What is minimization and how do I do it?

Reduce, reuse, recycle: the 3Rs of sustainability. We often focus on reusing and recycling things, but number 1 is actually 'reduce'. Having less stuff ultimately means less waste, which is why we want to introduce you to minimalism and give you some tips to get started with decluttering.

All around us we see advertisements about how stuff makes our lives better. But is that really true? Does having a lot of stuff really make us happier? According to minimalism, the answer is simple: 'no'. Having a lot of stuff can actually be a burden so say goodbye to your stuff and start minimalizing.

What is minimalism anyway?

According to The Minimalists, minimalism is a means of stripping away the excesses of life and focusing on what really matters – so that you can find happiness, fulfillment, and freedom.

This doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with owning stuff. If something is important to you, then that’s a good thing. Minimalism allows you to make more conscious choices about what things are important and valuable to you.

This may sound a bit vague, but the way I see it is that minimalism means only owning things that you need or that really make you happy.

You can apply minimalism not only to things, but also to other aspects of your life. For example, apply the minimalist idea to the appointments in your agenda and to the people you hang out with. Ask yourself if you really want to do something and if it gives you energy or if it drains your energy. Only do things that contribute to your life in a positive way.

Benefits of minimalism

The benefits of a minimalist lifestyle are different for everyone, but reducing your possessions to a minimum often leaves you feeling freer, saving you time and money, and more grateful for the things you do have.

One of the main benefits of minimalist living for me is having more peace in my head. Do you know that feeling when you go to work or study at home, you first want to tidy up your desk or room? A house full of clutter makes many people feel restless. Minimalism and a tidy house provide less stress and peace in your head.

What is the biggest benefit of minimalism for you? Here are a few reasons that are important to me.

• Less cleaning and tidying up; most people hate it and so do I. The less stuff you have, the less time you spend tidying it up and the more time you have for the really fun things in your life.
• Never lose anything again; do you also always lose everything? Less stuff = less chance of losing everything.
• Less space required; for someone who lives in Amsterdam, this sounds like music to my ears. I don't have an attic, a storage room, a shed or a pantry, but I don't need them either. Minimalism allows you to live smaller and spend your money on other things.
• You will have more money left; you’re not just spending less on your home, you’re spending less in general. This money can be spent on experiences or buying better quality things that make you happy and last longer.
• It gives a feeling of freedom and independence; this may be a bit harder to explain, but because I don't 'have' to buy anything anymore, I feel freer than ever.

And finally, not entirely unimportant in a zero-waste blog: minimalism is better for the environment. According to 'the hidden impact' by Babette Porcelijn, stuff is number 1 when it comes to our impact on the environment. Stuff has to be made, it requires raw materials, it has to be transported and it often ends up on the waste mountain. Less stuff = a smaller ecological footprint.

Tips to get started with minimalism for beginners

It sounds nice: living simpler, but how do you do that? Decluttering is easier than you think. Here are a few tips to get started with minimalism in your home:

• Go through all your stuff whole and ask yourself if the stuff still makes you happy. Or as Japanese tidying guru Marie Kondo always asks: 'Does it spark joy'? If not, it might be time to say goodbye.
• If you find it difficult to determine whether something makes you happy, it is also good to ask yourself whether you would buy something again. If not, then there is a big chance that it does not really make you happy.
• Don't go through all your stuff at once, but divide your house into categories. Books, clothes, kitchenware, you can see immediately how much of something you have. Do you really need ten sports outfits or thirty mugs?
• Start with things that are broken or clothes that no longer fit you. Do you want to have something that is broken repaired? Then really do that, if it has been broken in the closet for years then it might be time to say goodbye.
• Do you also have a whole box full of chargers and cables and you don't even know what they are for? When you buy something new, label it so you always know what it is for. Don't have your old camera anymore? Then you don't need the charger anymore! The same goes for spare buttons from clothing and screws and keys that you get with furniture.
• Also go through your laptop, you have probably collected a lot of 'stuff' there too. Photos, programs, accounts, e-mails, even cleaning up your laptop gives a wonderful feeling.
• A very easy one: put a NO/NO sticker on your mailbox. This immediately reduces waste, but it also ensures that you are not tempted by tempting offers.
• The easiest way to have less stuff is to buy less new stuff. If you want to buy something, think about it for a few days. This prevents impulse purchases, because after a few days you are usually not so enthusiastic anymore.

Advanced Minimization

Getting rid of items with emotional value

I find it hardest to get rid of things from the past. CDs, DVDs and books that you have fond memories of and want to keep for that reason, even though you know you will never use them again (because do you even have a CD player anymore!?). But how often do you really look at these things? They are probably somewhere in a box in the closet or in the attic. Getting rid of mementos does not mean that you say goodbye to the memories themselves. The memories are not in the things, but always present in your thoughts.

Gifts

Another tricky issue is getting rid of things that you received as a gift from someone. It feels bad to throw away something that someone put their best effort into, but if it doesn't make you happy, that's no reason to keep it. And is your birthday coming up? Then ask your friends and family for something that you really want or ask for an experience. That way you avoid getting gifts that you don't really want.

Learn to say 'no'

Setting boundaries is not easy, especially when you are offered something (for free). Try to say no more often, you get to decide what does and does not enter your home and politely saying no for something does not mean you are ungrateful. If necessary, explain to people that you want to live a more minimalist life and that you like it that they think of you, but that you are completely provided for. Then they will understand where you are coming from.

Rent or borrow items

Rent or borrow items and clothing. There is often someone in your area from whom you can borrow something. Especially if it concerns items that you only use once or twice. It saves a lot of money and space if you do not buy everything yourself. The same goes for clothing, how often do you really wear certain (party) outfits? I rented a dress for a wedding last year and have never received so many compliments about my outfit. It is definitely worth a try! An easy place to start when it comes to borrowing items is the library: you often only read a book once and if you want to read it again, you can borrow it as often as you want.

One more thing…

Minimalism is meant to make your life easier and more fun. So don't see minimalism as a restriction, but as a challenge. An opportunity to get to know yourself and find out what you find important in life. Minimalism is a lifestyle and changes take time. Enjoy the process and the obstacles along the way!