I was born in the US, a country where excess is the norm. You can buy a drink at a gas station soda fountain that is bigger than your stomach. Automobiles such as Hummers and SUVS get awful gas mileage and are bad for the environment, but they make the person driving them look affluent. Restaurant portions meant to feed one could feed a whole family in a third world country. Not to mention, everyone's busy, working stressful jobs, in order to make money needed to buy expensive things: the latest smartphone, the newest fashions. It's important to HAVE. Everyone seems to be afflicted with the need to HAVE, and if you don't, well, you're just a friendless loser going nowhere in life.
However, is all this HAVING really making anyone happy? Of course not. More people are being diagnosed with anxiety and depression. Stress can take years off your lifespan because chronic exposure to stress hormones damages body tissues. But instead of handing over your hard-earned money for anti-depression medication, why not try a different approach to life? By this, I mean living minimally. Living a minimalist life means getting rid of all unnecessary clutter and spending more time with the people that you love.
"But, Matti!" you protest. "Do you expect me to live out of a suitcase or something? And I can't get rid of my iPhone, I'm addicted to it." First of all, you can still live in a your fancy loft and be a minimalist. Heck, you can still have an iPhone and be a minimalist. But that pile of stuff that you have in your closet that you barely look at, and stresses you out, has to go. That huge credit card bill, car payment, cable bill? Those can go too. Below, a few simple steps to making your life simpler:
1) Write out a list of everything you own. Seriously, everything. But wait, you can't name everything? That right there is a sign you have too much. Once this list is done (this is the hardest part) start thinking of everything you can do without. Give away those extra clothes to charity, and sell that unwanted furniture on Craiglist. If you have extra canned food cluttering up your pantry, donate it to a local food bank and make a needy family in your area happy.
2) Removing clutter from your life also means removing unnecessary people as well. We all have at least one "friend" who's a toxic person, brings you down, constantly whines about how much their life sucks or needs you to bail them out all the time. If having these people around decreases your quality of life, then you probably should end the friendship. If this person is someone you rarely see anyway, then it may be as simple as deleting them from your Facebook page, phone contacts, unfollowing on Twitter, etc. If this person is someone you consider a close friend or even a family member, this can be a bit more complicated. See this article for help.
3) Stop going out to eat, ordering takeaway, and relying on processed food all the time. It's expensive, unhealthy and unnecessary. When we get back from work or school, we are often so tired and drained that we just want to pop something in the microwave, or pick up the phone to order pizza. However, eating this way all the time is bad for both health and wallet. Find one day a week where you aren't doing anything and make a large batch of something simple: soup, chili, pinto beans, whatever tickles your fancy and freeze it. That way, you'll have a week's worth of dinners and won't be tempted to order out. Pack lunches for work (think stuff like sandwiches, pitas, leftovers). Have a simple, but nutritious breakfast, such as a smoothie, whole-grain cereal, or homemade granola.
4) Learn how to be alone. This can be hard for some people, but is very worth it! Spend this time doing something you love: learning a new instrument or skill, meditating, communing with God (if you're religious), writing in a diary or writing a letter to a loved one. Sometimes it is best to spend a day in quiet solitude than having a shopping spree or visiting an amusement park. Take social media "fasts" and disconnect from the Internet for awhile (even if it's just for a few hours), turn off your phone and television. A long, solo walk or hike can also be beneficial and stress-relieving.
5) Reduce your overall consumption and avoid advertising as much as possible. Get AdBlock for your web browser (go here for a free download) to get rid of annoying ads.Cancel your subscriptions to magazines that are mostly ads and check out their online versions. Have a gas guzzling car? If you can't get rid of it, start using it less. Carpool with friends, ride the bus, ride your bike, or even walk. Due for a cell phone upgrade? Consider getting a prepaid, emergency-only cell phone instead or trading in your smartphone for something simpler. Are you a fashion lover? Instead of shelling out big cash for the latest haute couture items, check out thrift stores and resale shops.
I have been living minimally for about 4 years now. At first it was due to necessity, but now it is out of choice. I do not own a car, a cell phone, or a single piece of furniture. The majority of my possessions are books and clothes. Now, I am not saying that this is for everyone, but it works for me. Most of us can take at least some of the steps listed above. Even doing something as small as getting rid of cable and only having basic TV channels will make a huge difference.
Want to learn more about living minimally? Visit: http://unclutterer.com/ and zenhabits.net
Peace,
M.
