More than just a fashion trend, minimalism is a real long-term personal approach that has more and more followers.
From the desire to consume less and better to the acquisition of minimalist reflexes on a daily basis is a long road specific to everyone.
With this article, we explain what it’s like to be minimalist and the keys to achieving it yourself without any frustration.
Table des matières
MINIMALISM, A STATE OF MIND
A real issue for the future of our planet, the deconsumerism is the very definition of the minimalist lifestyle: get rid of the superfluous to consume less and better. Minimalism is thus based on the return to what is essential.
Be careful, it is not a question of not buying anything and not having any material attachment. No. But it’s more about getting to know what makes us happy and what we really need.
To better understand, minimalism is the opposite of overconsumption and this permanent search to earn more to spend more. By being minimalist, it is not the price of the object that will matter but the real impact it will have on you and the environment.
It is thus a way of life that responds as much to ecological and social problems as to personal research.
The financial gain to start with. Yes, the minimalist saves money! By consuming less but focusing on quality, a minimalist will above all not spend impulsively.
Saving time is also important. Inevitably by favouring small spaces (like a Tiny House ☺️) and by separating from superfluous objects, the minimalist will logically spend less time tidying, cleaning, buying or even searching… Advantages that will thus develop his personal well-being. By occupying your free time with activities that are important to you: reading, travelling, sports, culture, etc. Unlike over-consumption, which is mainly a way of compensating for unhappiness such as stress, boredom or fatigue, not making compulsive purchases will also allow you to confront your emotions.
MINIMALIST… BUT WITHOUT CONSTRAINTS!
As you can see, becoming minimalist is to decide to have a healthier relationship with yourself and what surrounds you. And you will only be able to accomplish this in the long term if you are truly aware of the issues and have the personal will to invest.
This state of mind will influence all your purchases: shopping, clothing, housing… As a minimalist, your watchword will be “GIVE MEANING”.
But complying with it requires work on your habits. The important thing is your will! Then, this work will be done step by step and always without any frustration: the goal is your personal well-being.
What if you first decluttered your home?
But there’s no way we’re going to throw it away! Sort out what can still be reused and give to relatives or associations. If necessary, go through the repair box (yourself or through a specialized association). Finally, for what really can’t be reused, take it to the garbage dump or other recycling space.
Once you have cleared your clutter, you will see more clearly and will be able to put in place new consumption habits by following the 5Rs rule:
- Refuse: what you don’t need
- Reduce: what you need
- Reuse: everything you consume
- Recycle: what you cannot refuse, reduce or reuse
- Return: to the earth by composting
This change in consumption must be done gradually and in a personal way!
Indeed, we do not have the same needs of comfort if we are single and nomadic or with a family and sedentary …
Above all, remember that minimalism is a way of consuming responsibly, ecologically and without constraints. We make do with what we have but we lack nothing.
IN PRACTICE: HOW TO (DE)CONSUME IN A MINIMALIST WAY?
We have seen previously that decluttering is a first step in a minimalist approach.
Always with the aim of living this change without any frustration or pressure, start with a thankless task that we often hate to do: Sort your administrative papers!
Not an exciting activity, but you have no attachment to it, so it’s not hard to part with it 🙂
Be sure to check the mandatory retention periods for each type of document on the internet beforehand, and then throw out all the ones you can.
Once this task is done, tackle a piece of life. Again, go easy. Choose a room that is not very emotional. For example, the bathroom and all the samples of hotels and perfumeries kept in your drawers!
For more sentimental items such as photos and books, it’s perfectly normal to have trouble parting with them.
Then start by sorting through your books. Keep the more emotional ones and give the others to friends, associations or drop them in a book shed. You will find it a real pleasure to share it with others!
If, however, you are reluctant to part with an item, ask yourself, “If I were to leave the house in two hours, would I take it with me?”
And if, despite everything, you prefer to keep it “just in case, it could still be useful”, know that very often this object will end up being thrown away. know that very often this object will end up being thrown away…
As far as food is concerned, focus on what is strictly necessary.
By pleasing yourself of course, the main thing being your well-being. But do your shopping without the unnecessary!
Make a list beforehand and avoid over-packaged products on the shelves.
For example, no more grated cheese or desserts in individual jars!
We eat better, we find pleasure in cooking good raw products and we avoid processed products.
The fridge will be less full, you will visit your local shops more often, limit waste and reduce your waste!
One last piece of advice. Before buying, use this method called BISOU:
- B as in Need: What is the need for this purchase?
- I for Immediate: if you have an immediate urge, beware! It’s a sign of compulsive buying.
- S is for Similar: do I already have a similar object in my home? Can anyone lend it to me?
- O for Origin: where does this object come from? Who made it? Under what social conditions? In which country?
- U for Utility: do I really need it? What will I use this object for in my daily life?
Want to know more about our Tiny Houses? Contact the BIMIFY team 🙂
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