What Does Minimalism Mean To Me?

Picture this. I’m sitting in a lawn chair on my back porch starring across the sky, breathing in the fresh air, tapping my fingers rhythmically atop the arm rests trying desperately to find a moment of peace in my chaotic routine I call life. In the distance I spot a family of geese flying effortlessly across the clouds & I yearn to be as free as them. I had no idea bagging up a few old belongings & hauling them to my local donation bin would be the answer to my problems. And here I am six years later living weightless & intentional just like the geese in the sky.

Everyone’s journey to minimalism looks a bit different. Each individual’s “why” is always so fascinating to me. So, I decided to venture through the minimalist community on social media & ask others who live this more simple life the question, “what does minimalism mean to you?” As some of you have followed my blog for a while, you know my simple living journey began in 2017 when we were clearing out my Nana’s home after she passed away. I took the Swedish Death Cleaning approach & discovered how much clutter we leave behind for others to deal with. And it helped me realize the true importance to life which are experiences & relationships with others & ourselves. Since then, I’ve developed a healthier outlook on consumerism & “stuff”. It started out with donating a few bags of clothing to now living presently in the moment & cherishing the smaller moments as well as the grander ones. Minimalism saved my life. And once you cut through the service, it becomes far more than just getting rid of “stuff.” And after hearing what other minimalists have to say about the lifestyle, I’d say it’s worth trying. Here’s why:

Minimalism Get’s You Hooked

“I started minimalism in 2018 after coming across a YouTube video that resonated with me and my lifestyle at the time. I knew my clutter was affecting my life but I didn’t know how to take control over it, it was controlling me. I started decluttering, as many do as their first step to minimalism and started seeing benefits in my life, relationships, finances, and more. I was hooked! I started to share my journey and tips on YouTube in hopes of inspiring others to simplify their lives. I want others to see the amazing benefits that I’ve experienced. 

Minimalism is a tool to help you live intentionally so that you find freedom. Freedom of overwhelm, debt, and guilt. That way you can focus on what actually matters in your life.”  – Mariella Merino

Minimalism Pulls Back The Layers of Your Life

“Simplifying my life was the way I reduced stress to feel and be healthier. For me, minimalism is removing the things that remove you from your life.”

“For me that has included everything from clutter, busyness and debt to being worried about what other people think of me and drinking alcohol. There is always another layer that surprises me.” – Courtney Carver of Be More With Less

Minimalism Helps You Focus on What Truly Matters

“For me, minimalism is a lifestyle choice that helps me to focus on what is most important in my life. It allows me to live more simply and with less stuff, which in turn gives me more time and energy to focus on things that matter most to me.” 

“I initially chose minimalism because I was feeling stressed and overwhelmed by the amount of things in my house. But over time, I came to realise that minimalism meant so much more than just decluttering my ‘stuff’. It’s about living more intentionally and being more present in the moment. It’s about finding joy in the simple things and letting go of anything that doesn’t bring me happiness. For me, minimalism has been an absolute game-changer and my future self thanks me for making the choice to live more minimally!” – Vourneen of The Plain and Simple Life

Minimalism Gives You Freedom

“I started my minimalism journey in 2019 not long after the death of my great-grandmother. I was in a tough place mentally and knew I needed to make some changes in my life but I wasn’t sure where to start. One night, I was looking for something to watch on Netflix and stumbled upon the Minimalism documentary. The message was so powerful that I felt it in my bones. I cried, praised God for the door he just opened, and never looked back.

Minimalism, to me, is freedom. I’m no longer trapped by societal expectations and norms and the discontentment they bring. I say yes to what makes me happy and no to obligations. I spend money and time on things that enhance the quality of my life. I live in a way that reflects my personal values. My journey hasn’t been easy and I still have a lifetime to go- but knowing that I am finally able to live a life that is free of nonsense and full of the important things is pure freedom.” – Callie Zimmerman

Minimalism Lightens The Load

“I’m fortunate to say that I grew up with a lot of stuff. As a kid, I was spoiled with tons of clothes, books, games, etc. From my childhood into my teen years, I thought that all of these things were what made me feel safe, comfortable, and happy. This changed when I moved out of Alaska at 19 last year. I lived in Washington for a few months, spontaneously lived in Argentina for 3, and bounced between Washington and Colorado before I made it back home to Anchorage.

I found that I was happier when all of my belongings fit into a suitcase and backpack! Traveling every few months, plus embracing a slower lifestyle abroad, inspired me to live minimally from that point forward. I define minimalism as embracing gratitude for and being content with what I already have, plus living a more sustainable and adventurous life. My blog, Brew and Let Be, was created to find other slow living and minimalistic travelers who want more adventure with less baggage.” Jordan of Brew & Let Be

Minimalism Allows Us To Let Go

“Minimalism for me means letting go of everyone else’s expectations in order to create a life aligned with my values. A life in which relationships and peace take precedence over material things and status. A life that offers freedom to explore and grow instead of suffocation by the physical, mental, and emotional clutter obtained for the approval of others. Minimalism means the freedom to create a meaningful life on my own terms. ” Kelsey of The Mediocre Minimalist

Minimalism Is Customizable To You

“To me minimalism is about consciously choosing what adds value to my life.
It’s letting go of things that do not align with my values to create more time & space for the things that do.

I think everyone’s minimalism journey, and everyone’s take on minimalism will look different. We all have different values so minimalism will naturally work for us in different ways. What I love about minimalism is you can apply it as little or as much as you like, to specific areas or all areas of your life, there’s no right or wrong!

Personally, discovering minimalism has provoked me to question what really matters most to me in life and provided a sense of clarity around my personal values. With this clarity I am now able to put my time and energy towards the things that matter most to me – for me those things are connection (making memories with those I love); health & wellbeing & personal growth. I also love the sense of calm I now feel within our home.” Mel of More Joy Less Things

Minimalism Allows Me To Breath & Have Peace

“I started my minimalism journey when I felt owned by my possessions. I wanted more time freedom, and more peace in my life. I started slowly decluttering things, and now I’ve been on this minimizing journey for two years. Minimalism gives me breathing room and time for what actually matters.” Sarah of Living Less

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To get a taste of more intentional living & minimalism content, please check out these lovely creators:

Mariella Merino: Youtuber & content creator who shares her journey through minimalism living & decluttering tips for the household. Youtube | Blog | Instagram

Courtney Carver: the creator & author behind Be More With Less and minimalist fashion challenge, Project 333. She has wrote books & content along many platforms to teach her readers what matters most in life. Twitter | Blog| Instagram

Vourneen: the creator of The Plain Simple Life where she helps overwhelmed women to regain control of their lives by shifting their mindset, decluttering and organizing, and introducing simple and sustainable living practices into their daily routines.  Twitter | Blog | Instagram

Callie: content creator who shares her journey to minimalism & simple living tips. Follow her on Instagram.

Jordan: content creator of Brew & Let Be & she helps young adults pursue slow travel and live a more mindful, minimalistic, and sustainable life. Follow me along to start your journey towards an eco-friendly, adventure-filled, and simple lifestyle! 

Kelsey: content creator of The Mediocre Minimalist who shares her tips & tricks on living more intentional & how it has improved her life along with wonderful ways to live more sustainably.

Mel: a content creator that has embraced minimalism to create space for what matters most, sharing her passions for organization, reading, wellbeing & travel.

Sarah: a content creator on Instagram & working wife and mom to one toddler and a fur baby. She is also late diagnosed combined type ADHD and minimalism has changed my life.