Why Minimalism Might Make You Happy Even If You're Skeptical

By

Have you heard, said, or thought any of these sentiments?

  • "I could never be a minimalist because I hate modern art and furniture."
  • "I could never be a minimalist because I have kids, and they need a ton of stuff."
  • "I could never be a minimalist because I need all my equipment for [name of hobby]."
  • "I could never be a minimalist because our economy will die if we all stop shopping." 


These (and other) myths might be preventing you from finding the clarity, peace, time, energy, and joy of minimalism.




decadently decorated cake



What's the truth?


1.  It's true that the minimalist aesthetic emerged in the 1960's and featured extreme simplicity, a lot of geometric shapes, and a disdain for emotional expression.  Artist Frank Stella's statement, "What you see is what you see" became the movement's mantra.


No thank you.


But this isn't the 1960's, and a white box with zero comfort and personality isn't what I'm selling.  It's true that minimalists choose to live without unneeded and unloved items, and their possessions are easy to find and use because each has a place to belong.  But minimalism is personal – you decide what has value and what doesn't.


Subscribe to receive my free printable

The Declutter Dare

and declutter 100 items (or more) in just one hour!


2.  It's true that you shouldn't (or couldn't) make your house look like children don't live there if children do.  But a minimalist doesn't want to hide that fact.  She simply doesn't want toys to colonize every room in the house or become a constant source of struggle, stress, and disagreement.


I've seen parents who buy their children a new toy every week (the same way they buy new clothes, shoes, accessories, cosmetics, décor, entertainment, gadgets, or something for themselves every week).  I've also seen parents who provide their kids with a few classic, open-ended toys (such as Legos, dolls, and old clothes for dress-up), some books, and plenty of access to the library and the public park.


Without exception, the second group is more creative, better at sharing and collaborating with other children, and less whiny and demanding.


It's true that children need toys and clothes and other equipment, but limits encourage creativity and preserve your sanity.




3.  It's true that hobbies like woodworking, home brewing, sewing, and baking can take a lot of equipment and materials.  If you need or want to live in a fairly small space it might be hard to find room for a piano or an easel and painting supplies.  


But minimalism is about removing the things you don't need or want in order to make time and space for the things you value.  If you care about restoring an old car or creating a setup for model trains, you can still do either of those things as a minimalist.


Subscribe to receive my free printable

The Declutter Dare

and declutter 100 items (or more) in just one hour!


The problem comes when you make the leap from "I can't be a minimalist because I love my books too much" to "I'm not a minimalist, so it's fine if I hang on to all of this clutter I don't need or use," or even "I'm not a minimalist, so I can keep buying and consuming whatever I want whenever I want it."


It's true that you don't have to let your love for a hobby keep you from getting rid of the things that are clogging your home and your calendar.


grand piano street musician



4.  It's true that if we all stopped consuming our economy would die.  But we're alive, so we'll always need to consume.  We need to eat, we need shelter, we need clothing, transportation, education, and medical care.  We need haircuts, tech support, and people who know how to build and repair things.  We'll always need to purchase goods and services.


Humans need to be creative, so we'll also continue to purchase items and experiences that go beyond our basic needs.


But Big Business and our hyper-capitalist society sell the lie that we need even more.  

  • It's not enough to have a car – we need to upgrade that car every couple of years.  
  • It's not enough to have a phone – we need to upgrade that phone every time a newer model appears.  
  • It's not enough to have a house – we need to constantly upgrade and upsize our housing.  
  • It's not enough to have clothing – we need to follow trends that change every few months.


Overconsumption is the name of the game, and we've been told it's "patriotic."


What's true is that there are plenty of ways to inject money into the economy without buying something we don't need. 
 

  • Give to a non-profit organization, and your money enters the economy when the hungry are fed, the poor are housed, the oppressed are represented, and people's bodies and spirits are uplifted by medical research or the arts.  
  • Save or invest, and your money strengthens the economy when entrepreneurs borrow capital to start a business or develop a product or idea.


Bottom line – Big Business cares about their profits, period.  They want to make you discontented, not happy.





Don't listen to the nay-sayers.


Modern life is complicated, stressful, and nonstop.  Most of us are too far in debt or too afraid of missing out to stop and pay attention to anything outside the status quo.  Don't fall for the myths – we could all do with a bit of minimalism.




Updated July 2022


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

45 Useful Tips to Help You Responsibly Declutter Unwanted Items

By
Image
Do you ever drive down the highway or out on a country road and see someone's old couch or mattress?  When driving through the orchards and croplands around my town, I sometimes see stuff like this in an irrigation ditch.  I can't believe people do this, and leave it for the farmers to clean up or pay for disposal. Tossing stuff you no longer need or want into a dumpster isn't minimalism – it's the equivalent of littering , just like the people who throw things out on the side of the road.  It may seem simple, but it's not responsible or good for the environment. Unfortunately, some of what we remove from our homes is garbage , and there's no place for it but the landfill.  But when getting rid of clutter means mindlessly tossing it into the garbage, it becomes too easy to buy more and fill our homes up all over again.   By becoming more accountable, we change our minds about purchasing.  I believe that when you thoughtfully declutter, you'll become very sen
Read more

12 Tips to Try When You're Frustrated with Decluttering

By
Image
I won't sugar-coat it – decluttering is a hard job.  The more you're stressed and challenged by your home – the more you need the benefits that come with decluttering – the bigger the job probably is.  The advantages are real, but so is the frustration.  At times, you may feel tired, sad, or overwhelmed.  Letting go of stuff requires constant decision-making, and sometimes you'll need a break. And you deserve one!  You're not just decluttering, you're in the process of changing your mindset and your habits , and that's hard for anyone.  So when you feel like the job is too big, or that you should have everything under control, remember that no one has it all under control.  We're human, which means that we often have to learn the hard way.  But the victory will be even sweeter because you made it through the highs, the lows, and everything in between. When you feel like giving up, on decluttering or anything else, be gentle with yourself, and say goodbye to
Read more

Why You Should Make "Less is More" Your Mantra for Life

By
Image
Maybe you've heard the saying popularized by architect Mies van der Rohe in 1947:  "Less is more." It's an oxymoron – a phrase that seems to contradict itself.  Others include "old news," "open secret," "unbiased opinion," and "awfully good."  Or the lament, "Parting is such sweet sorrow." What does "less is more" mean?  It's wonderfully open-ended.  Answers to that are as varied as the people who reply.  Consider: Less anxiety, more peace. Less debt, more savings. Less busywork, more substance. Less clutter, more space. Less comparison, more contentment. Less sugar, more vegetables. Voluntary simplicity Back in the 1990s, a fair number of Americans realized that the continual quest for more and better was stressing them out and keeping them from creating lives of purpose.  After the consumerist binge of the yuppie-era 80s, some started wondering if the big house, flashy car, exotic vacation, and Rolex we
Read more

Why You Should Try Wearing the Same Clothes Every Day

By
Image
Wearing the same clothes every day would get boring, wouldn't it? A long time ago, I had a job that required a uniform, and I have to say it did make life easier .  I had three copies of my work outfit, and there was never a question about what to wear.  I never worried whether my clothes were stylish or "right," because everyone else wore the same thing. The same argument has been used in public and private schools in favor of student uniforms.  Rather than constant worries about fashion and comparisons and dress codes, a uniform makes everything simple.  It's one less thing to think about in the complex life of a student. Many people argue that clothes make a statement about who you are.  "I express myself through my clothes" is a comment I've often heard, usually from women.  The idea of a uniform scares them, because how will they make themselves noticeable or unique ? I think we might be imagining some sort of Handmaid's Tale society, where we
Read more

The Hygge Way to Clean and Declutter

By
Image
When I returned home from a weekend trip recently, I immediately unpacked my suitcase, washed a load of dirty clothes, and put everything away.  It made me feel settled and at home.  It was comfortable. A few days later, I felt a bit restless, so I set my writing aside and started cleaning.  I cleaned the refrigerator door and wiped the kitchen counters.  I swept the porch and mopped the floor in our small entry hall.  I decluttered a few old papers from my file box.  It felt good. Self-soothing with home care For me, cleaning, organizing, and decluttering are a form of self-care.  Tidying gives me satisfaction.  It makes me feel that I'm managing my life and ready for what's next. A hygge home isn't dirty.  It's not cluttered with garbage, dirty dishes, or things we never use or put away.  It's not covered in a thick layer of dust.  So don't decide that pouring a glass of wine, lighting a candle, and snuggling under a blanket is hygge, but running the vacuum is
Read more