Minimalism is a wonderful lifestyle encouraging us to be more aware and intentional in our life with what we both let in and keep out. Far from being cold, empty or rigid, in this article I’m sharing 10 comforts of minimalism for your body, mind and home.
MINIMALISM IN A SOMETIMES UNCOMFORTABLE WORLD
The world is a busy, noisy and often uncomfortable place. We’re encouraged to do more, have more, achieve more, buy more and chase more because more of all these things will mean we’re happier and more fulfilled. Even if our To Do lists, bodies and stress levels are telling us otherwise.
Minimalism and the intentional choices we make to curate a life that’s meaningful on OUR terms, is a reaction against this overwhelm and the hype of modern life. It’s not the only way to simplify your home or schedule or make life easier, but it IS a profound one.
The minimalist lifestyle isn’t about the common minimalism myths of empty rooms, white walls, getting rid of all your stuff and sticking to some strict criteria or minimalist rules. There are also comforts of minimalism if we’re open to finding them. It’s a compassionate, warm and heart-centred way of supporting your body, mind and home so you can find peace, joy, ease and less stress as much as possible.
WHY MINIMALISM IS IMPORTANT TO ME
Minimalism isn’t just about your stuff, how much of it you have and what your home looks like. Although decluttering is where many of us, including me, start out, a minimalist lifestyle is far more wide-reaching.
I went from struggling working mama to someone who finally feels at ease – at home, in work, with my relationships, my schedule, myself. All because of those tiny steps I began to take a decade ago. Tiny steps that helped me decide what I wanted in life, what was important, what was leading me down a path that I didn’t want to go. You can read about these tiny steps in this article on how I simplified my life.
But, that doesn’t mean life is easy. Money worries, health worries, parenting struggles, work-life balance – they all still happen and I get things wrong and make mistakes – but I have space in my life and margin in my schedule to say “Ok problem, you have my attention and you have my energy to try to sort you out”.
The conversation in my head used to be very different. Ignore the problem. Hope it goes away. Buy, eat or drink something to numb the pain. Get angry with those I love. Sabotage my physical or mental health. Or, just keep ploughing on, head down, teeth gritted.
Minimalism isn’t just about decluttering your stuff. It’s a mindful approach to wanting to live your best life with whatever resources you have available to you and whatever you’d like your life to feel (not just look) like!
10 COMFORTS OF MINIMALISM THAT SUPPORT YOUR BODY, MIND AND HOME
In this article I’d like to share 10 comforts of minimalism that support your body, mind and home.
1. Decluttering Physical Spaces
Decluttering is often the first space that beginner minimalists start out with but there’s a difference between decluttering and minimalism. You can declutter without becoming a minimalist but you really can’t be a minimalist without decluttering first!
Removing mess and excess possessions from our living spaces can create an environment of calmness and clarity.
Minimalist homes are often characterised by clean lines, uncluttered surfaces, and a sense of openness that promotes relaxation and mindfulness.
Although most common, I’d certainly argue that minimalist homes don’t have to be white or neutral with modern furniture. You can still have colour, pattern and antique furniture if that’s what you love. I think the difference is how much stuff you have and why you have it!
With fewer material possessions to manage, there’s less time spent on cleaning, organising, and maintaining our living spaces. As one of the comforts of minimalism, this gives us more freedom to focus on what truly matters.
2. Simplified Daily Routines
Minimalism encourages streamlining daily routines by focusing on essential tasks and activities. We can’t do everything so we prioritise what’s important.
- Yesterday I had to focus on my ‘day job’ so writing content for this blog didn’t happen.
- Today, I’m taking my daughter to a birthday party and my time is tight so I’ve postponed coffee with a friend until next week.
- Tomorrow morning I’m doing a “power hour” clean as I know my coming week is busy and I won’t feel like my doing daily cleaning routine in a rushed evening.
These are all small decisions that simplify my daily routine. Instead of doing everything, I focus on what really needs to be done to manage my life AND look after myself in the process. Sometimes I miss out on things or wish I’d done something differently, but that’s ok. I’ll know for another time.
By eliminating unnecessary commitments and distractions, we create space for activities and interests that bring us joy and fulfilment.
As well as mindful decision-making, simplified routines also help to promote efficiency and reduce stress, allowing for a greater sense of control and balance in our lives. Think about household routines you could set up to keep your home clean, resetting your home every night, using Sundays to plan your week ahead or ways to make cleaning fun and easier.
3. Prioritising Experiences Over Possessions
Minimalism encourages us to shift our focus from accumulating material possessions to cherishing experiences and relationships.
That’s not to say that as a minimalist I spend less money but I do have a better, more mindful, relationship with money. We have money struggles just like many others but, over the years, I’ve learnt to simplify my finances, face the stress of debt and deal with it, and really come up with strategies to stop impulse buying and buying things I don’t need. Again, I still make mistakes but so much less than before.
And, just for transparency, I recently wanted to update my style so I bought a couple of tops that I thought might suit the ‘new me’! My teenage daughter liked them and I thought I could pull off the colours if I wore them with confidence.
This past fortnight, I’ve worn them a couple of times but I’m pulling at them, second-guessing whether I really need to be a ‘new me’ and I passed them over in favour of my tried-and-tested tops more than a few times. Urgh!
I know to stick with my own kind of personal uniform but I got swayed by feeling boring and staid. Note to self: remember that the least interesting thing about me is my clothes!
Although we all need shelter, food, clothes and money, as a general rule of thumb, I’ve found investing in experiences such as travel, days out, and quality time with loved ones enriches our lives in ways that material possessions cannot.
By prioritising experiences over possessions, connection over consumption, we cultivate deeper connections with others and create lasting memories that bring sustained happiness and fulfilment.
4. Cultivating Gratitude and Abundance
Minimalism fosters gratitude by encouraging us to appreciate the abundance that already exists in our lives. Gratitude is a powerful mindset to help us improve our life, focus on what we have, not on what others may have and we want too.
By simplifying our surroundings and possessions, we become more aware of the blessings and opportunities that surround us.
Cultivating gratitude leads to a greater sense of contentment and fulfilment, as we learn to find joy in the present moment rather than constantly striving for more.
None of this is to say that we must settle for what we have, that if we’re struggling with not enough that it’s wrong to want or try for more. Many people in the world don’t have enough and there might be things we can do to improve or get more of what we need (maybe with less of what we don’t).
Minimalism broadens our horizons, supports our personal growth and individually helps us be the best of ourselves.
5. Embracing Mindful Consumption
Minimalism promotes mindful consumption by encouraging us to be intentional about the things we bring into our lives.
By carefully considering our purchases and avoiding impulse buying, we reduce waste and minimise our environmental impact.
Mindful consumption fosters a sense of satisfaction and fulfilment, as we align our purchases with our values and priorities.
With the example I gave you above when I was buying those two new tops and my little quest for a ‘new me’, minimalism isn’t about getting it right all the time. It’s not about complacency or thinking you’ll never make a mistake or your life looks or feels perfect. There’s plenty of ways my own life isn’t perfect and that’s probably why I took to minimalism in the first place – to make dealing with those imperfections feel easier and more manageable.
But minimalism IS about learning what makes us tick. Things change over time and what we used to enjoy or need might not be the same for us now. One of the comforts of minimalism is about being aware of this and having flexibility and confidence to make these changes.
6. Finding Mental Clarity and Focus
Simplifying our lives through minimalism can lead to greater mental clarity and focus. With fewer distractions and obligations vying for our attention, we can concentrate more fully on our goals and priorities.
Mental clarity allows for increased productivity, creative thought and activities, and overall well-being, as we are better able to channel our energy towards meaningful pursuits.
I think this just goes to show that minimalism is so much more than getting rid of duplicate potato mashers from your kitchen drawers. A minimalist approach to life can also be found in the goals you set, your list of To Dos for the day, how you manage your time, what career you choose, or where you see yourself in 5 or 10 years.
When I think back to ‘past me’ about 10 years ago, there are two things that stand out:
- Firstly, I never had any time. I was always busy and chasing. I had Rushing Woman’s Syndrome and the more I rushed, the more I got caught up in the rushing.
- Secondly, my brain was in overdrive, constantly whirring away with all the things I had to do, even at 3am in the morning whilst I was lying in bed.
‘Minimalist me’ today still has plenty of things to do (I juggle kids, my day job, this blog, life etc) but I am SO much clearer on what I need to do, want to do and how to do it. I set boundaries, habits and routines, and am much less afraid to protect my mental and physical health.
It’s not because I’m superwoman, I’m just thinking more clearly and strategically. I check in with myself through journaling, meditation, exercise, and just finding moments of peace and quiet in a busy day. It’s not easy but I think if I can do it, then I believe YOU can do it too! Maybe my blog can help you.
7. Embracing Financial Freedom
Minimalism can lead to financial freedom by encouraging us to live within our means and avoid unnecessary spending. And, just to be clear, avoid means “try not to”. It doesn’t mean you won’t have the odd slip up!
By prioritising needs over wants and focusing on what truly adds value to our lives, we can do our best to save money where possible, reduce debt if we can, and achieve greater financial security. This, in itself, is one of the biggest challenges many of us face as the cost of living rises.
Financial freedom provides a sense of peace and stability, allowing us to pursue our passions and dreams without being shackled by financial constraints. Whilst some of those passions and dreams may require money, I don’t know think they all do.
Perhaps take a moment with your notebook and pen to brainstorm your own passions and dreams and what they might require of you in different ways. What do you learn?
8. Fostering Inner Peace and Contentment
Simplifying our lives through minimalism can lead to a deeper sense of inner peace and contentment. By letting go of the constant pursuit of more and embracing simplicity, we free ourselves from the burden of comparison and competition.
I found my minimalist path an interesting one for many reasons. One of them was how it stopped me caring so much about what others thought (or I thought they thought!). Minimalism often means that we don’t do things just because everyone is doing them, we really consider whether what we do, have and think is supporting us or just getting in our way.
As some examples, this could be how much I use (or don’t use) social media, having coffee in the trendiest (but most pricey coffee shop), aiming to buy second-hand clothes from a charity shop or thrift store to save some money.
Inner peace comes from living authentically, in alignment with our values and priorities, and finding contentment in the present moment – not the shiniest new thing that grabs our attention or everyone’s talking about. Tempting? Sometimes. Worth it? Not very often.
9. Enhancing Relationships and Connections
Minimalism encourages us to prioritise meaningful relationships and connections over superficial interactions. By decluttering our lives of distractions and busyness, we create space for deeper connections with loved ones.
Strong relationships provide support, companionship, and a sense of belonging, enriching our lives in ways that material possessions cannot.
As Harvard’s longest-ever running study into human happiness is showing us, strong and deep connection is the cornerstone of a rewarding life. As one of the comforts of minimalism, this has got to be a good one!
10. Living with Purpose and Intention
Minimalism challenges us to live with purpose and intention by focusing on what truly matters to us. By aligning our actions with our values and passions, we cultivate a sense of meaning and fulfilment in our lives.
Living intentionally allows us to create a life that is purposeful, meaningful, and true to ourselves.
Although clearing your physical clutter is a great way to start becoming minimalist, it is not the only way. After all, decluttering is about deciding what’s important and adds value to your life in some way. But, how do you know what’s important if you don’t first get clear on your priorities and what matters?
So, instead of getting rid of stuff and decluttering your outer environment, perhaps you may choose to start with defining your priorities and decluttering your inner environment first?
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
In a complicated world of excess, minimalism offers a path to simplicity, clarity, and contentment. By embracing minimalism, we can declutter our physical spaces, simplify our daily routines, and prioritise experiences over possessions. We can cultivate gratitude, mindfulness, and inner peace, leading to a life filled with greater joy, purpose, and fulfilment.
None of this is simple, it doesn’t offer a perfect solution to the messiness of modern life, but it IS a way that you could explore to see if it’s right for you.
Perhaps embracing these comforts of minimalism might help support our body, mind and home and discover the opportunities to be found in living with less?
I’d love to hear your thoughts. How has minimalism improved or changed your life? Have there been any difficulties or struggles? Please leave a comment below if you’ve any thoughts to share!