Am I a minimalist?

I always assumed minimalism was an extreme form of living. In my mind, I associated minimalism with capsule wardrobes and backpackers (if you can survive living in a backpack you must be a minimalist, right?).

I have now learned that my initial assumptions don't even come close to surmising the lifestyle of a minimalist. A minimalist lifestyle focuses on the essentials of your life, and taking steps to remove the rest. This lifestyle reduces ones physical and mental clutter.

I was in college when someone first called me a minimalist. I was in my tiny dorm room with some friends, when one of them mentioned to me how I had "nothing in my closet". As someone who loves clothes and shoes I was alarmed. I didn't want to be thought of as someone who didn't have cute outfits.

My friend's innocent comment stuck with me. I can recall numerous shopping trips with others where I felt this pressure to buy something, simply because I didn't want to not get anything. However, at the same time I loved the feeling of my clean dorm room, and I loved the ease in which it took to keep it clean. I loved how I felt good in everything in my closet and how that made getting dressed super fast in the mornings. I loved how everything had a place and I could easily find things.

Many months later, I was running errands with friends (this was the Target, Homegoods, and Hobby Lobby type of errands!) I loved these shopping trips because I loved the time with my friends and I love looking at what is out there. I recall being in the store browsing and deciding to buy a couple things, when my friend says "your such a minimalist". Immediately, I felt like something was wrong with me. I started to feel the same pressure to buy things even without friends around now. Of course I enjoyed what I bought, or at least I enjoyed it while in the store or online, but was it worth my growing internal struggle.

My attitude towards minimalism didn't change right away. I first started learning more through various Instagram accounts. I remember watching a reel of a lady who was describing how her home made her feel after becoming a minimalist. She used words like calm, confident, steadfast, and clean. Overtime I started to understand that I longed for the constant satisfaction of a clean and organized home over the instant satisfaction of making a purchase.

I wouldn't say I became a minimalist, but I have changed certain parts of my life to declutter and reduce spending.

I took a couple steps to work my way out of the shopping habits I had recently fallen into. The first was challenging myself to do a no spend month. I remember this was September of 2021. I didn't buy any extras this month. I brought my lunch to work everyday, and I didn't buy any clothes or shoes. It was a challenge for me, but at the end of the month I felt so accomplished!

After this no spend month, I decided that I would try to have more guidance in my shopping habits. I told myself I could purchase one item that was on my wish list each month. I saw the idea of a wish list online, so I can't take credit for this, but it is genius! My wish list is in the notes app of my phone. Whenever I see something I am tempted to buy I write it down and then wait at least three days. If I still want it after three days, I will make the purchase for the month. If I don't feel like I want it after waiting three days I remove it from the list. I still use the wish list method today!

Another thing I did was get rid of things I had been holding onto. My desk drawer was full of notebooks from elementary school. My closet had all of my old purses, even the ones from middle school! It took awhile to go through everything, but it felt so good to not have to find a place for all of that stuff anymore.

The biggest difference that has come with embracing a more minimalist lifestyle, is how I feel while shopping with friends. I actually enjoy shopping more now than I did before! That sounds crazy, but it's because I don't have the internal pressure to make a purchase like I used to. I now have more confidence that if there is nothing I want to buy that is ok. I can choose to not make a purchase and still enjoy the experience. If my friend makes a comment that is ok too, because that isn't going to sway me like it did before.

We are living in an age of unprecedented consumerism. We are constantly being marketed to without really realizing it. It can feel like a never ending cycle of being told that we need this and that over and over again. I still make purchases that I end up regretting. I also still have a hard time of letting go of things that I don't need to keep anymore simply because I fall into the trap of thinking I might need it in the future. There are also a few areas that I find harder to be a minimalist. These include buying stuff for my new house and buying things for an upcoming trip.

Being a newlywed and a new homeowner, I am adjusting my version of a minimalist lifestyle. Now having another person to account for and having more expenses, I think it is so important to continue to stay physically and mentally decluttered. A few things that have been helping most recently is updating our budget! Talking through our saving goals as a couple and Individually. Not being logged into the Amazon account on my phone!

I know I am just getting started with minimalism, but I am encouraged to keep learning more and to continue to apply it to my everyday life!