What is minimalism? The word and style is so popular today, but what does it mean, and how can I incorporate into my life? These questions were constantly running through my mind these past few months by moving into a new apartment packing up my dorm room at college. I knew that it minimalism was sleek and cleaner, but there was no way that I could jump on this bandwagon! But boy was I wrong!
Minimalism began in art. Back in the 1950s, minimalism, was a sculpture and painting technique and style that has risen again in popularity today in home decor and personal style. Minimalism is defined as a style or a technique that is characterized by extreme spareness and simplicity.
After learning this, I looked at minimalism as a goal instead of a style.
The first step on my minimalistic journey was to declutter my life.
I began by organizing one space at a time. First it was my closet, my book shelves, desk, vanity, and bathroom. Slowly but surely I decluttered and either donated, trashed, or kept certain things that I own. Instantly I could see a difference, but I could also feel a difference too!
I was surprised at the impact that things have on our psyche. For example, as the clutter and the piles of stuff I was organizing grew and grew, so did my level of stress and anxiety. As I eliminated useless and unwanted things from my spaces, my stress lessened, and I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
Continuing my journey, I looked to my social media outlets. I first started with my phone itself. How many of these apps do I even use?! Not many! I used my handy dandy delete button, and watched all of the useless digital clutter disappear from my screen. Next I went to Instagram and deleted pics of little to no value and reevaluated every other social medium I use.
Now my journey is no way over! I feel that this is a lifetime practice that I am glad that I have adopted. I am starting to change the way I live all by refocusing my energy on the important things in life and decluttering it. By doing just these few small things, I have noticed an increase in my own personal happiness. I also have a greater appreciation for the things I own and an increased awareness of those less fortunate that myself. I am now saving my money instead of buying out of impulse. It is all about being more conscious and not buying into American commercialism all of the time.
These little things with time, I feel, will bring positive energy and a different joy I have never felt before. I've been so accustomed to exhausting my energy out of jealousy of what others own, wasting my money buying things just to have them and in the end feeling more empty than I did to begin with. I'm done with that, and I'm looking forward to maximizing minimalism!
