Note: This is a guest post from Erica Layne of The Life On Purpose Movement.
I discovered minimalism when my kids were young and my house was full of hand-me-downs I didn’t like and baby gear we didn’t need.
In just a few years, I had gone from the wide open blocks of time and space so common in your early twenties to an apartment that felt like it was exploding with toys, strollers, furniture, clothes, and most notably, three tiny humans who operated on one speed—loud and crazy.
Overstimulated was the name of the game. And as an introvert and a highly sensitive person, I was feeling it.
The only place in our home that felt restful to me—the only spot where I could pull myself back together—was the window view from our master bed.
I’d lie on my side, watching tree branches sway in the wind on the other side of the window, and I’d gradually feel whole again. Like my nerves had been pulled back together.
Then I learned about minimalism and realized that I could bring more of that peace, that beautiful sense of stillness I got while looking out the window, into my home.
All I had to do was get rid of a lot of stuff. (Not the tiny humans, though. I kept them.)
Are YOU an Introvert?
Introversion is the tendency to be predominantly interested in your inner life, whereas extroverts are mainly interested in what’s outside the self.
But the most recognizable difference is where we draw our energy from. Introverts feel depleted after time spent with others and need time alone—solitude—in order to recharge. Extroverts get energy from being with others.
Highly Sensitive People, a term popularized by Elaine Aron in her book The Highly Sensitive Person, are easily overwhelmed by noise, texture, smells, busyness, and even their own thoughts. They’re often sensitive to physical discomfort, violence in media, and the emotions of others.
Not all introverts are highly sensitive people, and not all HSPs are introverts, but they do often correlate.
Do you see yourself in this description?
Why Minimalism Is Especially Good for Introverts
1. An introvert’s brain chemistry is uniquely suited for minimalism.
In her book The Introvert Advantage, psychologist Marti Olsen Laney wrote that extroverts are not as sensitive to the feel-good hormone of dopamine as introverts are, which means that extroverts typically need more stimulation to register the dopamine in their brain. This contrasts with introverts, who are more sensitive to dopamine and don’t need as much of it to get a sense of pleasure.
In that case, could anyone be more suited to a minimalist lifestyle than an introvert?
Those of us who land more on the introverted side of the spectrum don’t need another concert, another sports event, another shopping trip, another girls’ night out, or another weekend away to get pleasure in our lives.
We can feel happy in a life with loads of white space on the calendar and white space on our walls.
2. Introverts are especially susceptible to overwhelm, which minimalism reduces.
Though anyone can get overwhelmed, introverts are constantly juggling both the vitality of their inner world and the busyness of the outer world. This combination—layered with how difficult it can be to get recharge time—often pushes introverts to overwhelm and burnout.
A minimalist lifestyle, where everything from a person’s schedule to the number of belongings they own has been reduced, is a perfect solution. Less clutter on the inside and the outside means less overwhelm in your daily life.
3. Introverts need a restful environment in order to recharge.
I had to get my blood drawn recently, and as I sat in the waiting room, I noticed how calm I felt despite the fact that I was about to get a needle pushed into my vein.
The waiting room was sparsely decorated, with just a couple of forest prints hanging on the walls and a single window bathing the room in natural light.
While I definitely wouldn’t choose the style of a medical office for my own home, I could see how it worked. My mind felt still, without a lot of stimulation to keep it bouncing from one thing to another.
Now that I’m more than ten years into a minimalist lifestyle, I immediately recognize and deeply appreciate any environment that allows my mind to slow down, and it’s been an unexpected joy to create that stillness in my own home by paring back our belongings and being intentional about the things that surround my family day to day.
Introverts (or extroverts who love an introvert!): What have YOU noticed about the connection between minimalism and your introversion? Has moving toward minimalism helped you feel more comfortable in your (introverted) skin?
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Erica Layne is a podcast host, mom of three, bestselling author of The Minimalist Way, and founder of The Life On Purpose Movement. She helps women build their lives on what they value most, so they can let the rest slip away—guilt-free. Connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.
Paige says
I can totally relate to this. I have six small children and started implementing minimalism when my first two were toddlers. I’ve learned that I get overwhelmed easily by “stuff”, noise, lights. I love fall, winter, and spring because they are so much quieter than summer. I get quickly overwhelmed by the light and noise of summer. While I disagree with the tone of the first commentor, I too get distressed by blank walls. It’s almost like they are too intense for me. I love lots of things on my walls, but nowhere else. My counters, floors, and tables must be minimal. It’s cozy to me to have lively walls. How funny it is that HSP introverts can be so similar and still vary greatly. Thank you for this article. I would love to read more about certain things that help you recharge.
maximalism4lyf says
This could not be more incorrect. I am an extreme introvert and HSP. I go literally weeks at a time without interacting with another human and I’m perfectly content.
Minimalism is absolutely horrific to me. It’s like a mental disease. I feel like it’s tantamount to entering the space of some kind of unhinged serial killer.
There’s *nothing there*. It’s totally empty. There’s no personality, no sign of life, no warmth, no comfort, no sense of home, nothing. The NYC subway is more inviting to me than any minimalist space has ever been.
They’re terrifying, hideous, horrible, dead spaces full of cold, mechanical, empty people with absolutely no interior substance.
I hate minimalism. I hate it and I do not trust people who prefer it, because they are, almost without exception, untrustworthy, narcissistic, and borderline sociopathic.
So far, in my own experience, I have yet to be proven wrong.
Minimalists?
Run. Run fast and far and do not second-guess yourself. Those people just ain’t right in the head.
Signed,
An introvert with actual taste in interior design
joshua becker says
Thank you for the feedback. It sounded well thought out.
Therese Babler says
Perhaps you’re a Cozy Minimalist. Many of us are. It’s a real thing, and it’s good. :)
Therese
gienne f. says
Wow. Seems like someone so appalled by minimalism wouldn’t spend time reading articles about it unless they just ran out of sites to troll. I think if you *are* an actual introvert, spending time far away from people is probably best for you and especially for them. The rest of your diatribe isn’t worth responding to.
S says
I discovered I was an HSP nine years ago at age 50. It was a relief. I thought there was something wrong with me. Likewise I realize I am an introvert who has been trying to live in an extroverted world. Just this year I’ve also accepted the fact that I have some Empath in me. This aspect is more difficult to adjust to.
I am tired of reading blogs about being an HSP , but I love this fact that minimalism is the best outlook in life that an introvert can choose.
I live with somewhat of a hoarder, so it’s difficult to enjoy the minimalist lifestyle I would like to enjoy. I have certain spaces in the house that are my spaces and I am working on reducing the clutter.
Even knowing certain things are in drawers can overwhelm me.
We are in December now and I’m making it a shop for groceries and supplies only as needed month. The stores are just too busy and too noisy. I’m going to read more of your blogs and continue to reduce the excess stimulation in my life.
One difficulty I have is I love to learn. Not sure how I can better streamline this need to feel less cluttered in my mind.
Anne says
Good article – thankyou. I’m strongly introvert and HSP, but it’s taken me a long time and much depression and anxiety to accept that I need to take that seriously and live accordingly. In the past few years I’ve begun to declutter my house, my diary, my interests and my mind. Slowly the sense of peace and rightness is increasing…
Mona says
Anne, I have done just the opposite and filled up my daily chores, list to do. I find your example helpful to light up and get rid of some of what I want to do in a day or weeks. Your wise words are reminding me there is much more than accumulating a to-do list and have not enough time to get it done. This is what I needed to read today. Thank you@
A. Murphy says
I’m an introvert. Dubbed thus as a child. I had one friend at school just as quiet as me. I had little because I didn’t want anything. My bedroom minimal. I liked it that way. My needs met. My mother the same. My joy came from reading, drawing and long walks. Being apart of nature. Sitting listening to the creek as the water ran over the pebbles and rocks. Not going out mixing with a lot of people. I was happy in my own space. Not being the most popular girl at school didn’t worry me.
My home now days has a bit more in it. Going back to my roots, the older I get the less I want in it. The less I have the calmer, happier and more content I feel. So yes, I would categorise myself an introvert and don’t apologise for it. Never thought of myself as a minimalist but, deep down, I always have been and never knew it.
Gail Bloom says
Several years ago, our family rented a condo while in Florida. I was “at peace” while there. The kitchen was stocked with only the necessities. 6 plates, 6 glasses, 6 sets of silverware, etc. I didn’t know what minimalism was at the time but I liked how calm I felt in the condo and wanted to recreate that feeling at home! Minimalism suites my introverted personality!
Rosi Sartwell says
I have lots of family membrabelia old pics diaries etc, can’y keep everything but i try help
Heather says
Having photos and memorabilia is important. It means people who are and were a part of your life will not be forgotten, not by you and hopefully not by others when you are gone. A minimalist environment means those things that are truly important to you have a place where they can be neatly displayed or completely put away out of sight.
Jacqueline de Leeuw says
Donate older items to your local historical society. Take pictures of things to spark the memories without holding onto the item. Other useful things can be donated to the thrift store. Remember that someone else can need/love your unneeded items.