“Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.” – Wayne W. Dyer
The minimalist lifestyle is a movement that seeks to pare down possessions to only the essential. Because life can be lived richer and fuller when unnecessary possessions have been removed, it is a growing trend that includes more than just young, single, 20-somethings. Many families are embracing the lifestyle as well.
And more and more are being introduced to the lifestyle every day. Perhaps, even, this is your first introduction.
Some people get nervous when they hear the term “minimalist.” For them, it conjures up images of destitution, barren walls, and empty cupboards. Rightly so, they decide that is no way to enjoy life. Believe me, I agree – that is no way to enjoy life. And since deciding to become minimalist years ago, we have been on a journey to define what it means for us and how it fits into our unique lifestyle.
We live in the suburbs of Arizona. We have two small children. We are active in our community. We love to entertain and show hospitality. While not exceptional, our life is not identical to anybody else. It is our life – nobody else’s. Minimalism, for us, would have to be unique. It would require us to determine the most important pursuits in our life and remove everything that was distracting us from it. And in so doing, we would find a new way to live life that adds richness and fullness around life’s most essential elements.
To determine if minimalism may indeed be the right lifestyle for you consider some of these questions:
1. Do you spend too much time cleaning?
If you enjoy clean, tidy rooms but don’t like to clean, minimalism just may be your answer. After all, the easiest way to reduce your cleaning time is to simply own less things. It works every time.
2. Are you trying to get out of debt?
Debt holds our life in bondage and weighs heavily on our shoulders. Getting a handle on it by buying less things is one of the most life-giving actions you can take.
3. Is there too much stress in your life?
Physical clutter results in extra stress on our lives. Minimalism removes the clutter and limits the distraction that it causes. Minimalism may be just the breath of fresh air that your home needs to help you relax and unwind.
4. Would you like more time in your day?
Consider for just a moment the amount of time that our belongings drain from our life. Whether we are cleaning, organizing, maintaining, repairing, removing, or shopping, our possessions demand a large percentage of our time. Owning fewer of them results in less time spent maintaining them.
5. Are you environmentally conscious?
Minimalism reduces our impact on the environment by requiring less resources on the front end for production and reducing the amount of waste on the back end.
6. Are you frugal?
While becoming a minimalist doesn’t mean that you have to spend less money, it certainly provides the opportunity. And because you are buying less things, you also have the option to make higher-quality purchases that last longer.
7. Do you enjoy financially supporting other causes?
Minimalism provides an opportunity to not just save money for the sake of keeping it, but for using it to further causes that we believe in. After all, once you become content with your belongings and have been rescued from the race of accumulating possessions, you have no need to hoard money. You find new freedom to support the causes that you hold most dear. Recently, the Becoming Minimalist community raised over $5,000 for Charity:Water.
8. Are there things you value more than material possessions?
Minimalism seeks to intentionally promote the things in life that we most value and remove anything that distracts us from it. It allows our life to center around our deepest heart desires rather than the items on sale at the department store.
9. Are you not afraid of change?
Minimalism is a counter-cultural lifestyle that will force changes in the way you spend your time, energy, and money. Of course, almost every change is for the better… so it’s definitely worth the effort.
10. Is your life too valuable to live like everyone else?
Our heart, soul, and passions makes us valuable and unique. Don’t sacrifice your important role in this world by settling for the same temporal possessions that everyone else in your neighborhood is chasing. Your life is far too important… and short.
Your particular practice of minimalism is going to look different from anyone else. It must! After all, you live a different life than anyone else. So find a style of minimalism that works for you. One that is not cumbersome, but freeing based on your values, desires, passions, and rational thinking.
Ultimately, you will begin to remove the unneeded things from your life. As a result, you will find space to intentionally promote the things you most value and remove anything that distracts you from it.
Image: hozinja
Dave Rowley says
Hi Joshua,
You list so many great reasons to go minimalist here. We are starting to pare things back as a family, it’s little complicated at times, but each small success makes such a difference.
One of our main motivations is to try and provide an uncluttered environment for our young children. Even with the small steps we’ve already taken I can see a difference in the way they relate to things, and how happier they are in a more spacious environment.
Bryanna says
Love it! And with two little kids as well, they don’t care about all the “stuff” as much as they genuinely want YOU! Wonderful post and inspirational to continue to move forward even in the midst of a hectic schedule of demands and responsibilities! Thank you.
Southern Illinois Girl says
Thanks for such a good post. Every single reason you listed above resonated with me, and it has been something I have been trying to practice for the last year. I absolutely detest cleaning but I love having a clean, tidy house. I realized I was spending a lot of time cleaning that I would have much rather spent doing other things, so I went on a clutter-free binge, and I have never felt so good. I spend very little time having to clean now, and I can whip the house into shape in under 15 minutes.
And I could not agree MORE about the relationships you can develop as a result of leading a more minimalistic lifestyle. I dread busy calendars, and as a result, I rarely commit to more than one event a week. This leaves a lot of time open for me and my husband to do the things we want to do and also to do spur of the moment things when people ask. I have also developed a wonderful relationship with an 88-year-old neighbor lady who I love dearly. I would have never been able to do that with a jam-packed schedule.
Thanks for your articles. I look forward to reading them, and they are a constant source of inspiration.
Amanda Schoonover says
Choosing to live a more minimal life has been one of the greatest decisions I’ve ever made. It forces you to put ‘things’ into perspective and, I would say, breaks the chains consumerism may have ahold of you. Plus, it’s awesome when the whole house seems so ‘messy’ and it only takes 20 minutes to totally organize or clean up. Less stuff, less stress! Thanks for this post and all you do.
Joslyn says
You just listed all 10 reasons why I’ve gone minimalist. We are up to eyeballs in student loans that we are trying to pay off, and we are living out of suitcases because our jobs demand it. This plus a whole slew of reasons is exactly why I decided something just had to change!
Linda MacRae says
Several years ago due to the economic turndown, I had so many responsibilities, and an apartment over run with “clutter”. I was facing homelessness, and stress beyond belief.
My daughter and her husband decided I would move in with them and put all this “clutter” into storage! Goodness!! Just before I was moving I discovered your website along with “Zen Habits”. I fell hook, line, and sinker.
What I didn’t want to save I threw away or gave away. I felt so free!
After almost a year of living in my own room with my family, the things I thought were so important are not.
My family, my respect, and my finances have finally become a matter of greater importance!
I have such a stress free lifestyle now and am soon thinking of ridding myself of the small storage unit to end it all. Now that I have retired and can travel freely I do not want to have those responsibilities of “clutter” anymore.
I will be able to finally spend weeks with my other children in different parts of the country and after traveling several times with a backpack, I understand how easy and sufficient it can become.
Thank You Joshua for enticing me and letting me discover what truly becoming a minimalist really is!!
Dave Rowley says
Hi Linda,
That is such a great story! I am early on in my minimalist journey, but stories like yours are really encouraging. I’m so glad to hear it’s working out so well for you.
Dan Garner says
Great post Joshua. You really covered a lot of ground. So many of your points are inter-tangled with each other….You’ll find that as you get out of debt that you have less stress which leads to not being afraid of change which leads to valuing life more dearly…..It goes on and on.
Dan @ ZenPresence
Brown Vagabonder says
A few days ago, I was shopping for mascara as I hadn’t replaced mine in 2 years and thought it high time for a change. I have been practicing minimalism for 2 years. Looking around in my cabinets, I knew exactly where everything was and how much of everything I have. I knew I didn’t have any extra mascara wands lying around uselessly. Being a minimalist, reducing clutter, and waste, being eco-friendly, all the benefits and feelings that come with it, I wouldn’t give it up for the world.
Jeannie says
Thanks for your Comment “Brown”… I am in the process of clearing out that “overloaded ‘Essentials Cupboard” and plan on using up what I have and donating & giving some to others in need. I know I will feel a lot better and I am sure some of it would have gone ‘bad’ before I used it all up… what a waste of time & money!! Joshua you constantly inspire me even though I have a long way to go.. I am feeling lighter already!! :)
Veronica says
Mascara should be changed every 3-6 months. It dries out and accumulates bacteria during that time.
Iris says
You don’t need mascara. Nobody does!
Edna says
I agree!
AlexM says
These are really good points and I found an improvement in life for each point you’ve listed and they are all so relevant.
Today, we met with an attorney and set up a will. In the past, it was an overwhelming task. We owed money, we had obligations, we had tons of stuff. So many things made the task seem unsurmountable. Now that we have a “smaller” life, things are easy to keep in perspective. We finally had the freedom to address this task. We didn’t do it just for ourselves. We did it to make what we left behind easier for our loved ones. I think getting your life and affair in orders is not just for your own well being, but for those who love you and would have to clean up your mess after you’re gone. But at the same time, now we feel like we’re doing something tangible to take care of those we love.
We needed to solve the big distractions that kept us from getting to this. Every point you listed played a part.
Ashley says
Didn’t think about this but I love that actually setting up a will became easy. That’s beautiful and it doesn’t mean your any less rich.
New Age Nomad says
Thanks for the inspiring post always enjoy them!
Malou Jumuad says
Wow…..so inspiring I want to become a minimalism also.