With each minimalism post I create from here on out, I want to keep things real and transparent so that you can hopefully better understand how I’ve applied this philosophy or lifestyle to my own life. So in the spirit of that, here are some insights that I’ve been pondering in the past few weeks:
1. Minimalism as a lifestyle is NOT a trend. Social media likes to make everything a trend, and while the artistic principles of minimalism may not be for everybody (ie. white walls, barely any decorations and/or a couple plants), this doesn’t mean that minimalism as a whole movement is dead. This is a topic that’s sparked a lot of dialogue in the last couple months on YouTube by people who practice minimalism as a lifestyle.
2. When it comes to marketing and advertising on YouTube or other social media platforms, there will always be an excuse for us as viewers to buy something new simply because “it’s more sustainable” or because we’ve been influenced by someone else. I would not encourage this behavior in the name of not just minimalism, but also in the name of sustainability which can go hand in hand. If you’re someone who’s trying to become more minimal in your shopping habits, consider if the people you’re following on these platforms are sending you messages that don’t align with this value you have or want to maintain. This upgrade culture we live in can definitely burn you out if you’re constantly replacing things that are in perfectly good condition, which is counter-intuitive to the point of minimalism. Use what you already have and only upgrade if it’s genuinely necessary.
3. Minimalism and the act of decluttering can be either overwhelming or addicting depending on how you look at it. I know that from my experiences, I would get this small adrenaline rush from finding so much to get rid of, but in turn, I’d feel stuck because even though I had made so much progress, I just didn’t know what to do with myself afterwards. This mindset of always donating, selling and getting rid of things is only half of the game, and if you’re someone who loves decluttering just as much as you love shopping, then consider if there’s this sense of boredom or restlessness within you that needs some other form of entertainment. Picking up new hobbies or expanding your interests can really help you to feel less bored or stuck within your life, or you could even look into other parts of your life spiritually or emotionally. We’ll save that side of the coin for later, though.
4. Minimalism doesn’t have to be based on hard-hitting “rules” or strict standards. However, if you are in the very beginning stage of your journey and you’re struggling with feeling motivated or having enough discipline, then perhaps some standards or limits are needed. I know that when I first started out, I was strict with myself, but I also remember times when I let minimalism become “toxic” because of the guilt I would feel after making a purchase that wasn’t intentional. These things happen, and while the guilt is understandable, there’s really not much you can do about it after the deed has been done. The money’s already been spent, and so instead of feeling guilty or judging yourself, try to see this as a lesson learned on how you can improve next time.
5. This last point is not so much a realization, but more so an additional tip to consider or think about. I find that this complex called the scarcity mindset can lead to us holding onto more stuff for events that may never happen. When we rationalize in our minds why we may need this one item for this one event that we think may happen, what are the chances of X event actually happening? And even if it does happen, is there anything else in your home that you can use as opposed to buying something new? To give a better example of this, let's consider those single-use kitchen gadgets, or having an extensive collection of sunglasses that you can never keep track of. It's one thing if a certain collection you own is something you truly find joy and pleasure in (and by all means, keep them if you enjoy using them), but if you keep purchasing sunglasses because you keep losing them, then here's what I'd recommend to combat this habit:
A. DECLUTTER & DOWNSIZE: Gather up everything (literally everything) and lay it all out onto an open space. Throw away anything that's considered trash, categorize like items together, and have a separate pile for things you want to sell or donate. If you happen to find things that were once considered missing or lost (like those sunglasses which were previously mentioned), make a separate pile for those items.
B. Once you've paired everything down to what you know you want to keep and will actually use, give each category of item(s) a designated home so that you'll know where it is the next time you reach for it. You can use any available boxes, bins or containers you already have to your advantage, or if you have none and just want a fresh start, then you can go out and buy a whole new set. The rest is up to you on how you want to organize your stuff!
I hope you've founds these tips and insights helpful! Thanks for reading and have a great day!