via: SoFi
Are you overwhelmed with clutter in your home or in your life? Do you find yourself on edge when you look around your home and wish you didn’t have to clean, organize, and purge all the time? You’re not alone. Many people are turning to a minimalist lifestyle—defined as a lifestyle in which you voluntarily choose to live a simpler life with fewer possessions. People choose this lifestyle for many reasons, including saving time and money and feeling mentally healthy.
According to a 2021 study in The Journal of Positive Psychology, “a consistent positive relationship was found between voluntary simplicity and well-being.”
To live a minimalist life, you can start small by taking stock of what you see around you and getting rid of what you aren’t using. Make a list of what is important to you in terms of life goals and well-being. As Marie Kondo advocates, get rid of the items that don’t spark joy. Replace things with experiences and more time to think. Material possessions don’t always translate to happiness. Here are some benefits to living a minimalist life that might encourage you to get started on this journey.
via: Clutter
Having more space in your home
There are many benefits of living with less furniture and fewer things, including easily maintaining, storing, and cleaning these items. How do you go about achieving this? Consider furniture with dual functions. For example, purchase a sofa that doubles as a guest bed or a kitchen island that has extendible sections that can be used to make the island into a larger dining or office table. You can reduce the number of albums and books by going digital. Reduce the number of dishes you have by using one set of dishes for all occasions. With less furniture, you will notice more space around you, and this will give your mind a clear space in which to think and grow.
It takes a lot of energy to manage your belongings. Energy is a limited resource, and the more mindful we are about it, the more energy we can give to the things that matter most.
via: NBC News
Saving money
When you have fewer items and enjoy the feeling of living with less, you will likely think carefully about the need to buy more items. Many people buy too many things and rent storage spaces to store these extra belongings. Many think that the more you have, the more successful you are; this mindset is hard to change sometimes. You can get rid of the storage space and use the money to go on a trip or invest in a stock you like. When you have fewer furniture, bookcases, and knickknacks, you can clean your space faster, freeing up time for other things. The less you have, the less you have to manage.
Another one of the biggest challenges for people is the amount of clothing they own. Who doesn’t like to buy something new and trendy? There are so many messages in mainstream and social media that encourage you to buy, buy, buy. There are also many people who can teach you about saving money and being happy and satisfied with less, who share in the philosophy that by having less, we can focus on living life intentionally.
via: Grotto Network
Helping others
There is nothing more joyful than feeling like you are contributing to your community. When you purge and de-clutter and take your items to the local donation centre, it feels great. You see people who are benefiting from items you aren’t using. You’re diverting goods away from landfills, and you’re helping the environment by recycling and reusing.
Challenge yourself by tracking how much garbage you are throwing out and aim to reduce this amount on a weekly basis. You can read more about how to do this in Bea Johnson’s blog with the same name, Zero Waste Home. Bea has been able to reduce her family’s annual trash to one jar, since 2008!
via: Memento
More time to enjoy life, family, and friends
When you are taking care of fewer material things, you simply have more energy and time to enjoy life. This can mean several things, including being able to leave your home at a moment’s notice because you’re not stuck at home sorting through papers, piles of clothing or other stuff. It also means you can entertain at a moment’s notice because your house is always clean and organized.
via: Buddha Groove
A clear mind for a brighter future
According to a 2022 article in Psychology Today, “people who live a life of voluntary simplicity with a minimum of possessions have a higher level [of well-being].” This makes sense as a cluttered living space can lead to a cluttered mind. The corollary to that is freeing up your mind when you live in a clear space. Think of the peaceful thoughts that come with having extra time and attention to give to the things that truly matter, like your life goals and personal satisfaction. Things don’t make you happy; time and space to be with loved ones while creating memories are what make life truly special.
Comments are closed.