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At this point last year, I read Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, which became a catalyst for my minimalist journey. It opened my eyes to how much clutter (physical & mental) I was holding onto and inspired me to take a different path. That book then rocketed me into reads like Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism and The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing and helped me find content creators like Matt D’avella and The Minimalists.
Along the way, I began identifying as a minimalist, and like with most new endeavors, the learning curve was and has been gargantuan.
Here are seven lessons this journey has allowed me to learn:
1) Minimalism is a daily endeavor
“Tidy a little a day and you’ll be tidying forever.”
Marie Kondō, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
When it comes to decluttering a home, Marie Kondō is right – it’s important to take it on over a short period. What this doesn’t account for, however, is life after the initial purge.
Even if you’ve changed your mindset about stuff, culture hasn’t and will continue to inundate you with advertisements on the regular (between 4,000-10,000 a day). It’s in those moments where you’re presented with a choice to buy something new that your mindset is tested.
Anyone can tidy a house, but not everyone can live a minimalist lifestyle. It’s the small, daily choices that determine whether or not you’ll be due for another decluttering next year.
2) Perfection isn’t the goal
“Think progress, not perfection.”
Ryan Holiday, The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph
It turns out that being a minimalist has its own brand of post-purchase regret that can trickle into the territory of self-shame.
Since minimalism is a daily endeavor, it’s only a matter of time before you trip up. Like the best, I’ve fallen prey to advertisements in a moment of weakness and ended up with something I didn’t need or truly want. Although it doesn’t feel good, those moments are a reminder that minimalism isn’t about perfection – it’s about the journey toward a more fulfilling existence.
Going on a shopping binge or making an impulse purchase doesn’t take away your minimalist badge. Each of those moments is an opportunity to learn more about yourself and change for the better.
3) I don’t regret anything I decluttered
“Minimalism is built around the idea that there’s nothing that you’re lacking.”
Fumio Sasaki, Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism
I didn’t count the items I sold, donated, or discarded, but there were a lot – WAY more than I initially expected. What’s encouraging is that I don’t regret parting with any of those items.
There are a few things I occasionally wish for (TV, Xbox, Rowing Machine), but those yearnings quickly pass. What I remind myself of is that I’m allowed to purchase those items again in the future if they prove to be value-adding for my life.
If you’re considering decluttering your physical possessions, remember that discarding an item doesn’t preclude you from purchasing/borrowing one in the future. Minimalism is about owning only what serves you now and in the near future.
4) I overshot my uniform wardrobe needs
“Stop imagining what’s going to work. Find out for real.”
David Heinemeier Hansson and Jason Fried, Rework
The uniform wardrobe concept was immediately appealing to me. I could minimize my clothes to reduce daily choices and ensure I always felt good in what I wore.
Although I still love the concept and enjoy the outfit I chose, I learned a couple of lessons that I’ll implement next time around:
- Seven pairs of pants is overkill! I suppose if I rolled in the mud every day, it would be useful, but that was by far my worst estimation. Two or three pairs would suffice. This error comes down to a lack of realistic planning.
- Only having one uniform isn’t practical for my current life. Given the specific needs for brewery gear, I have a separate uniform for work. Likewise, I don’t go to the gym in chinos/t-shirt/vans – that would be ridiculous.
In retrospect, I could have planned better for my needs, but I’m still happy with the overall result. Sometimes going through trial and error is better than not trying at all.
5) Consumables & experiences are better
“Fill your life with lots of experiences, not lots of things. Have incredible stories to tell, not incredible clutter in your closets.”
Marc & Angel Chernoff
Over the year I’ve made it a goal to reduce non-consumables I receive or acquire. Unsurprisingly, due to gifts, what enters a home isn’t always in our control, yet as I shared in my post about navigating gift exchanges, it’s feasible to cut down non-consumables by asking for experiences or consumables instead.
Experiences offer the ability to open one’s mind and make life-long memories. For Christmas, my wife gifted me tickets to the Love People, Use Things Tour and a weekend stay in Seattle. It’s a trip I won’t forget.
Likewise, consumables can feel decadent without taking up long-term physical space. Another gift I received for Christmas was a pack of specialty coffee beans from a roastery I didn’t have access to. They felt special, were guaranteed to be used, and added excitement to the days I brewed with them.
If you’re interested, here’s my list of fifty-five minimalist gift ideas.
6) Kindle is a minimalist super tool
“Books are a uniquely portable magic.”
Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
If you enjoy reading, the thought of acquiring fewer books might be appalling – it was to me, at least until I gave Kindle a try.
As you’d expect, it does have limitations (such as the need for wifi to download new books), but I believe they’re overwhelmed by the convenience and compactness of the device. Having access to thousands of books on a single, tiny tablet is incredible.
There are individuals (like Thatcher Wine of The Twelve Monotasks: Do One Thing at a Time to Do Everything Better) who advocate for printed books as a superior medium due to their feel, attachment of meaning, and history; however, I believe it’s shortsighted to dismiss the benefits ebooks can offer.
I do still appreciate the tangibility of paper books, but I now choose to only keep a few that are deeply meaningful to me. Kindle enables regularly reading without adding clutter to a household.
7) Less distraction = More self-discovery
“Our material possessions are a physical manifestation of our internal lives.”
Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, Love People, Use Things: Because the Opposite Never Works
This is a scary lesson to have learned – and still be learning to this day.
With less physical and mental clutter, a vacuum is formed, time is created, and you’re left with…yourself.
As many minimalist gurus emphasize, minimalism is a tool and not a religion – it’s a method of discovering what’s most important to you. It tears down the walls of consumerism and asks, “Who are you?”
For me, this has meant facing my inner demons (despite still using them for coping/distraction), excavating my true personality, and appreciating who I am without all of the stuff.
Who would you be without all of the distractions?
Final thoughts
This post has felt like a journey – maybe that’s an excuse for poor writing, but it’s also been a freeing form of self-reflection.
By no means is minimalism a panacea. If it were, I’d be in a much different place. Nevertheless, it is (for many) an exciting and eye-opening path to engage with. Whether or not it’s for you, I hope the lessons I’ve learned have given way to a deeper reflection on your journey.