Minimalism means elevating the things that matter most in our lives and removing what distracts us from our true purpose. Yesterday was Christmas and many of us are probably reflecting on over indulgences and, perhaps, trying to find some quiet time after all the holiday noise. To lead a lighter life where we consume less in order to achieve focus, save time and money, and be more present with who and what matter most, here five questions to ask yourself about minimalism that might just help you chart a simpler path into the next year.
Defining minimalism
According to The Minimalists, here’s the movement’s elevator pitch:
Minimalism is a lifestyle that helps people question what things add value to their lives. By clearing the clutter from life’s path, we can all make room for the most important aspects of life: health, relationships, passion, growth, and contribution.
There are many flavors of minimalism: a 20-year-old single guy’s minimalist lifestyle looks different from a 45-year-old mother’s minimalist lifestyle. Even though everyone embraces minimalism differently, each path leads to the same place: a life with more time, more money, and more freedom to live a more meaningful life.
Questioning minimalism
How might your life be better if you owned fewer material possessions?
This is the question that Joshua and Ryan, The Minimalists, use to prompt readers and listeners who are intrigued by minimalism. For me, it’s pretty straightforward. Owning fewer things means that space is maximized in my home and workplace, which means less distracting clutter. It also means that I’m saving money that can be better spent on experiences with loved ones. Speaking of clutter, having fewer things limits the choices that I have to make, which reduces my cognitive load on boring stuff and frees up my brain for cool things like playing with kids and creative writing.
How will you de-clutter your life?
One of my activities this holiday season was cleaning out our “crap drawer”. This chore provided an opportunity to bring this discipline to the garage and the shelves of my children next. Something you might try was recommended to me by Alexandra Samuel – turn all your coat hangers around in your closets and when you wear something then flip around that hanger; by July 31, 2019 check out how many hangers are still turned around and then ask yourself why those clothes are still in your closet.
What does this feel like from a digital perspective?
Cal Newport has a lot of thoughts about our culture’s addition to distraction. Deep Work was an incredible take on how we can achieve spectacular focus by finding the right times to go deep into our craft. Newport’s new book is called Digital Minimalism and it will focus on how folks can radically reduce the amount of time we spend staring at screens. Here’s what it is:
Digital minimalism is a philosophy that helps you question what digital communication tools (and behaviors surrounding these tools) add the most value to your life. It is motivated by the belief that intentionally and aggressively clearing away low-value digital noise, and optimizing your use of the tools that really matter, can significantly improve your life.
I’ve got a ways to go before I can even refer to myself as a Junior Digital Minimalist in Training. What I have done this year, and it’s had a profound affect on my life, is turn off notifications on my devices. Without email, social tools or even texts popping up on my screen I have significantly reduced my reactions to siren call of screens. But I have a long way to go here…
What are the things you give the most fucks about?
I’m about halfway through Mark Manson’s The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck. It’s fine. What is certainly resonating with me is that in such a noisy, demanding and distracting world it is more important than ever to figure out what we really and truly care about. What are the few things and people that we will give many, if not all, of our fucks about? We can’t do everything, even if it feels like that’s what’s expected of us. I’m slowly figuring this out (having kids and wanting to be an awesome dad and partner is accelerating this clarity) and getting more comfortable at saying no to the things that aren’t at the center of my world, which is relaxing, fulfilling and also saves me a lot of time and money.
If you’re saying yes to minimalism, what are you saying no to?
The “if you’re saying yes to this, what are you saying no to?” question is one of my favourites (shout out to Michael Bungay-Stanier’s seven coaching questions). So you’re on board with minimalism consider what will you stop doing? For me, spending time with my family is essential in terms of the life I want to live, which means turning down social engagements more than the extrovert-in-me likes to. It also means having a long-term plan to live as close to work as possible so that I can spend less time commuting and more time building LEGO communities. This probably means that I’m saying no to a 60-hour work week and the promotions that might come with it as well as a larger, nicer house in a farther-away-from-East-Vancouver neighbourhood. It’s fine, though, because our duplex helpfully forces minimalism on the family!