You might encounter the term “minimalism,” but maybe you’re not sure what it means. To break it down to its fundamental element, minimalism means getting by with less. Even if you have plenty of money, the minimalistic lifestyle appeals to many people who feel like their lives are too cluttered.
because one of its central tenets is to detach the human soul from the physical possessions that constrain it. The idea is that the more you have, the less likely you are to be at peace.
At the same time, nobody can own virtually nothing unless you want to become a nun or a monk. There are some ways that you can achieve a balance between minimalism and a completely spartan existence, so let’s talk about those right now.
You Can Eliminate Harmful Relationships
Minimalism is not going to mean the same thing to everyone. Some might regard it purely as getting rid of material possessions, while others might elect to eliminate far more than that from their lives.
You might decide that getting rid of toxic relationships is a form of minimalism. If that’s true, then without delay. You may split from the individual with whom you have had a long partnership.
You might discard toxic friendships. Minimalism could mean detaching yourself from family members who tear you down.
If , you can certainly put some relationships on the chopping block. If you feel like getting rid of select people in your life will give you peace, then purging them can be cathartic.
You Can Exchange Your Books for a Tablet
You might have many bookshelves filled with books. Reading stimulates your brain, and virtually every therapist will agree that it can help you, whether you prefer fiction or nonfiction.
If you’ve got hundreds or thousands of books, though, they will likely take up a lot of real estate in your home. If you reside in a tiny apartment or house, that’s going to make it challenging to move around, and you may feel like all those pounds of paper are stifling you.
You can sell your books or give them away, and you can retain the same massive collection if you get a tablet such as a Kindle. You will likely have to repurchase those titles, or you could pay for a monthly service that will give you access to a more extensive library. That way, you can read whenever you like, but you’ll also have more living space.
You Can Look Through Your Clothing and Get Rid of Some of It
You might also be a regular packrat concerning clothing. You may have whole closets full of articles, but perhaps you wear only a third or even a fifth of what’s there.
Some people either lose or gain weight, so much of their clothing does not fit anymore. You might look through your wardrobe and choose some articles to get rid of that no longer fit you.
You also might look at some of what you own and realize that is not your fashion anymore. You’re probably not likely to ever wear that Starter jacket or gaudy Tommy Hilfiger sweater that was your go-to in the mid-90s.
You can trim down your wardrobe and have more closet and dresser space. Consider each article carefully and decide whether it’s likely that you will ever want to wear it again.
You Can Clean Out Your Storage Space
You could decide that the time has come to . You might have an enormous jumble of items that you haven’t actually used in years.
Perhaps you might find a snowblower that has not worked in a decade. You may find some exercise equipment that you never use or a bunch of magazines or newspapers that are little more than a fire hazard.
Some people are borderline hoarders, and there is no good reason for half of the things they keep. You should look at places like your attic or basement where you store all your excess possessions and try to do so with fresh eyes.
If you realize that you’ll never have any use for what you see, getting rid of it can be like an emotional enema. You’ll feel lighter than air when you pile it up on the curb for the weekly trash collection.
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