Minimalism is a philosophy and lifestyle we’ve been seeing take hold of architecture, home decor, and Instagram feeds. It’s not all white walls and pleasing aesthetics, though. And where many see it as a lifestyle of deprivation, it’s instead having the mindset of staying focused on priorities.
Minimalism teaches us to slow down the mindless consumerism we fall into by default in our society and culture. To be aware of where our time, energy, and resources are going so that we can make a conscious effort to direct them toward that which truly deserves them.
Left unchecked by default, things quickly become cluttered, overwhelming, and impossible to keep up with. We can only tend to so much, after all. We can apply minimalism to each and every area of our lives to make that area more manageable and ensure that it’s working in our best interest.
Minimalism in food
Our diet is one area where we can apply this “less is more” concept. For one, so many of us overeat. The American portion size is much larger than the standard elsewhere. Aside from that, though, the amount of chemicals in our food is staggering. Coupled with the minimalistic view of getting back to the basics so that we may see what is truly important, whole foods win here.
Starting always with awareness, begin paying attention to what you’re eating. Read the ingredients, and notice your portions and the nutritional value of each one. It’s a mindset of getting the most “bang for your buck,” which will always come in the form of better food choices just by default.
The cheaper food is cheaper because it’s not as nutritionally dense for you. The volume may be more, but you’re actually getting less of what your body needs. In that sense, a single apple is more than that bag of chips or that whole loaf of white bread.
Minimalism in Your Closet
Clothing is another way we can apply minimalism. Leaning towards the “less is more” concept here allows us to move away from the environmentally harmful and unethical practices of fast fashion. Those 3 cheaply made $5 shirts you bought aren’t going to hold up as well to the test of time like that one $25 shirt is.
Not only are the better-made, slightly more expensive shirts going to last much longer (saving you money in the long run) but you’re also going to feel better in it. We become the energy we surround ourselves with.
Less clothing taking up space in our closets allows for us to care for each article the way it deserves and make deciding what to wear each day a little bit easier. When you only have 10 shirts, and they’re all your favorite ones, you can readily just grab one and go instead of painstakingly trying to put an outfit together.
So let go of the old, the tattered, the broken, and torn. Release the articles that don’t feel right or fit right so that you can create space for your perfect pieces to come into being.
