7 Ways Minimalism Can Change Your Life

We live in a society where consumerism is all around us. We consume via the news, we consume via social media, we consume via our phones, we consume everything…including material things and stuff. It has become a status symbol of how much stuff we have such as cars, clothes, shoes, toys, plants, house decor, etc…but at what costs? This is where minimalism can change your life.

A few years ago, I was introduced to minimalism, which is a lifestyle that promotes living with fewer possessions and focusing on what truly matters in life. I was enamored with minimalist content creators, such as The Minimalists and Marie Kondo and I indeed jumped on the bandwagon of getting rid of things were no longer “sparking joy” (which was a lot of junk).

I know the concept of minimalism can be a bit controversial for some people, but I can truly say that it has changed my life for the better in a lot of  ways that I would like to share with you! I know this lifestyle is not for everyone, nor is it possible for some. Even though I wouldn’t call myself a true minimalist, I can say that the principles have changed on how I view my needs versus my wants.

Here are 7 ways minimalism can change your life:

#1 Improved finances

Ok, this is an obvious one, but it is very straightforward: the fewer things you buy, the better your finances. There are just some things that I no longer buy anymore and it’s not even for the minimalist aesthetic, but because my budget won’t allow it!

Minimalism can help you save money by reducing your spending on unnecessary things. You can sell or donate items you no longer need or use and focus on buying things that truly add value to your life. I mean, if I’m being honest – I have enough 3-wick candles and I do not need to buy another candle for about a year lol (I just buy season-neutral candles to use year-round )

In following the principles of minimalism, I was able to impress myself by not getting sucked into the social pressure of buying the newest gadgets, falling into retail sales (I haven’t shopped on Black Friday in years), or equating my self-worth to what I own. In fact, I have learned to put that money into a high-yield savings account!

#2 Cleaner living quarters

Honey let me tell you – minimalism can change how you literally live and sleep! Seriously, the less stuff you have, the less you have to clean! As someone who has a love-hate relationship with cleaning, I am so happy that I really don’t have a lot to clean because I just don’t own a lot.

I am also not overwhelmed by the thought of having a cleaning schedule. I am very comfortable with the fact that as a single goddess that lives alone, I don’t have a lot of dishes to clean at the end of the day or a lot of clothes to launder!

#3 Mental clarity

Speaking of cleaning, do you do a “spring cleaning” every year? If so, you know that feeling of accomplishment that you get, but more importantly, you know that feeling of mental clarity? Oh goodness, such a blissful feeling. I don’t know about you, but when my space is clean, I feel like I can think more clearly. This is what minimalism can do for you as well.

Minimalism can help you gain clarity by removing distractions and simplifying your life. When you have fewer possessions, you have more mental and emotional space to focus on what really matters.

#4 You can live a more mindful and intentional life

I used to own about 20 purses (mostly name brand), but now as a “glitzy minimalist”, I learned this: Umm, I can only carry one purse at a time, so why do I have so many purses? Haha! I remember when I started to watch Marie Kondo’s show on Netflix, and she introduced the concept of “sparking joy”. I literally was getting ready to move into my own goddess pad. I remember cleaning out my closet and deciding to donate about 80% of my clothes, purses, shoes, and jewelry.

I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting older or what, but I just…don’t need a lot of things. I’m definitely more mindful about what I buy now. For instance, if I want to purchase a new purse, I must donate an older purse. If I want a new blouse, I must donate an older blouse.

#5 Increased happiness

I kind of hinted at this in my article, “7 Lessons I Learned in 2022”, but I have learned that money doesn’t buy happiness. You know what else doesn’t bring happiness? Material things. I mean, we see it all the time; those who seem to have everything but are still unhappy.

I used to think that having all the makeup, all the handbags, and all the summer dresses (umm, girl you live in Chicago) would make me happy. I thought having a lot of things would allow me to feel like somebody important. However, I was the happiest when I got rid of all the stuff, all the clutter, and all the things.

By adopting a minimalist-ish lifestyle, you can focus on experiences, relationships, and personal growth, which are proven to increase happiness.

#6 Increased sense of self

Along the lines of living intentionally and having more mental clarity, something else I have noticed as a change in my life is my increased sense of self. This is because I am learning (I say that in the present tense, but it’s a continuous journey) that my worth is not attached to money and possessions.

I learned the importance of meditation, journaling, and personal development. I traded in the Real Housewives franchises to watching Ted talks and watching self-love content. I traded in listening to music that glorified name-brand items for podcasts. Goodness, I am evolving haha!

#7 More room for experiences

Well, with minimalism and not spending my money on material possessions, this allows me to focus on something that truly matters to me: traveling and experiences! I’ve learned that I don’t care about name-brand purses anymore, but how many countries I can visit in my lifetime. I no longer care about getting all the trendy makeup but seeing my favorite artists in concert.

I promise you; I don’t miss those Coach and Louis Vuitton purses that I donated, but I absolutely don’t regret traveling to South Korea to see my favorite K-pop singers in concert. Those memories are priceless. I CAN NOT wait to get out of consumer/personal loan debt…my passport is ready…my closet will be fine

I hope this article convinces you to take a peek into the minimalist lifestyle. I know my life has changed by following the principles and I truly hope my reasons above help you!

Related: How Minimalist Living Can Help You Reach Your Goals

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-Lena

The CGS Team