5 Ways a Minimalistic Lifestyle Can Relieve Stress in Your Life

While riding my stationary bike and flipping through Netflix last night, I came across Minimalism: A Documentary by Matt D’Avella. Since one of my recent breakthroughs has been decluttering my home and mind, I thought I’d watch the documentary and pick up any tips I might have missed.

While the film isn’t particularly instructive and is a bit slow at times, I felt the main cast members did a good job of highlighting the emotional effects paring down can bring.

Many of the points they brought up I had also found in my own life. Last year I read the book The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo. I really loved her techniques for decluttering by category, as opposed to by room.

I also appreciated how she recommended the decluttering process be done only once. Her techniques helped Chris and I immensely as we moved into a new apartment and ruthlessly went through every box of possessions we owned. We ended up keeping only about 10% of our items, and one of us comments almost daily about how spacious and comfortable our new place feels.

With that in mind, I would like to share with you the top five ways extensive decluttering brought us happiness.

5 Ways a Minimalistic Lifestyle Can Relieve Cognitive Stress in Your Life

Minimalism Reduces Stress. You can’t find the right size baking dish, your five year old is sobbing because her favorite toy has been misplaced, your home looks like a small tornado went through it, and you have company arriving in 15 minutes. Sound familiar?

Now imagine your home devoid of clutter. A few pieces of nice furniture decorate your living room, and your counter tops and table tops are perfectly empty. Nothing escapes from your cabinets as you open them. A single gorgeous framed photo draws attention to the opposite wall. Can you feel your blood pressure drop just imagining this scenario?

It Improves Clarity. Have you ever sat down to study for a test or do your taxes, and noticed that it’s almost impossible to focus when your surroundings are messy? This has always been a big struggle for me. My creativity and productivity drop immensely when I’m not working in a clean and bright area. Think about what you could accomplish if you lived in a home like this. What life changing things would you focus on if you had the chance?

Your Well Being Will Improve. Have you ever thought about your dream home, and it was cluttered? Doubtful. I bet you imagined a picture perfect home with a small amount of nice furniture and nothing laying about unnecessarily. You breathe a sigh of relief when you walk in the door, and proceed to take a relaxing bubble bath with fresh white towels.

Keeping Your Home Clean and Organized is a Cinch. Your father-in-law is dropping by in 15 minutes? No problem. Everything is in its place. Cleaning your home takes just 20 minutes from start to finish, and you only do it a few times a week. Your evenings are dedicated to spending time with your family and enjoying yourself, rather than stressing about the pile of laundry on the couch that grows bigger by the day.

Minimalism Makes You Happy! You have no trouble figuring out what to wear in the morning. You don’t waste time looking for lost items. Your paperwork is in order. The newfound clarity in your life allows you to focus on what’s really important.

What dreams could you make come true if you had the time and focus to prioritize them?

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