“Anything that gives you a sense of mastery or control over your space can relieve stress,” Darby Saxhe, PhD, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Southern California, has explained to Everyday Health – having studied how Home Lifestyle or environments affect our mental health.
Saxhe’s words help to clarify why minimalism has taken root as a form of self-care. Essentially, minimalism is about living with fewer material possessions – and, while you should transition to minimalism slowly if you are considering it, here are just a few reasons for you to take that first step.
You Can Set Aside More Space for What is Genuinely Important
hat is truly important to you? The list might be much shorter than you had previously realized. When you purge your home of items you don’t really need, you can shed a feeling of claustrophobia and fill up your life with increased meaning, Lifehack reveals.
None of this is to say it will necessarily be easy for you to relinquish some of your long-held attachments. You should carefully consider what you will have the option of doing with the space you free up as a result of minimalism, as giving away certain items could initially be painful for you.
When you Have Less to Lose, you Can More Easily instill Peace of Mind
Many of us have accumulated a large number of physical items over the years. However, these items can feel like metaphorical anchors that weight us down. For as long as we have these items, we will fear losing them. Getting rid of items can therefore literally leave you with a lot less to lose.
Just consider the example of Buddhist monks, who have no fear for the simple reason that they have nothing to lose. While you obviously shouldn’t rid yourself of absolutely everything, such as a roof over your head, you can improve your focus by removing items that could otherwise distract you.
You will Garner More Happiness from Experiences Rather than things
“Purchase less in the first place and be careful about accumulating possessions,” Saxbe advises, and for a good reason: research suggests you should prioritize amassing experiences rather than things.
One study published in a 2014 issue of the journal Psychological Science indicates that “experiential” purchases tend to bring more lasting happiness than “material” purchases.
Psychologist Allen Elkin, PhD, believes that, before you buy something new, you should ask yourself: “Do I truly need this item? Would the quality of my life be worse if I didn’t have this?”
Minimalism is Good for the Environment, too
By consuming fewer animal products, you can improve your influence on the environment – because animal products are responsible for up to 20% of the world’s carbon footprint, as Blue & Green Tomorrow reports.
Meanwhile, if you wanted to free up space in your home by converting its loft, you should heed that Instaloft provides a great loft boarding service. This service can help to protect a home’s eco-friendliness by making a loft more practical without compromising its insulation.