What is Minimalism and is it for You?

Minimalism: you’ve probably heard the term tossed around a lot these days, but do you really know what it means, and could you ever actually do it?

There are a variety of reasons why more and more people are moving towards a minimalist lifestyle. It can have to do with sustainability and environmentalism, budgets and housing prices, eschewing materialism, or even just a desire to have (a lot) less clutter. Whatever the reason, minimalism is catching on like wildfire.

As a moving company, we’ve noticed this trend because many people who start living minimally eventually choose to downsize their homes and move. We know a lot of folks are curious about “going minimal,” so we decided to do some research for you.

So What Exactly Is Minimalism?

Minimalism can mean different things to different people, and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all definition. In general, though, minimalism refers to choosing to live with less and simplifying your life.

For some, minimalism can mean greatly reducing the amount of physical “things” they own. Think about taking your closet down to a certain number of items, like Project 333, where people are challenged to limit themselves to 33 pieces of clothing for 3 months. It’s about serious decluttering, from your wardrobe to your bookshelf.

Leading a minimalist lifestyle can also mean getting rid of your car, moving into a small house (or even a Tiny House), canceling cable, and more. Minimalism doesn’t mean doing just one of these things, but it also doesn’t have to mean doing all of them either.

Really, what it comes down to is living a lifestyle where you try to use less “stuff” in all aspects of your life.

How to Know if Minimalism is for You

“I could never be a minimalist; I don’t want to throw out all my stuff.” Sound familiar?

A common misconception about minimalism is that it means throwing out everything and living in a tiny room with one couch and a mattress on the floor. While some people do try this, for the majority, it’s not that extreme.

You can still keep your family heirlooms, keepsakes, and even your TV if you want. The point is to get rid of things that don’t matter to you.

If you’ve ever thought that maybe you’re clinging too tightly to your material possessions, you might want to try out minimalism. This lifestyle is suited to people looking to put more time and effort into the people in their lives, their work, their passions, etc., and less effort into maintaining and keeping material items.

Minimalism isn’t going to work out for everyone, but for many, it is a rewarding lifestyle. There are plenty of resources and blogs dedicated to living minimally, so make sure to check them out if you are considering trying it.

Going minimal? If you’re downsizing your home and need a moving company to get you there, get your free moving estimate from Two Small Men today.