Five Benefits of Minimalism (ARCHIVE)
Originally posted May 13, 2017
I have been minimising my belongings for sixteen months now, and the process has altered the way I think and live. When I first started to declutter my stuff, I did so because it felt nice to let go of unused items and have more space. With time, I found there were a number of other benefits of reducing my belongings.
While minimalism is unique to the individual, there are some common advantages that I think many minimalists would agree on. Here are some of the benefits of minimalism I experience in my daily life.
Having less stuff. Obviously. On my person, I carry less. In my home, I have fewer things. When I shop, I buy less stuff. As a result, it has become a lot easier to move around. Whether it be travel, or moving house, as you learn to live with less, life gets lighter.
Becoming a mindful shopper. Getting rid of so many things has made me much more careful about what I purchase for my home and wardrobe. Shopping can be an enjoyable activity in itself, and in the past I would purchase things just to get a small lift in my day. I now focus on getting only what I need when I shop.
Saving money. Because I am a more mindful shopper, I spend less money. I really evaluate every purchase a lot more than I used to. Removing a lot of expensive but useless things from my life has forced me to respect the value of money again. Now I think at least twice or more about any purchase I make.
Spending less time with material things. The process of minimising has made me realise that all our belongings take time and effort. We spend time buying, cleaning and maintaining things. We spend time organising, packing, moving, unpacking and organising again. If we chose to declutter, we spend time sorting, selling and donating things. When you develop mindful shopping habits, less energy is spent acquiring things. When you declutter, less energy is spent cleaning and maintaining things.
Spending more time on important things. As you spend less time with material things, you start to spend more time on important things. When you start to remove clutter from your life, you are making decisions about what is important to you. My past preoccupation with shopping stopped me from engaging in more satisfying hobbies. I spend a lot more time exercising and being creative now than in the past.
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