

The 'Home Rule' states that every item in your house should have a designated place. If something does not have a home, it may not belong in the house, and you should consider getting rid of it to maintain organization.

What is the 'Other People Rule' and how does it affect our purchasing decisions?

The 'Other People Rule' recognizes that we often buy things to impress others or seek validation. It encourages focusing on wants versus needs and making purchases based on personal necessity rather than external opinions.

How does the '90 Rule' help in making purchasing decisions?

The '90 Rule' advises not to buy something unless it scores a 90 or above on a scale of satisfaction. This ensures that every purchase is something you truly love and will use, leading to a more curated and meaningful collection of possessions.

What is the 'Two Minute Rule' and how can it improve productivity?

The 'Two Minute Rule' suggests that if a task takes two minutes or less, it should be done immediately. This approach helps in tackling small tasks promptly, preventing procrastination and improving overall productivity.

What is the purpose of the 'Nightly Reset' and how does it contribute to a successful next day?

The 'Nightly Reset' involves preparing your environment before going to bed, such as laying out clothes, setting up tasks, and tidying up, to set yourself up for a successful and organized next day.

Outlines

00:00

🔥 The House on Fire Rule: Minimalism and Mental Clarity

The speaker introduces a personal realization about the insignificance of material possessions after losing their clothes during a trip due to a luggage mishap. They coined the 'House on Fire Rule' to signify the idea of detaching emotional attachment from belongings. This rule encourages the listener to consider the hypothetical scenario of losing all possessions and to evaluate whether they would be relieved or overly attached to their stuff. The speaker found that reducing possessions led to increased calmness and mental clarity, challenging the notion that 'stuff' owns us.

05:01

📦 Decluttering Techniques: The 2020, Box, and Two-Day Rules

The script discusses several decluttering rules that the speaker has found effective. The '2020 Rule' suggests letting go of items that can be replaced for under twenty dollars in twenty minutes, promoting a non-wasteful decluttering approach. The 'Box Rule' advises putting undecided items into a box and revisiting them after six months to determine if they are still needed, helping to trick oneself into decluttering. The 'Two-Day Rule' is a habit-forming strategy where missing a habit once is acceptable, but missing twice in a row is not, ensuring consistency in maintaining new routines. These rules collectively aim to simplify life and enhance personal well-being.

💡 Investing in Experiences Over Possessions

The speaker emphasizes the value of investing in experiences rather than material goods, which they found to be more fulfilling and less stressful. They describe how focusing on experiences, such as travel and shared activities, can lead to personal growth and lasting memories, as opposed to the temporary satisfaction derived from material purchases. The speaker also mentions the practice of gifting experiences instead of material items, which can contribute to a more meaningful and less cluttered lifestyle.

🏠 The Home Organization and 'Other People' Rules

This paragraph delves into the importance of assigning a specific place for every item in one's home to maintain organization and prevent clutter. Items without a designated place are considered unnecessary and are candidates for removal. The 'Other People Rule' addresses the tendency to acquire items for the sake of impressing others or seeking validation, rather than genuine need or personal satisfaction. The speaker encourages focusing on personal needs and desires, rather than external perceptions, when making decisions about possessions.

👕 The 90 Rule and the Two-Minute Action Principle

The '90 Rule' is introduced as a decision-making tool for both purchasing and committing to activities. The speaker only buys items or agrees to opportunities that score 90 or above on a scale of satisfaction and importance, leading to a curated collection of favorite items and a more streamlined calendar. The 'Two-Minute Rule' is a productivity hack that encourages completing tasks that take two minutes or less immediately, preventing procrastination and promoting a more organized and efficient lifestyle.

🌙 The Nightly Reset for a Productive Tomorrow

The final paragraph of the script introduces the 'Nightly Reset' routine, which involves preparing for the next day before going to bed. This includes laying out clothes, preparing the dishwasher, filling the kettle for morning coffee, and setting up reading materials. The practice of nightly preparation is presented as a life-changing habit that sets the stage for a successful and organized following day.

Keywords

💡Stuck

The term 'stuck' in the video refers to the feeling of being trapped or unable to move forward in life. It's a state of being unmotivated and without progress. The video's theme revolves around overcoming this feeling by implementing simple rules for self-improvement, as the speaker shares their personal journey from feeling stuck to finding motivation and clarity.

💡House on Fire Rule

The 'House on Fire Rule' is a metaphorical concept introduced in the video for decluttering and assessing the value of possessions. It suggests imagining all your belongings being lost in a fire and considering whether you would be relieved or attached to them. This rule is central to the video's theme of simplifying life and focusing on what truly matters.

💡Decluttering

Decluttering is the process of removing unnecessary items from one's living space to create a more organized and less stressful environment. In the video, the speaker uses decluttering as a metaphor for simplifying life and letting go of material possessions that do not contribute to happiness or well-being.

💡2020 Rule

The '2020 Rule' is a decluttering strategy mentioned in the video, which suggests getting rid of items that can be replaced for under twenty dollars in twenty minutes. This rule helps in identifying and letting go of unnecessary items that do not hold significant value, thus simplifying one's life.

💡Box Rule

The 'Box Rule' is another decluttering technique discussed in the video. It involves placing items you are unsure about into a box and setting a reminder to revisit them after a set period, typically six months. If you haven't needed anything from the box by then, it's a sign that you can let go of those items without affecting your life significantly.

💡Two-Day Rule

The 'Two-Day Rule' is a habit-forming strategy where one commits to not missing a new habit two days in a row. It's used in the video to maintain consistency in habits like reading or exercising. This rule is crucial for building and sustaining positive habits over time.

💡Investing Rule

The 'Investing Rule' in the video emphasizes the importance of investing in experiences rather than material possessions. The speaker suggests that experiences, such as travel and learning, lead to personal growth and lasting memories, unlike material items that often lose their appeal over time.

💡Home Rule

The 'Home Rule' is a principle that everything in one's home should have a designated place. If an item does not have a 'home,' it may not belong in the house. This rule helps in maintaining order and reducing clutter by ensuring that every item has its place, contributing to a more organized and peaceful living environment.

💡Two-Minute Rule

The 'Two-Minute Rule' is a productivity hack mentioned in the video, which advises doing tasks that take two minutes or less immediately. This approach helps in tackling small tasks quickly, preventing them from piling up and causing stress or procrastination.

💡Nightly Reset

The 'Nightly Reset' is a routine the speaker follows before going to bed, which involves preparing for the next day by organizing the house, setting up tasks, and creating an environment conducive to starting the day right. This routine is part of the video's overarching message on the importance of setting up for success and maintaining a clear and organized life.

💡90 Rule

The '90 Rule' is a decision-making criterion used in the video for both purchasing items and accepting opportunities or invitations. It suggests that one should only proceed if the item or opportunity is a '90' or above on a scale of satisfaction or enthusiasm. This rule helps in making more intentional choices and avoiding unnecessary commitments or purchases.

💡Other People's Rule

The 'Other People's Rule' refers to the tendency of doing things for the sake of others' opinions or validation. The video discusses the importance of focusing on one's own needs and desires rather than making decisions based on what others might think, which can lead to a more authentic and fulfilling life.

Highlights

The realization that material possessions do not define happiness after losing luggage during a trip.

The practice of decluttering by questioning attachment to belongings and their impact on personal well-being.

The 2020 rule for decluttering items that can be replaced easily and inexpensively.

The Box rule for temporarily storing items to assess their necessity over time.

The Two-day rule for maintaining consistency in habits without the pressure of perfection.

The Investing rule, which emphasizes investing in experiences over material possessions for long-term happiness.

The Home rule for ensuring that every item in the house has a designated place to prevent clutter.

The Other people rule for recognizing and reducing the influence of others' opinions on personal decisions.

The 90 rule for evaluating the necessity and quality of purchases and commitments.

The Two-minute rule for completing small tasks immediately to prevent procrastination and increase productivity.

The Nightly reset for preparing the next day's environment and routine for success.

The importance of letting go of 'just in case' items that accumulate without being used.

The strategy of setting reminders to reevaluate stored items and potentially declutter them.

The benefits of investing in experiences such as travel over material goods for personal growth and memories.

The practice of assigning a specific place for every item in the home to maintain organization and reduce clutter.

The recognition of the psychological impact of seeking validation from others and the shift towards personal needs.

The method of evaluating opportunities and purchases based on a '90 or above' criteria for high personal value.

The technique of using the Two-minute rule to tackle small tasks immediately, leading to a more organized and productive lifestyle.

The routine of preparing for the next day before going to bed to ensure a smooth and successful start.

Transcripts

I used to feel really stuck in my life

and unmotivated I'd always try these

extreme things to change my life 30 day

challenges that I saw other people doing

but over the past few years I've built

some small simple rules for myself that

have really improved my day-to-day life

and I hope it can improve yours as well

the house on fire rule recently on our

trip through Europe British Airways lost

our luggage we kept our backpacks but we

lost all of our clothes and it was at

that point I had a really cool

realization I didn't really care about

any of that stuff it didn't make any

difference to me if I never saw all my

clothes again it wouldn't really matter

so I've been practicing this rule

recently and the rule is think about

your attic or your closet your storage

unit whatever it is what would happen if

it just went away it evaporated Into

Thin Air your house burned down and you

lost all that stuff would you actually

be relieved are you overly attached to

it does your stuff actually kind of own

you a little bit for me I had this

realization there's a few things in my

house that I wouldn't love to lose for

the most part it wouldn't really affect

me as a person my happiness levels

anything if my house burned down and

that's a really freaking concept because

the stuff we own ends up owning us so

the more stuff I've gotten rid of the

more like calm and mental Clarity of

ended up having in my life the 2020 rule

or just in case I think I first heard

this rule from the minimalist but

especially in my beginning stages of

decluttering when I was going through a

bunch of stuff and I realized that we

have so many things that we hang on to

for just in case just in case people

come over just in case I need to make 18

cups of coffee at once just in case I go

up a size or I go down a size we've got

all of this stuff for just in case so as

you're decluttering you're trying to

figure out what to get rid of if you can

replace an item for twenty dollars in

under 20 minutes then just let it go

obviously without being wasteful but

when I've used this Rule and I've

exercised this there really hasn't been

one thing that I've actually needed to

replace so if you're on the edge with

something use the 2020 rule if it fits

in there just let it go the Box rule

this Rule and actually the last two are

my absolute favorite rules so make sure

you stick around for those but the Box

rule kind of expands on the last one

where if you're going through

decluttering stuff you're unsure about

it maybe it doesn't fit in the 2020 rule

throw it in a box put it in your attic

put it in the garage and set a reminder

on your phone for like six months from

now that you will go through that box

and decide that so this is for the

people who have a hard time getting rid

of stuff and you're like well I'm not

getting rid of it I'm just putting it in

a box and when that time comes maybe six

months from now and you realize that you

haven't gone to that box because clearly

you didn't need anything out of it you

have two choices you can either go

through it and decide to sell or

declutter it or you can just take the

entire box and donate the entire box

because clearly you don't need anything

that's in there so if you want to trick

yourself into cluttering this is a great

by the way if you're enjoying this and

getting some value don't forget to

subscribe it's free and I only post once

a week so I won't clutter up your

YouTube feed the two day rule I'm pretty

sure I already originally learned this

one from Matt this rule is super simple

it's pretty much that you're not going

to miss a new habit two days in a row

for me I use this a couple different

ways I read a page of a book every

single morning and it's okay if I miss

one day because I've got an appointment

in the morning or whatever's going on

but I can never miss two days in a row

and that has kept that habit extremely

consistent for over a year now I also

use this with going to the gym where I'm

going to do some type of exercise every

day and it's okay if I miss one day but

I can never miss two in a row but it

also keeps you from like falling off the

bandwagon for habits that you really

want to keep the investing rule this is

a rule that I've like followed but I

don't I don't really know what to call

it if you have any ideas let me know I

just called it the investor rule but

pretty much instead of investing into

stuff into into random books what is

this hence Christian Andersen I didn't

even know we had that these are Meredith

books by the way we should be investing

into experiences investing into stuff

has generally led me to being more like

stressed it all takes up space and my

mind it doesn't really make me happy

even when you buy a new car it's cool

for a little bit and then it's just a

car again same thing with clothes and

most things but experiences really help

change you as a person they're great

memory they help you learn and expand

your horizons so I've been really

focusing on taking that money that I'm

not spending on stuff and investing it

into travel for holidays we gift each

other experiences instead of gifting

each other like random crap that we

don't need and that should be like

literally in our budget is to invest

money and experiences

have a home rule I really gotta get

better at naming these things this is

this is embarrassing if stuff does not

have a home in my house I just get rid

of it since I took the time and I found

a place for everything to go I've

stopped losing my wallet stop losing my

keys my phone has a place to go all my

clothes have places to go all the toys

have places that they go everything in

my house has a place where it belongs

and if it doesn't have a place where it

belongs it probably does not belong in

my house and because it'll end up on the

counter it'll end up strewn all over the

place and if it doesn't have a place

strongly consider getting rid of it like

this is just a good overall rule that if

it doesn't have a place where it belongs

and it's always just sitting around you

probably don't need it other people rule

a lot of times we do things either

consciously or subconsciously for other

people when we're getting the newest

iPhone it's partly because we want that

new flashy thing but it's partly because

you can kind of show off it's cool to

have it's a status simple same thing

with maybe a pair of shoes or a car or

the house in the neighborhood or closed

part of it's for you and part of it is

for other people even like posting to

social media unless it's like for work a

lot of that is just to get some

validation from your day for other

people and kind of make yourself feel

better because maybe you're not having a

great day and you want people to tell

you how great you look or how hard

you're working or or whatever so this

one actually took me a while to get out

of but instead of worrying about what

other people think especially when I'm

buying stuff I've been really focusing

on wants versus needs is this something

that I actually need or do I want it

because X Y and Z because maybe people

think it's cool like when I spilled

water on my laptop I realize that I

didn't need a second laptop I was able

to share Meredith's for like a year

almost and then when we went to travel

and I needed to edit while I was

traveling I bought a laptop because I

needed it not because it was like ah

that'd be cool to have I don't really

care what other people think I'm doing

what is best for me I don't really care

the 90 rule I use this rule two

different ways first when I'm looking at

stuff to buy I try not to buy it unless

it is a 90 or above so 1 out of 100 does

this shirt reach a 90 for me does it fit

well will I wear it a ton and if it's

below there I'm not gonna buy it and as

a result every shirt that I own is my

favorite shirt I can reach my hand in

grab it I love it I used to have a lot

of stuff that was maybe 60 70 and be

like oh that's pretty cool yeah I like

that yeah it's not bad and I never wore

it because I would wear my favorite

stuff and now everything's my favorite

stuff and since I found all my favorite

stuff I I don't really buy anything

anymore so that's really strict criteria

to buy pretty much everything in your

house and while sometimes that might

mean spending a little more money to get

a more quality thing in the long run at

least for me I've spent a lot less money

because I don't shop ever like for

anything like obviously I need some

stuff but I I don't like cycle through

anything anymore and then the second way

to use this is when somebody asks you to

do something an opportunity comes up is

that a 90 yearbook is it a heck yes and

if it's not then it's a no and doing

that has cleared up my calendar

incredibly I do so much less stuff now

the two minute rule I think I've done a

whole video on this let's give you the

quick version life-changing rule if

something takes two minutes or less just

do it put away the dishes clean up your

room bring that thing upstairs that's

been sitting on the staircase for a

month finish that repair put on your

workout clothes and go sit in the car

only commit to the smallest thing

possible and by doing that you'll trick

yourself into doing the big stuff and

you just clear up like a bunch of crap

that you've been avoiding the nightly

reset every night before bed I walk

through and I reset my house I lay out

my clothes for the night before I load

or unload the dishwasher so we never

leave any dishes around fill up my

Kettle so that I can make coffee by just

clicking the button in the morning I lay

out the book that I'm going to read I

set up my next day for Success the night

before and it's been life-changing

almost as life-changing as subscribing

to this channel because trying to hit

half a million by the end of the year so

thank you to everybody who has

subscribed and I'll see you next week