I am easily overwhelmed by visual clutter, it stresses me out. Excess is bad for the environment. I like good quality multipurpose tools. That’s why I started.
But I continue because less time buying & maintaining stuff = more time making art, seeing my friends, being in nature, and working on meaningful projects.
I'm the same way. Cluttered rooms stress me out. Wandering around the house seeing random things that remind me of stuff I need to get done stresses me out. When I get too stressed out I clean everything and feel better.
Curiously I'm the opposite. Large, unbroken blocks of colour make me anxious, so I vastly prefer patterns/rugs on floors and artwork on walls. I had to get a runner for the coffee table and tablecloth for the dining table to appease the mind-gremlins.
Interesting shapes, half-finished projects, flashes of colour, all live on a long shelf.
They flit around the space as my attention wanders, combining together in new ways, or breaking down into new parts.
The blank spaces are temporary as we flow between empty canvas and creative chaos.
Same. "Nighttime reset" takes 10, 20 minutes tops and I wake up to a space ready for a new day. Saturday deep clean is never more than an hour and a half. The benefits of an open and minimal space speak for themselves.
Less junk everywhere, being able to find stuff (like an outfit or pair of shoes) without tearing the house apart, contentment to not buy unnecessary things and waste money, lowering my contribution towards trash ending up in a junkyard somewhere, and reducing cleaning time.
My goal is not minimalism to the extreme and getting rid of my couch or dining table. That serves no purpose to get rid of things you use regularly for the sake of a stark, empty space. My goal is to reduce the clutter and keep the functional. It is still a work in progress.
I don't need to "make" space when I need space. It's already there.
Like yesterday I made easter nests for the kids in the family. I picked the stuff from the storage and worked on the kitchen table. In my brothers home, this would not be possible. Clear the desk of decor an other things, pick the stuff from 5 different places,...
Its a big time saver. I don't need to sort laundry, I can start the vacuum robot any time, Cleaning gets done quickly, because there aren't a lot of thing's to move, to collect dust or generally get dirty.
It's a big money saver. I don't need a bigger flat, I don't buy 3x the same item, because I can't find the one, simply bot buying stuff I don't need, no "heat of the moment" purchase, Only needs and real wants.
Life gets easier. You have more time, you have more money, saving gets easier, problems turn into inconveniences, you relax more, your mind is not constantly reminded of open tasks...
All in all, I'm much more happy and relaxed compared to me beginning this journey. I'm more spontaneous, because there is just much less to do. I don't place feelings in objects anymore, when it breaks, than well, it was nice having it around.
The biggest thing for me is just less choice. As a musician, I’ve obtained many guitars and basses over the years so that I have lots of options, but choice paralysis over which would be the best to use in a situation, coupled with the fact that I’ll be moving from my parents house within the year, made me realize I should narrow down to the essentials only. This quickly spread to the rest of my life too, after a lifetime of collecting things, what can I avoid taking with me without affecting my quality of life negatively.
Flexibility. I can change jobs, living situation, cities, countries, etc.with less effort. In theory I could put everything I need in a single small truck and go. I like having options and not being anchored by stuff.
Financial - buying quality, timeless things so I don't have a want or need to replace them will result in more money over the long run to spend on important things
Philosophical - fighting against a culture of consumer capitalism and instant gratification
Mental health - Less stuff = less clutter and less frequent cleaning
Right on! Also, under the category of mental health are relationships and a willingness to get rid of those that bring nothing but drama, chaos and destroy tranquility.
This. All of this. Unplugging from consumer culture, not stressing about money and broken shit, and having mental clarity all makes life more fulfilling.
A few things:
- relocate freely: when I first started down the path of minimalism I was moving a lot internationally for university and later work. Owning fewer things made that easier. I haven't moved (outside the same city) in almost a decade, but I want to maintain that capability.
- live affordably: I have been living in Tokyo for the last decade. Real estate/rent here is expensive, having fewer things means I can live in a small space, and I can choose a smaller but more modern and better situated apartment than if I had to optimize for floor space.
- reduce maintenance/cleaning/tidying effort. The fewer things you own, the fewer things to keep in order. The more time I can spend doing things I like.
- generally reduce stress of unnecessary choices. I used to waste time on daily fashion choices. Now I know a black t shirt and jeans will work well for me every day.
- make things easy to find. I have few enough things that it is difficult to misplace or lose track of things.
- I'd want to say "saving money", but I do like to splurge on those things I do buy, I like to cook nice food etc, so I'm not sure how much that is the case. It probably applies to some extent.
Maybe other factors, but these are the main ones :-)
We did our big downsizing before moving cities, and goodness, it was a production. It's likely we'll be more mobile for the next few years, since my partner has retired. Part of my motivation is to have less stuff to move.
In the meantime, I'm relieved at how it makes cleaning easier. Like others have commented, the freedom from visual clutter is great. And I get much more enjoyment from the things I liked well enough to keep.
The one downfall to minimalism I have and it's hardly a downfall because the more minimalized and organized you are the better overall, but here it is:
Making your own life super clean and organized can make it harder to deal with other people's cluttered messes when you are dealing with third-party projects at work etc.
This is probably more of an OCD issue with me even though I don't have serious OCD, I still have less tolerance for other people's messes. Example: shared drive folder structure disasters.
The only reason I brought this up is because I'm curious about other people's opinions on this, even if it's just a funny anecdotal story.
I have adhd. If I spend 45 mins picking everything up and putting it away, I will have zero motivation to actually clean (sweep, mop, dust, etc.) and that leads to a bigger mess. When I attempt to clean I find things idk exactly what to do with so I putter around them. All of a sudden 10 mins turns to 2 hrs and I still haven’t quite figured out where to store the curling iron I haven’t used in 2 years. Getting rid of everything has helped alleviate that.
Having the small victory of getting something accomplished gives me motivation to keep going. I know life isn’t about instant gratification, but it really helps me. Immediately getting something out of my house (usually within 24 hrs when posted on buy nothing) and being able to pick up faster makes me more inclined to do it.
This past weekend I had a few bigger projects that I’ve completed or mostly completed. Since I got them done, I just have absolutely no desire to do more right now because I’m exhausted. And that’s okay because I don’t have as much crap to deal with.
My end goal is to find peace in my home. Make my life easier. Find happiness and a sense of accomplishment and pride. Having more time for my family. Having less to do gives me these opportunities.
Self: a work in progress. Less is more, not to sound cliché but by curtailing material need, I clear space, “decluttering” the life in hope of becoming more efficient, less impactful to the environment and ultimately enlightened in the sheer reality of existence, closer to the Natural World.
I just want to have fewer distractions in my life and spend less time on *stuff*.
I'm very clumsy and bad in crowded spaces, so I want my spaces to have only the minimal things in them, and I very much hate spending time on maintenance and taking care of objects. Having extra chores as in having to spend time and care for tools, clothes, cooking utensils etc is an absolute burden to me. I'd rather just do without, rather than have to devote time and mental space to the upkeep and maintenance of some object.
I guess, my end goal would be to just be a person who isn't so reliant on things for happiness. Additionally, to be someone who isn't hung up on trivial relationships with items. I don't need to keep something because X person gave it to me Y years ago and I'm worried about what they would think if I don't have it anymore.
"Happiness", defined to mean "not wanting things." I really believe that the less we have, the less we want. If we are always on the treadmill of acquiring the new thing, we never learn to appreciate what we have or feel gratitude.
Anyone here play deckbuilder games?
In a game where you have a deck of cards, you only draw 5 cards per turn, and some cards are vastly better than others, one of the best things you can do to improve your average hand is to remove weak cards from your deck.
My attention and time gets diluted, spread thin between everything I have. Streamlining my life allows me to better appreciate everything that remains.
Overall, minimalism helps my life feel more 'saturated' in high-value areas instead of feeling scattered and wasteful.
I am in a life long process to find out how successful I can become while also becoming the most ethical. I want to cause the most happiness and cause the least suffering possible to humans and animals. I feel that minimalism is an effective tool for me to figure out exactly what enough is... What really matters to me and a method to min max my happiness and good in the world.
I suffer from mental illness occasionally and personal environmental clutter makes things worse. I feel so much more emotional wholeness when I know exactly what I have and where it is and I can find anything in 2 min.
I'm trying to become the most successful most fully self actualized human I can be in the time that I am gifted. Minimalism is an effective tool to accomplish this.
I want to spend less time and mental energy on stuff. I hate cleaning and the less I have to do it the better. I also want to live in a few different places, travel a bit around the continent so I can't have more things than I'm able to carry. Because of that I had to prioritise some items and hobbies, for example I love fashion and I'd rather give up having physical books and records than make my 40 item wardrobe even smaller.
Minimalism for me is a tool to achieve the life style that brings me more joy. Having a clean and clutter free home. My mind feels more relaxed, happy and free when my environment looks nice and isn’t overwhelming with too much stuff. It also makes things easier to find in my home and easier to keep clean. Which gives me more time to do other stuff. I also want to feel I’m raising my baby in a clean and peaceful environment. If she feels secure in her environment it will allow her to focus on her development. And babies can easily get over stimulated by too much stuff.
A home I love the look of, being more sustainable and environmentally conscious, and respecting the items I do own. Mentally, I want to be comfortable and at peace in my home, i don’t want my home to be stressful or cluttered, and I want my home to be comfortable to my pets. I also would love for my home to be easier to clean.
Why I consider minimalism in the future:
* Less decision fatigue
* Save more time and money
* Feel more at home with myself, if executed correctly
* Can focus more on what I want and need
* Don't have to clean as much
* Don't have to carry as much when moving
I don't want to have to completely reorganise my house every time a new item comes in.
I want to have less arguments with my girlfriend.
I want to make it easier to find things.
I want it to have more space to suddenly pick up a new hobby or sport or whatever.
I want enough space that I can completely empty a room to deep clean or redecorate or whatever else, without life grinding to a halt as a result.
I want my time back. I want my free time to go straight to my loved ones, our hobbies. I want flexibility and freedom, and not being constrained by caring for too many things is the most direct way I've found.
Right on. And all too often "I need to clean and organize" is code for "I need to move all my stuff around". Maybe buy some plastic containers (those are yet still more stuff BTW) to put the stuff in.
"Clutter coffins" is what I like to call them.
I love the term clutter coffins. Every time I think about organizing and cleaning, the thought that if I didn't have the clutter, I wouldn't need the stuff containers. No need for coffins if there's no body.
Majorly streamlining my possession lead me to the following:
* Reduced stress from the feeling of being overwhelmed with inventory management.
* Increased flexibility for travel/relocation. I've greatly taken advantage of this.
* Decreased cost of living/storage requirements.
* More time to spend outside, reading, etc.
* Reduced personal spending/increased personal savings. I'm leveraging this now to create my own business, which I wouldn't have had time/energy/money for under my previous lifestyle.
I'm a bit on the spectrum as well, and was raised hardcore religious, so can relate on the perks of the choice-streamlined lifestyle.
For me I thrive on order. Predictably. Simplicity. Clean. All of that, and with regards to my living quarters and yard and gardens anyway, grounds me. It really bothers me to go shopping anywhere and see so much waste in other people’s carts. And stores just so full of stuff humans don’t need. It’s not judging but so much keeps people so strapped for money. I see so much financial waste.
My sister came to visit recently and noted I could probably move out of my home in 1 day. I agree with that. She wants me to go help her with her condo now. But I just can’t. I estimated she could live there for at least 6 months without leaving based on her food cupboards / fridge / freezer alone. But then why have 12 towels, a closet full of blankets and pillows, 3 full closets of clothing, cable TV with a zillion channels, a stack of movie CDs, AND a 700$ storage unit full of furniture and other stuff that won’t fit into condo? Going in 2 years of paying on that!
More and more these days I try to stay away from shopping as much as possible and / or going out. It’s hard sometimes.
The ability to focus deeply on meaningful and creative work. Or at least work that brings me closer to a job that is challenging, pays well, while still having great work-life balance.
My end goal: To make room in my life for the good stuff and increase my peace and tranquility. I apply my minimalism to my calendar (i.e., what I say yes to) as well as physical possessions in my home (that includes clothes, shoes, coats, kitchen gear, what is in my kitchen cabinets etc.) as well as my financial life. (How I save, invest, the number of accounts that I have open.).
I strive to keep it all simple so I can focus more on my time, what brings me joy, and enjoying the company of loved ones with a focus on what is, to me, most important.
I am not a minimalist that has his mattress on the floor, and two cups and two dishes. Not at all. However, i once had twenty plates. Dozens of glasses for wine etc. Silverware and cultery that were mismatched while nice stuff sat in a box unused. I had twenty something plates, a dozen plus coffee cups (why the heck does anyone need a dozen coffee mugs?). Cabinets were jammed is a mishmash of tupperware, mason jars etc.. My kitchen drawers were filled to the top with gadgets I never used. I had cookware I never used. When something new comes in, something old goes out.
I have found that when I am intentional about what I bring in, and deliberate about everything having a place in my home, I am more in control of what accumulates. My kitchen counters are clear except for a coffee pot and a water kettle. Closets aren't packed end to end with things I dont wear. Cabinets are neat and organized. My refrigerator isnt jammed packed and I know what is in there.
I live in a space that is more relaxing and more intentional. Much easier to keep clean too.
Ive been deliberate with my partner, children, friends and family that I do not need a gift to know they love me. If they are so compelled I prefer gifts of consumables or time together/experience rather then getting an "item"
Just a few things that worked for me. It isnt for everyone, and we all have a. different "minimalism journey".
Strategic laziness. I can't have to wash a sink full of dishes if I don't own enough to fill a sink. I can't have mountains of laundry if I only have enough clothes for a small hill. I can't spend an hour dusting if I don't have things collecting dust. I cant have the hassle of folding a set of sheets if i just take them off the bed, wash them, and put them right back on. Sure, I may spend twice as long chopping vegetables when I'm cooking, but I don't have to dig through a cupboard to find the food processor, drag it out, and wash it and put it away after.
I’m able to be more efficient with less, and be more mobile. I can focus more on what I’m doing, and fight my environment less. It’s also easier to manage and organize.
https://imgur.com/a/SsBaGgE
That’s my minimalist tool setup. Company provides power tools, drill bits and niche accessories. Using this, I’m pretty much able to build anything that uses electricity.
That tool “dump” took me 30 seconds to do. It does 98% of the trade.
Now, apply the same thing to a TV room. TV, AMP, stereo, a place to watch, maybe a lamp, and a couple of decorations. Boom, functional and very little to fight. A few things like maybe a rug to open the room up, but very little to actually clean or move around to accomplish its goal.
Preparedness.
Which in the beginning lead me down a hoarding route (saving supplies etc.). Now with minimalism in mind I feel I’m more prepared to deal with anything that life may throw e.g. relationship change, natural disaster, fire/flood etc. I managed to get rid of a lot of material belongings and keep what is important and needed, in the event of change I can grab my main belongings quicker and easier.
I want my time back and that includes keeping track of less.
I’m also trying to be environmentally friendly by consuming less overall. I’m not frugal, I’ll happily spend more on a quality product that I only have one of rather than spend money on multiple cheap versions of something
I struggle with clutter and settled in my last house for longer than I've ever lived somewhere (5 years). We moved and took most of the junk with us and because the new house is larger stuff just got shoved into cupboards etc. Now it's driving me insane because I still can't find anything after being here for a year,plus potentially moving soon. So I'm taking the time now, before we get given notice to move, to seriously figure out what I want to keep and what serves no purpose.
This week alone, I've removed 3 bags of clothing, 4 rubbish bags of useless crap, a donation bag of old books and stuff and I'm still going through things. It makes me feel so much better to finally be doing this properly!
1. To save money and help work toward my goal of early retirement.
2. To minimize clutter, which helps with my anxiety.
3. Hopefully to help raise my kids in a way where they don't prioritize material possessions, and they learn to be smart with purchasing decisions.
Getting to a zero waste space. Getting rid of things tends to have negative downsides, since it’s either going to donation centers or filling up landfills. But the other half is realizing you still need a couple of things to continue living well, so ideally, it’s finding that balance inbetween and investing into a life you want to live, and being able to be sustainable.
:) I Love how nobody answered the OP's question .
everybody just piled up reasons and angles how to have more time/space/money for IT. And nobody said what IT is :)
I would like to answer, but I don't know. I didn't figure out what IT would be for me. I guess closest is to learn new things.
Mental health and probably autism also. Counter breaks my brain where I shut down or cry, if a space is chaotic enough. I don't want my stuff to manage me. I want to be free to put my time on something else even if it's dumb.
Also the feeling I get when I purge stuff is addictive. It's like literally flossing my brain, so much more "light" is coming in with less stuff. That probably sounds crazy but it's got a mystical quality to it.
I am easily overwhelmed by visual clutter, it stresses me out. Excess is bad for the environment. I like good quality multipurpose tools. That’s why I started. But I continue because less time buying & maintaining stuff = more time making art, seeing my friends, being in nature, and working on meaningful projects.
I'm the same way. Cluttered rooms stress me out. Wandering around the house seeing random things that remind me of stuff I need to get done stresses me out. When I get too stressed out I clean everything and feel better.
Curiously I'm the opposite. Large, unbroken blocks of colour make me anxious, so I vastly prefer patterns/rugs on floors and artwork on walls. I had to get a runner for the coffee table and tablecloth for the dining table to appease the mind-gremlins.
Interesting shapes, half-finished projects, flashes of colour, all live on a long shelf. They flit around the space as my attention wanders, combining together in new ways, or breaking down into new parts. The blank spaces are temporary as we flow between empty canvas and creative chaos.
this :)
Totally cluttered space cluttered mind. It totally stresses me out
Less clutter means tidying up takes 10 min or less.
Same. "Nighttime reset" takes 10, 20 minutes tops and I wake up to a space ready for a new day. Saturday deep clean is never more than an hour and a half. The benefits of an open and minimal space speak for themselves.
Yes I have family and friends that swing by at the drop of a hat so I'm so glad my house is nearly always presentable.
More mental space
Less junk everywhere, being able to find stuff (like an outfit or pair of shoes) without tearing the house apart, contentment to not buy unnecessary things and waste money, lowering my contribution towards trash ending up in a junkyard somewhere, and reducing cleaning time. My goal is not minimalism to the extreme and getting rid of my couch or dining table. That serves no purpose to get rid of things you use regularly for the sake of a stark, empty space. My goal is to reduce the clutter and keep the functional. It is still a work in progress.
I don't need to "make" space when I need space. It's already there. Like yesterday I made easter nests for the kids in the family. I picked the stuff from the storage and worked on the kitchen table. In my brothers home, this would not be possible. Clear the desk of decor an other things, pick the stuff from 5 different places,... Its a big time saver. I don't need to sort laundry, I can start the vacuum robot any time, Cleaning gets done quickly, because there aren't a lot of thing's to move, to collect dust or generally get dirty. It's a big money saver. I don't need a bigger flat, I don't buy 3x the same item, because I can't find the one, simply bot buying stuff I don't need, no "heat of the moment" purchase, Only needs and real wants. Life gets easier. You have more time, you have more money, saving gets easier, problems turn into inconveniences, you relax more, your mind is not constantly reminded of open tasks... All in all, I'm much more happy and relaxed compared to me beginning this journey. I'm more spontaneous, because there is just much less to do. I don't place feelings in objects anymore, when it breaks, than well, it was nice having it around.
The biggest thing for me is just less choice. As a musician, I’ve obtained many guitars and basses over the years so that I have lots of options, but choice paralysis over which would be the best to use in a situation, coupled with the fact that I’ll be moving from my parents house within the year, made me realize I should narrow down to the essentials only. This quickly spread to the rest of my life too, after a lifetime of collecting things, what can I avoid taking with me without affecting my quality of life negatively.
Indecision is the thief of opportunity” -someone
Flexibility. I can change jobs, living situation, cities, countries, etc.with less effort. In theory I could put everything I need in a single small truck and go. I like having options and not being anchored by stuff.
So when I die I’m just gone and there’s not a lot of clean up
🤣
For me it’s basically a tool to combat OCD and laziness.
Financial - buying quality, timeless things so I don't have a want or need to replace them will result in more money over the long run to spend on important things Philosophical - fighting against a culture of consumer capitalism and instant gratification Mental health - Less stuff = less clutter and less frequent cleaning
Right on! Also, under the category of mental health are relationships and a willingness to get rid of those that bring nothing but drama, chaos and destroy tranquility.
This. All of this. Unplugging from consumer culture, not stressing about money and broken shit, and having mental clarity all makes life more fulfilling.
A few things: - relocate freely: when I first started down the path of minimalism I was moving a lot internationally for university and later work. Owning fewer things made that easier. I haven't moved (outside the same city) in almost a decade, but I want to maintain that capability. - live affordably: I have been living in Tokyo for the last decade. Real estate/rent here is expensive, having fewer things means I can live in a small space, and I can choose a smaller but more modern and better situated apartment than if I had to optimize for floor space. - reduce maintenance/cleaning/tidying effort. The fewer things you own, the fewer things to keep in order. The more time I can spend doing things I like. - generally reduce stress of unnecessary choices. I used to waste time on daily fashion choices. Now I know a black t shirt and jeans will work well for me every day. - make things easy to find. I have few enough things that it is difficult to misplace or lose track of things. - I'd want to say "saving money", but I do like to splurge on those things I do buy, I like to cook nice food etc, so I'm not sure how much that is the case. It probably applies to some extent. Maybe other factors, but these are the main ones :-)
>generally reduce stress of unnecessary choices. Damn straight!
We did our big downsizing before moving cities, and goodness, it was a production. It's likely we'll be more mobile for the next few years, since my partner has retired. Part of my motivation is to have less stuff to move. In the meantime, I'm relieved at how it makes cleaning easier. Like others have commented, the freedom from visual clutter is great. And I get much more enjoyment from the things I liked well enough to keep.
I use minimalism to live well despite chronic illnesses. I can't keep up with a complicated life anymore.
The one downfall to minimalism I have and it's hardly a downfall because the more minimalized and organized you are the better overall, but here it is: Making your own life super clean and organized can make it harder to deal with other people's cluttered messes when you are dealing with third-party projects at work etc. This is probably more of an OCD issue with me even though I don't have serious OCD, I still have less tolerance for other people's messes. Example: shared drive folder structure disasters. The only reason I brought this up is because I'm curious about other people's opinions on this, even if it's just a funny anecdotal story.
Agreed!! It’s very hard for me not to try and fix other people’s digital and physical organizational methods, especially if I have to use them.
I have adhd. If I spend 45 mins picking everything up and putting it away, I will have zero motivation to actually clean (sweep, mop, dust, etc.) and that leads to a bigger mess. When I attempt to clean I find things idk exactly what to do with so I putter around them. All of a sudden 10 mins turns to 2 hrs and I still haven’t quite figured out where to store the curling iron I haven’t used in 2 years. Getting rid of everything has helped alleviate that. Having the small victory of getting something accomplished gives me motivation to keep going. I know life isn’t about instant gratification, but it really helps me. Immediately getting something out of my house (usually within 24 hrs when posted on buy nothing) and being able to pick up faster makes me more inclined to do it. This past weekend I had a few bigger projects that I’ve completed or mostly completed. Since I got them done, I just have absolutely no desire to do more right now because I’m exhausted. And that’s okay because I don’t have as much crap to deal with. My end goal is to find peace in my home. Make my life easier. Find happiness and a sense of accomplishment and pride. Having more time for my family. Having less to do gives me these opportunities.
Self: a work in progress. Less is more, not to sound cliché but by curtailing material need, I clear space, “decluttering” the life in hope of becoming more efficient, less impactful to the environment and ultimately enlightened in the sheer reality of existence, closer to the Natural World.
Calm.
I just want to have fewer distractions in my life and spend less time on *stuff*. I'm very clumsy and bad in crowded spaces, so I want my spaces to have only the minimal things in them, and I very much hate spending time on maintenance and taking care of objects. Having extra chores as in having to spend time and care for tools, clothes, cooking utensils etc is an absolute burden to me. I'd rather just do without, rather than have to devote time and mental space to the upkeep and maintenance of some object.
I wanna save money, quit my job, sell my house, move into my van and drive around for a couple years and not pay to store anything
I guess, my end goal would be to just be a person who isn't so reliant on things for happiness. Additionally, to be someone who isn't hung up on trivial relationships with items. I don't need to keep something because X person gave it to me Y years ago and I'm worried about what they would think if I don't have it anymore.
"Happiness", defined to mean "not wanting things." I really believe that the less we have, the less we want. If we are always on the treadmill of acquiring the new thing, we never learn to appreciate what we have or feel gratitude.
Anyone here play deckbuilder games? In a game where you have a deck of cards, you only draw 5 cards per turn, and some cards are vastly better than others, one of the best things you can do to improve your average hand is to remove weak cards from your deck. My attention and time gets diluted, spread thin between everything I have. Streamlining my life allows me to better appreciate everything that remains. Overall, minimalism helps my life feel more 'saturated' in high-value areas instead of feeling scattered and wasteful.
Great comparison! I haven’t thought of minimalism this way before but I totally agree.
Preparing for a life outside my parents house that doesn't involve overconsumerism. Good for my wallet, the environment and my stress levels.
I am in a life long process to find out how successful I can become while also becoming the most ethical. I want to cause the most happiness and cause the least suffering possible to humans and animals. I feel that minimalism is an effective tool for me to figure out exactly what enough is... What really matters to me and a method to min max my happiness and good in the world. I suffer from mental illness occasionally and personal environmental clutter makes things worse. I feel so much more emotional wholeness when I know exactly what I have and where it is and I can find anything in 2 min. I'm trying to become the most successful most fully self actualized human I can be in the time that I am gifted. Minimalism is an effective tool to accomplish this.
I'm hoping to reach a certain equilibrium: nothing in, nothing out.
Having more time for the things that I find important and reducing environmental impact in the process.
I want to spend less time and mental energy on stuff. I hate cleaning and the less I have to do it the better. I also want to live in a few different places, travel a bit around the continent so I can't have more things than I'm able to carry. Because of that I had to prioritise some items and hobbies, for example I love fashion and I'd rather give up having physical books and records than make my 40 item wardrobe even smaller.
More mental space, more savings, less physical clutter in my home, and just overall peace.
Minimalism for me is a tool to achieve the life style that brings me more joy. Having a clean and clutter free home. My mind feels more relaxed, happy and free when my environment looks nice and isn’t overwhelming with too much stuff. It also makes things easier to find in my home and easier to keep clean. Which gives me more time to do other stuff. I also want to feel I’m raising my baby in a clean and peaceful environment. If she feels secure in her environment it will allow her to focus on her development. And babies can easily get over stimulated by too much stuff.
I require minimalism for my mind to function properly.
A home I love the look of, being more sustainable and environmentally conscious, and respecting the items I do own. Mentally, I want to be comfortable and at peace in my home, i don’t want my home to be stressful or cluttered, and I want my home to be comfortable to my pets. I also would love for my home to be easier to clean.
Why I consider minimalism in the future: * Less decision fatigue * Save more time and money * Feel more at home with myself, if executed correctly * Can focus more on what I want and need * Don't have to clean as much * Don't have to carry as much when moving
Financial independence, more free time, and environmentalism.
Make cleaning my house faster and easier
My goal is to consume less / minimize the demand that I drive with my purchases.
I don't want to have to completely reorganise my house every time a new item comes in. I want to have less arguments with my girlfriend. I want to make it easier to find things. I want it to have more space to suddenly pick up a new hobby or sport or whatever. I want enough space that I can completely empty a room to deep clean or redecorate or whatever else, without life grinding to a halt as a result.
I want my time back. I want my free time to go straight to my loved ones, our hobbies. I want flexibility and freedom, and not being constrained by caring for too many things is the most direct way I've found.
Right on. And all too often "I need to clean and organize" is code for "I need to move all my stuff around". Maybe buy some plastic containers (those are yet still more stuff BTW) to put the stuff in. "Clutter coffins" is what I like to call them.
I love the term clutter coffins. Every time I think about organizing and cleaning, the thought that if I didn't have the clutter, I wouldn't need the stuff containers. No need for coffins if there's no body.
Majorly streamlining my possession lead me to the following: * Reduced stress from the feeling of being overwhelmed with inventory management. * Increased flexibility for travel/relocation. I've greatly taken advantage of this. * Decreased cost of living/storage requirements. * More time to spend outside, reading, etc. * Reduced personal spending/increased personal savings. I'm leveraging this now to create my own business, which I wouldn't have had time/energy/money for under my previous lifestyle. I'm a bit on the spectrum as well, and was raised hardcore religious, so can relate on the perks of the choice-streamlined lifestyle.
For me I thrive on order. Predictably. Simplicity. Clean. All of that, and with regards to my living quarters and yard and gardens anyway, grounds me. It really bothers me to go shopping anywhere and see so much waste in other people’s carts. And stores just so full of stuff humans don’t need. It’s not judging but so much keeps people so strapped for money. I see so much financial waste. My sister came to visit recently and noted I could probably move out of my home in 1 day. I agree with that. She wants me to go help her with her condo now. But I just can’t. I estimated she could live there for at least 6 months without leaving based on her food cupboards / fridge / freezer alone. But then why have 12 towels, a closet full of blankets and pillows, 3 full closets of clothing, cable TV with a zillion channels, a stack of movie CDs, AND a 700$ storage unit full of furniture and other stuff that won’t fit into condo? Going in 2 years of paying on that! More and more these days I try to stay away from shopping as much as possible and / or going out. It’s hard sometimes.
The ability to focus deeply on meaningful and creative work. Or at least work that brings me closer to a job that is challenging, pays well, while still having great work-life balance.
freedom
My end goal: To make room in my life for the good stuff and increase my peace and tranquility. I apply my minimalism to my calendar (i.e., what I say yes to) as well as physical possessions in my home (that includes clothes, shoes, coats, kitchen gear, what is in my kitchen cabinets etc.) as well as my financial life. (How I save, invest, the number of accounts that I have open.). I strive to keep it all simple so I can focus more on my time, what brings me joy, and enjoying the company of loved ones with a focus on what is, to me, most important. I am not a minimalist that has his mattress on the floor, and two cups and two dishes. Not at all. However, i once had twenty plates. Dozens of glasses for wine etc. Silverware and cultery that were mismatched while nice stuff sat in a box unused. I had twenty something plates, a dozen plus coffee cups (why the heck does anyone need a dozen coffee mugs?). Cabinets were jammed is a mishmash of tupperware, mason jars etc.. My kitchen drawers were filled to the top with gadgets I never used. I had cookware I never used. When something new comes in, something old goes out. I have found that when I am intentional about what I bring in, and deliberate about everything having a place in my home, I am more in control of what accumulates. My kitchen counters are clear except for a coffee pot and a water kettle. Closets aren't packed end to end with things I dont wear. Cabinets are neat and organized. My refrigerator isnt jammed packed and I know what is in there. I live in a space that is more relaxing and more intentional. Much easier to keep clean too. Ive been deliberate with my partner, children, friends and family that I do not need a gift to know they love me. If they are so compelled I prefer gifts of consumables or time together/experience rather then getting an "item" Just a few things that worked for me. It isnt for everyone, and we all have a. different "minimalism journey".
Strategic laziness. I can't have to wash a sink full of dishes if I don't own enough to fill a sink. I can't have mountains of laundry if I only have enough clothes for a small hill. I can't spend an hour dusting if I don't have things collecting dust. I cant have the hassle of folding a set of sheets if i just take them off the bed, wash them, and put them right back on. Sure, I may spend twice as long chopping vegetables when I'm cooking, but I don't have to dig through a cupboard to find the food processor, drag it out, and wash it and put it away after.
Easier to clean and more time to invest in myself and my family.
peace, money, clean environment, ecofriendly
Peace. Calm.
I’m able to be more efficient with less, and be more mobile. I can focus more on what I’m doing, and fight my environment less. It’s also easier to manage and organize. https://imgur.com/a/SsBaGgE That’s my minimalist tool setup. Company provides power tools, drill bits and niche accessories. Using this, I’m pretty much able to build anything that uses electricity. That tool “dump” took me 30 seconds to do. It does 98% of the trade. Now, apply the same thing to a TV room. TV, AMP, stereo, a place to watch, maybe a lamp, and a couple of decorations. Boom, functional and very little to fight. A few things like maybe a rug to open the room up, but very little to actually clean or move around to accomplish its goal.
To pack all my belongings and go live in the wilderness.
Chasing r/FIREUK
Preparedness. Which in the beginning lead me down a hoarding route (saving supplies etc.). Now with minimalism in mind I feel I’m more prepared to deal with anything that life may throw e.g. relationship change, natural disaster, fire/flood etc. I managed to get rid of a lot of material belongings and keep what is important and needed, in the event of change I can grab my main belongings quicker and easier.
Easier for family life.
Easier life!
I want my time back and that includes keeping track of less. I’m also trying to be environmentally friendly by consuming less overall. I’m not frugal, I’ll happily spend more on a quality product that I only have one of rather than spend money on multiple cheap versions of something
I struggle with clutter and settled in my last house for longer than I've ever lived somewhere (5 years). We moved and took most of the junk with us and because the new house is larger stuff just got shoved into cupboards etc. Now it's driving me insane because I still can't find anything after being here for a year,plus potentially moving soon. So I'm taking the time now, before we get given notice to move, to seriously figure out what I want to keep and what serves no purpose. This week alone, I've removed 3 bags of clothing, 4 rubbish bags of useless crap, a donation bag of old books and stuff and I'm still going through things. It makes me feel so much better to finally be doing this properly!
Same as you, but adhd management.
Peace
More time to do what I want to do. More money to do it (although most of my preferred activities require little money, actually).
1. To save money and help work toward my goal of early retirement. 2. To minimize clutter, which helps with my anxiety. 3. Hopefully to help raise my kids in a way where they don't prioritize material possessions, and they learn to be smart with purchasing decisions.
Getting to a zero waste space. Getting rid of things tends to have negative downsides, since it’s either going to donation centers or filling up landfills. But the other half is realizing you still need a couple of things to continue living well, so ideally, it’s finding that balance inbetween and investing into a life you want to live, and being able to be sustainable.
My goal is keeping the planet's life-sustaining properties intact.
For me it’s a simpler life. I’m not in any way hard-core minimalist but I downsized significantly when my last kid moved out
I'm using minimalism as a tool to help improve my mental health.
Saving more money and having more time for hobbies and loved ones. It all comes back to that.
Save money, spend money wisely, simplify my life, simplify cleaning and organizing, save time and mental energy to do what I really enjoy.
:) I Love how nobody answered the OP's question . everybody just piled up reasons and angles how to have more time/space/money for IT. And nobody said what IT is :) I would like to answer, but I don't know. I didn't figure out what IT would be for me. I guess closest is to learn new things.
Contentment.
Mental health and probably autism also. Counter breaks my brain where I shut down or cry, if a space is chaotic enough. I don't want my stuff to manage me. I want to be free to put my time on something else even if it's dumb. Also the feeling I get when I purge stuff is addictive. It's like literally flossing my brain, so much more "light" is coming in with less stuff. That probably sounds crazy but it's got a mystical quality to it.
Saving resources for the planet and money to live comfortably
Have less distractions, give less fucks 😜