Minimalism or how living on less can improve your life!

“Minimalism” or “art minimal” is an artistic movement that developed in the USA in the 1960s, to describe a simple and, at the same time, strict form of sculpture. It was typified by artworks composed of simple geometric shapes based on the square and the rectangle. The rejection of unnecessary elements and the use of industrial materials, such as stainless steel, fiberglass, plastic and sheets of lead or steel, are its main characteristics. Apart from sculpture, the art of minimalism has been applied in painting, while nowadays, we refer to minimalist decoration, minimalist clothing, or way of living. In other words, minimalism has evolved from an artistic movement to a lifestyle that emphasizes living with less.

The luxury of simplicity

Minimalism serves the philosophy of living simply or living with less. It advocates riddance and liberation from the unnecessary, the meaningless. By removing anything that distracts us or is superfluous, we can appreciate more things in life. Minimalism can be applied to architecture, decoration of spaces, dressing as well as to many areas of our lives, such as our daily schedule of activities, human relationships, etc.

Benefits of a minimalist lifestyle

Modern and consumptive lifestyle often dictates the acquisition of material commodities- most of which unnecessary- or experiences that are not necessarily harmonized with our true, personal needs. This is problematic because we unconsciously give in to situations that weigh us down, stress us out or fail to fulfill us. On the other hand, when it comes to material goods, we often purchase products that we do not necessarily need, which may be expensive to buy, store and maintain. The result of such a lifestyle is mess and disorder. Adopting a minimalist lifestyle can lead to:

More money: Sometimes, less is more. Let us explain. ‘Fewer items’ means cutting down on unnecessary expenses, resulting in money saving. In addition, it is a good opportunity to realize that we can spend this money on better things, such as travel, experiences and quality time with family or friends, rather than just making another material purchase.

More time: When we buy less, we also take care of less. Let’s take our houses as an example. ‘Fewer items’ means spending less time cleaning, organizing and shopping. Thus, when we are no longer concerned with all these, we have more time at our disposal, to deal with what we love and are most interested in, e.g., with a hobby.

Less stress: A minimalist lifestyle is less stressful. Owning fewer things automatically reduces the stress of everyday life and the endless pursuit of acquiring possessions. In addition, spaces overwhelmed by many and unnecessary objects cause stress -since they give the sense of clutter- while plain, simple spaces exude calmness.

Environmental protection: By just purchasing and using fewer items or services, we help to reduce the mindless exploitation of the planet’s natural resources. Therefore, minimalism is an eco-friendly way of living, a conscious lifestyle that defends the protection of the environment.

More gratitude: Living simply allows us to better connect with ourselves, our personal needs and way of living, feeling more grateful for everything we already have.

In a busy world with many – and often contradictory – stimuli, it is important to give ourselves the chance to listen to our bodies, thoughts and personal needs. Minimalism is not, and should not be considered, a strict approach to life. Instead, it defends liberation from everything that does not give to our lives the meaning we wish for. It is a choice that can help us feel free and find time and space for what’s important to us.

So, what do you say? Is it time to switch to a more minimalist lifestyle?