Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from Francine Jay of Miss Minimalist.
“Freedom is the oxygen of the soul.” – Moshe Dayan
People often ask me, “What’s so great about being a minimalist?” I usually answer with one word: freedom.
And by freedom, I don’t necessarily mean ditching your house, ditching your job, ditching your responsibilities, and traveling the world with a backpack (though yes, I’ve done that).
The freedom I’m talking about runs much deeper. It’s long-term, it’s sustainable, and it courses through your veins even when you’re doing the 9-to-5, making mortgage payments, and putting a child or two to bed each night.
How Stuff Enslaves Us
Excess possessions have the power to enslave us in three ways:
1. Physically. Let’s face it, stuff is cumbersome and difficult to transport. So the more we have of it in our rooms, closets, drawers, basements, attics, and garages, the less nimble we become. We may even pass up promising jobs or other opportunities because of the hassle of moving it. In other cases, our stuff builds up to form a prison around us: have you ever avoided a social visit because your house was too messy for company?
2. Psychologically. Too much stuff can weigh on our spirits, and make us feel heavy and lethargic. It’s almost as if each possession is tied to us with a piece of rope, dragging behind us as we try to move around. Excess things not only clutter our homes, they clutter our minds – making us too distracted or overwhelmed to think clearly and accomplish anything.
3. Financially. Stuff can also enslave us via the debt used to pay for it. The more money we owe, the more sleepless our nights, and the more limited our opportunities. Consumer debt can keep us working jobs we don’t like, simply to make the minimum payments. It can delay (or destroy) our plans to make a career change, go back to school, or start our own business.
How to Break Free
Fortunately, adopting a few minimalist techniques can help us break free of those shackles:
1. Declutter, declutter, and declutter some more. Get rid of at least one thing each day, and you’ll be 365 items lighter by the end of the year. Better yet: pick an area of your home (a room, a closet, a drawer) and completely empty its contents. Put back only those items you regularly use, or truly love – and donate or sell the rest. Decide what to keep, rather than what to toss.
2. Realize you are not what you own. Sometimes we fear that getting rid of certain things means getting rid of part of ourselves. But remember: you are not the college notebooks and swimming trophies packed in the basement; you are not the designer shoes and handbags lining your closet; you are not the books, gadgets, craft supplies, heirlooms, or tchotchkes in your living room. Your memories, dreams, and ambitions aren’t contained in these objects – they’re contained in you.
3. Ask “Why?” before you buy. Don’t bring another item into your home without extensive questioning – especially if it means charging it to a credit card. Ask the following of each potential purchase: “Do I really need you?” “What value will you add to my life?” “Are you worth the extra hours I’ll have to work for you?” “Are you worth the space I’ll have to devote to you?” Curb impulse purchases by giving yourself a cooling-off period: instead of buying something immediately, wait 36 hours and see if you still “need” it.
These simple strategies go a long way towards giving us the upper hand over our possessions. When we clear our homes of the excess, stop identifying with our stuff, and put the brakes on new accumulation, we gain control – of our homes, our lives, and our futures.
Every time we toss (or choose not to acquire) an unnecessary item, we gain a little bit of freedom: from paying for it, storing it, cleaning it, repairing it, maintaining it, protecting it, insuring it, worrying about it, and schlepping it around.
And all those little bits of freedom add up to something big: more time, money, and energy for what’s truly important to us. Not necessarily for traveling the world, but for playing with our kids, relaxing with our friends, pursuing our hobbies, exploring our interests, and embracing new opportunities.
When we eliminate the distractions of excess stuff, we gain the freedom to dive into life, deepen our relationships, and discover our full potential. And that’s what’s so great about being a minimalist.
***
Francine Jay is the author of The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide: How to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify Your Life. She blogs about living a beautiful life with less stuff at Miss Minimalist.
Kristin says
This post is perfect!!! Thanks Miss M :)
Lisa says
Being introduced to the concept of “deciding what to keep instead of what to toss.” has made such a change in the mindset of how I declutter. Before, I used to only get rid of useless or old or wornout things. Now that I am on the journey to minimalism, I find myself asking what I really do want to keep and why. And it has been very freeing.
Thanks for a great post!
Lisa
Vanessa says
I sooo resonate with this post, Francine! Purging most of my useless belongings felt so much better than I ever thought it could. Now I realize it was because of the psychological stress.
This really hit home after moving and seeing all of our accumulated crap. It was eating away at my soul. Thankfully, I now how much less (and I’m still reducing) but you’re so right…it’s so freeing! Like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. One of the best decisions I ever made :)
Holden says
Hey, I’m just some 17 year old kid that was trying to find something to write on for his senior project when I happened to get to this site. I love my stuff and really enjoy little nick nacks to keep as reminders of my life, but reading some of these blogs really has changed the way I am planning to live the rest of my life. I don’t know if its necessary for me to empty my room of all my admittedly useless stuff, but I will see the material world differently from now on. Hopefully for the better.
Me, here, now. says
You’re lucky you’ve been able to start so soon! Not that it’s ‘ever too late to start’, because it isn’t. But starting early can only open up countless opportunities from a young age. You don’t fall into the same trap as ‘The Joneses’ and you live a life with more purpose. Your fledgling wings spread and soar higher and further than those chained to what is perceived (read as ‘conditioned’) a ‘normal’ lifestyle. Living ‘The Dream’ isn’t what those mad men of marketing peddle, it’s being free from the weight that ‘stuff & clutter’ (physical, psychological) bring.
ren says
Holden, I’m new to this site, just wondering what new insights you have, are you still thinking same way about minimalism
Living the Balanced Life says
Francine,
I am on the journey to minimalize, not to the 100 item mark, but to the level that I find the freedom, I am looking for. It is amazing how much lighter you feel when you look at an area of your life that has been decluttered to only the things that are desired and needful.
Great breakdown of how to begin that journey!
Bernice
http://livingthebalancedlife.com/2010/dream-job-overload/
Bill says
Francine
Thanks so much! Trying to get rid of 50 items every weekend. Talking small steps, empty a room, closet, or drawer and just put back what is necessary. Seems impossible but the small steps really help. Getting rid of things makes you feel so free! Less clutter in one room is like an energy boost. Just on the road to recovery of becoming a minimalist.
Bill
Lisa Fine - lisasfoods says
Thank you Francine! Love this post, and posts like it, which have all helped me declutter an enormous amount of stuff in the last few weeks. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted, all from giving away, throwing away, and selling old books, clothes, college notebooks, and lots of other stuff I no longer need. While I have been a minimalist in my buying behavior for a few years, I am now tackling removing unwanted and unused items. Always great to have reminders and motivators like this.
Renee@rousingrowena says
Well said! Keep spreading the word . . . decluttering will set you free.
Gip @ So Much More Life says
Francine —
This is a great introductory post to minimalism. You have it exactly right.
I’ve seen some minimalist bloggers trying to de-emphasize the importance of decluttering, but this is a mistake. It’s the most important part of the process. Clutter saps away energy that you will want for something else.
Good job.
Gip
Faith @ Minimalist Moms says
I love this! Yes, it’s the freedom that is contagious. I think that’s why people can go from never having heard about minimalism to “Oh my gosh, I want that” kind of feeling.
Great tips too. “Decide what to keep, rather than what to toss” is great advice along with not bringing in more clutter in the future. I also really enjoy your blog!
Kevin D says
I asked the question about Minimalist Christmas gifts only to click on your name, after the fact, and see that you already have a list. :-)