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<\/p>\nIf a tree falls in the forest, and you haven\u2019t bragged about the way you fold your socks, are you even a minimalist?<\/p>\n
Honestly, it\u2019s hard to believe that a minimalist life is even possible in today\u2019s world of more, more, more. It\u2019s easier and faster than ever to get exactly what you need, and yet, it\u2019s actually trending to own less. Or is it just trending to be on-trend?<\/p>\n
What is minimalism anyway? Is it a mindset, aesthetic, or set of ideals designed to optimize your humble brags?<\/p>\n
When things become as popular as living minimal has,\u00a0they tend to get misrepresented – minimalism can\u2019t be reduced to just a hashtag. After a bit of research, we discovered there really is value in a minimalist lifestyle.<\/p>\n
Whether you hate minimal living, love it, or are waiting to find out what it actually is, you\u2019re in luck. Even if minimalism isn\u2019t for you, research shows it has some pretty meaningful effects. So, here\u2019s your guide to where the minimalist trend comes from, and the ways it can actually impact your life.<\/p>\n
People relate minimalism to art, design, and state of mind, but its origins are elsewhere. To understand what minimalism actually is, rewind back to Japanese rock gardens, created 600 years ago by Zen priests and artists, designed to evoke simplicity and clarity by featuring empty space.<\/p>\n
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\u2018Minimalism\u2019 was only coined in the 20th century as a byproduct\u00a0of the \u2018de Stijl\u2019 style of architecture, which emphasized the idea that less is more, and that beauty can be found in the absence of something else.<\/p>\n
What does this have to do with your college roommate posting photos of his white dishes on a white shelf on a white wall? The truth is, a lot of the loudest voices talking about minimalism today are talking about totally different things. But most minimalists agree that it allows a person to become less overwhelmed, and shift their focus to something they\u2019ve intentionally chosen to embrace.<\/p>\n
Joshua Becker, of the Becoming Minimalist<\/span>\u00a0blog, says:<\/p>\n \u201cMinimalism<\/a> is the intentional promotion of the things we most value, and the removal of anything that distracts us from it.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Well, if that works, it seems pretty great. But does it?<\/p>\n Nowadays, most approaches to going minimalist are built around the idea that materialism has taken over our daily lives, to our own detriment.<\/p>\n Consider this: Tim Kasser, author of The High Price of Materialism<\/span>, found that people who believe materialism is important are more likely to:<\/p>\n It makes sense that minimalism has several positive byproducts since those practicing are intentionally trying to be more mindful, but you might be surprised by how broad the impact of a minimalist life can be.<\/p>\n Minimalism can make you happier<\/span><\/p>\n Remember that whole concept of clearing out the things that distract from what\u2019s most important to you? Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, known as The Minimalists, say it\u2019s not so simple. Following the guidelines of a minimalist life won\u2019t automatically make you happy<\/a>, but it can help. They say:<\/p>\n \u201cWhat minimalism can do is strip away the fat and leave you with a newfound financial freedom that you can use for new experiences.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Minimalism can help you spend less<\/span><\/p>\n Buying less saves you money<\/a>. Duh! If you subscribe to the notion that an abundance of things will distract you from what\u2019s most important, you\u2019re likely to see a serious change in the way you spend.<\/p>\n Cleaning out your personal inventory of stuff also leaves you with the opportunity to sell things, and according to Mia Danielle, a popular Minimalist blogger, your new mindset will influence other ways you spend and result in passive savings.\u00a0She says:<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll see your financial health improving in more categories than just random shopping. The benefits of minimalism are crystal clear in the land of finances. When you become intentional about your belongings, you\u2019re not buying frivolous junk. When you take on this approach to life (and shopping) you will find yourself the proud owner of more monies in your checking account and less crap in your living room.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Minimalism makes you less wasteful<\/span><\/p>\n The transition to minimalism is likely to include a major transfer of your junk to a landfill. That\u2019s not great. But once you\u2019ve embraced the minimalist life, you\u2019re more likely to opt for a 4-in-1 blender over a mixer, blender, food processor, and immersion blender.<\/p>\n Dr. Kelly Miller, of Deakin University, suggests that buying less has long term benefits for the earth. She says:<\/p>\n \u201cIf we all considered what we really need rather than what we want we would reduce our consumption and we would have a much lower footprint on the earth.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n When you\u2019re conscious of what you consume, you\u2019re less likely\u00a0to\u00a0produce waste.<\/p>\n Minimalism gives you more \u00a0freedom and less stress<\/span><\/p>\n When a minimalist needs to grab a pen to jot something down, they reach for their one pen, and it works. If you imagine all the moments in the day when an absence of clutter can optimize your routines, it\u2019s easy to anticipate reduced stress.<\/p>\n Researchers at UCLA found that a higher volume of items in a household is directly correlated to more stress, so it\u2019s easy to see how decluttering helps you destress<\/a>\u00a0and embrace newfound freedom.<\/p>\n There are countless blogs, IG accounts, and podcasts detailing different ways to embrace a minimalist lifestyle. Our first tip? Find what works for you.<\/p>\n Some influencers frame minimalism through a series of restrictions, which is a non-starter for many. You may be interested in decluttering your wardrobe, but want to keep a robust library.<\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re most interested in the economic, environmental, or personal benefits of minimalism, we\u2019re willing to bet there\u2019s a minimalist guru who sees things the same way you do.<\/p>\n So as you dip a toe into a more minimal life, take note of what feels good, so you can figure out where you want to go deeper. Pick up some pointers to try out your new mindset:<\/p>\n 1. Get rid of your duplicates<\/span> 2.\u00a0Shop smarter<\/strong> \u201cThe pursuit and purchase of physical possessions will never fully satisfy our desire for happiness.\u201d <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n We know how fun it is to hit the dollar section at Target, but if you want to keep your cart lean to focus on the items that matter most, you\u2019ll have to start omitting the seasonal table decor. Know what you need before you hit the aisles. Browsing is not a friend to this approach, folks.<\/p>\n 3. Embrace the capsule wardrobe<\/span> The idea is that you clean out your closet and replace your wardrobe with 30 staple items that are interchangeable, and simple to handle in the morning. Expensive, but stress-free.<\/p>\n 4. Donate your extras Research conducted at the Rush University Medical Center shows that \u2018givers<\/a>\u2019 get a \u2018helper\u2019s high\u2019 that has long-term physical and<\/span>\u00a0psychological benefits.<\/p>\nDoes minimalism make life better?<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nHow to embrace minimalism<\/h3>\n
\nStart in your shower\u2026 how many bottles of shampoo and body wash do you really need? Your home is full of things you don\u2019t need, so starting by skimming the things you\u2019re sure you won\u2019t miss is an easy dip into minimalism.<\/p>\n
\nAccording to Joshua Becker, of Becoming Minimalist<\/span>,<\/p>\n
\nAccording to Forbes, \u201cthe average consumer has 120 items of clothing, but 80% go unworn.\u201d If you came across criticism of the minimalist movement as being for privileged people only, this is why.<\/p>\n
\n<\/span>Throwing out your half-empty bottles is one thing, and donating books, clothes, and rarely used kitchen items is another. And it turns out, donating will make you feel good!<\/p>\n