“Do you want to change the world? Then change yourself first.” – Sri Chinmoy
I’m around the topic every day. I blog about minimalism and read blogs about minimalism. I tweet about it and follow others who tweet about it. I have a tumblr blog dedicated to the topic. And I publish a newsletter every other week for influencers desiring to promote simple living. I am very much in-tune with the simplicity/minimalism movement. And the movement is growing… almost everyday.
Luckily, I am not alone in my assessment. Others are also making the same observations (Meet Generation M, The Rising Trend of Minimalist Marketing). New blogs are popping up almost every day . New books are being written at a furious pace. And more and more people are being attracted to the lifestyle and adopting minimalist principles.
To understand why, consider these 10 Reasons Why Minimalism is Growing:
1. Worldwide Financial Turmoil – Rising unemployment, stagnant wages, and falling stock prices have forced families and individuals to reevaluate their purchases. Many have begun living on tighter budgets. As a result, many consumers are choosing to identify the difference between essential and nonessential purchases.
2. Environmental Concern – Many people are choosing to live a minimalist life out of concern for the environment. They understand that less consumption equals less use of the earth’s natural resources. And they are choosing to make a difference rather than stand idly by on the sidelines.
3. High Levels of Personal Debt – After years and years of living beyond our means, people are beginning to get the picture. Many are wisely choosing to get out from under the crushing weight of debt. The wide-spread popularity of Dave Ramsey and Adam Baker is proof of that growing trend. And as a means to reach that end, people are choosing to buy less and save more. It is a trend that hopefully continues.
4. Increased Global Social Awareness – Injustice, poverty, and malnutrition have always existed. But as new technology has made the world smaller by making global images/news more accessible, our awareness of the disparity has increased. Some are responding to the call and using their finances to make a difference on a global scale by feeding the hungry, providing clean drinking water, fighting back epidemics, and speaking up for the voiceless wherever it is needed.
5. Minimalist Art / Modern Aesthetics – Good art enters the soul and makes new ideas plausible. The term “minimalist art” (first used in 1929) experienced its major growth during the 1960’s and 1970’s when stripping art down to its fundamental features began showing up in painting/sculpting/music. Soon, it transcended into design and architecture and began to define the term: modern design. As a result, it has entered our soul and made the idea of minimalist principles plausible as a lifestyle as well.
6. Personal Computing Advances – Personal computing advances have made minimalism far easier than ever before. Today, computers replace the need for cd’s, dvd’s, paper files, photo albums, calendars, calculator, books, phone books, notebooks, newspapers, etc. The inherent necessity of keeping these physical items in our home is a thing of the past. Thank goodness.
7. The Benefits are Desired Today More than Ever – As our world continues to grow in complexity, there is far greater personal demand for many of the benefits that minimalism offers. Minimalism offers a life with less stress, less distraction, more freedom, and more time. All things that people today are desperately searching for more than ever.
8. More Online Presence – Proponents of the minimalist lifestyle are making it more accessible and attractive to others by writing about their experiences online. Bloggers such as Leo Babauta, Dave Bruno, Colin Wright and Tammy Strobel are making it easier than ever to find advice, encouragement, and inspiration for the minimalist lifestyle.
9. New Lifestyles Are Available Like Never Before – The Internet is making new lifestyles possible. No longer do people have to be tied down to a typical 9-5 job. Darren Rowse makes his living helping others become profitable bloggers. Chris Guillebeau will teach anyone to start their own small business. Countless others are choosing to make their living online. And many of them are choosing minimalism to make these lifestyle choices more accessible. After all, traveling the world becomes much easier when all of your belongings fit into a backpack.
10. The Realization There’s More to Life Than Possessions – Consumerism is alive and well. Advertisers continue to tell us that our next purchase will bring us satisfaction and people continue to believe it. But there is a growing trend of thoughtful people who are beginning to see through the falsehood and challenge this claim. They have tried finding happiness through possessions during the world’s latest economic boom… and have been left unfulfilled. As a result, they are beginning to seek happiness and fulfillment in other places: relationships, social causes, and significance.
In case you are still on the fence concerning the power of living a minimalist life, it may be helpful for you to consider these reasons why minimalism is growing as 10 Reasons Why You Should Become a Minimalist. After all, it only takes one…
Lani D says
I started my road towards minimalism when I returned home after nearly a year away traveling with just a carry-on-sized backpack. That year showed me just how little I could live with. I’m still refining my possessions and habits 6 years on.
I’m lucky to have a partner who is taking this lifestyle on board as well. For us in Australia, the idea of buying a house (and still live a life) is out of reach, so we’ve embraced our future of renting. Many people say that the worst thing about renting is packing and moving, so culling our furniture and stuff will take the stress out of repeated moves in the future too!
drucillav@bellsouth vettiner says
For me the draw has been much more of a spiritual one…As I learned to meditate years ago I found that my time and relationship with Christ was being blocked by my relationship with my possessions. ..When I discovered your blog I found so much information that has helped me take control of my stuff rather than have it control me! Your posts have been invaluable to my ability to turn my life around….several months ago I was able to give a testimony in church as to this lifestyle and mindset change. .I have embraced your desire to equip influencers to change the lives of others….I am preparing a compilation of many of the things I have learned in this regard into a 4 week Bible study entitled…Learning to live with just enough in the land of too much…Thank you for the empowerment to influence others!
Len says
I decided to be a minimalist 11 months ago.
Your blog is one of a constant reminder for me (I follow your fb).
You may want to read what minimalism has done to my life in my humble blog..
Len says
Here is my blog. http://lenlifelist.blogspot.com/
AmericanGuy says
just read your blog. it is minimalist itself, heh heh. great tidbits of thoughts on that page. yes minimize and live simple and free. there are people who have boy and girlfriends and even families who live minimalist. it does not mean living austere. just means living with very high quality but very choosy (hence minimalism).
2pts says
I have been getting into”minimalism” since about 2008 but I didn’t know the word was used to describe it as many bloggers do.
What forced me to downsize was my parents’ house getting foreclosed during the real estate crisis of 2007-2010. I grew up & lived in this house since 1995. Of course I accumulated a lot of stuff, which 90% was simply loitering in closets and basement.
When the date was given for us to move out, I really had to get cracking. I ended giving away (recycle and throw in the trash) CDs, DVDs, sports jerseys, books, childhood mementos, …those listed items don’t seem like much but I had an exhaustive collections of those items. My room was small and seemed even smaller because of the shelves were full barely gave room for any1 to walk inside my room.
When I was done, I was left with 3 suitcases of clothes, 18 books, my 20 favorite movies (20 DVDs), and 7 music CDs. And the thing is I am trying to chip away at this remaining stuff. Losing our house via foreclosure was the best blessing in disguise thus far in my life.
Tina says
I have been living with few possessions for many years. Yesterday, I bought a book, so I added a book to my give away pile. I try to make no garbage, so a pair of old, ripped pants will be a blanket. Old blankets and towels go to animal rescues. Old books beyond repair are origami projects. I have more items for my give away box each week. My cat’s fur is now compost.
Donna Ramunno says
It took me years to de-clutter—simplify—give away—even throw out—-call it what you want all I know is I feel like the elephant is off my chest—-wasn’t as easy as I thought throw out 1 thing buy 2 more—-it surely is a process—–I can now say my house has truly downsized, no more clutter, no more stuff, and I am currently packing another plastic bin right now…..with no regrets…if I haven’t used it in 1yr. I’m not going to use!!!actually I have changed that rule….not used in 6 months you’re going…I can breathe again :):). Not to mention the money NOT spent….loving your site keeps reminding me to keep it simple
Nancy McFall says
Donna, Getting rid of the things that were a burden to you is a good thing! May I suggest to you that the things you throw away would be gladly accepted at a thrift store. Most of these have a small charge for their customers so they aren’t giving away items which in and of itself can be a problem. I volunteer at a thrift store and I see a real need for this, many people are unable to find employment and being able to purchase clothing, books, etc. for their children and grandchildren at low prices is a tremendous help. God bless you.
Kristi says
Number 10 really speaks to me of getting back to the good old days, no matter what generation you’re from
flashwahoo says
I desperately want to live this lifestyle, but how can I when I have 3 children living at home who are all about stuff? I’m almost 40, and I’m so mentally tired. I feel like all I do is work, even when I’m not at work, I’m working because my husband & I home-school. I wish we could just move out to the woods and live in a tent sometimes. My family won’t go for that as there would be no video games. Any words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated :-)
mark says
hi flashwahoo,
i don’t know if you are still waiting on a reply after all these years…but my heart goes out to you, as a single parent (dad) of a seven year old daugther, i can relate to you what you must be going through…i’m self employed with only one income… when there is any income that is, but i want you to know that when the ‘chips’ are down remember…. “our biggest blessings are in the lessons learned from the obstacles we face in life”. so stay strong for yourself and your family and god bless your life will find a way to provide you what you need.
God Bless You & Your Family.
Mark & Daugther
Dianne M Parker says
Alas, the Spiritual Aspect is what initially convicted-and, coincidentally-freed me to choose Living Minimalist…I have a long way to go and am still working it into my life, but it does provide a great feeling of freedom, where before there was bondage.
Tamara Farner-Swerline says
I read your book, along with others and felt the necessity to ‘pare it down’. It’s a process, one that needs to be willfully worked on every single day. We sold our home, moved to another (larger) community and are now renting. We are debt free and this Friday is my retirement day. I no longer HAVE to work. I have accepted a part time position where I will be working 5 hrs. a day, four days a week for a nonprofit. For me, becoming minimalist is a process. It helps me ‘breathe’ a cleansing, fresh breath. It isn’t easy. Every thing in our society screams, “more, more!” at us but it does not fulfill our hearts and souls. Thank you for your words and life style.
Kathleen says
I wonder if I may make a slight change to the title of your post — the word “should” is burdensome to those who hear it; perhaps substituting “want” is more motivating; i.e., Ten Reasons You Will Want to Adopt the Lifestyle. The founder of Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) Albert Ellis often taught his students not to “should” on themselves, and it is a very effective strategy for behavior change.