What are the benefits of living with less, when we live in such a busy world? If you’re not a minimalist and have no desire to live as one, there are still enormous benefits to be gained from living with less.
A Lifestyle Choice
Minimalism may be a lifestyle choice that emphasises living with less possessions, but the most important aspect of it (in my opinion) is that it forces us to focus on what’s important and essential, and let go of the rest. It forces us to examine our overall consumption and the effect it has on our lives, and the planet we call home.
But we don’t have to be minimalists to benefit from living with less. We can apply minimalist principles in many different areas of our lives: our homes, our possessions, our relationships, and our work.
Some Of The Benefits Of Minimalism And Living With Less?
There are numerous benefits to embracing a more minimal lifestyle, but here are a few of our personal favourites.
Reduced stress – clutter can be a major source of stress. When we live in a cluttered environment, it can be difficult to relax and focus. Minimalism can help us declutter our physical space, which can lead to a reduction in stress levels.
Studies have shown that minimalism can have a positive impact on our mental health. For example, one study* found that minimalists reported lower levels of anxiety and depression than non-minimalists.
Focusing On What’s Important
When we have less stuff, it’s easier to focus on what’s important. Minimalism can help us eliminate distractions and get more done, hence we experience increased focus and productivity.
Minimalism can save us some of the time and energy that we would otherwise be spending on cleaning, organising, and shopping. We can use this time-freedom to pursue more meaningful activities, such as spending time with loved ones, pursuing hobbies, or travelling.
Saving Money & Living More Sustainably
When we own less stuff, we spend less money, it’s as simple as that. Minimalism can help us save money on things like storage, insurance, and maintenance, so it improves our financial health.
Minimalism can help us live a more sustainable lifestyle. By consuming less, we reduce our impact on the environment. It can help us focus on what’s truly important in life. By letting go of the unnecessary, we create more space for the things that bring us joy and fulfilment and live a more meaningful life.
How To Embrace Minimalism – Or Just Living With Less
If you’re interested in embracing minimalism, here are a few things you can do to get started.
- The first step is just to start decluttering your physical space. This means getting rid of things you don’t need or no longer use. There are many different ways to declutter, so find a method that works for you (check out our simple way to declutter here.)
- Identify your values. What’s important to you? What do you want to achieve in life? It may seem unrelated to your belongings but once you know your values, you can start to make decisions about what to keep and what to let go of.
- Minimalism is about more than just decluttering your physical space: it’s also about simplifying your life in other ways. This could mean reducing your commitments, spending less time on social media, or eating a simpler diet.
- Practice mindfulness. One of the key benefits of minimalism is that it can help us to live more mindfully. When we have less stuff, we’re less distracted, therefore we can focus more on the present moment.
- Be patient. Embracing minimalism takes time so don’t expect to get rid of everything in your house overnight. Start by decluttering one room at a time and gradually work your way through your belongings. When you reach a level (quantity) of belongings that feels right for you, then stop.
- Always remember that one person’s idea of minimalism and living with less could be entirely different to yours. You should never just blindly copy what someone else has done, because they aren’t you: we are all unique and need to choose our own way of living. So be prepared to think purely about what you want, not what someone else tells you.
And Finally …
Minimalism is a lifestyle choice that can have a positive impact on many areas of our lives. If you’re looking for a way to reduce stress, improve your mental health, and simplify your life, minimalism may be a good option for you.
Some of our favourite minimalism sites:
- The Minimalists: https://www.theminimalists.com/
- Becoming Minimalist: https://www.becomingminimalist.com/
- KonMari: https://konmari.com/
* The Relationship Between Minimalism and Mental Health, by Jennifer L. Hartwell.