What does it mean to be a minimalist? Many people are under the impression that minimalism is only about decluttering and owning less, but that is not a complete picture. Being a minimalist is not just about giving up all your stuff. Joshua Becker of Becoming Minimalist defines minimalism as “…the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it.” It has been said minimalism is about the journey, not about the destination. You aren’t automatically disqualified from defining yourself as a minimalist because you own over a certain set amount of items. It is up to each individual to determine how far they want to go down the road of minimalism. There are no right or wrong ways to downsize a life and there is no single set of rules that you must follow to be a minimalist. As Brian Gardner, founder of No Sidebar says, “I’ve learned that minimalism is not about what you own, it’s about why you own it.” If you resonate with any of the points made below, you are already on the journey to becoming a minimalist.
- You have shifted and redefined your relationship with “stuff” by focusing on why you own things as opposed to what you own.
- You desire more time to focus on the areas of your life that are important to you instead of spending all your time accumulating or maintaining material items.
- Reducing the amount of debt in your life has become a priority.
- The thought of going shopping just to shop makes you cringe. You shop deliberately and only for items that you deem essential.
- Clutter makes you feel claustrophobic or it stresses you out.
- The theory “less is more” appeals to you in many different areas of your life.
- You don’t live in or feel the need for a very large house or apartment.
- Spending more of your money on experiences rather than things has become a goal for you and your family.
- You prioritize spending time with the people you love.
- Spending your free time cleaning, maintaining your lifestyle, and doing chores leaves you feeling frustrated and empty.
- You are willing to give up some of your possessions if it means freeing your time to pursue things that you love.
- Excessive spending has taken over your life and you feel the need to get your finances and spending habits under control.
- Buying items of a higher quality that will last longer is important to you.
- You are comfortable living with less and you already know that possessions don’t bring happiness.
- The thought of cleaning your home with minimal effort appeals to you.
- You only wear the clothes that you love and that make you feel comfortable in your own skin.
- Always being on the go or having an overloaded schedule makes you feel burnt out.
In a world full of excess, many people are feeling the need to reduce clutter or downsize both physically and emotionally. So many people have found happiness living with less. Why not start slowly on the road to minimalism and see how it goes!