A simple lifestyle

Minimalism is not a new trend. However, it’s become popular in recent years since more and more people are taking up this lifestyle to escape the hustle and bustle of the daily routine. 

People are getting tired of cluttered houses, piling up debts, and the idea that nowadays devices are meant to be thrown away after a couple of years so you need to run desperately to the store to replace them with the latest model.

As a consequence of this stressful lifestyle, many people have decided to live simpler with peace of mind and have time to do what they truly love.

What’s minimalism?

Minimalism is a matter of a simple lifestyle: living with less. We live in a consumerist society and we were basically brought up to keep up with the Joneses. As a consequence, people live stressfully, paying mortgages, and credit cards their entire life. In most cases, it’s really hard to pay off debts and financial burdens start to arise.

These are signs that a lifestyle and mindset change is necessary for a better way of living. In other words, being minimalist implies getting rid of your stuff and unnecessary expenses. 

Minimalism is living with fewer possessions. Adopting this simple lifestyle implies throwing away anything you don’t need to focus on what you really need. In doing so, you’ll realize how little people need in order to survive. Anything else it’s just luxury. 

A person who is minimalist is someone who has extra free time to devote to friendship and family; that is to say, to create personal bonds and relationships. What really matters is experiences, bonding, and financial freedom instead of accumulating debts and worldly possessions.

Minimalism is a unique and personal experience. There are no rules to follow. There’s no right or wrong. It’s up to you what makes you feel better. You don’t have to own a certain number of items in your kitchen to be a minimalist, nor do you have to get rid of a book collection. It’s a personal decision.

The only thing that every minimalist has in common is a focus intentionally on what really matters. For some people it means eliminating objects that don’t make them happy, for others, it is doing less to spend more quality time with kids.

The key factor in minimalism is intentionality. Living a minimalist lifestyle is intentionally choosing what has true value in your wardrobes and drawers while discarding anything that may distract you from what matters.

FAQ

There are many questions and doubts about being a  minimalist. There are compelling reasons to make such a change in your life: a simplified lifestyle, diet, home, business, no debts, more financial freedom, no stress, and peace of mind.

Is being a minimalist good? Why?

Being a minimalist is really good for your body and mind. Following a minimalist lifestyle is a healthier life. Being minimalist means freedom; you will free your mind of consumerism and financial worries.

We are used to living in a hurry overwhelmed by everyday worries, overscheduled calendars, and demanding jobs. When we live a stressful lifestyle, we can’t focus on what’s important in our life. We aren’t happy either. We work long hours to please our kids, to pay more and more debts, or to try to buy stuff to fill a void in our life.

By getting rid of stuff that doesn’t contribute to a better way of living, you will feel better. Also, for better peace of mind, you don’t have to buy appliances you don’t really need just because they are in the clearance section.

Is minimalist living boring?

A minimalist lifestyle is not boring at all. Now, you have more spare time and peace of mind to take care of your children or grandchildren, play with them, being creative with minimal stuff, among others.

Having fewer worries and concerns lets you be inventive. You don’t need the latest video game or cell phone to be happy or entertained. You can get fun with simple things such as planning a trip to a nearby town you’ve never been to, visiting family or friends, reading a book, exercising in the backyard, or listening to music.

There are plenty of activities you can enjoy instead of being at the shopping center buying stuff you don’t need but TV advertisements make you believe you do need it. Many people believe they don’t have time to do what they like the most. The truth is, they can have quality time if they’d just stop what they are actually doing or what makes them so busy.

How do you live a minimalist lifestyle?

Nobody becomes a minimalist person in a fortnight. Big changes take time and this one, in particular, is a process with no endpoint.

Those who are interested in this new life philosophy should follow a couple of steps in order to become a minimalist. It’s worthwhile to mention that there are no two individuals the same. It’s a matter of inner values and passions, so not every single person will take the same decisions as others.

To begin with, you need to determine why you want to live a simple life. Perhaps, you are sick and tired of paying huge debts or stressed about cleaning your house regularly. There are many people who can’t stand the idea of working so many hours for nothing. Others think they only earn money to pay a mortgage instead of traveling around the globe.

The first step is to know why you want a change.

Secondly, you need to get rid of stuff you don’t need. Keep what really matters to you. Walk into every room in your home searching for duplicates, for instance. Do you really need two sets of plates or the same t-shirt? Discard it.

You also have to think about when was the last time you wore a particular dresser pair of sneakers. If the answer is two months ago, it means you don’t really need it. Perhaps, you have already forgotten about that beautiful Hawaiian shirt that is dangling in your wardrobe.

The second step is: Don’t accumulate unnecessary stuff.

Thirdly, you should choose an area in any room to be clutter-free. It can be your desk in the studio, the kitchen aisle, or the coffee table. If you feel at ease with this inspiration area, you can expand it to other zones little by little every week. You don’t have to become a minimalist all of the sudden, you can start with something small which may transform into something bigger.

Fourthly, think about how many clothes you haven’t worn in months or- what’s worse- in years. Discarding clothing can be such a challenge but you’ll feel much better after doing it. You don’t have to have a  wardrobe with 24 pairs of shoes. Life can be much simpler and easier with less.

Fifth, there are many people who spend hours planning every single meal of the day. It really takes a lot of time planning, going to the grocery store, and then cooking. Make a meal calendar so you don’t have to spend the whole morning thinking about your breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can also try to eat the same breakfast, lunch, and dinner every Monday, and so on and so forth.

Finally, focus less on material possessions and more on health and hobbies. Following a minimalist life is living with what you need instead of accumulating stuff in the garage. In doing so, you’ll work fewer hours to earn just the necessary which implies more time to do what you really love. Moreover, you’ll be less stressed and overwhelmed.

Why is minimalism so expensive?

Being minimalist is not expensive at all. On the contrary, this change in lifestyle helps people to spend as little as possible on material stuff and spend their days with their loved ones.

It doesn’t mean you need to have empty drawers and white walls.  It’s a matter of owning stuff that has true value to you. We live in a consumerist society and we are bombarded every single day with TV ads and the importance of having the latest gadgets. Most of our belongings have a false value. We’ve bought them because companies make us believe that the more you have, the merrier you are.

Consumerism is an endless circle since appliances are made to last a couple of years and then you need to buy a new one or an updated one. By being a minimalist, you free yourself from joining this circle. You are no longer tied to your credit card or debts.

Does minimalism save money?

Yes, it does. Minimalist people buy less stuff intentionally. It means they just buy stuff they really need and not what they are supposed to possess in order to be happy.

The minimalist philosophy is based on having less stuff to avoid being distracted by excessive possessions. In this way, you will save money to spend it on experiences or things that really make you happy.

Buying excessive stuff doesn’t make people happy, it is a false sense of pleasure. Moreover, if you don’t have many possessions you can rent a smaller house which means cheaper rent.

Does minimalism help with anxiety?

Following a minimalist lifestyle will help your anxiety and stress. In many people, the root of anxiety is simply a chaotic house, stuff out of place, or papers and folders piling up on the desk.

Having a minimalist lifestyle improves your mental health since you and then your family starts slowing down. Once you decide to take the big step you’ll live more at peace. Instead of rushing to the shopping center to buy Christmas presents and decorations, you can repurpose stuff from the garage or attic.

Minimalism reduces anxiety since you don’t feel pushed anymore to buy the stuff you can’t even afford just to keep a high living standard. every time you use a credit card, you feel anxious because you don’t know how to pay off your debts after an impulsive purchase.

A cluttered house makes anyone anxious. Nobody can feel relaxed if no matter where you look there is a pile of paper, china plates that are almost brand new covered in thick dust, or boxes full of who knows.

Who is a minimalist person?

Anyone who enjoys things in a simple way can be called a minimalist person. Someone who prefers keeping things very simple, that is to say, a minimal amount or degree of something ranging from clothes to furniture items.

A minimalist person can be identified as being sick and tired of consumerism. Those who decide to take up a minimalist lifestyle start to value relationships rather than possessions. They are no longer interested in the latest gadgets or trends.  They are happy with what they already have and don’t pursue excessive items or luxuries. 

Minimalist people still buy stuff but just what they really need to survive. They’ve learned the difference between needs and wants. They understand that a simple life can be achieved by purchasing a few items in order to have peace of mind. A cluttered house is synonymous with stress and anxiety since unused stuff starts piling up.

 Be happy with what you consider important and valuable. There’s no need in having a wardrobe full of clothing if you don’t wear anything from it. A couple of t-shirts, jeans, and shoes work well.

Cleaning up the entire house might be stressful. The more you have, the more time to clean you need since the stuff you don’t use regularly tends to be dusty and dirty. Instead of wasting a whole day cleaning, minimalist people have learned to maximize their day by doing what they like and bonding with family or friends.

Following a minimalist lifestyle is a matter of determination. There’s no unique recipe to follow. It’s a matter of conviction and taking care of what you cherish the most. Leaving behind a materialistic lifestyle can be hard a first, but once you are determined to take the first step out of it you’ll free your mind from anxiety and stress.

Living simpler is prioritizing your well-being. Following this philosophy in one way or another will help you with your finances and mental health. Minimalism is living with less stuff, not none at all.  Keep those objects that really mean something to you and get rid of those that don’t contribute at all.