What does minimalism mean? Where did the term arise from? What are the advantages and disadvantages of becoming a minimalist? Why should we become a minimalist and how do we become one? These are all great questions to have and I am going to do my best to provide thorough and clear answers to each of them.

Most of us have heard about minimalism, but how much do we really know? Sure, maybe we have a basic understanding of what is meant, but there is so much that is now completely known or understood.

For starters, minimalism has been around for decades, but in distant derivations. Even though religious groups, such as Buddhism to Christianity, did not refer to their rejection of possessions to gain spiritual focus and knowledge in the same way, that was the beginning of minimalism as we know it today. Both Buddhist monks and Catholic nuns are much more extreme examples of minimalism that has occurred in our history.

Minimalism was also used in music and art and design during the 50’s and 60’s. With music, it entailed removing all but the instruments. Then when used with home design and architecture, there were whitewashed images with just a simple element as a focal point.

Living a minimalist lifestyle in 2020 means you appreciate yourself more than material things. It is about making logical decisions involving what is needed, instead of always what you want. The thought process behind minimalism is rather than purchase inexpensive items simply because you want them; you purchase what is needed without focusing on the costs.

It seems as though we are spending more time working to make more money, only to spend what we have made on things we do not really need. Many of our possessions do not have any meaning to them and only add clutter to our lives. All possessions do is cause distractions from what our purpose in life is, all we should be appreciative for, and what brings us joy in life. After all, it is not our possessions that define who we are in life, the person we are in life go far deeper than material items.

There are numerous benefits to living a minimalist life which includes the following:

1. Decluttering helps people breathe easier

Simply clearing things from drawers, closets, basements, attics, and spare rooms will open up space in our homes. It is important to not free up space just to turn around and buy more things that are not needed. By getting rid of things you are freeing yourself of any burdens that may be weighing you down and holding you back from a simple life.

2. Living a minimalist life allows for refocusing

Too many material things end up causing our focus to be scattered around. All the material things create worry about working enough to pay for everything and spending unnecessary time searching for or where to put everything in our homes. When there isn’t as much to go through and bills are becoming fewer, being able to focus our time and energy on more important things such as family and doing what brings us joy will increase.

3. Less material things will equal more money

As we eliminate material items and unnecessary luxuries from our homes, others are opened up. All the money that was spent on buying and maintaining them and always having the best will be in your account instead of the store’s account. When we have less material things, we are spending less and there is more money that can pay off debts, which will free up even more money for us.

4. Living a minimalist life frees up time

When we are spending less, we do not need to work as much, which frees up time. This also doesn’t require as much time dealing with the extra things we have because we will not have as much. This will allow us to focus time on what we need and use the extra time we have on what we enjoy doing.

5. A minimalist life give us more energy

When we are not overly consumed with clutter, all the energy we would be using to deal with it can be used for other pastimes. The people that don’t have the burdens that come along with a materialistic lifestyle tend to result in being happier and healthier.

Life as a minimalist doesn’t work for everyone because we are all unique in our own ways. Everything in life has its advantages and disadvantages. I just described the reasons a minimalist life can be beneficial, so now I am going to explain the reasons a minimalism lifestyle can be viewed as a disadvantage.

1. Until a minimalist lifestyle is explained to friends and acquaintances, you might be viewed a weird or strange.
2. While you go through everything you have and begin getting rid of things, you might accidentally get rid of something you need later on.
3. You might be ready to get rid of many things and begin to live a minimalist lifestyle, but your significant other might not be as willing, which could cause arguments between the two of you.
4. A minimalist lifestyle when children are involved could have a child thinking you are a cruel parent. This is only because they have friends whose parents have not adopted the same lifestyle; therefore the child has all the latest toys and electronics.
5. If you enjoy shopping and getting the newest electronics becoming a minimalist may be a little challenging at first.

Lifestyle changes can be challenging, but some can be very rewarding and beneficial. The following steps might make becoming a minimalist a little easier for you.

1. Write your goals down

No one has ever said living as a minimalist is easy, so you have to remain persistently focused on your goals. Write down the problems you have experienced, which are the motives behind the lifestyle change. Maybe your reasons are too much debt or the inability to save money or you are under too much stress, whatever your reasons are write them down and this can be what keeps you motivated for the change.

2. Donate to others

It can be very rewarding when we have a chance to donate our unnecessary things to

others that actually need them. If we do not need something we currently possess, so many people that are in need, so why not help others?

3. Declutter your life and home

A cluttered home and mind creates too much stress, where as a clear mind and home can be very relaxing. You can start decluttering your home one room at a time and one day everything will be clear and open.

4. Simplify your style

Unless you are working in the fashion industry, you probably do not need lots of watches, shoes (well we all need shoes!), jewelry, and clothing. We all know how much is too much, so we also know what we should rid ourselves from. The clothes or shoes we do not need could be helpful to someone else.

5. Implement frugal living

A frugal life and minimalist life pretty much go hand and hand. A frugal life is not only about living in a meaningful way, but also about living within your means. These lifestyles allow for us to save more, pay-off more debts, plan for exciting vacations, and can eliminate stresses from our lives.

I hope the information within this post was beneficial for you. Again, this lifestyle isn’t for everyone but could be worth trying. I do enjoy going through my clothes periodically and donating them to Good Will because if something I use to wear could help someone else get a job that will help them provide for their family that is worth it to me. I do know there are many other reasons a minimalist life can be beneficial and other ways to begin the lifestyle, but want to write y’all a book! If you have heard or learned other ways, I would encourage you to share your thoughts. I do enjoy reading what you think about the various topics I have shared and also learn so much from y’all.

I hope your weekend has started off great and you are staying as safe as you can. Wearing masks can be uncomfortable, but wouldn’t you rather a little discomfort and not become infected with the deadly virus spreading around the country? I also want to thank you for visiting my site today. I do appreciate your continued support. Please remember that I am always sending y’all LOTS of love , comfort, and many positive vibes!

Always, Alyssa