Why choose minimalism

Starting as a young professional, I wanted nice things for myself. I wanted a lot of them. When I started living alone more than a decade back, I bought stuff to fill and decorate my studio unit. I bought a set of knives: I've got one for meat, for vegetables, for peeling, for dicing. (I don't even like sharp objects! They scare me!) bought a set of plates. I bought wine glasses. I even had my rags color coded. I had a specific stuff for a specific stuff. As you might've already predicted, I was able to use them probably four times in a span of more than a decade. I piled up on stuff I thought I needed but didn't.

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I sank into depression a few years back. My anxiety attacks came in frequently. And let me tell you, one of the things that help me overcame my anxiety is by letting go of things that don't serve me anymore. Literally and figuratively, slowly letting go of stuff is one of the best things (aside from being vegan) that I did for myself. As I chose minimalism as a lifestyle, I slowly felt I was having more mental space for the things that really matter. I was able to lessen my spending. I was also able to manage my lifestyle in an uncomplicated manner.

Minimalism is good for your mental health. Each of the thing you possess is a mental representation of something you carry in your head. A lot of times, in my case, I compensate my loneliness for buying things I would need for when I have visitors. Most often, I bought stuff to make sure I had something to entertain my guests with. As you might've predicted as well, I seldom had visitors.

When I started embracing minimalism, I also found myself becoming more disciplined in choosing what I need. I started giving away (or selling) some of my stuff. I realized many of the things I bought I didn't even remember buying or why I even bought them. The things I bought for a specific purpose never really fulfilled their purpose. I mean seriously, who lives alone and needs five knives? I could just imagine how I could've maximized saving by not spending a lot.

I also experience that it's easier to own just a few useful stuff. I like being able to manage my stuff easily. I realize I didn't need fifty undergarments. I didn't need over a hundred pieces of shirts. I didn't need more than ten pairs of shoes. It took a lot of my time thinking about what I would be wearing on a daily basis. Thing is people didn't even notice.

I now understand why Mark Zuckerberg wears the same combination everyday! I get to focus my energy on more important stuff rather than compensating with my insecurity through what I wear or trying to impress others.

If there's one thing I'd like to have more of, it's a fat savings account and choosing minimalism is allowing me to do that bit by bit. Embrace minimalism and enjoy having more mental space, curbing your bad spending habits, and managing your lifestyle.