There are very few necessities needed to survive, but in the society I was raised in, wants quickly became needs and money jumped to number one on the necessity list. This addition is normal, it’s rare for someone to live comfortably without money, although it does happen. But materialism has become so essential that people are selling their bodies and killing others for a green piece of paper.
I can recall numerous times where I over exaggerated by saying “I need that shirt” or those shoes, or even that cell phone, but what I’ve come to realize is the glamorized idea that money buys happiness doesn’t always prove itself to be true. Because of this, I have been questioning my satisfaction with life, wondering if I was truly happy and what I could do to improve my life, and it wasn’t until I came across the term minimalism that I found my answer to creating a happier life. Aside from the famous style of art, minimalism is a simple life filled with primarily essentials to make time to focus on the priceless things life has to offer.
Although being minimal will eventually lead you to a simple, easy going lifestyle, the transition can be tedious and stressful if there are lots of sentimental items or a lot of clutter. There are two essential steps in the transition: decluttering and detaching.
Decluttering is the removal of all nonessential items from the home, car and wardrobe. This will be the stressful part, questioning the importance of every individual item. This will create more space and easier organization, less cleaning and less stress. Detaching is the process of removing oneself from the social media world as well television, and limiting time spent on cell phones and computers, in order to create more time for the important things in life. Read the attached article for more information and help on decluttering your home and detaching yourself from electronics.
To most, this might sound illogical or even impossible, but since I started my transition in March, I’ve already encountered many benefits:
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I save money and only purchase better quality items: less items means less purchases and more money to spend on things that will last.
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I have better organization: less items means keeping track of less.
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I do less cleaning (especially laundry): less items means less maintenance.
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I have greater clarity of my ambitions: less items means more time to focus on yourself.
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I feel less stressed and worried: less items means easier decisions and less comparison.
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I give more: less items means all the items you had before need a home.
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I no longer am a prisoner of price tags: less items and more time means less attachment to the little things that can be taken from you.
So far, I’ve only experienced one negative, and that is the addiction. For a few weeks I looked through my 100 items list everyday and questioned the importance of every item. I would go home and stare at my clothes, go through my drawers, anything that might offer another item for me to get rid of. But now, almost two months after the transition, I’ve noticed the addiction has majorly subdued.
Although there is a huge decrease in the amount of stuff cluttering not only your house, but your life, minimalism is guaranteed to bring many more pros than cons. Whether it’s cleaning out a closet or spending less time on the internet, I encourage everyone to try the transition and experience the benefits.