The Benefits of Minimalism & Having a Capsule Wardrobe

1. It cuts down decision fatigue. I feel like this is common for people who have too much clothing in their closets, and while my closet has never gotten extremely messy per say, I always felt like I had nothing to wear. Decluttering and just being more mindful about what kinds of clothing I want in my wardrobe has helped me a lot with this one problem area.

I've been using the capsule wardrobe system for a few months now and since adapting to that, deciding on what to wear has become so much easier for me personally. It's harder to start from scratch, especially if most of what you own is more trendy or dressy, but I've gained most of my knowledge from YouTube. So when it comes to finding your style and building that "dream closet", the best channels that I can recommend to you would be Erin Elizabeth and Use Less (run by Signe Hansen). 

2. It gives you more time to do what you love and enjoy in life. The less stuff you have, the more time you have to explore whatever talents, skills and hobbies you have. This could include painting, drawing, plant or animal care, walking/hiking, etc. It's said that we get more joy out of experiences than we do physical stuff, so why not start on that one hobby that you've left behind or haven't thought about in a while? It might make you feel better in the end. 

I've never been someone to splurge on full-priced, luxury items. If I can find a good deal on something that's of great quality however, then I consider that a double win! When it comes to shopping in general, I try to be more mindful of what I'm spending my money on and see if these items will add any value to my life. One thing that I think is important to realize is that decluttering your physical possessions is not a one time solution that'll stop the clutter completely- I still have hidden clutter in different parts of my home and stuff still accumulates over time, especially if you're living at home still and have a mom or dad who likes giving you things, haha!

I have a Pinterest board that's dedicated to minimalism and whenever I look through that, I'm reminded of why I enjoy having less stuff. Buying things for the sake of having it was something I was very wrapped up in as a teenager, and even into the first couple years as a young adult. I just feel like all of that shopping was only creating more waste, plus half the stuff I was buying was of pretty cheap quality. Now I'm thankful that I don't have to worry about my own bills just yet, but if minimalism has taught me anything these last few months, it's that our views on happiness change the minute we do something to change that ourselves. 

Self-Criticism & Self Judgment

Breaking myself down is something that I don't particularly enjoy, but sometimes, it is needed for me to step out of my habits. It seems like ever since I became an adult, I've had this complex train of thought that ranges from positive and happy ones to thoughts that are negative and self-deprecating. So in the most literal sense, it's like I do become my own worst enemy at times.

This case is something I go through not too often, but often enough to where it does effect my mood and my ability to see things clearly. I feel like this concept of self criticism stems from this personality trait I have of wanting to be perfect, like everything in my life needs to be done this particular way or else I'll lose this sense of balance within me.

Some days it doesn't take much for other people to knock down my walls, and on days like that, I tend to develop negative or irrational thoughts of myself. Sometimes, people don't even have to say anything, and yet, I'll instantly start basing my own worth on other people's facial expressions or body language, like they're looking or staring at me in judgment. This fear I have of being judged is something that I try to gain control of, but of course, it takes practice and a realignment of my focus.

I know I've touched on this some in a previous post, but I do believe that social media has influenced me in a negative way at times, and as hard as it is for me to admit, I think it's also put me in that trap of playing the comparison game. However, this game isn't purely based on perception (like how others live their lives vs. how I live my life), but it's more based on their experiences vs. my experiences. I remember seeing posts on toxic or narcissistic people, and every time I saw a post like that, I would use that to judge myself as if I'm some kind of bad person with a toxic personality. I'm not going to lie and say that I'm well past that now, but I will say that I have recovered from certain parts of that mentality. I still sometimes judge myself too harshly based on what I do that's out of character, but that doesn't happen as often as it used to.

One thing I sometimes do to help me get out of a negative headspace is thinking about what the world would be like if I wasn't in it. I know how morbid that probably sounds, but it does help me to readjust my focus on more positive thoughts. Other times I'll use a more gentle approach and just allow my train of thought to readjust itself, reminding myself that I have impacted and inspired other people that I've reached out to in life. Knowing that makes me feel good and makes me want to continue helping other people and leaving a positive impact on people's lives.