How I Practice Minimalism In My Daily Life
All things Minimalism, living a Minimalistic lifestyle, & WHY I got started.
So WTF is minimalism?
Minimalism is a style in which simple and few elements are incorporated. It includes few, neutral colors, careful placements, few patterns, etc. It more often is described as a type of "lifestyle" that gets rid of clutter.
Minimalism has a different meaning to everyone and can be viewed in such different ways that are deeply personal. It is about owning what adds to your life and getting rid of what doesn't. Minimalism is all about intent, and the intention of the things we own aligned with our energy and our time. If everything we own adds to our energy and has an intentional use that adds value to our lives, it should be kept.
Minimalism can also be seen as a philosophy in some cases. It is all about "intentional" and "simple" living and can be applied to any area of life.
"Minimalism isn't about removing the things you love. It's about removing the things that distract you from the things you love." Joshua Becker
There are no rules when it comes to minimalism. It is deeply personal to you and your life. Minimalism may seen extremely overwhelming or challenging, but once incorporating small aspects of it into your life, it can actually be extremely beneficial to living an intentional life.
What minimalism is not:
Minimalism is not supposed to feel restrictive.
Minimalism is not about getting rid of everything you own.
Minimalism does not mean white walls and empty shelves.
Minimalism does not have rules or any one way to practice.
Why I got started:
Growing up, my room looked like most preteen girls... I had the huge Ikea canvas painting of New York City taking up my entire wall, I had a wall of printed photos hanging up on the other wall. I had jewelry holders and perfume holders side by side on my dresser. I had dresser drawers broken from my clothes flowing over. I couldn't see underneath my bed because of the clutter that had accumulated by me just pushing it out of the way.
I refused to go through my stuff because I was scared of the things living inside. I was afraid of touching anything under my bed because I thought a bug might crawl out on me. I would go to The Container Store, purchase plastic organizers, and then never touch them. They would sit on top of my dresser, inside of my bedside table, or underneath my bed and never be used.
Finally, a few years later, I slowly started getting rid of things and craving change. My change came from moving my furniture around in the middle of the night or going through my bedside tables every month, and those things couldn't happen if I didn't get rid of some of the things preventing me.
I used Pinterest relentlessly hunting to find exactly what I wanted my room to turn into from my childhood bedroom that I outgrew. I searched all over the place for the sheets, the comforter, the linen duvet. I searched for more ideas of how to REALLY organize my space to make it intentional.
How minimalism saved me:
When reflecting back on that time in my life: the time where my things were everywhere, I had no sense in what I was buying (I just bought it if I liked it), and had no organization skills, I realized that that was also aligning with the time I felt most disassociated with my body. This time period was when I was struggling the most with my depression, as well as my anxiety, and nothing seemed to be able to clear my mind.
It is weird to look back on a time when I had no idea the impact of my space around me and how important this was to help heal parts of me that craved cleanliness. It is weird to realize that just cleaning up my "depression" room increased my overall mood. I realized that my surroundings externally where an exact representation of my feelings internally. I also understood the need for change and craved a space that felt "zen" and peaceful. I wanted a space that would almost get rid of my anxiety when I walked in. So, I created that space.
How I use minimalism in my life:
Mid COVID, I decided I wanted to paint my room. Fresh & plain white. I wanted it to have nothing and look as clean as possible at all times. I wanted to feel clean and I wanted to trust that there weren't spiders living under my bed or in my closet.
When I painted, I took EVERYTHING out of my room and decided to only bring back in things that made me happy and fulfilled. It's weird to look at inanimate objects and decide how joy-filled they make me, but I did it. I went through my closet and eliminated half of what I owned, I went through my books and got rid of the ones I was keeping for "someday when I needed it", I went through the school papers and the crafts I was keeping for no reason. I realized everything needed a reason in order for me to want to keep it.
Organizing and cleaning slowly became extremely therapeutic for me & I learned exactly how I liked to keep my space. The more I had lying around, the less motivated I was, the worst sleep I got, and the more I fluctuated into a deeper funk.
It started with cleaning under my bed, cleaning out my drawers, organizing my closet, and ended with emptying the tops of dressers and only keeping things that made me happy in sight. I kept only the important things that ADDED to my life.
I tried to keep neutral colors (cause those made me feel the best), mixed with aspects of wood, a few decor objects, and living things (like flowers in a minimal vase or a plant). I curated this space knowing that I wanted it to be somewhere that felt like a sanctuary. A soul-nourishing space.
"When you've finished putting your house in order, your life will change dramatically. Once you have experienced what it's like to have a truly ordered house, you'll feel your whole world brighten. Never again will you revert to clutter. This is what I call the magic of tidying. And the effects are stupendous. Not only will you never be messy again, but you'll also get a new start on life." Marie Kondo
How to get started:
Start with discarding items / things that do not "spark joy" or you have a purpose for. Sort by category and TAKE YOUR TIME! This is FOR YOU, and needs to suit your personality. Start with closet and go through clothes, start two piles "get rid of" or "keep". Then get to other things like books, papers, sentimental items, photos, miscellaneous. Look up ideas for organization methods that will work for you. Organize your space and find places specific for each item. Everything should have a specific place it should be kept (prevents chairs in corners of rooms with everything thrown on top).
Some small steps:
Clear out clutter
Clear out calendar and time-block
Work on time management
Stick with a few staple colors/things
Get rid of time-wasting activities
Evaluate who you spend your time with (minimalism isn't only about external possessions, but also about those you surround yourself with, where you spend your time, and what choices you make)
Set limits for yourself
Gradual change!
Limit screen time and clear out clutter from phone
Set rules/limits for yourself
"Your living space affects your body"
"It's a very strange phenomenon, but when we reduce what we own and essentially "detox" our house, it has a detox effect on our bodies as well." Marie Kondo
In order to get more in-depth ideas: read Marie Kondo's book linked below! She gives step-by-step explanations and lots of tips!
If you are still interested in minimalism, these are some recommendations I have for you:
Blogs:
Documentaries:
Minimalism: A Documentary About The Important Things (Netflix)
The Minimalists: Less is Now (Netflix)
Tidying Up With Marie Kondo (Netflix)
Books:
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