A Few Side Effects of Minimalism

If you have read blogs or books about the minimalism movement, you have probably seen various lists of the benefits. Sometimes it seems as if minimalism is the cure all for everything that ails us. Just declutter and minimize your lifestyle and peace of mind will reign over all! If only embracing a new lifestyle could change our lives overnight.

The desire for a quick fix is similar to how many of us think of weight loss. But I ate an apple instead of chocolate today, so why haven’t I lost five pounds already? We may wish for immediate results, but for most of us, change happens more slowly, and the benefits are not always obvious. Alas.

I may not have seen dramatic changes because I’ve always leaned towards simplicity. While I found plenty in my household to declutter, I was never a pack rat or hoarder, not even close. My daily life has usually been fairly organized and efficient. That’s not to say that I haven’t learned a lot by embracing minimalism, but the changes have often been more subtle.

For years I have watched my budget and tracked my expenses, but these days I make more effort to analyze my expenses and determine whether they are aligned with my values and goals. For example, I’ve always tried to live in an environmentally conscious way, but lately I’ve noticed that my efforts have been reinforced by my minimalist values. I don’t want to keep buying paper or plastic supplies when I can find a more reusable solution. While I’ll never be a “zero waste” home, I try to minimize household waste much more these days (certainly easier now that the kids have moved out). Score one victory for minimalism.

Other changes have been small, unexpected, and sometimes even annoying. I used to love watching all the house shows, but now I can’t bear to watch any episodes with people wanting to buy or renovate a huge house. Oh, the wastefulness of it all! I get all judgmental and want to lecture them. What’s wrong with you? You’re just two people! You don’t need a 3000 square foot house!

I used to call myself a magazine junkie. I love buying and reading magazines, but now the ads for all kinds of useless products seem to jump out at me. What’s wrong with me? Why am I wasting so much money on these, I ask myself every time I browse through the magazine shelves at my local bookstore.

I used to walk around my house peacefully, but too often I find myself wandering around restlessly, looking at everything with a critical eye. What’s wrong with this shelf? Why is this drawer so full? Why is there so much stuff here? That’s the problem with decluttering. Once you’ve become aware of clutter, you can’t unsee it.

Perhaps minimalism should come with a label. Warning: Becoming minimalist may cause you to question everything you own. Nevertheless, I’m finding this journey to a life of more meaning with less both interesting and rewarding. I’ve discovered new writers and podcasters and other like-minded people, whose ideas and experiences have enriched my own. I find it satisfying to explore this journey with those who come along with me. Despite my impatience with the slow and subtle progress on my minimalist path, I’m sticking with it, side effects and all.

RESOURCES

See resource page for an ongoing list of books, podcasts, and more:  Resources

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