Minimalist Lifestyle: Live More With Less

Some people enjoy the latest and greatest products, while for others, a minimalist lifestyle is preferred. More and more people are realizing that they can handle less goods. Choosing a minimalist lifestyle means eliminating unnecessary things. We are talking about a philosophy that people have defended throughout history. This always extends to ancient Greek philosophers and Zen Buddhist masters.

Today, the minimalist lifestyle is attractive because it is a kind of kryptonite for the spiral of work, money, and consumption. On the other hand, according to Arthur Markman, a professor of psychology and marketing at the University of Texas at Austin, each generation is renewed compared to the previous generation. Minimalism seems to be the way of life of newer generations.

Newer generations are responding to the excessive consumption of recent decades. “Many things are disposable and there are many ways to promote consumption, so people react to it,” he explains. Many younger people do not want to make the same decisions as their parents.

In addition, one reason why a minimalist lifestyle is attractive is the spiritual side. People believe it is good for our spiritual side, which has recently been abandoned as religion loses its influence in society. In addition, growing social awareness is also the reason why the minimalist lifestyle is so popular.

Being more specific about what we buy is a way to penalize those companies that do not meet our criteria. These can be, for example, companies that do not provide decent working conditions for their employees, consume too many natural resources, pollute or use too much energy. Newer generations care about these things.

Why is life so confusing?

Yes, it is true that this world we live in is, by definition, a bit chaotic and unpredictable. Lack of order is often related to our way of life.

Many of us have a job we don’t like, and it feels like advertisers are putting too much pressure on us to satisfy false needs. We give too much weight to slogans, eat foods that are harmful to us, and spend time with people we don’t want to be with. However, no one is forcing us to do so. Instead, we choose to do so because we believe it is good for us or that we have no other choice.

However, that is not entirely our fault. From an early age, society makes us live this way. This is due to extensive advertising and indoctrination.

That’s why it’s no surprise that life feels so chaotic. The good news is that we can make a positive difference. We can live a life that is simpler and more meaningful by adopting a minimalist lifestyle.

Minimalist lifestyle: less complications and more meaning

The key to minimalism is to get rid of everything that doesn’t add value to our lives and make room for what it does. It is about eliminating distractions and unhealthy relationships. It is also about making room for things that are essential to well-being, such as creativity, love and fun.

Therefore, minimalism or a minimalist lifestyle deliberately seeks to focus on what is really important and put aside what is not. In other words, it is about us enjoying life more with less goods and consuming.

To do this, follow these steps:

• Move aside what you don’t feel good about. Get rid of everything in your path, distract you and make you lose your focus and clarity. Keep everything that feels good to you.
• Don’t buy what you don’t need. Don’t let advertising, fashion trends, and other people’s opinions fool you. Owning goods doesn’t make you happy. The truth is that when we have enough to meet our basic needs, we cannot improve our well-being by buying more products. They can only provide momentary satisfaction that will soon disappear.
• Appreciate everything you already have. Focus on what you have instead of focusing on what you don’t have. Otherwise, you will always feel imperfect and dissatisfied and you are a prisoner of your own desires.

• Minimize digital interference. Emails, instant messaging, social networks, and Internet browsing are all distractions that make you lose focus on the present moment. Use digital media consciously.
• Improve your relationships with other people. While in the age of the Internet, it is easier to connect with more people, we are increasingly detached from other people. We lack real relationships.
• Do one thing at a time. A minimalist lifestyle promotes a focus on life. In other words, make the most of every moment. We can’t do that if there are constant distractions around us or we try to do many things at once.

• Focus on important goals. Most people have many goals that they want to achieve. The minimalist lifestyle has a clear purpose. Live a life where you have to find the few things that interest you the most and dedicate yourself to them.
• Take care of your body and your mind. Health is the starting point for happiness. Therefore, it is important to take care of yourself both physically and mentally. The three key factors are exercise, nutrition and sleep.
• Practice mindfulness. A minimalist lifestyle requires peace and a calm mind. In other words, a mind that has no conflicting thoughts and that is present in the present moment. Practicing mindfulness or meditation can help you restore a peaceful state of mind. Observe your thoughts and feelings without judging, opposing, or feeding them. This will help you react consciously to situations, rather than overreacting or letting them discourage you.

Summary

Minimalist Fumio Sasaki says, “minimalism is a way of life where you reduce your wealth as little as possible”. For Sasaki,  “living as little as possible has not only produced superficial benefits, such as the pleasure of a clean room or simple and easy cleaning, but it has also led to a more profound change” . By choosing a more minimalist lifestyle, Sasaki found a definition of his own happiness.

This philosophy tells us that the more things you have, the more power these things have in you. The more you depend on something, the more it affects your ability to be happy and enjoy life. If we believe that our happiness depends on goods, we try to get more goods because we are afraid we will need them. In other words, we buy goods “for safety” and end up as slaves to them.