What is Minimalism?

Minimalism is a philosophical approach to life that focuses on eliminating anything that’s unnecessary. Rather than concentrating on “stuff” such as personal belongings and tasks, a minimalist aims for a less complicated life.

Although the goal of some minimalists is to completely remove everything until they’re at a clean slate, most minimalists will simply follow minimalist principles. They remove the clutter in their home, minimize obligations, and reevaluate what’s important.

Benefits of Minimalism

Life can get very crazy and stressful at times. Between bills, a demanding job, and other responsibilities, life can be an absolutely exhausting cycle.

By living minimally, you can remove a lot of this stress. This is the focal point of minimalism – escaping the endless cycle of needing “more.”

Do you have to give up all of your things?

Absolutely not. However, in order to completely immerse yourself in a minimalistic lifestyle, you’ll need to avoid the unnecessary. This could potentially mean no more TV, no more unread books, and no more rarely-worn clothes filling up closets. This is certainly on the extreme end and isn’t suitable for everyone. It’s just too difficult.

However, if you are seriously considering a minimalistic approach, here are some helpful tips:

• Find ways to say no. If you’re having trouble finding time to clean up your home, you’re probably overbooked. By declining more often, you’ll be able to figure out what’s important enough to stay on your calendar and what you can cut out.

• Take it slow. Diving head first into a minimalistic life will not only be overwhelming, but it may also hinder your success. Instead, divide up whatever you’re trying to minimize. If you’re trying to simplify your home, segment it room by room and figure the extent that you’re willing to go.

• Don’t purchase what you already have. Is another pair of shoes really necessary? Do you need 6 bottles of ketchup? Are you actually going to read that book? You need to be honest with yourself and don’t buy what you don’t need. Not only will it simplify your life, it’ll also save you a lot of money.

Living a minimal lifestyle is not easy and is certainly not for everyone. If you’re interested in simplifying your life (or at least your home) without getting rid of everything you love, consider utilizing self-storage to remove some of that clutter.