Many years ago, a friend told me a bit about what he called ‘Voluntary Simplicity’. The idea struck a nerve with me. Living simply to consume less was an interesting concept but seemed out of reach in the consumer driven world we live in.

It was not until recently that I came across the idea again, this time referred to as Minimalism. The basic idea was the same but it also suggested getting rid of any possessions that were not contributing to your life in a positive way. With so much information now available online on the subject, I thought I would give it a go. I have found it be quite liberating.

Here are a few benefits of Minimalism:

• If you spend less money on things you don’t need, you’ll have more for the things you do need and more for life experiences like holidays. Remember, you can’t take it with you when you die.
• Fewer storage problems. We’ve all said at one time or another “No matter how big the shed is, it will never be big enough”. We just tend to stuff more stuff in!
• Having less items in your home, gives a sense of calmness and control, and it’s easier and faster to clean and keep tidy.
• Having fewer items in drawers and cupboards makes it easier to find things.
• Not having to work long days and weeks to pay for all those material things you think you need, that you probably don’t get much time to use, because you are so busy working to pay for them! That means more time for activities that are truly important.

Here are a few ideas to get started on releasing possessions you don’t need:

• Get rid of double ups. How many potato mashers or can openers do you really need! Probably only one.
• Simplifying your wardrobe. At the end of each season, if you haven’t worn it, donate it.
• If I come across an item that I want to remember but not keep, I take a photo before it is passed on for others to enjoy.
• Get rid of cheap items that you MAY need one day. If it’s not expensive to replace, pass it on to someone who needs it now. Don’t let it take up precious room for a MAYBE day.

Here are a few tips on acquiring less:

• Simply stop making purchases for more things you don’t really need. Choose only items that will enrich your life.
• If you have any hesitation in deciding to purchase something, walk away. Wait a day and if it feels right, for the right reasons, go back and buy it.
• Be brutally honest with yourself when purchasing new items. Ask yourself, will this item enrich my life long term or is it an impulse buy.
• Think about how else you could use the money you are about to spend.
• Ask friends and family not to buy you gifts you don’t really need, instead, celebrate occasions by going out for a meal and spending quality time with them. There are more ways to show someone you love them other than with gifts.
• Can I afford it? Not just monetary wise but lifestyle wise. How much time and money will it take to store, clean, care for the item and is it worth it.
• Am I buying this for just me, or to impress others? Never buy to impress others and ‘Keep up with the Jones’, it’s a fruitless pursuit.
• Don’t hang on to family treasures until they are distributed after your life is over. Much better to give some away now, that way, things will go to whom you wish and you will be able to share with them the history behind the item. This is something my Grandma delighted in doing.

These are just a few ideas. There is much for info at www.becomingminimalist.com and www.bemorewithless.com two of my favourite websites for minimalism.

Sometimes, decisions can be difficult though. I got rid of some home wares items as I had quite a collection but I found it difficult to part with much. I realised that home decorating is one of my hobbies and I regularly change these items to give a room a new feel. When I realised that I do this for myself and family, and not to impress anyone else, I found it easier to work out what to give to charity and what to keep. Understanding why you have trouble parting with something, leads to easier decision making.

Take recipe books. I’m not much of a chef but I had accumulated so many books and pages torn from magazines with recipes I mostly had never tried. You can pretty much Google and find every recipe imaginable online. So recently I went through my recipe collection and gave a lot to charity or the recycling. I passed on quite a lot but I kept the “Good Housekeeping’s COOKERY Compendium” that belonged to my mother. It holds many fond memories of baking with my mum as a youngster from pictures, recipes and just the look of the outside of the book. It was always a sign of fun to come if the book came down from its usual spot on the bookshelf. So this book as taken pride of place on my bookshelf in my study.

It is an ongoing process that I don’t think will ever really end as our lives constantly change and things that are important to me now, may one day not be.

I feel it is a very individual process also, and there really are no steadfast rules. Just do what feels right for you. Start small, maybe a single drawer or cupboard and go from there. You may find it quite satisfying and uplifting and you may feel like you want to do more.

Just remember to be mindful in all that you acquire and all that you give away.

 

Minimalism is not that you should own nothing

But that nothing should own you

– Becoming Minimalist.