Practical Minimalism pt 1
How to actually practice it
As a society of more, more, more; there is a small group that values less. We value less quantity, preferring quality. We are called Minimalists. Minimalism is simply the practice of less. Minimalism can be practiced physically, digitally, and mentally. But note, it is not a fad or a cult – it is a methodology, a framework for life. By practicing minimalism, the goal is to be more fulfilled and happy by filling life with less quantity.
This is the first, in a four-part series about minimalism. I am not trying to preach or force anyone to practice minimalism, just educate. If you do not want to give it a chance, just skip these next four editions – no harm done.
I have talked about minimalism before, but not in a practical manner. Over the next four weeks, I’ll be going over how to practice it, why it matters, going too far, and how to inform your family and friends about your principles.
Minimalism has been a journey for me. It has been an introspection, a thought experiment. It has been wonderful because it has allowed me to focus on the things that actually matter to me. You may read this and think, “that is exactly what I am looking for!” But at face value minimalism looks too extreme and culty. Yeah, I bet it does.
As with most things in modern life, you are going to be shown the extremes of it – the selling of all your stuff, the wardrobes that consist of 10 items, and the monochrome home interiors. Sure, that is a variation of minimalism and might work great for some, but most just need a mind shift – small changes. So how do you make these changes?
Assess
Step back from the day-to-day of your busy life. Get out of the weeds. Look at the things (physical or digital) and people you interact with. Take real stock of it all. Mentally scan, make lists, or take photos. Build a birds-eye view of your life.
Question
While reviewing your life from a birds-eye view, start thinking about if those things and people bring you value or harm you in some way. Do they add the complexity of choices? Do they consume valuable time? Do they make you feel bad? Do they make you happy?
Weigh
After you have questioned your things, start weighing them out. Does that object bring you more or less value? Does that relationship make you feel more or less than? Does your job make you feel fulfilled?
Choose
Answer your questions honestly. Try to balance logic and emotion – never leaning too much toward either. Choose if that extra jacket takes up valuable space in the closet or is the best at keeping you warm. Choose if you need 10 streaming services or if 3 is enough. Decide if that relationship or job makes you feel awful.
Act
Acting upon these choices can be tough. Ripping off the bandaid on a relationship is taxing. Donating a jacket you haven’t worn for a long time might be much easier though. So do these actions based on their impact. Donate or sell a bunch of clothes at once, but don’t break off 5-10 relationships. Make sure you pace yourself during this process, only doing small tasks in bulk.
This process will likely ebb and flow for you. I recommend doing it with someone or with a group of people. Obviously, not someone you are thinking of minimizing. This will not only hold you accountable to follow through but provide you with a sounding board if you are unsure about something. They will also likely make you double-check some of your decisions too.
I originally did this with my wife. We focused on physical things and relationships first. We got rid of a lot of clothes, sold furniture, and stopped fostering toxic relationships. We even eventually quit our jobs. This process took about 3 years and it is still ongoing.
Minimalism is something that will be with you always, once it becomes second nature. Everything you buy and do will be put up against this test, and that is great! We need to think more about actions. As a society, we buy and act with little thought of the consequences. Minimalism is not only a way to lessen your existing, but also to lessen the accumulation of.
In the next edition, I will go into why minimalism is so important – now more than ever.