The commonly believed myth regarding minimalism is that you need to sacrifice the things you love in order to thoroughly embrace the lifestyle.
But this is simply not true. A minimalist way of life is all about being more while having less.
It frees you from the reigns of mass consumption and gluttony. You’ll find yourself appreciating the things you do have much more.
If you aren’t convinced just yet, here are 5 reasons you should embrace a minimalist lifestyles:
1. You’ll become less materialistic
In the media-saturated world of today, we are constantly bombarded with advertisements promising us a product that will help us achieve happiness. It produces an urge in us that wasn’t there before for materials we don’t really need. These materialistic possessions only bring us a false sense of happiness. It is hence difficult being a cautious consumer in this day and age. Minimalism will help you realise that branded and luxury items don’t truly leave you fulfilled and only bring on a temporary sense of comfort.
2. You’ll save money
People who don’t have a lot of money often stay that way because of how hard they try to make it seem like they’re rich. They buy cars they can’t afford and spend on things they don’t need. Once you start spending less money buying unnecessary things, you’ll find yourself racking up a decent amount of savings. You’ll be able to put your earnings into more important things, such as paying off your debts or towards the needs of your family. People who have a lessened dependency on money are also proven to feel more fulfilled with life.
3. Decluttering is fulfilling
Part of embracing minimalism is decluttering your space of things you already have. It’s time to go through all your old closets and drawers to empty out the things you don’t need. You’ll tend to find this exceptionally satisfying the more you do it. Many of us tend to attach sentimental value to things. This is not necessarily a bad habit, but can present a problem when done too much. Letting go of old items frees you from memories that only do you harm the more you hold on. Minimalism will free you from past burdens and will remove the things that are weighing you down.
4. You’ll focus on what’s important
Having a lot of things means dividing a lot of your attention. Most people spend a lot of their time worrying about making enough money to pay off their debts or figuring out a way to reorganise their house. Minimalism minimises both these problems and you’ll be able to focus your attention on what’s truly important. Perhaps you can now use the extra money you have saved to buy a gym membership. Or buy more quality foods for you to eat. Your time and money are valuable and you should thus treat it as such.
5. You can create your own way of doing it
The best thing about minimalism is that there’s no right way to do it. You don’t have to have a completely empty house or wear the same clothes everyday to be considered a minimalist. You can choose exactly how far you want to take its concept and still experience its benefits. The ideal minimalist lifestyle is the one that works for you. Try downsizing your lifestyle in stages and find your comfort spot. Once you find yourself content with the changes you’ve made and encountering the mentioned benefits, you’ve succeeded at being a minimalist.
