While my desire to adopt a more minimalist lifestyle stemmed from a need to gain serenity in my mind, when I first became interested in Zero Waste, I was primarily motivated by a desire to make an ecological contribution to the planet.

But as I put it into practice, I realized that not only could I serve a cause close to my heart, but that it also had a real positive impact on my well-being at home. I discovered a “serenity” dimension to Zero Waste, beyond the personal satisfaction of making choices in line with my values.

Back to basics, back to nature

The bathroom should be a place where you can take your time, pamper yourself and reconcile with yourself. It should invite serenity, not the opposite.

Choosing to de-clutter my bathroom and focus on reusables, the right materials and natural ingredients quickly became an obvious choice for me, not only as a mother of children, but also as an overbooked woman who needs to simplify her life.

Reducing the number of products to my essentials allows me to prepare more efficiently, while keeping some essential time for myself.

Choosing simple and/or natural options allows my children to imitate me without me worrying about their health, as well as taking no risks for myself.

A minimalist bathroom lets me quickly see what I have and what I’ll soon no longer have, it also saves me money, and lets me enjoy the daily time I give myself in this room.

In short, it’s like adding simplicity and purity to my daily life.

Two gradual phases

As with any lasting change, it’s important to go gradually, staying connected to what resonates within you. Don’t make decisions because someone tells you “it’s better this way”, make a decision because it resonates with you and the idea of this change transports you in a positive way!

1 – DECLUTTER
The first step is to declutter your bathroom. As I tell all my coaching clients, everyone has their own version of minimalism: keep only what you need and what makes you happy. You don’t have to justify it!

Take a photo first
This may seem an odd tip, but it’s one that will increase your satisfaction tenfold in the end. It’s easy to forget what a room looked like before you tidied it up!

Sort by category
It all depends on how your bathroom is organized, but I recommend sorting by category to save time (make-up, medicines, skincare products and creams, appliances of all kinds…).

Need a helping hand to declutter methodically? Get my decluttering program in Notion

Save glass or stainless steel containers that could be reused before throwing them out
Even if you don’t know if you’re going to use a container again, save it (unless it’s plastic).

For my part, I’ve reduced the amount of make-up I use by realizing and admitting that I use almost nothing on a daily basis, and I’ve also stopped saving products “just in case” or for special occasions. I can’t even give you examples, because I don’t miss it and I don’t know what I used to have!

2 – MAKING A SMOOTH TRANSITION
Before you begin your transition to minimalism or Zero Waste, give yourself time to make the journey. It’s important to stay connected to what really resonates with you.

For my part, the first Zero Waste transition I made was to invest in a beautiful stainless steel razor instead of disposable razors (over 3 years ago, already!). Only the blade has to be changed, 1 or 2 times a year (which saves money, too!).

Since then, following my instincts and desires, I’ve :

Gave up cotton pads and switched to washable ones.
Gave up shower gel and switched to solid soaps.
Gave up make-up remover and switched to vegetable oils on absorbent cotton.
Gave up classic cotton buds for biodegradable children’s cotton buds.
Gave up the classic deodorant for a solid cream
Gave up plastic toothbrushes for compostable bamboo toothbrushes.

I’m delighted to have made all these lasting changes for a healthier, simpler bathroom. It’s not “perfect”, but I’m not striving for that either! I’m simply trying to be aligned with my choices while contributing to a cause that’s dear to me. I continue to evolve, to move forward, to listen to myself, for a life aligned with my values.

How do you feel in your bathroom? Is it a place where you feel serene? Is it a place that invites you to take your time?