Why Everyone Should Practice Minimalism

Minimalism.

You hear the word and instantly think of living in an all-white apartment with a mattress in the corner and maybe a single plant.

You own only 2 shirts, walk around barefoot, and are an extreme vegan.

If it’s not black, white, or beige…you’re not wearing it.

I’m here to tell you that does not have to be the case.

(But hey, if you want to live like that, knock your one pair of socks off.)

Minimalism is the practice of living without unnecessary items and rather spending your energy and money on experiences that fill you with joy.

I personally believe that it works on a spectrum and can be practiced at different levels depending on your lifestyle. Minimalism does not have to be all or nothing (and therefore, hopefully not as hard as you think).

Why Minimalism Is Important

My approach minimalism is to use it as a way to carefully consider all of my purchases and ask, “Do I really need this? Will this add value to my life?”

I think it’s an important concept for everyone to know because we currently live in an over-materialistic society where much of our money is spent on impulse, either to fit into the crowd or provide us with temporary satisfaction.

Think about it…how often do you go “omg that’s SO cute!!” and throw an item into your cart unconsciously?

I won’t lie, I used to be a huge advocate for retail therapy. Nothing felt more comforting than wandering around Target for hours and coming out with full bags. Clothes? Yes. Decorative pillows? Yes. New makeup? Yes.

But of course, the shopper’s high didn’t last long. It later turned into regret after realizing I’ve just spent half my paycheck on things that will probably no longer interest me in a month.

My Path to Minimalism

My mindset soon changed after reading the now wildly-popular book, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” by Marie Kondo.
Check it out here.

Essentially, she explains her step-by-step process (coined the “Konmari method”) of decluttering your home and only keeping the items that “spark joy”.

The idea of an item “sparking joy” struck a chord with me because I could easily look around my room and pick out countless things that were just things. They didn’t benefit my life in any way and only took up both physical and mental space.

So, I followed her method (at this point, dozens of times) and decluttered each area of my life with careful consideration. And wow, did I have a lot of shit.

The number of items I had hidden out of sight because they were never used was comical. I had clothes that hung in my closet for years because I convinced myself I would wear them someday. The number of beauty products (that all did the same thing) I had stashed in my bathroom…whew chile.

Ever since reading that book, I have practiced asking myself “does this spark joy?” for every item I have contemplated purchasing. And no, not the temporary high feeling of buying something new, but true joy because you know the item will be well-loved.

Practicing Minimalism

So, it’s been a few years since starting my minimalism journey and I can tell you that I’m not living in an empty apartment with just a bed and a plant. However, I have significantly reduced how much I shop, own, and consume.

I pretty much never buy new clothes unless I’m replacing old ones or have a specific piece I want to add to my wardrobe. Don’t worry though! You don’t have to completely isolate yourself from ever shopping with your friends again. Take that time to value the company rather than buying items just because everyone else is.

My makeup collection has stopped growing because I realized I was only trying to keep up with the trends when I had more than enough makeup already. (It feels like brands are releasing new products every week!) My other beauty supplies have been used up and replaced by only the essentials.

I cannot even imagine the amount of money I have saved from not buying on impulse because I *heart eye emoji* at an item and think that I need it. Guess what? I didn’t need it and forgot about it as soon as I walked out of the store.

Shopping is no longer a way for me to aimlessly pass time. My shopping “high” comes from buying something I’ve planned for and knowing it will be money well-spent. There’s some satisfaction in walking away from a purchase and later realizing you saved yourself from a bad decision.

Let me remind you that my decluttering process did not happen all at once, but over a span of a few years. Almost everything I own now has a purpose and will be used until it no longer can. And that feels good!

The Impact of Minimalism

Minimalism has transformed how I think about my money, time, and space in ways I could have never imagined. It has spread beyond physical items to more personal aspects of my life.

I “decluttered” friends that were not having a positive impact on my life. People who weren’t putting the same amount (or any) effort into our friendship were let go.

I’ve become more environmentally friendly after learning just how much we consume and waste as a society. I don’t want to support brands that don’t respect their workers and only care about producing as many cheap, poor quality products as possible (that eventually ends up in landfill).

This may sound too philosophical, but I also feel like I’m able to think more clearly because I’m no longer surrounded by physical or mental clutter. I can evaluate people and places better than before.

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I want to reiterate that minimalism is not about having as little items as possible. It’s about surrounding yourself with things that add value to your life and bring you joy.

So, don’t think that you can’t own anything frivolous or expensive. If you want to buy a designer handbag because you truly admire its beauty and know that it will be used to its full potential, go for it! I personally think it’s better to invest in fewer, higher-quality items rather than buying and rebuying lots of cheaply made items.

What are your thoughts on minimalism? Are you familiar with the practice or did you learn something new? Would you consider implementing it into your lifestyle?

Have a conversation in the comments! I would love to hear your opinions. I wish you all the best and lots of love x

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