Over 3 years of minimalism

Last updated on December 19th, 2023 at 10:58 am

At the Inception

I was broke and had no steady source of income when minimalism first occurred to me. 

For context, I’ve always had a decluttering tendency but it was mainly digital inclined. When I had the nudge to take this tendency into my lifestyle as a whole, it was perplexing and I had so many thoughts. Was this my response to my inability to afford nice things for myself? Can someone who grew up with less really say that they are voluntarily minimalist? In the case of systemic poverty, how does minimalism translate?

Consider this

Many people see minimalism from an angle of plenty or excess to less things, it’s rare to think of it as from barely there to less. But is minimalism really about less?

Minimalism

Sure, less is more and that’s one of the tenets of minimalism. But it’s more about the function and intention behind what you have and not just about having less. If your lifestyle requires you to wear flats and you pare down your shoes to high heels, then maybe that’s textbook minimalism but not functional minimalism seeing as you almost have no need for the shoes. 

Minimalism is more of the mindset we have about things, materials, and possessions. Do we think that our joy lies in the next purchase or do we appreciate the fact that we are purchasing what we need and can’t wait to enjoy the comfort or relief from using the item? 

Privilege

Still, I recognise that being broke is relative, and thinking about minimalism at the time that I considered myself to be broke is probably a privilege in itself.

Attitude to things

One time I wanted a hundred shades of nude lipstick. Did I need all of them? Maybe not. I convinced myself that I needed them simply because I liked them. Oftentimes, this is our attitude towards life; if we like something we must have it, we must make it ours. After about three years of venturing into this journey, I’m learning that I don’t need to possess everything that I like. Sometimes, I can just appreciate something without owning it especially if I have no real use for it.

You do you, boo

If this is something you’ve been considering or new at, understand that you define what your own minimalism is. At the baseline, minimalism is about living life with what you need and not just what you think you want or should have. Think intentionality.

Resources that helped

At the start of my journey, I read some books, listened to podcasts, and followed minimalism channels on YouTube, some of which I still do to date. These resources are listed below. These resources provided perspective, discourse on extreme minimalism and intentional minimalism, the overall tenets, the effects of clutter, etc. I gathered enough to begin my journey and forge my path.

The journey

Soon, what started as a mindset approach towards consumerism and materiality trickled into other aspects of my life. It has now become a habit, part of my personality. I’m constantly decluttering my house and things, giving out items that I no longer use, and automatically taking out an item if a new one comes in. 

It has also led me to simplify my life. Minimalism doesn’t only influence you to want less but to make your routine and habits easier.

While I still have wants, get excited at the prospect of buying something new, and even find items in my house with untraceable sources, in my journey, I’ve never tended towards extremism (think, five clothes on rotation or zero furniture in the house or only one utensil in the kitchen), but it has led me to understand myself better. I have a better understanding of my needs, my fashion style, my intentions when I want to purchase an item, and my limit.

Thankfully, it’s also translated into my organizational and planning skills. Not only does it manage my stress since there’s less to tidy and account for, but it has helped me become more creative, be a better saver, give less thought to what others think about me (or my physical appearance), and detach more from identifying with materiality, trends, and consumerism.

It’s a continuous and rewarding journey. And I’m excited to unfold more aspects of this journey.

I suggest researching consumerism, fast fashion, waste culture, sustainability, and minimalism if you’re at the start of your journey.

Books:

  • The Joy of Less: A Minimalist Guide to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify
  • Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism
  • The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own

*I probably read more but I can’t remember them.

YouTube:

  • The Minimalists
  • Joshua Becker 
  • Malama life 
  • A Small Wardrobe
  • Benita Larsson
  • Ashlynne Eaton
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