I always thought that being a minimalist was a trendy, aesthetic concept that we’ve learned about through social media for the last few years. Things like a lightly decorated apartment, a capsule wardrobe, artsy line drawings in delicate frames – That sort of thing. But over the years, I’ve realized that it begins with an intentional mindset that then reveals itself in your physical surroundings and daily habits. Living essentially, ethically, and sustainably begins with the goal of being purposeful about the decisions we make in our lifestyles and the broader impact that those decisions have on our environment. To feel like we live responsibly and respectfully with our surroundings, communities, and planet.
For many of us, this pandemic forced our hands when it came to assessing the things we need to feel content. Personally, it got me thinking (and acting) about de-cluttering all of the unnecessary belongings, attitudes, and living behaviors from my life entirely. If you’ve been feeling like this yourself and are wondering if perhaps this could be a permanent lifestyle change, see if any of the ten items from the list apply to you:
10 SIGNS YOU ARE A MINIMALIST
- You prefer living in a smaller space that meets your basic needs rather than a big one.
- You gravitate towards owning one or two key pieces of everything in your wardrobe.
- You are interested in the ethical practices and stories behind your frequented brands.
- The idea of owning a car bothers you unless you have a family to share it with or live in a place that needs a vehicle to be connected.
- You’ve reduced the sources of mental noise in your life, such as excessive social media use, traditional media consumption, or anything else that creates mental clutter.
- You wear clothing items until the end of their life and have considered making the switch to thrift shopping and sustainable clothing brands.
- If you haven’t used an item in two years (or any other reasonable time period that works for you), you donate, recycle or discard it appropriately.
- You don’t mind Uber Pool from time to time.
- You’ve never been caught up in the commercial hype of major holidays.
- You’ve prioritized living in a place that supports sustainability and green living.
Of course, this list is only ten signs. But if any of these resonate with you or you’ve had loved ones say that they’ve noticed similar tendencies in you, you could be a minimalist after all. It takes time to re-assess and change your lifestyle beliefs and habits. Most times, it’s a slow evolution. But in the long run, intentional living is a micro-act of self-care that has very positive outcomes. Care for ourselves and our surroundings is something we can practice in a world where a lot is out of our control.