In this age of excess, it can feel as though no matter how much we have, it’s never enough. We spend out Saturdays crammed into malls shopping for products that we hope will fill the void in our lives… but on a long enough timeline even the most treasured possession becomes just another piece of clutter. And clutter can have a lasting impact in your mental health, preventing you from feeling happy and relaxed in your own home. Many people of all ages, tastes and backgrounds are embracing minimalism as an antidote to the cycle of consumerism and disposal that has not only proven problematic to our environment but disastrous to our psychological wellbeing.
But when it comes to minimalism, there are many myths and misconceptions out there which obscure the truth about this peaceful and satisfying way of life. Let’s take a closer look so we can get to the truth...
It’s more than just a style of decor
While the principle of minimalism can be applied to pretty much any space in your home, there’s more to minimalism than just decor. Minimalism is a way of living your life. A way of stripping away the unnecessary and expensive trappings that bog us down and prevent us from enjoying the meaningful experiences that make lifelong memories.
In short, minimalism is about prioritizing experiences over things.
You don’t have to get rid of all your stuff
That said, minimalism doesn’t assume that you can’t receive joy from material possessions, nor does it mean that you can only be a minimalist if you get rid of everything you own. It does, however, encourage you to think more carefully about what you want in your life. Walk around your home and look at everything you own. How much of it actually brings you happiness and how much of it simply exists? Paring your belongings down to those that bring you happiness is the essence of minimalism.
Spend more money on fewer things
Minimalism focuses not only on buying fewer things, but on investing in better quality things that will last you longer and bring you more happiness. Take a look at these Joybird reviews for some high quality furniture that will appeal to minimalists. In an age of disposability where it seems like nothing is built to last, minimalism encourages us to think harder about what we do with our money.
Minimalism isn’t just for the young and childless
Finally, many assume that minimalism is just for hip youngsters and singletons who can make swift changes to their lifestyles without causing disruption to others. But anyone of any age can embrace minimalism. It’s all about finding the right balance for your circumstances. Like all the best things, minimalism is what you make of it, and you can lean into it as lightly or as heavily as you like.
But as you save money on belongings to spend on new experiences and making new memories with your family, you may just find that you lean into it more and more as the years go by.
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