Let’s try a little experiment. Close your eyes and try to picture yourself in a small room that's crammed full of tech devices, clothes, furniture, decorations, curtains, books, and instruments. Seems cramped and cluttered, doesn’t it? Would you feel trapped being a room like that?
Now, try and picture the opposite of that situation. Imagine yourself in the exact same room, but this time, all that mess is gone. There is only a bed, which is neatly made, a desk, a chair, and a shelf where everything is lined up perfectly. There's nothing getting in your way, everything is where it should be, and all the excess stuff has been removed from the room. Everything feels light and airy.
The best thing about it is that you feel like you can do anything in that room. The idea is that order helps our concentration, while mess distracts us from stuff that really matters, regardless of how much we tell ourselves that it’s just “creative chaos.”
Minimalism doesn’t just affect our life from a visual standpoint. Its influence goes much deeper, and helps us focus on things that are truly valuable in life. Here are 5 ways you can change your life for the better by giving minimalism a shot.
1. Fewer Distractions
We aren’t just talking about the clutter on your desk, or inside your living room. This can easily apply to the mess on your computer, phone, or tablet, as well as the mess in your life in general. For example, we all have a few people in our lives that we're friends with, or least we like to think so. However, after hanging out with them, we feel completely drained, or we dread the idea of meeting them.
Why not streamline your list of your friends and acquaintances and focus on those that truly matter to you? By letting go of the people in your life that hold you back, you'll feel happier, have more time, and be less frustrated.
2. Less to Worry about in the Morning
We have all read about how Mark Zuckerberg wears the same shirt and the same pants to work every day. He says he saves time that way, because he doesn’t have to make a decision about what to wear in the morning. While that might be an extreme example, it demonstrates how much time we spend time on things that don’t really matter.
You’ve been there. You're looking at a closet that’s full of clothes, but there's nothing you can wear, so you agonize about it. When was the last time you’ve worn some of that stuff? It’s probably been ages, which means you don’t actually need it. You might have wanted it at some point, but you can’t even remember why or when.
3. Simplicity Is Beauty
Instead of making our lives richer and more exciting, all these things are just preventing us from being truly happy. We worry about clothes, technology, or what other people are doing on social media. Try and reduce the number of hours you spend on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Instead of taking a selfie, stop and enjoy the moment with the person next to you.
People usually list their youth as the happiest time of their lives. Life was so much simpler back then, because you were focused on your friends, family, and experiences, instead of having more stuff. That can still be the case. You’ve been there and have seen how little it takes to be happy.
4. Get Rid of Your Materialistic Needs
Let’s say you are working from home using your computer. You’ve probably thought about how it would be awesome to get that brand new MacBook Pro which costs a lot of money. And sure, you will be excited for a bit, but you will get used to it, and you will get frustrated by it, just like you did by with old laptop. Also, you'll probably use it for the same stuff, utilizing less than 20% of its true capabilities. Money wasted.
Instead of keeping up with everyone around you, invest your money in real life experiences. Experiences that will make you feel happy, but also those that will make you a better person. Travel the world instead of filling up your closet. Go to a concert or take part in an adventure.
5. You Will Become Less Attached to the Things You Own
We're not saying that you shouldn’t own anything. But, owning too much means that those possessions will end up running your life, because you have to dedicate some time to each one, and before you know it, another day has passed.
By being less attached to the things you own, you'll be able to get rid of them pretty quickly once you no longer need them. Because that’s what they are in the end: things.
Conclusion
Give minimalism a chance, and soon you'll realize that less is definitely more. You'll have more time and more money to spend with your family and friends, enjoying life to the fullest!
(Note: You can follow author Jessica Barrett on the website WizEssay)
