# 90/90 Minimalism Rule

Source: https://www.theminimalists.com/ninety/
Published: 2015-03-18
Updated: 2024-06-12
Author: The Minimalists

---

Rules can be arbitrary, restrictive, boring—but they are often helpful when we hope to make a change.

Whenever we attempt to simplify our lives, we often get stuck before we get started. When faced with a hoard of possessions—some useful, others not—it is difficult to determine what adds value and what we’re holding on to [just in case](https://theminimalists.com/in-case), which makes letting go nearly impossible without some sort of rules to move us in the right [direction](https://theminimalists.com/direction).

Here’s one that has worked for us: Look at a possession. Pick something. Anything. Have you used that item in the last 90 days? If you haven’t, will you use it in the next 90? If not, then it’s okay to [let go](https://theminimalists.com/letgo/).

Maybe *your* rule isn’t 90 days. Maybe it’s 120. Maybe it’s six months. Whatever your rule, be honest with yourself. If your material possessions don’t serve a purpose or bring you joy, then they are likely in the way of a more [meaningful life](https://theminimalists.com/lml).

***Read this essay and 150 others in our book,*****[Essential](https://amzn.to/2i0oIhJ)*****.***

#### You May Also Enjoy

 [How to Start a Successful Blog Today](https://www.theminimalists.com/blog/)

Learn how to start a blog in less than an hour. Follow the step-by-step instructions we used when starting our blog, which now has reached more than 20 million people. Creating this blog is one of the best decisions Ryan and I ever made. After all, our blog is how we earn a living. More important, it's how we add value to other people's lives. [Read more](https://www.theminimalists.com/blog/)

 [30-Day Minimalism Game](https://www.theminimalists.com/game/)

Let's play a simple game together. We call it the 30-Day Minimalism Game. Find a friend, family member, or coworker who's willing to minimize their stuff with you next month. [Read more](https://www.theminimalists.com/game/)

 [11 Ways to Write Better](https://www.theminimalists.com/eleven/)

We are all writers now. Whether you write books, blog posts, emails, Instagram captions, or text messages, you are a writer. No matter your preferred medium, here are a few tips to help you write more effectively. [Read more](https://www.theminimalists.com/eleven/)

Subscribe to The Minimalists via [email](https://www.theminimalists.com/subscribe/).