Simplifying your life with minimalism

Take a quick couple of seconds to look around you and really notice all of the individual objects you see. Do you see piles of paper on an untidy desk? Perhaps a messy heap of laundry on your bed? Or maybe you spot just a few too many knickknacks sitting on a dusty shelf? We all own a lot of stuff. But what purpose do all of those things serve? More importantly, is it possible that some of that extra stuff is actually doing us more harm than good? 

Luckily, there is a concept that can help us all to simplify our daily lives: minimalism. But what is this trendy topic exactly, and how can minimalism truly help us to feel well?

Decisions, decisions 

From the moment we wake up in the morning to the second our heads hit the pillow, each of us is faced with countless daily decisions. Some of those decisions are minor, some are a bit more complex. How much energy and thought we put into these small daily decisions is up to us. 

When we are faced with too many choices,  we experience something called decision fatigue.  This phenomenon means that the more decisions our brains face, the more impulsive and irrational our decisions ultimately become. Our brains become tired from the stress of too many choices, and we begin making decisions that may not be the best. Too many options means we could be feeling more bogged down and fatigued than we should be. 

So how can minimalism help with that? 

Living minimally 

Put simply, minimalism is the practice of living with less. Less things, less clutter, less decisions, etc. Minimalism can be used to simplify all areas of your life, from the lint and receipts at the bottom of your purse, to the retro furniture clogging up your attic. Minimalism can even be used as an approach to simplifying your busy schedule or reorganizing your daily routine. A minimalist confidently says no to the things and situations in their lives that cause unnecessary stress or annoyance. Minimalists understand that less really is more.

But what’s the evidence supporting this simple way of living? Studies have shown that people living a minimalist lifestyle report increased wellbeing with regard to higher feelings of autonomy, competence, mental space, and awareness. That means that living with less things can help us to feel more in control of our own lives, to feel freer, and to experience more clarity and less stress. Minimalists also reported feeling happier and more peaceful after making the switch to a simpler lifestyle. Not to mention, living with fewer things is also better for our beautiful planet.

Do you have a messy room in your home or an overflowing junk drawer that causes you stress just thinking about it? It turns out you may not be overreacting. All of those extra things in our lives don’t just clog up our homes, they also clog up our minds. But how can you take some first steps to simplifying your life?

Letting go 

We understand that it’s hard to give things up. Certain things in our homes hold sentimental value. But don’t worry, you don’t have to throw out Grandma’s handmade quilts or your high school yearbooks just yet. 

Making the switch to living with less doesn’t have to be a massive undertaking. Small changes can go a long way towards a simpler, less cluttered, and more peaceful life. Here are just a few tips to help you start decluttering today! 

• Find your reason. When it comes to making big changes in our lives, it’s always important to remember the why behind it. Perhaps you’d like to live a more sustainable lifestyle, or maybe you’d like to fit all of your possessions into a backpack to travel the world. 

• Get rid of duplicates. Chances are you’ve got more than one of many household items. But do you really need two lemon zesters? 

• Start with your pantry. Getting rid of food that’s no longer edible is a no-brainer! Sort through all of those hard to reach corners in your pantry and toss out any food that has gone bad. 

• Donate or give away. Just because you get rid of an item does not mean it has to go to waste! We promise that a stranger (or even a friend) would love that suede coat that just isn’t your style anymore. 

• Team up with friends and family. If you live with other people, ask your family or room mates to do some decluttering with you!

Lessons in simplicity

Minimalism, at its core, is a practice meant to make our lives easier. All of us likely own too many trinkets and overfill our busy schedules. Practicing minimalism is a simple way to declutter our homes, calendars, and minds. Living a more minimalist life means fewer decisions and distractions, which frees up valuable mental space and can bring more peace and joy to our daily lives. Owning fewer things may sound like a challenge, but by reevaluating our relationships to material things we can improve our mental wellbeing and happiness.

If you don’t know where to start, we’ve got you covered: you can check out here and here to dive deeper into the world of minimalism. 

Keywords: minimalism, mental wellbeing 

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