The Benefits of Minimalism
Is your garage really for your car, or has it become a storage unit? Worse yet, do you have so much stuff that you’re actually renting a storage unit? How stressed are you at the clutter in your home? Do you struggle to stay organized?
Every day, we are inundated with advertisements telling us what we should own and what we should buy. All over our social media, there is a celebrity or a business with an opinion on what our homes should look like, what our wardrobes should look like, what our lives should look like. It is not just appearances, either; in 1990 the annual consumer spending in the US was $28,000. In 2022, it had jumped to $72,000. Every year we spend more and more on items that will supposedly improve our lives and make us feel complete. And every year, those items accumulate as we buy more and more.
Take a Break from Consumption and Embrace Minimalism
Wouldn’t it be nice to take a break from consumption – to find peace and contentment with what you already have? What if we could ignore the ads constantly taking our attention and focus instead on what truly matters in our lives?
Minimalism is one answer to this growing consumerism problem, but it is an often overlooked tool to combat these problems. Only 17% of Americans describe themselves as minimalists, but 23% reported that they would like to be. Many believe that minimalism takes too much work and that they simply don’t have the time to pursue it. Others believe that wanting things and wanting to buy things is just a part of their personality and not something they can change. Whatever the reason, so many people who want to simplify their lives believe that it is impossible. Fortunately, minimalism is not really what most people envision.
Minimalism Is about Intention
Minimalism is not just about getting rid of your possessions. It is about intentionally choosing to focus on what you want, rather than what the world says you should want. It provides physical and emotional benefits to you and those around you. There is a direct link between clutter and higher levels of cortisol, your primary stress hormone. The less you own, the less clutter there is, and the less you stress. Another study found that the more that is in your visual field, the harder it is to focus and be productive; minimalism, then, helps increase that productivity and your ability to get things done in a shorter amount of time. Overall, minimalism has been found to increase a general sense of well-being; a review of studies on minimalism found that those who identified as minimalists felt a great sense of well-being and satisfaction with their lives. These are only a few of the benefits that come with minimalism, and they can make a significant impact on your life.
Getting Started with Minimalism
Minimalism is not a one-size-fits-all; it can be tailored to your specific experiences and needs. When getting started, it is very important to think about why you are pursuing minimalism and what you are hoping to get out of it. Laying out these goals can help support your path. Then, for many the next step is to start decluttering. Go through your house room by room and really look at what you own. Do you actually want all of this stuff? Do you use it daily, or does it bring you great joy? You don’t have to get rid of something just because it’s not “useful.”
As you declutter, you can donate what you don’t need or want anymore. As you do this, you may discover why you continue to feel compelled to buy more things. It can be therapeutic.
Our external environment is often symbolic of our internal environment. As you comb through the external, you’ll find yourself looking inward as well. This process will not be completed all in one day. It is a journey, and you will find great benefit from the whole process.
Whatever your goals are with minimalism, the most important thing you can do is to get started. Do not worry about following a specific path or plan; work in whatever way is best for you and your family. This is your journey towards a happier, healthier you, less stressful you.