5 Reasons I love Minimalism! + Announcing Minimalism Series

Since minimalism is the single most important factor to me feeling heaps of happiness in my life today I want to start sharing the amazing thing of minimalism, yet with a little 'Mark Twist'. (That's me, I'm Mark, in case you didn't know yet :P).

{Image Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/green-wooden-chair-on-white-surface-963486/]

Announcement

I'm going to do a weekly post about minimalism every Tuesday, so if this post is interesting to you, make sure to look out for the next one this Tuesday!

Warning

First of all, whenever it comes to one of these 'things' that people are so enthusiastic about, don't over-do it. Think about steemit. Have you tried to tell someone about steemit? And how did they respond? Did they think it's good idea, are they happy for you, or do they think it is bullshit? I also thought minimalism was bullshit, just as vegetarianism and so many other isms. So if this post, or the posts to come are too intense for you, just remember, you don't have to be as extreme in doing something as others, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't do it at all. For instance: I'm not a vegetarian, but I did cut back eating meat to a maximum of once every 2 weeks. And even though this is not as 'good' as eating no meat, it still helps.

Materialism or Extension?

I love minimalism because I haven't limited it to materialistic stuff, which is what most people talk about, yet I have extended it. I will be talking about this way more starting Tuesday, but for now, I will limit this post to materialistic minimalism. (Which means, getting rid of stuff you don't use or need, like in my case, my TV because I watch Netflix on my laptop.

#1 Serenity

The first thing I love about minimalism is that, I have less stuff in my house. Less stuff that I can lose or misplace, less stuff I have to clean, less stuff I have to pay for, and less stuff I have to worry about breaking down. They say a tidy house will result in a clear mind and I honestly believe that, having less and less stuff lying around my living room and kitchen makes me feel extremely relaxed during the day and evening.

#2 Money

Money. Ever since I'm trying to minimalise I have soooo much more money. It is just ridiculous. First of all, I sold stuff I don't use, and second I I don't have any more impulse purchases. You know those, "oh wow that is a cool shirt, let's buy it" purchases that later on you come to regret. I only buy something if I really and truly have a use for it. And this can be a fun or emotional use just as well as a practical use. Basically, I don't spend money on stuff I'm hardly gonna use.

#3 Elegance

Since I now have less stuff, I need less space. Therefore I can live in a smaller house, which in turn of course results in lower rent, but it also feels as though I'm not just living in a gearbox filled with stuff. I have just enough rooms for what I want to do, a bedroom, a kitchen and a living room. I also have an office space and this is just perfect. What's the point of living somewhere with 6 rooms and having all of them filled with stuff? I like the elegance of not taking up more space then needed. In turn the space I do use is empty and calms me down.

#4 Mobility

Okay, I don't move every year, but recently I have moved every 2 years, and simply lugging all that stuff around with me is a massive pain in the neck. By having less stuff, I can simply rent a small trailer and move to another place in a few drives. Whereas before I needed to get a big truck. This makes it easier to move around and makes me feel less tied down.

#5 Footprint

Because of the way I purchase or mainly not purchase items I decrease my organic footprint on earth. Less stuff has to be made, transported and repaired. Again, I use less space to live. I also sell my stuff to other people who then do not need to go out and buy something new. Therefore I'm much more environmentally friendly then I was with my previous lifestyle. I also got rid of my motorbike and car because I simply hardly used them. This also contributes to less parking space being needed outside, and less carbon dioxide, etc etc.

Conclusion

This is just some practical stuff, but minimalism can take you places you cannot even imagine. I honestly feel as if I have been carrying a 20 lbs backpack my whole life and now I set it down on the floor. I feel so light all day, you have no idea. I love feeling this way, and if you want to put down the weight on your shoulders, you should read my next post on Tuesday.

Follow me on steemit! www.steemit.com/@markdeheide for more posts!