How Minimalism Changed My Life

In the hyper-consumerist society that we live in, creating mental and physical space is a virtue. This inspired the critically acclaimed Marie Kondo’s ‘Decluttering’ phenomenon.

Less is more, was a quote I often read in self-help books. I will not focus on how and why I got into minimalism, that’s another story altogether. However, here I share five ways my life changed after adopting minimalism.

1. Learnt the art of detachment

First things first – I was a hoarder. I would never ever throw anything, hopelessly hoping that at some point, deep into the future, it would come handy to me.

Eventually, I had piles of clothes that I hadn’t worn in years, things stuffed in my cupboard in the hope that one day, they would be of use to me. I had read several blogs and articles on de-attachment in the Elephant Journal and other Buddhist readings, but truly understood the essence of it once I started practicing decluttering.

Let me tell you, it won’t come easy and it’s going to break your heart every time you dispose of an item, but I can also tell you that it’ll be worth it. Once I started decluttering regularly, I wasn’t overwhelmed by things that I owned anymore; surprisingly, I tasted Freedom – and freedom of a very different kind.

2. Decluttering instilled the idea of ‘Space’

I cannot emphasize on how extremely stress relieving decluttering is. Once you learn how to de-attach yourself from material possessions, there is nothing that you are bound to and bound by.

Throwing things away is one part of the story, the other part of the story is the space that it leaves behind. You are bombarded with questions like, do you need to fill this space? If yes, what should you fill that space with, is it even necessary?

To begin with, the emptiness, the vacant spaces make you uncomfortable. Honestly, once I got over this phase, I felt significantly free and light. In fact, now I firmly believe in regularly decluttering my space, because what I learned in this process is that you must let go to make space for newer, better things.

3. You have time, lots of time

Imagine giving away/throwing away most of your belongings and being left with just the basics. Inevitably, I didn’t have much to worry about. Like how I needed to sort out my wardrobe or re-arrange my room or looking relentlessly in my bag to find that one lipstick which I thought I kept in the bag but turns out is hiding in my travel pouch in the suitcase that keeps lying in my room. Thankfully, I don’t spend my time re-arranging or looking for things but actually just being, just breathing, just doing absolutely nothing.

4. Simple living, high thinking

Once I learnt to live minimally, my expenditure went really low. My life was not governed by the validation I got by consuming discount coupons. Ever since, I have become comfortable in my minimal space. In fact, it takes me a lot of time and mental effort to really decide what I want in my life and what I can do away with.

This is not just in reference to tangible things but in regard to people too. I have so much more time and resources to invest in things that I actually enjoy doing, things that actually add value in my life.

You connect with people

Decluttering doesn’t necessarily involve throwing things away; in fact, I would consider that the most useless way to declutter. Once I am done with the process of figuring out what adds value to my life and what doesn’t, I put all the ‘don’ts’ together and then either upscale it, re-purpose it, or give it away to someone who needs it or is interested in taking it away.

It’s when you share that you actually form connections, a part of you stays with them or vice versa if you are at the receiving end. The world is filled with landfills of garbage and adding even one less item to that garbage really does make a difference.

It has been two years and my learning has been tremendous. I have seen a qualitative difference and I am still discovering new aspects of myself as I embark on this journey.

As industrial as this may sound, Minimalism is the thought and Decluttering the action.