Minimalism: Living with Intention

This has been a little journey for me and it has actually been really great! I've been purging and eliminating items that have no need for. Items that I haven't worn in a long time, multiples of things, items that I have good intentions of using but never actually do. I honestly think I've used my quesadilla maker 3 times in the 10 years that I've owned it. I've sold or given away items that my Daughter has grown out of and have organized much of my home. I'm still in the process and feel like I have much to do. I never truly realized how much I own until I started paying attention to what was in my home.

Everyone has 'stuff'. We all have the items that we want but don't really need. We have artwork, plants, decorations, that perfect little throw pillow for the couch or fruit basket for the kitchen counter. There is no shame in spending on things that bring a little joy into your life and a little smile to your face.

I feel that there are many benefits to living with less in your life. There seems to be some misunderstanding though, about what it means to live a minimalist lifestyle. Minimalism means different things to different people and in my opinion, it should be unique to each person living it. There really are no set rules to living a minimalist lifestyle, but it is important to have clear goals of how you want the end result to be.

Each person should have a clear understanding of what is valued in their lives and intentionally remove anything that stands in the way of what is valued most. Minimalism is living with intention and only allowing what lines up with your most important values to take up your space and your time. What each of us value in our lives is personal. That’s one of the things I love about minimalism, you look to create whatever version of minimalism works for you. The only key is that you decide what is most important to you, and then remove anything that doesn’t line up with and support those values.

I believe that many people have an idea of what minimalism is and there are some misconceptions surrounding this lifestyle. Some of which I have listed below:

1) You do not need to get rid of everything you own and live with the bare essentials. It's silly to think that you would need to get rid of items that make life more convenient. You're simply eliminating items down to the items that you love and use. Getting rid of the excess, allows you to focus on the items that you love. While minimalism is the idea of removing things from your life, you should also look at it as letting go of things that you don't value or that don't 'spark joy'. Instead of focusing on what you’re getting rid of, focus on what minimalism gives you more of. More time, more space, more freedom and more peace of mind.

2) Minimalism does not make life more difficult. In fact, it makes life easier. You spend less time cleaning, picking up, looking for things, maintaining and organizing your things, etc. After adopting a minimalist mindset, many people see that things they thought made life easier, are actually stealing their time and their space. Minimalism is not about getting rid of something if you actually use it often and it makes your life easier. It’s about getting rid of the things that aren’t used or needed and are just cluttering your home.

3) Being a minimalist and being frugal are not really the same thing, though there is some overlap as both focus on spending intentionally. Living a minimalist lifestyle actually allows you to save money by purchasing less, but it goes beyond the goal of saving money. It is about living with less, in order to have more time and space for the things that matter most in your life. Some minimalists may choose to spend their money on higher quality items, but are still buying less without putting so much focus on being frugal.

4) Minimalism doesn't mean giving up activities, items or hobbies that make you happy. It doesn't mean depriving yourself of the things that you love. Moderation is the key. Rather than having 4 or 5 hobbies...keep one or two that you greatly enjoy and put your focus and effort into them. Hobbies that require supplies can be kept on a designated space...all while being intentional about the items that you keep in that space. Keep the supplies that you will use instead of stockpiling.

5) Being a minimalist doesn't mean that your home is empty and dull. Many minimalists choose to decorate a room with white walls and minimal decor....but that doesn't mean that is the only way to decorate your home. My home is filled with plants, throws, candles and other items that make me feel happy and comfortable. Cozy minimalism is a term used to describe a space that is uncluttered and organized, but still cozy and warm. Minimalism doesn't have to be white and neutral. It can be colourful and fun! It should be personal to you and should be about finding the right amount of stuff for you. The key is keeping only what adds value to your life and removing the rest. Like I said earlier....this takes time. Start with one room and slowly move through it and when you have it to where you think you want it to be....move on to another!

6. There are no set of rules or standards that must be followed to live as a minimalist. Some people try to limit their belonging to less than 100 items or having only a certain amount of pieces of clothing in their wardrobe...but that isn't the only way to live as a minimalist. The great thing about minimalism is that you can create your own set of rules. And those rules can change as your life changes and grows. Your mind can be opened to new ideas as you evolve as a person. Experiment! Try new things and take the time to figure out what works for you. Don't listen to anyone else's views of how minimalism should look.

7. Minimalism isn't just for young, single people with no kids. Anyone can be a minimalist...it doesn't matter who you are, what you do for work, whether you have a big family or you live on your own. The truth is, the more people you have living in your home, the more 'stuff' you'll tend to have. Living a minimalist lifestyle could be even more beneficial in situations like that. Determining value and living intentionally is still top of the minimalism list, as well as identifying what each person values the most and eliminating the excess to make room for those valued items. Each persons valued items list will vary, but the concept of only making room for what matters most, is the same.

8. Minimalism is not necessarily about what you own. It's about why you own it. Getting rid of excess stuff in your life is a huge part of minimalism, but in order to be ok with doing so, you need to shift your mindset about what you own. You must learn to change your relationship with what you own and understand how you've come to own it. Minimalism can be extended to all areas of your life. It's about figuring out what you value most in your life and removing anything that doesn’t align with that.

Once you begin using minimalism as a tool to help you create you want, you will see that this lifestyle goes beyond de-cluttering and removing things from your life. If can be applied to every aspect of your life from how you spend your time to what you eat, and will lead you to live intentionally.

xo