Minimalism is ‘in’ these days, but what does it really mean to be a minimalist? There’s an abundance of information out there and you may have some preconceived notions about what it means to proclaim yourself a minimalist. I’m breaking down some common misconceptions. So if you’re a skeptic or you just don’t get what minimalism is all about, hang around—I think I can set the record straight...
MISCONCEPTION
Minimalism isn’t for everyone.
REALITY
Everyone can benefit from minimalism. Minimalism is recognizing the things that mean the most to you—spending more time with your family, enjoying a hobby, traveling more, excelling in your career. It is then making decisions with the intention of accomplishing those goals and having more time for the things you enjoy. I think we all fall prey to living life on auto-pilot. We go through the motions of work, chores, parenting—but at the end of the day, how accomplished do we really feel? Minimalism is finding the best way to use your time so you are accomplishing your goals and are able to enjoy your leisure time to the fullest.
MISCONCEPTION
Minimalism can be achieved by decluttering.
REALITY
Decluttering is only one part of minimalism. There are many items in our homes that are unnecessary and cost us more time and stress than they are worth—duplicate kitchen gadgets that clutter drawers and make it hard to find what we need, excess clothing that makes choosing outfits feel overwhelming, nick-knacks with no real sentimental value that we spend hours of our lives dusting. When you eliminate excess, unwanted items from your home, you can better focus on the things you actually want and need.
MISCONCEPTION
Living minimally means living without and being frugal.
REALITY
Minimalism is living without… the things you don’t need. It has nothing to do with your wealth or lack thereof. It’s about making purchases with intention—Do I need this item? Will this item help me achieve a goal? It’s simply taking the time to be more thoughtful about what you bring into your home. You may find that buying less actually allows you to achieve more. When you remove excess items from your home you save time, energy, and money—spend it on the things that really matter.
MISCONCEPTION
Minimalism means denouncing modern life.
REALITY
While there’s plenty of evidence that modern technology causes stress and distraction, by no means do you have to cut it out of your life. Minimalism is about using modern technology in a more thoughtful way to save time and create efficiencies, allowing you to put more focus and energy on the things that bring you happiness. Google calendar, automatic bill pay, and online shopping are all time savers!
MISCONCEPTION
Minimalism requires extreme measures.
REALITY
While there are certainly varying degrees of minimalism, there’s no hard rule that you have to be extreme. There are simple changes you can make to live a minimalist lifestyle. Strive for improvement, not perfection. Take steps towards living more intentionally and you’ll reap the rewards of productivity, less stress, and more leisure time.
Right now especially, the lines between work, home life, school, and free time are all blurred. It’s more important than ever that we feel we have balance. Minimalism can help you reduce stress, become more productive, and prioritize things that make you happy.