What Minimalism Is and Isn't

Since late August, I've been exploring what it looks like to pursue a minimalist approach to life. Here are some of my insights into what Minimalism is & isn't:

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1. It's a slow going, thought out process.

You don't throw things away at random. There's a process to it all. Even phases of clearing items out. Like going through my clothes, for example. I'm now doing my third round of organizing & clearing out. It takes time to sift through each individual item in your house to determine whether it serves you or steals from you. And that's okay! You want to make wise decisions as to what is allowed into & out of your home.

2. It isn't eliminating your personal style.

I used to think that becoming a minimalist meant giving up my personal style in order to become more organized as a household. As it turns out, I haven't had to give up my personal style (think cozy farmhouse) and replace it with something else. In fact, minimalist living has caused the personal style of our house to be more complementary to who we are as a family & what we value. Your walls are only filled with things that you absolutely love & that genuinely reflect your style.

3. It isn't about perfection.

Another myth that I personally believed: minimalist living = perfection.This couldn't be further from the truth. It's about having a place in your home for everything. It means that you still have a junk drawer. Minimalist living means that everything that you use has purpose. (Back to the serve or steal concept.) If something doesn't fit, you donate, or trash it!

4. It's freedom-giving.

I didn't realize how much the clutter in my house was weighing me down mentally & emotionally until I started to eliminate some of it! Say goodbye to overwhelming stacks of dishes on the counter & say hello to more time to spend on others (and on some much needed self care!) Minimalism brings about the freedom to focus your energy on things other than cleaning & maintaining possessions. If you're feeling overwhelmed with the responsibilities in your life, eliminating some clutter can be the fastest way to get out of that rut! Less stuff to maintain = less responsibilities.

xo, Alyssa