The art of living a content life with few material possessions has become all the rage in the modern world. The fact that your favorite YouTubers and content creators propagate this rather radical movement fuels the enigma around it.
Everywhere, pictures of a white wall with a piece of furniture and a green plant on it stare back as if challenging you. The invasive phenomenon, such as fear of missing out, or FOMO, as it is lovingly called, becomes a reality that becomes harder to shake off.
But have you ever considered whether this way of living with very little, or minimalism, is the right lifestyle for you? Although it might look effortless and even glamorous from the outside, minimalism requires making a radical change in your way of living.
If you have been on the fence about becoming a minimalist, this post will hopefully be the decisive factor in your struggle. Let’s begin.
1. Consider your current lifestyle
It goes without saying that no two individuals have the same lifestyle. Two people might have a similar one, but it is never the same. Your way of living is uniquely different from everyone else.
Before you embark on the journey of minimalistic living, evaluate crucial aspects of your life. These include your job, your living arrangements, and where you are in life.
Some jobs and industries inherently require their practitioners to work with a lot of material possessions. If you are in the fashion industry or any other creative field, consider if this lifestyle will align with your job without compromising your performance.
Another important thing you need to consider is your living arrangements and whether you live with a partner and kids. If so, does your partner also appreciate the same lifestyle? Even if he or she doesn’t, do they respect your choice of a minimalist lifestyle?
2. Your attitude and personality traits
Some of us have a more laid back attitude than others, these individuals usually have a carefree outlook. They are also the ones that can get away with not being very particular about where they place their things or how their rooms are furnished and organized. They can have a pile of clothes on the sofa, and they know just where that top they want to wear is.
If you are one of these carefree spirits, minimalism may not be the right lifestyle for you. Because you are not fastidious about organizing your possessions regularly and being meticulous with where you place your belongings, attempting this lifestyle can be quite stressful and challenging. And that defeats the real meaning of minimalism.
On the other hand, if you love to organize things around your home, minimalism might be perfect for you. Your gift of paying attention to the little details and structuring your life in a particular way can be a convenient attribute you can combine with this way of living.
3. Are you a money spender or a saver?
Everyone loves to have a nice balance in their bank accounts. But how many of us actually practice saving? Some of us love to spend more than others, and we can’t resist that new bag or shoes that calls out our names as we pass by them. It is no secret that there are a lot of items piled up inside our closets and homes in general.
And then there are those among us who are careful about their spending habits. They are very careful about impulsive purchases and keep saving their pennies. They’re able to not only apply for credit cards, but also use them responsibly by practicing caution and self-discipline. If you are in the category of a saver, a minimalist lifestyle can be your perfect match. You can resist your urges and have a firm hold over your spending behaviors, so you will not have a lot of problems transitioning into this lifestyle.
4. A cleaner vs. hoarder
This is not about questioning someone’s personal hygiene; however, some of us are cleaner than others and vice versa. Some individuals take joy and pride in their cleaning rituals. Whether it is looking after the entire home, a part of a house, or even at work, they are meticulous with tidying and cleaning. If you are one of these individuals, a minimalist lifestyle is a match made in heaven.
However, if the idea of cleaning and tidying around the house makes you feel miserable, then it is better to bid farewell to minimalism. You clearly love to hold on to your t-shirts from six years ago and don’t mind that your living space is full of materials and clothes and gadgets. It may seem like a mess to someone else, but you know exactly where to find your keys amongst the mountain of books and gadgets on the table.
5. Experiences over materials
In many ways, millennials are the least concerned about material possessions. But the opposite is also true to a large extent.
If you are someone who cherishes experience over material possessions, living a minimalist way of life will be a piece of cake for you. Irrespective of whether you go places or visit people, the experience of being in the moment holds more value for you, so you will not have any trouble living this lifestyle.
However, if you are someone who finds that close connection with materials as well as people and places, minimalism is not the ideal way of living. Your innate desire to hold on to things will be a huge deterrent, and you will either have a hard time adapting to this lifestyle or be miserable.
The very essence of minimalism is contenting with what you have and what you experience. So, if giving up on your connection with material possessions upsets you, it makes no sense to practice it.
Final thoughts
As much as it may sound appealing, minimalism requires making a drastic change in your life. This is especially true if you are someone who cannot function without material possessions. Minimalism is all about being happy where you are with what you have or don’t have.
