Have you ever sat down and looked at everything you own? In that instance, what came to your mind? Was it how rich and wealthy you are or was it how some of the things you own are completely unnecessary? I bet it was the latter, and if that’s the case, here’s your saving grace -- a minimalist lifestyle!
What is a minimalist lifestyle?
A minimalist lifestyle is a philosophy based on the idea that you can survive only on the things you need. It aspires to declutter your life, reduce unnecessary spending, and only live off of what you need rather than what you want. Minimalists don’t just live with less, they enjoy living with less. A minimalist lifestyle is based on creating awesome experiences rather than owning material things. It places greater importance on focussing on what really matters in life rather than what you want to matter in your life. It’s a lifestyle that when adopted well without misguided intentions can transform your life into an abyss of happiness. And here are 10 amazing ways it can do so.
1. Improved focus and clarity in life
A minimalist lifestyle helps you focus on what’s most important in life. By decluttering your physical space, getting rid of all unnecessary items you own, you will begin to understand what you really value the most. By using the 90/90 rule, you will realize only a handful of things are necessary in your life.
The 90/90 rule says that if you haven’t used something in the past 90 days and you do not intend to use it in the next 90 days, then it’s not a priority in your life and you should let it go. By doing this, you will remain only with important stuff in your space and this will help you chart a clear path.
2. Quality over quantity
A minimalist lifestyle is all about quality over quantity. The end goal is to own as little as possible while still maintaining your quality of life. So instead of buying a $30 boot each year, you buy a $300 boot that will last you 10 years. Instead of eating junk food every 30 minutes, you eat three quality meals a day. Invest in pieces that will last a long time rather than those that may last only a week or a month. When it comes to minimalism, the quality matters more, and the benefits trickle down to your bank account.
3. Reduced wastage
Note that a minimalist lifestyle is not about buying a few things. No. The ultimate goal of a minimalist is to own less stuff over their whole lives. And this means there’s reduced wastage as you only shop for high-quality products that last an extended period of time. Instead of a disposable water bottle, get a reusable bottle. Instead of a low-end electronic gadget that will last a few years or months, get a good one to last years.
Because most of the time we find that even after these items are no longer working, we keep them in our spaces, in our garage, in our closets because they have sentimental value to us. But that’s just unnecessary waste that you should get rid of and create more room for you to breathe. Furthermore, you become conscious of your buying decisions, and this protects you from impulse shopping.
4. Improved relationships
Being a minimalist is not just about material stuff. It’s also about getting rid of people that add no value in your life, people that siphone your energy and drain your joy. It’s about focussing only on the most important relationships that matter. As a minimalist, you will realize not everyone in your life is necessary. And with this realization, you become more intentional with who you engage with and that leads to better relationships.
5. Pursue your dreams
A minimalist lifestyle will help you put your time and energy into things that inspire you, your dreams, and your passion because you now have more focus in your life. You will keep the things that serve you and sell or give out those that don’t contribute to the pursuit of your dreams. It’s that camera in your closet that matters more than that iron. It’s that guitar you love more than anything that should stay. By using the 90/90 rule, you will get to see what you actually need and are passionate about.
6. Reduces stress levels
Just having a lot of clutter in your house has been known to raise cortisol levels, the stress hormone. Case in point, when a remote control gets lost in the living room because you can’t remember where you kept it because everything and anything is everywhere. When you declutter, your life becomes more peaceful. You’re not worried about unnecessary things. You become happier.
7. Less is more
Minimalists are grateful. Minimalism helps you appreciate and feel blessed for what you already have. And as you appreciate what you have more and more, suddenly the desire to buy less becomes more prominent. You feel satisfied with what you already have. And contentment is an inexhaustible treasure.
8. Giving and sharing with others
By feeling blessed with what you already have, you will appreciate sharing with those who don’t. And there’s joy in that. By blessing others and sharing with them, their happiness will trickle down to you. Instead of throwing that junk away, give it out to those that really need them. Instead of buying those diamond necklaces, buy food for the less fortunate. Minimalism is all about generosity. It’s not about accumulating wealth.
9. Improved financial situation
Credit cards, mortgages, and bank loans exist because people are never contented with what they already have. They must keep on pursuing the next big thing, the next luxury in their life, and this only leads down to debt. They become engraved in debt that they spend their whole life paying.
As a minimalist, you’ll be absolved from this quagmire. You’re satisfied with what you already have. You don’t need extra luxury. Minimalism helps you focus on your finances. With less stuff, you’re able to prioritize your spending and your budget for your needs. And this leaves your bank account healthy, and it’s the easiest way to achieve financial freedom.
10. Increased savings
As a minimalist, you’ll become more intentional with your purchases. You don’t buy anything and everything that impresses you. You will only buy what you need, what you really need. This means less spending and more savings. It helps you stay focused on your plans and goals.
Takeaway
These are some of the few ways my life changed when I pursued a minimalist lifestyle. My perception of life changed completely. I realized it’s not how much I own that really matters. It’s the experiences I create, the love I receive, the relationships I have that really matter. It helped my financial situation immensely and set me on a pedestal to financial freedom. Becoming a minimalist is not about living below the poverty line. It’s about appreciating everything you own and only living off of what you need and not what you want. It’s life-transforming.
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