Living minimalist: what does that mean?

What does it mean to live minimalist?

Minimalism is a lifestyle where you focus on the essentials. You free yourself from superfluous things and from materialism. The important things in life take up all the more space. Minimalism thus represents a kind of antithesis to the consumption-oriented affluent society. However, minimalism is not just limited to the material things.

• Relationships and friendships are also included in minimalism. You only form relationships or friendships with people who make you really happy. In return, you should keep your distance from people who don’t make you feel that way.
• Passion also plays an important role. Only do things that fulfill you 100% and bring your passion to life.
• Another point that is important in minimalism is personal development. Get to know yourself better every day and take on new tasks in order to continue to grow personally.
• Nevertheless, it must be said that everyone defines minimalism differently. Basically, however, it can be said that a minimalist lifestyle creates space for new exciting things.

What are the challenges?

Many people are skeptical about a minimalist lifestyle. At first glance, this is not unjustified, as there are also some challenges with minimalism – especially in everyday life with children.

• It takes a lot of effort to minimalism. Almost everyone has a hard time parting with things. Again and again the question arises as to which things should really be sorted out now. This also applies to your own children’s clothing or toys.
• A lot of discipline is also required. It is much easier to buy a variety of new things than to ask yourself which things you really need before each upcoming purchase. If your own child then begs for things, a lot of discipline is required.
• You may feel bad or lonely. We are always told by the media and society that we would be happier if we owned more things. Of course we need some things, but many have too much. Most children also have far too many toys and no longer learn to be bored.
• Minimalism can also lead to your own home appearing bare or empty at some point. Therefore, you should start small and not clean everything up immediately. Work your way forward step by step and give yourself time to get used to your minimalist lifestyle.
• You have to buy things new. It can happen that you have sorted out things that you then have to buy again at some point. Here, too, it is important to start slowly with minimalism.

What are the benefits of living minimalist?

However, living minimalistically also represents a major challenge. Many people are therefore skeptical. Especially parents with children often think that a minimalist life is impossible. But what advantages can you hope for?

• More money:  With a minimalist lifestyle, you spend less money. You do without useless or unnecessary things and have more money in your pocket that you can spend on really important things in life. For example, you save on housing costs if you do without a very large apartment. Or you don’t pay for car insurance or repair and gas costs if you don’t own a car. You don’t spend any more money on the sixth dress, which you only put on once.
• Be happier:  Because you have fewer possessions, you also have less stress and fewer obligations. Because they have to be cared for, cleaned or repaired. A minimalist lifestyle also reduces your fear of loss. Because ownership often goes hand in hand with worrying about it. You will also benefit from less stress at work, as your expenses will also decrease with minimalism.

  All of this leads to the fact that minimalism makes you happier since you only own the things that are valuable to you.

• More time:  A minimalist lifestyle gives you more time. You have less cleaning or tidying up and find things faster. This also has an effect on the organization, since you are now much more structured and, for example, there is no chaos at the desk. You also save time in the morning when choosing your outfit. Because the wardrobe has been cleaned out, the search for the right clothes is much faster.
• Live healthier:  Minimalism makes you live healthier. Since you have fewer obligations and more freedom, your stress level decreases. This is also reflected in significantly better sleep and a better mood. This reduces the risk of getting sick. A healthy lifestyle also goes hand in hand with minimalism.

How can I live minimalist?

As you can see, there are many benefits to be expected from a minimalist life. We give you simple tips that you can use to bring minimalism into your everyday life.

1. Don’t watch TV: Give  up the TV completely for a week. If you realize after a week that you don’t really need your TV, you can sell it
2. Sort out your clothes:  Go through your closet and sort out any clothes you haven’t worn in two years. You can do the same with your shoes. You can either sell the things you sort out or donate them to a social institution.
3. Walk: Do  n’t use the car, bus or train for short distances and walk instead. This not only saves money, but also protects the environment and is good for your health.
4. Go into nature:  Go to a park or go on a trip. You will notice how calming it is to be in nature.
5. Do without the Internet:  Stop the constant sensory overload caused by the Internet and simply do without it. Instead, focus on yourself and enjoy the time.
6. Cancel unimportant appointments:  You should cancel appointments that are superfluous or have no added value for you. Instead, spend time with people who really matter to you.
7. Work less:  Instead of a salary increase, you can reduce your working hours, take unpaid leave or avoid overtime.
8. Meditate : Through meditation you can focus on yourself and your strengths.
9. Eat Slowly:  Enjoy your food and eat slowly instead of just wolfing it down. Avoid distractions like using your cell phone while eating.
10. Read a book:  Skip your cell phone before bed and read a book instead.