If you’ve ever felt like you’re spending too much time on your stuff and not enough living, then minimalism might be the perfect lifestyle for you to get out of that habit.
I first encountered minimalism when I was feeling overwhelmed by all of the items piling up in my home. I decided to experiment with a minimalist approach – one that focused on only carrying what was necessary and essential.
What started off as an experiment quickly became a lifestyle change for me; it turns out that embracing minimalism has had incredible benefits!
In this blog post, I’m excited to share with you some of the reasons why I have a love for minimalism, and how it’s been so great for me – less stuff really does equal more living.
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My Personal Journey to Discovering Minimalism
When I first considered minimalism, it sounded impossible. I was so used to having a full apartment of things that were “just in case” (you know the ones) and filling up my wardrobe with all sorts of clothes – even though I hardly wore most of them.
But for me, minimalism wasn’t a choice. I was tired of the stress that came with too much stuff and too many commitments. I was also suffering extreme burnout from my then job.
I needed to step back, take a break and reclaim my life. So that’s what I did – I took a break from buying anything new, going out to events I had no interest in, and just generally living the way I needed to in order to make myself feel better.
And it started to work.
Are you ready to simplify your life?
Saying goodbye to my old way of living was a little scary but it couldn’t have been more worth it. I started to realise that minimalism wasn’t about deprivation or living without; rather, it was about intentionality and only having what truly made me happy.
I’m now a happier, healthier and more fulfilled person thanks to a minimalist lifestyle.
Note: You don’t need to be a die-hard minimalist (otherwise known as an extreme minimalist) to reap the benefits of minimalism. ‘You do you’ is my rule for minimalism!
17 Reasons to Love Minimalism
1. More clarity
Minimalist living helps to provide clarity in life. It’s more than just decluttering the non-essential items, it’s also about decluttering your mind.
When distractions and unnecessary commitments are removed, what remains is clarity and a focused environment and mind.
This clarity goes beyond just the physical world. I’ve noticed an amazing change in my thought patterns by letting go of the non-essential – they’ve become sharper and more decisive.
2. Less decision fatigue
Decision fatigue is real – when you’re faced with too many choices, your ability to think clearly and make good decisions suffers. The fewer decisions you have to make, the better your decisions will be.
In a world inundated with choices, from what clothes to wear, what food to eat, to what entertainment to consume, our brains are constantly under pressure to make decisions, which can be exhausting.
However, when you live a minimalist life, you reduce the number of choices that you have to make in your day-to-day life.
When you have just a few items of clothing or other possessions, making decisions about what to wear or do becomes much easier (and faster).
By simplifying your life and reducing the amount of decision-making, you can go through your day with more energy and create that margin to focus on what truly matters.
3. Less stress
One of the main reasons to love minimalism is that it can help to reduce stress.
The constant pressure of having too much on your plate, from too many commitments and things to do or take care of, can be overwhelming.
Stress can take a toll on your mental and physical health, but when you simplify your life, you become more mindful about what’s important and cut out the things that don’t truly matter.
But by keeping only the essential items in your life – things that you need and things that you truly love and use – you can create more space for yourself and your time.
This extra space can help you create a more balanced life, with less stress.
4. Saves money
When you adopt a minimalist lifestyle, you don’t feel the need to keep up with the latest trends or constantly buy the newest gadgets.
Instead, you focus on investing in fewer items of higher quality. This isn’t just better for the environment because it reduces waste but it also means that you can save a bit of money (or a lot of money) in the long run.
Being mindful about what you purchase and refusing to be a part of the consumer-driven cycle of constantly purchasing more and more material things can help you have more money in your pocket to pursue activities that actually bring you joy.
5. Plenty of room
A huge part of beginning a life of minimalism is decluttering your home and getting rid of all the excess stuff that you don’t need. It’s usually the first step in everyone’s minimalist journey.
This process can be really liberating and help to open up so much more space in your home and your life.
It’s amazing how much more room you have when you only keep things that are meaningful or useful to you.
This valuable space not only allows you to create a more comfortable living space, but it also allows you to spread out, invite friends over, or create a small relaxation area which you may not otherwise have had room for.
6. Less cleaning
This is probably my favourite thing about my new minimalistic lifestyle – I spend much less time cleaning and tidying! And I absolutely hate cleaning.
Since I don’t have clutter sitting around everywhere, it’s really easy to clean up quickly.
Every item in your home comes with it’s own job. Clothes have to be washed and ironed, shelves have to be dusted and organised, knick-knacks have to be moved around to clean around them… you get the picture.
When you cut down on all these individual items to fewer possessions that are necessary and meaningful, it’s much easier and quicker to keep your house clean.
7. It’s eco-friendly
Practising minimalism is one of the most significant things you can do to reduce your environmental impact.
The production, transportation, and disposal of goods consume enormous resources, which contribute to global warming, air and water pollution, and a range of other environmental issues. It’s so important to be aware of these impacts and take action to address them.
By reducing consumption and reusing or recycling items you already own instead of buying new, you can greatly reduce your ecological footprint.
Plus, if you do decide to buy something new (which is ok!), make sure it’s a higher-quality product that will last longer and be better for the environment in the long run.
8. Less comparing to others
Comparison is the thief of joy, as they say. Often when we feel unfulfilled or uninspired, we look to what other people have and find that we may want it for ourselves.
But what we don’t always see is that person’s life in its entirety. We’re only seeing what they share – be it on social media or in real life – and comparing it to our own.
Minimalism helps you break free from this cycle of comparison by allowing you to concentrate on your own life, rather than chasing after an idealised version of someone else’s.
9. Greater appreciation
When we have fewer things, it’s much easier to appreciate and value the things that we do own. We get more use out of them and take better care of them as a result.
This appreciation for the items you have can help shift your mindset from thinking about what you don’t have, to being grateful for what you do. And it also helps remind you that more isn’t always better – sometimes less is all we need.
10. More time
I remember when I was younger and would ask my mum what she wanted for her birthday. Her answer would always be the same: “A few more hours in the day”.
Minimalism can help give us back that elusive element of time. When we have fewer possessions and commitments to take care of, it frees up more time for us to enjoy life and do things that bring us joy.
It’s a simple but powerful solution – by having less stuff, our lives become simpler, freeing up much needed time.
11. Encourages experiences
Adopting a simpler life allows us to create room not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally for more experiences.
When we’re not weighed down by our possessions and the need for materialistic fulfilment, we find ourselves open to more opportunities. This might be anything from travelling, going to live events, trying out a new hobby, or simply spending quality time with loved ones.
Minimalism nudges us towards collecting memories, not things.
The thrill of a new adventure, the joy of a shared laugh, or the tranquility of a peaceful moment alone – these are the experiences that really enrich our lives.
This shift in perspective encourages us to value experiences over items, fostering a sense of fulfillment that lasts far longer than the temporary satisfaction of acquiring material possessions.
12. Creates a sense of calm
Decluttering spaces has a profound impact on our minds – that’s one of the amazing things about minimalism! By getting rid of unnecessary stuff, we create a peaceful environment that can seriously reduce stress and anxiety.
And guess what?
This sense of calm isn’t just limited to our physical surroundings – it applies to our digital spaces too. Cleaning up our overflowing inboxes and social media feeds can surprisingly have a calming effect.
Minimalism, with its ‘less is more’ philosophy, can create a more peaceful vibe in our homes, workplaces, and lives overall. When we embrace a clutter-free life, we welcome tranquility into our daily routines.
And by consciously opting for fewer possessions, we free ourselves from the chaos of managing and maintaining them, resulting in a calming effect.
13. Simpler lifestyle
One of the most significant benefits of minimalism is that it paves the way for a simpler lifestyle. When we strip away the excess, we uncover a life that’s inherently less complicated, and inherently more enjoyable.
It’s that simple!
Imagine your wardrobe with only the clothes you absolutely love and wear often. It’s no longer a struggle to choose an outfit each morning, because everything you own is something you enjoy wearing. This eliminates the daily stress of decision-making and frees up time for things that truly matter.
The same principle applies to all areas of our lives really. Less clutter in our homes means less time spent on cleaning and organising. A leaner work schedule means more time for rest and recreation. Fewer commitments mean more time to concentrate on the important things. And so on.
Adopting a minimalist lifestyle doesn’t mean denying ourselves of the things we enjoy. It simply means eliminating the excess that distracts us from our real priorities.
So, in essence, simple living facilitated by minimalism allows us to focus on a life where we can truly breathe easy and enjoy the simplicity of being.
14. Promotes mindful consumption
Today’s consumer culture has us convinced that we need to buy a lot of stuff in order to be happy. But the reality is, this kind of mindless consumption only serves to clog our lives with things we don’t truly need – resulting in clutter and chaos.
Minimalism challenges this idea by promoting mindful consumption. Which means, instead of buying new things impulsively or out of habit, we exercise a little restraint and ask ourselves if the item is really something that will add value to our lives.
This kind of mindful consumption not only helps us save money but also encourages us to make more intentional purchases and ethical decisions around what we buy and how much.
I tend to live by the ‘one-in-one-out’ rule. This means whenever I buy something new, I get rid of something old. This helps me to stay mindful about what I acquire and keeps my possessions at a level that doesn’t overwhelm me.
15. Encourages self reflection
In a world constantly buzzing with noise and distractions, the practice of minimalism offers a much-needed pause. It provides us with the opportunity to reflect on our choices, our values and essentially, our life.
By getting rid of the extra stuff, we’re making room not just in our physical space, but also in our minds. This mental space, free from unnecessary thoughts about shopping or organising, allows us to look inward and have some real self-reflection.
Through this process, we start figuring out what really matters to us, and separate it from all the unnecessary stuff society tells us we need. Then, as we become more aware of how we consume and why, we get a better sense of who we are and what we want.
Just as a quiet room can be more relaxing than one filled with noise, a minimalist lifestyle can bring peace and calm, paving the way for self-discovery.
16. Easier maintenance
If you have two cars, you have to get two cars serviced, right?
The same goes for clothing, furniture and appliances – the more things you have, the more time it takes to look after them.
Minimalism lets us reduce maintenance tasks and put our time and energy into things that bring us joy. By freeing ourselves from the burden of upkeep, we can embrace a simpler life.
17. Freedom
The last reason to love minimalism is freedom.
Freedom to choose what you want to do with your time, freedom to be creative and follow your passions. Freedom from the pressure of society about what you should own and how much money you should make.
With minimalism, you can truly go in whatever direction you choose – because it’s up to you to decide which items make sense for your life. The less stuff we have cluttering our lives, the more free we can be.
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The Final Takeaway: More Living, Less Stuff
The beauty of minimalism is that it’s different for everyone. There is no specific definition of minimalism, so you can customise your lifestyle to fit your own unique needs and wants.
Whether you need a little less or a lot less, I’m sure you’ll find you’ll love minimalism as much as I do. By cutting down on stuff, we can make more room for living – and that’s the best thing of all.
By focusing on what is essential and necessary, I was able to create space for a calmer, simple life, and spend more time doing meaningful activities instead of worrying about trivial possessions.
Give minimalism a try and see how it can benefit your life!
