Modern society is consumption oriented. With trends, advertisements and social media influencers, humans find themselves trapped in buying plenty of goods that will probably end up left on the shelf.
Yet, there's a concept that might be a helpful solution : minimalism . It's not a brand new one since it saw the light in the 1960s and early 1970s. And nowadays more and more people are adapting it as a lifestyle. It's basically a simple way of living where you declutter anything useless to you and purchase your needs only.
Everything in life has its benefits and its drawbacks. And minimalism is no different. Here's some ways this concept can be helpful.
1- less clutter, more organization
Since you sell, throw or donate everything you don't need, the space becomes cleaner and clearer. You won't feel overwhelmed anymore by that box of '' this didn't work but it's too expensive to throw''products or that pile of jeans u wore once or twice. Also, having less stuff will make the cleaning process easier and faster. Everyone's dream, i know.
2- Mother nature loves it
When you don't get fooled by the sales, and don't buy a bunch of useless items just because it had 40%off, you're doing the environment a favor. Most of the popular and affordable brands such as zara, bershka, h&m are producing fast fashion. They have a brand new collection every couple of weeks following and sometimes creating "trends".
Fast fashion is the second most polluting industry on Earth, right after oil. In order to reduce the costs and fasten the process of production, they neglect any environmental matters. It's not about totally boycotting them but shopping smarter will do the job. (if you wish to know more about fast fashion we will dedicate a whole article to the subject)
3- Focus on what you love
When you get rid of the unnecessary, your focus is shifted to the important. You find yourself surrounded by what your heart truly love. Minimalism is about leaving space for what matters not having less. Joshua Becker said:” Minimalism isn't about removing the things you love. It's about removing the things that distract you from the things you love”.
Even though, less is more as goes the old saying, people experience a couple of troubles during this journey. Here's some examples and how to get over them.
1- Beginning ain't that easy
It's hard to adapt to this lifestyle at first especially when you're sharing your space with your family, partner or roommates. That's why taking time to educate your surroundings is crucial.
2- Competitiveness & perfectionism
Some people turn this decluttering process into a competition.They compare their own and unique journey to others. "if i own only 30 objects instead of 45, i will be minimalist enough". Well my friend there's no such thing. Minimalism isn't a box you need to fit in. Go at your own pace, ditch your perfectionism and enjoy the journey.
However, minimalism goes further than things, you can get rid of toxic friends, unfollow anyone that doesn't match your vibe on social media and way more. Minimalism can be in every aspect of your life. Despite its cons, it's still a great lifestyle that anyone can apply at different levels in their lives for a clearer mind and space.
Arij Ouechtati
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