In a world filled with gadgets and stuff, there’s a cool idea called minimalism. Not a new concept at all, but something I’ve found has made a massive difference in the wellbeing of my family and myself. It’s about having just what you need, things/services which provide value whether in the digital or real world.
Taming Our Tech: Making Devices Our Friends
Phones and computers are awesome, but they can also make us feel overwhelmed with all the things they do. Digital minimalism is like organizing your room – but online. You pick the important apps, ignore the rest, and set time limits. You carefully consider what services you use and use them deliberately to get real value, and to ditch what is harmful. This way, you’re in charge and tech doesn’t take over. Concepts like newsfeeds, doom scrolling, and comparing yourself to others have been proven to have an especially bad effect on our mental health. Two books I really love and recommend are Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport, and Stolen Focus by Johann Hari.
Less Stuff, More Happiness: Clearing the Clutter
We all collect things, but sometimes they pile up and stress us out. Real-world minimalism means keeping what sparks joy and getting rid of the rest. We used to own a canoe which we almost never used, it was laying outside next to the garbage bins, and whenever I took the garbage out I looked at it and thought that we should use it more. Selling this meant getting rid of the “should” and freeing up the guilt or just an emotional disturbance which was amazing to be released from!
A really great excersise to do is the minimalist challenge. It means for 30 days to give away, sell or throw out one more thing than the day before. So you start on day one by getting rid of 1 item, then on day 2 you get rid of 2 new things and so on. It quickly gets hard but it’s definitely worth it and feels amazing!!!
We got the kids involved as well, expecting them to resist a great deal, but they embraced the challenge and got rid of so many toys happy to hear that someone else would be playing with them.
Buying Less, Living More: Being Smart about Stuff
In a world where buying is easy, digital and real-world minimalism remind us to be picky. Digital minimalism remind you to think twice before signing up for a new service online. Real-world minimalism tells us to buy things that last and give real value, not stuff that’s cool for a second and is then sitting unused. This helps us enjoy life without being buried in things, and can also free up mental capacity to enjoy life more.
Enjoying the Moment: Embracing a Simple Life
At its heart, minimalism helps us be present. When we clear digital clutter, we can focus better and talk to real people. When we clear physical clutter, we can breathe and create. Together, these two kinds of minimalism show us a way to live with purpose and joy.
In the end, minimalism – whether digital or real – is like a guide to a happier life. So, I encourage you to give it a go, letting go of what you don’t need and embracing a simpler, happier way of living.