People are entering a minimalist lifestyle as they get tired of the consumerism and endless pursuit of “nonsense” that exists in today’s world. Many of us are spending more time at home than ever before in the COVID-19 era. It can be difficult and scary to live and work in the same place. 

Now it has been characterized by what we have and how much we have. 

Keeping up or racing with others has gradually become the standard measure for living. But being a minimalist can change that, because minimalism is gradually opening up more favorable conditions when working remotely during social distancing (Both for mental health). our god and productivity at work)

Minimalism LifeStyle: What is Minimalism?

Contrary to popular belief, minimalism does not involve completely purifying your living space. The goal is to remove from your home – and your entire lifestyle – items or habits that cause you stress. This not only involves getting rid of items that no longer serve your purpose, but also includes modifying other aspects of your life such as your diet and daily routine.

The core principle of this concept was born from the philosophy that life is much more productive when we have fewer objects around to distract us from the important things.

Minimalism contradicts materialism, instead it exists with a focus on quality rather than quantity.

For those who are struggling to find work-life balance – especially right now, when there are little or no boundaries between our workspaces and our living spaces – the Minimalism can help a lot.

The Benefits of Minimalist Lifestyle For Mental Health

A new article published in the Journal of Positive Psychology suggests that there are definite psychological advantages to following a philosophy of minimalism and voluntary simplicity. University of North Texas researchers Joshua Hook and his team searched the research literature for all the published studies on the topic. They found 23 such studies , and 80% of them found a link between minimalism and happiness . Overall, the majority of studies have found a positive relationship between minimalism lifestyle and happiness, the researchers said.

At the same time, they also argue that minimalism can also encourage people to focus on psychological needs such as autonomy, competence, some other related things like

1. Individual autonomy – This mainly refers to a sense of independence and individuality. People who practice minimalism are more likely to feel confident and comfortable with themselves as individuals.
2. Competence – Because minimalists are surrounded by fewer distractions , they are better able to focus on tasks that require their attention . This way, they’re more likely to participate in the important things going on in their lives, whether it’s personal relationships or work duties.
3. Awareness – This goes hand in hand with competence. As they pay attention to their surroundings, minimalists notice things they might not have before . This allows them to be more attentive and observant , which has been linked to increased productivity in many areas of life, including work and relationships.
4. Mental Space – Mostly, people who practice minimalism are more self-disciplined. Because instead of multitasking, they can focus their attention on one thing at a time , focusing their efforts on the task at hand without being distracted by unwanted objects or thoughts. necessary, needs.
5. Positive Emotions – In general, minimalists experience less stress and anxiety and more happiness and fulfillment . Because they don’t mind the minutiae of everyday life, they can break free from more meaningful routines and interactions.

Minimalism Lifestyle gives you the time, space, insight and freedom to find your true self and fully immerse yourself in everyday life.

So a minimalist is someone who wants to have less material things. They don’t want the latest electronics or a new piece of furniture. They are content with what they have and are not constantly yearning for more, or better and bigger things. They want to simplify their lives as much as possible.

To determine if you are a minimalist, before reading the 12 characteristics below try to learn more in our previous articles.

And here are 12 common traits that minimalists have, so you can decide if a minimalist lifestyle is right for you.

12 CHARACTERISTICS OF A MINIMALIST – A MINIMALIST

1. You are “locked in” by consumerism 

You don’t want the latest electronics, you don’t want a better car.

You want only what you really need , and you understand the difference between those needs and wants .

That doesn’t mean you don’t want to buy anything, but you should be very careful about what you decide to buy .

2. A messy house stresses you out.

You want to have as few possessions as possible , and your house is not filled with things that hold no value.

When your house is cluttered, and items are left all over, you feel stressed and anxious.

You keep your belongings in order, and everything has a purpose.

You get rid of things you absolutely don’t need, and you have a conscience about what you bring into your home.

3. You want to be more satisfied with what you have.

You are content with what you have, but you want to strive for daily satisfaction.

You realize that you don’t need more to be at peace and content.

You tend to appreciate what you have and know you don’t need more.

You don’t need the latest iPhone and you acknowledge that your current phone serves its purpose well.

You see the latest 80-inch Smart TV and you know your 42-inch TV works just as well.

You want to find satisfaction in the little and big things in life.

4. You teach your child the difference between wants and needs.

Your child wants the latest gadgets and toys. They want what their friends have and what they see on TV.

You explain to them that they receive their toys on their birthdays and holidays and say that a new toy can be nice, but after a short time it becomes an old toy. , and then they will want more.

You teach them to appreciate the toys they have and be patient about buying new ones.

You explain needs, such as food, clothing, and shelter, and how it is essential to meet those needs.

Toys, electronics, and games are desirable, and they are less important to have.

They need to know that some desires are acceptable as long as they don’t overwhelm their thoughts and minds.

Teaching them to be a minimalist is very important to you.

5. Being too busy with schedules makes you stressed

You like to lead a quiet and slow life. You don’t want to always run away.

You like to keep a flexible schedule, and you hate the feeling that there isn’t enough time in the day.

Keeping to a tight schedule, constantly worries you because you just want that slow life.

6. You hate it when it takes so long to clean the house

The more stuff you have, the harder it is to keep it clean and tidy.

You hate running around, trying to keep everything in its place.

Keeping fewer items around the house makes your job a lot easier, and the less you have, the less you’ll have to pick up later.

7. You are willing to go without everything

You don’t need the latest phone, even if you might want it. But of course, you know you don’t need it.

You see the latest outfit in the store, and you like it, but you think about the clothes in your closet, and you know that it’s not necessary to buy at the moment.

You know you’ll be happier with fewer clothes, which means less laundry and less work. You feel at peace in your decision not to buy it.

8. You feel like there’s never enough time in a day.

You hate being busy, and you want to complete the assigned projects for the day.

Having downtime is essential for you, and when there is always something to do, you feel overwhelmed.

You like being organized and following a schedule, but you don’t like your schedule being jammed with activities to complete.

9. Wasting time makes you frustrated

You try to be intentional with your timing. You like to do what needs to be done, and you like to spend your time wisely.

Wasting time on things that are not important to you makes you very frustrated.

There are many things that take up our time. Having to dust off sundries and have to move things around… Takes up extra time.

Having a full schedule takes time for the important and meaningful things to get done.

You value family time over possessions and endless activities.

Make time for meaningful activities that make you happy and satisfied.

10. You live for today.

You don’t linger in the past, and flashbacks don’t take up much of your time.

Living for today consists in not holding on to too much affection.

You keep the essentials, but you leave room for everything for the time being.

Removing excess clutter from the past will help you focus and focus on the things that matter right now and become the minimalist you want to be.

12. Minimalist people spend “less money”.

By not having everything you want right now, allows you to spend less money and save more. When you have excess things, then you know you will have less money.

Less stuff now means more money in the pocket because there’s less to fix, keep up with, and clean.

You will have more financial freedom, and you will have more money for the important and meaningful things in life.

Less spending also means less debt, and less debt means peace of mind.

Now, of course, these traits are all variable and don’t define everyone.

Choosing a minimalist lifestyle always depends on your values ​​and needs in life.

For those who leave the material, consumer rides and rat race of life can bring a strong sense of contentment that you won’t find in a materialistic lifestyle. But I would be lying if I didn’t say that living a minimalist lifestyle and living minimally can bring lasting peace and happiness. Well, more is less.