I’ve always had the less-is-more mentality. I never knew there was a name for this until discovering minimalism.
One of my favorite definitions of minimalism is this one by Leo Babauta:
“It’s simply getting rid of things you do not use or need, leaving an uncluttered, simple environment and an uncluttered, simple life.”
At its core minimalistic living is the act of getting rid of everything you don’t value so that your life is grounded in the things you love and value the most. Because of this there are no set rules or one-size-fits-all approaches.
Minimalism is all about uncluttering the bad from your life to leave room for the good. And there are some other serious benefits that come a long with it!
Financial Savings
One of the most obvious and perhaps one of the biggest reasons people are drawn toward minimalism is the potential for savings.
When you keep the goal of only spending money on the things that will truly bring value to your life you’ll find yourself spending much less money. This is especially true if you’ve come from a cluttered home and then get to feel the joy of being surrounded in only things that are special or useful to you.
When it is time to purchase or replace new items you’ll likely find yourself investing in quality over quantity, saving you money in the long run.
Both these long and short term savings can add up to something huge. If you’re working toward financial freedom adopting minimalism, at least to some degree, can help you expedite your goal.
Mental Clearness
Have you ever tried to work but found that your surrounding environment was so cluttered that you couldn’t even think straight?! This happens to me whenever I let my workspace become cluttered up and out of control.
Having less stuff to deal with helps you keep a tidier spaces which promotes mental clarity and can also reduce stress.
I’ve found this to be particularly true for me and can feel the stress creeping in if I let my home go for too long.
Less Maintenance/Upkeep
As a mom of two one of my favorite parts about keeping things simple is that there is less maintenance and clean up.
I’ll use my kids’ rooms as an example. From the time my kids were born I’ve went through their clothes, shoes and toys at least every six months getting rid of everything that no longer works, fits or is played with. My girls are completely used to this and actually look forward to purging their belongings every few months.
This makes it easier for them to pick out clothes everyday (because everything fits) and I don’t have to worry about toys being strewn about since they don’t keep that many to begin with.
Our system creates an easy to manage area which is extremely important to me.
Better Routines
I sometimes like to use minimalism and organized interchangeably since in my life they relate so closely. I keep our belongings pared down, clean and organized. This not only helps me around the house but works great with our schedule too and we always make it where we need to get prepared and on time.
We adhere to the same routine every day with a bit of variation on the days with extra activities. Either way, everyone knows what they’ll be doing far ahead of time which help keeps order.
Is Minimalism Right for Everyone?
There are many benefits of minimalism however I think it’s important to note that this looks different for everyone. Most people think of minimalism as getting rid of everything you own and living in a 10 by 10 box with white walls and white carpet. But that, my friends, is not the solution for everyone.
The truth is we’re all different. I know many people who thrive in a somewhat messy, chaotic environment and I honestly don’t know if adopting a minimalistic life would work for them.
If you’re not the type of person who holds strong emotional bonds with material possession I think purging your belongings and schedule down to only the things you really love is worth a try. Adopting some minimalistic habits could change your life!
What do you think? Has minimalism positively impacted your life?
Alexa Mason is a freelance writer and wanna be internet entrepreneur. She is also a newly single mom to two beautiful little girls. She chronicles her journey as a single mom trying to make it big at www.singlemomsincome.com.