One unfortunate belief that keeps people from pursuing minimalism is the assumption that there are strict rules and guidelines to the lifestyle. But nothing could be further from the truth.
Let me try to break that myth for you:
Minimalism will always look different from person to person.
Find freedom to make it yours in a way that works for you and your family. Minimalism looks different in both practice and process.
In Practice
Consider how these different factors might affect the possessions you need:
Geography. Somebody who lives in a city will likely own different things than someone who lives in the suburbs, or someone who lives in a rural setting.
If you live in the city, you may not need a specific mode of transportation because public transit is nearby. If you live in the suburbs, that might not be a possibility. Or if you live in a rural setting, even further away from a store, your needs will change and the possessions you keep on-hand will differ.
Your Household. Minimalism will also look different based on your family or household. A single person in their twenties is going to own something different than a young family with children. And a family with young children is going to need different possessions than a family with teenagers. Or even empty nesters.
Your specific stage of life will affect your practice of minimalism in significant ways.
Your Career. Minimalism also looks different based on our careers, our work, or our job.
A minimalist blogger is going to own something different than a minimalist dentist, or a minimalist architect, or a minimalist schoolteacher, or even a minimalist farmer.
There is little benefit to comparing our possessions in this way. We may find motivation or inspiration in the story of the young minimalist YouTuber, but trying to apply their strict rules to your unique situation is rarely helpful.
I believe that anyone, regardless of their occupation, can pursue minimalism. It’s just going to look very different from one person to another.
Your Passion or Purpose. The good that we feel called to accomplish in the world may also impact the possessions that we own.
In 2015, I founded The Hope Effect, a nonprofit organization changing how the world cares for orphans. Because of my desire to do this work well, there are some things I own that I might not if this wasn’t a passion of mine.
Likewise, your passion for serving a purpose may cause you to own different items than your minimalist neighbor down the street.
Your Hobbies. Hobbies can become a source of clutter in our homes and lives—especially if we try to do too many at one time.
But the fact remains that hobbies are beneficial to us. They bring us joy, or peace, or entertainment, or exercise, or simply serve as a distraction. In theory and in practice, they help us live bigger, more intentional lives.
As a result, our hobbies will impact the items we own—even as we seek to live intentional lives.
In Process
It is equally important to realize that minimalism looks different in process. How we get there changes from person-to-person and family-to-family.
There are some people who hear about minimalism, rent a dumpster, and throw out everything over the course of a weekend. But those people are few and far between.
And there are some people who just seem to be minimalist at birth.
But for most people who choose to live a minimalist life, it takes a little more time. It also takes a little more intentionality, a little more strategy, a little more effort to wrestle with emotions that emerge.
For us, it took about three months to go through the “lived-in areas” of our home (living room, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, etc.). But it took us nine months to minimize all our possessions if you count the basement and garage and storage shed in the backyard.
In fact, we moved into a smaller house three years later, and got rid of even more things! So the time frame may vary significantly from one person to another.
The process can also look different in more ways than just time.
Some people can read one book or one blog post and that’s all they need to get started. Others need a little more help or someone to come alongside them in the process. In fact, that’s one of the reasons I created the Clutterfree App—it’s just another tool that might be helpful to someone seeking to own less.
Additionally, different people struggle to minimize different items.
One person might struggle with books or sentimental items, while someone else might have a hard time deciding what to do with their yarn stash or excess hobby supplies.
I want to encourage you today. Minimalism is a lifestyle with countless benefits. Owning less means less cleaning, less burden, less anxiety, and less stress each and every day.
You can enjoy freedom.
Minimalism will look different for you than it does for me, both in practice and in process.
But always remember, as long as you’re moving in the right direction, you’re moving in the right direction.
About Joshua Becker
My family is full of serious hoarders. I have always thrown out or recycled old magazines, newspapers, underwear, and empty cans and bottles. When an old T shirt is so ruined I can’t sleep in it or make art with it, I cut it up for rags. I very seldom buy anything new. A friend has a basement full of yarn and fabric. I have a plastic shoebox.
Thanks for all your inspiration. I´m from Germany and I started reading all these great blogs and articles about minimalism. Many things in my live and home absolutely feel absolutely right yet. On the other hand I love to shop and look for new and better things in a good quality.
It is not really easy to live minimalism, because my partner loves to shop cheap stuff – sell ist, and so on.
I would be interested how you find the right way to minimalism in your relationship or family, because this decision to own less doesnt only affects yourself – so there can be resistance against this new lifestyle in so many ways.
I´m very interested in tips.
Hey Sarah, I’m from Germany too. We are a family of 6 and my husband was not a minimalist at all. To make it short: Be a good example and try to inspire rather than convince. For us it started with cleaning out the wardrobe and then I moved from room to room (we live in a big house). We are still not hardcore minimalists but we are approaching towards a level we feel comfortable with. I first noticed that something “inside” my husband had changed when he observed that he wasn’t feeling comfortable in our living room because it felt too crowded (and in fact it is not really). If the act of buying stuff itself is so important (and probably not the cheap stuff you get) you might wanna look at the psychology behind (what is he trying to compensate?) If he is willing to dive into that, good luck. If not, you might find a hard time changing anything. After all – if you want to make longlasting change, you both need to be on the same side of that. I wish you all the best
Not really a minimalist (yet) just following from the social media. Being autonomous and living alone in the New York City since 2000. I’ve never been happier being in a 2000 sq ft , with walking distance from my office. Less stress about traffic is the best. My family is living in India. I am here just by myself and have no need to have many things to overspending. Just the renting and utilities and lessened on individual transportation. Never thought getting married but I have a couple of time beeing with someone and it has never been serious. So my life is very simply said simplified.
Hello,
During your decluttering process, when have you felt minimalist for the first time ? Where did this feeling come from ?
Thank you for your answer.
Hi Joshua! We just recently downsized our home… lil 2 bedroom ranch and we love it! I feel very peaceful here. Lots and lots had to go. Never looked back!
I have been sewing for over 50 years. My fabric looks out of control. Right at this time, I’m depleting my “hoarded’ fabric by sewing face masks and giving them away. I’m hoping it is gone before I die. I don’t want my children to have to clean and sell a hoarder’s house when I pass. One of their friend’s mothers was a hoarder and her daughter and friends had to do a lot of ‘work’ on that house.
I grew up on a ranch with over 4000 acres. My dad started collecting stuff when I was young. With 4000 acres, you can collect truckloads. He bought old cars, and semi trailers to store parts. Through some other counseling I have realized how my stuff is owning me. I am downsizing from a 2200 sq ft house to a 200 sq ft to living on the road for a time. My kids have moved on in their lives. I have sold and gave away literally tons! I am looking forward to more freedom for the next stage of my life. Less stuff, more relationships. And travel. And experiences. Move out is final on Monday!
I have been sorting through family mementos the last few days. At this point I am the only one left who cares about a few cards my dad gave to my mother many years ago. I know that when I pass someone will be throwing certain things away. Even though I have been able to part with many, many items I have decided to keep those cards because they do indeed bring me joy. So, yes, minimalism, or the pursuit of it, looks different from one person to the next. For me it’s all about identifying what’s meaningful.
It takes great courage to put this on paper. I did it too, my beloved and late friend helped my writing it. Very satisfying . Thanks for the post.
I wouldn’t like to “offend” anyone here, I have never thought nor considered myself as a minimalist.
My colleague from my midde school suggested this website and seemingly it is a structural way of thinking that helps in my work and don’t use in my life. I teach children in K-5 to K-8. My students benefits from the learning about paying more attention about their action and behaviors which can pass by with their not noticing: such as eating too much snacks and good sweets, foods that are not good for them, and wasting so I teach them sustainability and recycling. Looking at the expiration date, consuming in calories counting, choosing and so forth. Thank you for many more good posts, thanks.
Fabulous – teaching the next generation about sustainability, recycling, wastage and paying more attention to actions and behaviors- treading lightly on the Earth.
I’m far from living in the same house I was born in. Through many evolutions of moves stuff was left behind, new obtained. Folks can analyze and compare too much thanks to social media photos of “ideals”. Real life isn’t that way – it changes, it’s messy… and you grow. So, of course minimalism is as unique as one’s biology 😎
I’m old and I declutter so as not to have my daughter get rid of all this stuff. My rule for myself is throw or give away at leas on thing a day. Some days one thing leads to another; some days it’s just one thing. A year later the place still has a lot of stuff but it’s the stuff I want or that she may want. I look forward each day to what the one thing will be.
Im having trouble with downsizing my craft room! Having many hobbies lends itself to too much stuff!
Hi Jane, I understand the dilemma of downsisizing crafts! I am starting at boxes of jewelry making material-wires, beads, wires & lots of tools. I plan to open the boxes next week for a last look-all but the tools will go immediately into the trash. Done!
Rather than the trash, give away what you no longer want to someone. You can post on the free section of Craigslist, donate to a thrift shop or give to acquaintances.You will be happy to clear space and you can make someone else happy with supplies for their hobby.
Thank you for the resources , I often give to Goodwill and sell online but never thought about Craigslist . I have so much junks and at this time so many people have time to clean up too.
Yes, it’s difficult. But keep the things that still give you pleasure and pass on the things you’ve grown tired of – then someone else can use them and enjoy them. I am currently using up my fabric stash by making dresses for little girls in Africa.
You don’t always need more stuff to enjoy your hobbies more. There comes a point where we can gather too many tools — and the collection of stuff actually detracts from our enjoyment.
I had to go through this too, along with all the art and craft supplies I gathered for my children. I started giving away excess to those who would use them right away. What really helped was when I took each craft item and acknowledged weather I would actually use them this season or this year. Some things had been sitting for years and only pieces used up. So I saved enough yarn to do the project I had planned for that fall/winter. I overestimated; so I still have some left for this fall/winter, but for me I consider it a good job. I realized I hadn’t scrapbooked for years (now do it online) so I gave away all of my scrapbook supplies. But I do make cards; so I kept the favorite rubber stamps and inks and blank cards for that. Now it’s so much easier to use them! When I need to make a card, I have 3 sizes/colors of blank cards and a little bit of extra paper for making decorations-all in one spot. Rubber stamps and ink are all together. Before, I had too much to hunt through. So this has been a blessing for me and for others! My children prefer specific supplies; so we were able to bless others with the excess and free up space. Take a look at your supplies and think back to how long you have had them. Do you intend to use them up in the next year? How much would it cost if you needed to replace a few of them at a time if you change your mind and want them again? If it will make you happy to free up space, make a small area for keepers, and set the rest on the way to a new home for a new adventure and a blessing (to you and others!).
This is such a great defining post minimalism. Thank you. Because of your evangelism on a minimalistic lifestyle, it has relieved me from keeping things someone gave me, or I purchases in a heat of insanity, but I have no use or need for. Also, I’ve noticed that most of my “hobbies” seem to have a shelf life of about 7 yrs, then it’s time to do something else. Difference now, is not feeling bound to keep the acquired tools and supplies, “just in case” (of what?, I ask myself now…). So thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
What are good dating sites for meeting folks with minimalist interests/tendencies/lifestyles?
Being a minimalist I think would allow you to focus more on each other and the relationship.
What do you think?
So good, Joshua! I have realized, despite living in a small home (1,000 sq ft) with my husband and four young children, we are minimalists. Our home and closets aren’t cluttered or overflowing. Our rooms may not have a lot of empty white space, but it’s well organized and our home serves us! We have what we need and we use it until it breaks ;) we don’t keep excess or non-essentials. Our home has stayed fairly tidy since reading your posts, so thank you. This has brought me much freedom.