What happened when I started minimizing my life…
A continuing journey of many, many obstacles.
Minimalism. It’s one of those words you say that is often followed by groans. I compare it our political system, in that only the extremists views on either side get any kind of recognition- those in the middle are simply ignored.
What I find most fascinating (and enjoyable) about minimalism is that it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. There are many types, too.
You can build your minimalist lifestyle to fit your needs and goals.
But I’m not here to tell you about minimalism and what all it entails; there are plenty of sources for that far better equipped and much more knowledgeable.
Instead, I’d like to tell you briefly about my journey, and how it changed my life, both the good and the bad.
I have been on a minimalist journey for a little over a year now, and I can honestly say that the good has far outweighed the bad.
The first thing I did was work on decluttering my home. I HATE clutter, and I hate cleaning.
By getting rid of things I no longer use, or no longer bring me joy, I began to notice a shift in my stress level and attitude. There sure was a lot less to clean! And now that I had gotten rid of a bunch of junk, I could actually find and use the things that DO bring joy.
The second thing I did was work on my spending habits. I grew up lower class, and while I CERTAINLY had everything I needed, I didn’t have everything I wanted. Once I was out on my own with a good job, I spent spent spent. I didn’t have anyone telling me no.
Cleaning up my mental space was hard, and it’s still a work in progress, but I’ve made great strides. I bought a couple of necklaces from TJMAXX one day on impulse (shopping with my bestie), and ended up taking them back. Old me would NEVER have done that.
I have recently started working on decluttering my calendar. This isn’t too difficult for me because I have a one year old (aka the boss), so she keeps my calendar pretty clear for me. BUT, I do my best to only say yes to things that I actually WANT to do, and not feel like I’m obligated just because someone asks me. This has been one of the hardest obstacles to overcome, and my biggest struggle by far. I am a people pleaser by nature, so saying “no” goes against every grain in my being in the moment. Later, however, I am thankful I did. And 99% of the time, the person who asked me doesn’t even bat an eyelash.
I didn’t adopt every principle of minimalism, and I don’t plan to, I’m just not an extremist. I prefer to live comfortably, with electricity and running water and a nice home. We all have our “musts”.
But overall, minimalism has changed my life.
It’s help me become more present, to appreciate the small things, and to focus on what is most important to me.
It can be difficult, but just know that if you give it a try, you can ALWAYS go back. It’s NOT all or nothing.
