If you’ve heard of minimalism, the first images that pop into your head may be up-scale apartments with whitewashed walls, sparsely decorated with trendy, equally monochromatic decor that’s probably from Anthropologie. It appears to be an elite lifestyle reserved for the young and privileged.
Social media often doesn’t make it clear that minimalism does not have to look like this. In fact, it is accessible to anyone who decides that it is something they wish to pursue.
Minimalism isn’t about restrictions. It’s about highlighting the things that bring you joy and eliminating the things that don’t. When you have fewer things, you can appreciate each thing more.
You also free up so much space in your brain that was taken up by keeping track of all your objects, whenever you see them. A clearer space creates a clearer mind. When you pursue minimalism, you have the ability to pursue what is actually important to you.
Minimalism has financial benefits as well. When you buy and collect fewer things, you save money for things such as travel, education, and experiences.
Anyone who has decluttered a space is familiar with the peace of mind that it brings. Utilizing minimalism creates this feeling on hyperdrive. A popular method of decluttering a space is the Konmari method, made famous by Marie “Konmari” Kondo. You may have heard of her book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.
To practice the Konmari method, you go through each category of your possessions. If you have a home, this includes your furniture, kitchen supplies, and decor. If you’re a student like me, you’ll probably stick to your clothes, books, cosmetics, and other possessions you’ve accumulated over the years. An effective way to assess each category is to lay all of the objects on your floor or bed, and have trash bags or boxes nearby. Here are my guidelines:
1. If it doesn’t spark joy, it’s time to let go.
2. If it hasn’t been used at least three times in the past year, it’s time to let go.
3. If you have duplicates of something, narrow it down to one.
4. If it doesn’t “go” with many things (this applies to clothes and makeup), let go.
5. Bring the things to a donation center as quickly as possible, such as Savers or Goodwill.
It will be hard to let go of things that have strong sentimental value. If they aren’t useful in your life anymore, however, they are only cluttering your space and your mind. There is someone out there who can bring your objects new love and purpose.
Minimalism is kind of like vegetarianism--it sounds good in theory, but based on how you’ve lived your whole life it seems impossible to accomplish. I’ve experimented with both, and I’ve actually found it easier to follow through with minimalism than vegetarianism. If you’re a carnivore, I hope you find that encouraging!
A common misconception is that minimalism is an end goal. Instead, it’s a mindset. Shopping, and even just browsing online, can fill you with the need to buy more things. When you spend less time shopping, you feel more contented with the things you already have.
You can also apply minimalism to your daily habits. Avoiding multitasking, such as scrolling on your phone while you’re eating, will help you be more focused and present in the moment--something we all can work on.
To quote The Minimalists, minimalism leads you to find happiness “not through things, but through life itself.” Though it is becoming more popular, it is not a fad. If you apply minimalism to your life, I am sure you will be rewarded with a greater appreciation for the things that matter.