In previous articles, we discussed Paul and my journey to minimalism and suggested an approach that anyone who wants to adopt minimalism can apply.
Minimalism is a tool to rid yourself of life’s excess in favour of focusing on what’s important – so you can find happiness, fulfilment and freedom. – The Minimalists.
We want to share other people’s stories with you in the following few articles. If you thought I couldn’t adopt minimalism because I have kids or am too old (or young), maybe these stories would encourage you to rethink. And perhaps they give you the nudge to start your journey to minimalism.
Today, we would like to feature Christine’s story. Christine, her partner Marty, and their son Michael are our friends. I have known Christine since 2001, first meeting her when we both worked for the same company in London. We both ended up living in Sydney. While Paul and I left Sydney in 2016, Christine still lives with her family on the Northern Beaches.
Over to you, Christine…
What minimalism means to me
I used to think minimalism meant living frugally, having a home with spartan decor, and always wearing the same boring clothes. However, I have since learned that minimalism has many facets. To me, minimalism means removing unnecessary weight and distractions from my life. It’s about simplification and efficiency to free up time for essential things.
Christine, Marty and Michael - a family embracing minimalism
How it all started
I became interested in minimalism when my friends (yes, that’s you—Sandra and Paul) told me about their plans to sell or give away everything they owned and travel the world instead. Intrigued by their quest, I read articles, watched TED talks and YouTube vlogs, and listened to Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying.
I wanted to know why someone would like to live with less by choice (not a necessity) when all we hear in the mainstream media is that we need more to be happy. I learned about the mental impact our surroundings have on our well-being. I realised that a cluttered home negatively impacts our well-being. While I understand that there are psychological issues at play, imagine what it would feel like living in the house of a hoarder.
Recommended Books on Adopting Minimalism
- Dean Christopher's Minimalism leads readers through a 12-week process designed to help them identify their values, evaluate their habits, change their mindsets, reduce their mental stress, and ultimately transform their lives.
- Mastering Minimalism by Jordan Williams provides a comprehensive roadmap to those seeking to adopt minimalism by taking a holistic, wheel-of-life approach that covers all aspects of our lives.
- Cal Newport's Digital Minimalism explores the impact of constant connectivity. It helps us regain control by using technology to support our values and goals (not distracting from them).
- Travel Light by Light Watkins combines the principles of minimalism with the art of travel. It offers practical tips on planning, packing, and staying mindful on the road to enhance the experience.
- Sustainable Living Minimalism and Zero Waste by B R Pohl focuses on the intersection of minimalism and sustainability, helping readers to limit their footprint by reducing waste and consuming (more) mindfully.
I also came across Daniel Levitin, author of The Organized Mind: Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload, who talks about how information overload impacts our brain and ability to focus. I learned that every decision, no matter how trivial, uses brainpower, a finite resource. A classic example is choosing an outfit from an overstuffed wardrobe and that I have nothing to wear panic. On the flip side, people like Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg wore the same clothes to eliminate minor decisions from their daily lives.
I became more conscious of excessive consumption’s terrible impact on our environment. That cheap item that gave me momentary pleasure may end up in a landfill for decades, and poor-quality donations burden charities. Plus, these items are often produced in sweatshops that exploit their workers.
I could also relate to the statistics about how much time we spend acquiring, sorting, tidying, and managing our stuff, not to mention the stress of searching for things around the house. We spend a lot of time working, only to waste our hard-earned money on stuff we don’t need and our precious time maintaining it. It sounds ridiculous.
A calmer environment means greater focus
How we adopted minimalism as a family
We had to empty our bedrooms a few months ago to have new carpet laid. Having everything in sight made me realise how much stuff we had accumulated over the years, and we decided to vigorously sort through everything before moving it back in. Once done, we decided to tackle other areas in our apartment.
I must admit, spending several weekends organizing, selling, and donating stuff was hard work. I also battled decision fatigue and found it hard to let go of some things, particularly items I once loved or expensive pieces. But there was no point holding on to something we had no use for, as it took up valuable space. Now, I ask myself what all the fuss was about, as I haven’t missed a single piece we parted with.
Our son has been involved in sorting out toys from a young age. I didn’t think it was fair if his things disappeared without his knowledge, mainly when they went to friends and family where he might recognize them, and I believe it instils good habits. At times, I was surprised by his decisions. I would have chosen differently on his behalf – also a sign for me that involving him was the right way to go about it.
Involve your children in sorting out their toys
How our life has changed
The impact of the changes was terrific. Our wardrobes are well organised, making it easier to get ready. Cleaning and tidying are not as tedious, and everything has a place, removing unnecessary stress from looking for things. Our home is much calmer, visually and mentally, and concentrating and focusing in this environment is much easier. Spontaneous visitors don’t put me in a frenzy anymore, either. Whilst we invested a lot of effort in getting to this point, we are reaping the benefits and saving time in our everyday lives.
We still have too much stuff, but we have changed our lives. Nowadays, we are more mindful of what enters our homes and work hard to reduce waste. We think more about purchases and tend to spend our money on fewer but better-quality items with greater longevity.
What’s next
My next project is digital decluttering. Oh, joy…
There is no one right way to adopt minimalism—everyone is different. We hope to inspire others to take the plunge and create the life they want by sharing our own and our readers’ stories. If you’re happy to share your journey to and with minimalism, please get in touch. And don’t worry: We’ll help you tell your story.
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