About the last three to four years I started looking into minimalism. Not only as a design aesthetic but adding it in as a part of my lifestyle. Below are some of my thoughts on what I have experienced.
My initial thoughts on minimalism
At first like many people I was like what do mean live with less? Many of us work and struggle to gain more (usually stuff). Growing up in what I would consider a lower middle class upbringing I felt like possessions and their cost was a sign of wealth. So of course, like many I gathered many items over the years with aspirations to get more. So, the idea of purchasing or owing less seemed odd to say the least.
Initial introduction to minimalism
My first introduction to the minimalism concept was the 2015 Documentary Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things. To this day I believe you can still watch it on Netflix, and I suggest you should watch it. This documentary gave multiple philosophies on minimalism and its practice. It was the first item that caught my interest. The second was a book called Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism. I listed to the audio version multiple times. This book was one man’s journey into minimalism, the benefits he experienced from it, and the methods he used. I credit both items with my introduction, and they can be a great way for others to see what minimalism can be about.
Financial upside
One of the benefits I found with incorporating minimalism into my life was more money in my pocket. Many of us look to buy things we want (want not need) on sale or at a good price to save money. I found something that saved even more money was just not buying more items. Sounds simple right? I one heard and forgive me I cannot recall if it was Dave Ramsey or Chris Hogan that said, “the fastest way to get a raise is to spend less”. Along my way I also began to sell things of mine off. I by no means am suggesting you sell all your belongings, never buy yourself anything nice, and live like a monk. The items I began to sell were at first excess items. Things I often had two or three or more off. I like many people have hobbies and collected many accessories and widgets associated with those hobbies. These items I rarely used or saw as they had often been in boxes not opened for long periods of time. I utilized sites like eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook marketplace to sell off these excess items. The result was removing these excess items that saw little or no use and I gained space and money in my pocket.
Not a competition
One of the aspects that I began to enjoy about minimalism was that it was a concept that could be very broad. What may work for me may not work for you. Removing certain items from my life and gives me great benefit may not have them same result for another and vice versa. But incorporating some or any of the concepts would for sure have benefits for all. I also like that it was not a competition. The goal was not to have less than the next person. What is the right amount of possessions for a family of four may not be the right amount for a single person nor should it be. It is a highly individualized thing.
Personal mental upside
After reducing the amount of things I owned or possessed I did experience a degree of what I guess I would consider a degree of mental clarity. For example, only having clothes I actually want and like to wear in my closet. Having a small section of functional clothes that gets lots of use that took up very little space hanging on my closet felt satisfying. Rather than looking at all these clothes that are old, new, did not fit, or I never wore. I also started to see the satisfaction in being able to experience one item I owned versus owning many and not really getting to utilize them. I also just having less items taking up my space made me feel less claustrophobic. I found over all I just had less clutter or mental noise since there were less things to occupy my time and space in my mind.
Sources for learning about minimalism
Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things
Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism
The Minimalists You Tube Channel
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