Minimalism is the idea of only owning things that bring you real value. It's about trimming the fat of your life, reducing stress, and reaching a higher level of enjoyment. If you're looking for ways to bring more value into your life, minimalism has a lot to offer and is achievable by anyone, and means something different to each person. It's not a fad. It's a realistic lifestyle that can have an immediate impact.
What Does Minimalism Offer?
The offer of minimalism is simple. Get to a point where you spend as little time on the things you don't value (e.g., work) and more time on the things you do value (e.g., family, travel, etc.). Imagine if you have fewer financial obligations. You can then work fewer hours or finally leave your high-stress job for one you are more passionate about. The nights of worrying about how you are going to pay your bills or eliminate debt are gone, and you finally get a good night's sleep. You can spend more time exploring and doing the things you want and less time managing a large home.
Minimalism inherently means producing less waste, decreasing your carbon footprint, and playing your part in preserving our environment for generations to come.
Doesn't that sound appealing?
How Do You Achieve Minimalism?
Once you make the decision to become a minimalist, you will see instant results, but for most people, it takes time to achieve optimal minimalism. Let's take a look at the core components of achieving minimalism.
Your Home
Did you know that most people don't use even half of their homes? Minimalists live in a home just big enough to suit their needs. It doesn't mean a family of 5 needs to squeeze into a 300-square-foot tiny home. Instead, it means living in just the amount of housing you need. For a couple, this may mean a 1 or 2-bedroom home. On the other hand, a family of 3 may need a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home to accommodate family who frequently comes into town to visit.
Your Vehicles
Minimalists only have the number of vehicles they need and, in some instances, may not have a vehicle. Some minimalist households are 1-car households, while others have 1 vehicle per member that drivers. There's no need to waste money on insurance and maintenance for vehicles you never drive.
Your Clothing
Let's face it. Most of us wear the same outfits over and over. We rotate through 5-7 of our favorites, and the rest go untouched in our closets. Paring down clothing is a staple of minimalism. It means only purchasing and keeping clothes that we will actually wear.
Other Items
The last step to minimalism is getting rid of items that do not bring any value to your life. This includes furniture, trinkets, and anything else that is sitting in the back of a closet or storage and hasn't been touched in over a year.
Mindful Purchases
It can be easy to slip out of minimalism by making mindless purchases. A huge part of staying minimalist is to make mindful purchases as a consumer. Avoid impulsive buys. Only make purchases that bring value to your life and that you will use.
Is Minimalism Right For You?
If you're looking for a way to simplify your life, minimalism may be the perfect answer for you! If you are a minimalist or have tried it in the past, I would love to hear about your experiences in the comments below.
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