Minimalism and Self Care

After a random rant on Instastories about the role that minimalism plays in my self care, I asked if you would be interested in a post on that topic and you said yes! So let’s jump right in.

I’ve said in many posts before that I am a “minimalist of sorts”. I don’t do capsule clothing collections where I only have 30 pieces to wear, nor do I limit myself in any way when it comes to purchases. The one thing that I think defines my minimalism is that everything I own must serve a purpose and spark joy. I didn’t always have the language for how I operated, but Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things and Marie Kondo/KonMari definitely helped me to clarify and solidly define my lifestyle.

This article from No Side Bar discusses the five types of minimalists and while I find this supposedly exhaustive list debatable, I do also think it’s very useful. The author defines minimalism as eliminating the unnecessary things so that we can focus on what matters most. She also mentions not shooting for less for the sake of less, but less for the sake of more. 

Here are some of the ways in which I naturally reinforce my minimalistic ways.

No More Fast Fashion

Fast Fashion is when inexpensive clothing is produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends. You know how most upscale clothing lines have 3-4 seasons per year? Well H&M has nine. Yes, you read that correctly. It’s not that I don’t purchase clothing from Fast Fashion retailers, I just don’t feel the need to run to the store and make purchases during each of the seasons to stay on trend. By choosing not the chase the trends, I save money and keep my closet from being cluttered with things that I don’t need.

Love it or leave it

This became my rule of thumb a few years ago and I haven’t looked back since. If I don’t love it in the store, there’s no way it’s coming home with me. I’ve also learned not to be fooled by the nice lighting and bomb music in dressing rooms. None of those perks will be there when I try it on at home, so “liking” it or thinking it’s “okay” just isn’t good enough because the reality is that if I don’t love it, I won’t wear it. So if I don’t love it, I leave it.

Purge Often

I’ll be honest, sometimes I’m a purger to a fault. But I rather be on that end of the spectrum than the other! We don’t hoard over here. If I haven’t worn it in a year or more, or if I no longer find interest in it, I give it away or sell it. It’s that simple.

Impulse Control

In the age of instant gratification, it’s hard to wait. But I’ve learned that waiting has saved me time, money, and clutter. When I’m interested in an item that’s maybe $75 or more, I wait a certain period of time before purchasing to ensure that what I think I want is actually what I want. I don’t mind wasting money on cheap stuff and giving it away or selling it when I realize I don’t actually want or need it. But when I’m looking to buy more expensive things, I want to be sure. Now the exact amount of time varies. Sometimes it’s 48 hours, other times it’s three weeks and you’d be surprised how quickly you can go from wanting something so badly to not wanting it at all.

Survey before you shop

I definitely have a color palette that I naturally gravitate towards and olive green has the greatest gravitational pull of them all. I used to go into a store, naturally find something olive green that I liked, buy it, and bring it home only to realize I already had three very similar olive green dresses at home. It pays to look at your closet before you go shopping so that you don’t end up with multiple items of the same color or style.

Trade Off

I’m not very attached to things and like I said before, if I don’t love it, it doesn’t belong in my closet. Well this rule applies not only to new purchases, but to old purchases too. if I buy one new dress that I love, I get rid of one in my closet that I think is so-so. This helps me to maintain that “love” that I like to have for my clothes and it also keeps the clutter to a minimum.

What You Need and No More

Again, we don’t hoard over here, and this tip applies to clothing and everything else. I recently got rid of all of my glasses because for one, kitchen stuff is heavy as heck when you have to move and two, I never use them. When I’m at a different stage of life when I’ll have the time, money, and space to host people more often, then I’ll buy some more. But right now, they’re just taking up space. Minimal décor allows for easier energy flow in my home, so I don’t have a lot of stuff on my walls or countertops either. I ensure that I have just enough for the space to have the energetic signature that I want, and no more.

Being Conscious

I’ve found that being a more conscious consumer in general has helped me to maintain my minimalist. A couple years ago, I switched to feminine hygiene products that match my purchase with a donation to a girl in need (not to mention that they’re also healthier, so it’s a win-win). I slowly but surely have made the switch to more eco friendly cleaning products which saves me money, usually lasts longer, and helps to save the planet.

So, how does all of this tie into self care? Minimalism feeds my soul. Minimalism has this unspoken, fundamental ideal that as unnecessary material things decrease, that now vacant space becomes room for other things (financial stability, mental clarity, etc.) to increase. By keeping my physical, material things to a minimum, I also keep mental and spiritual clutter to a minimum. I find freedom in focusing less on material things and more on the energy in my body and in my home (more on that in another post). I find it refreshing to love and use/wear everything that I own. It allows me to be more intentional about how I spend my time and who I spend it with. I find that when I own less items, I own better items. Less consumption allows me to reduce my impact on the earth. By focusing on having enough as opposed to having it all, it also makes it easier for me to be grateful for what I have and gratitude is the foundation of it all.

I hope you’ve found this post useful. If you’re into minimalism or trying to get into it, what steps are you taking?

Thanks for journeying with me.