How Minimalism Can Benefit Mental Health

Minimalism is a lifestyle and design that emphasizes the reduction of the unnecessary. People who ascribe to minimalism believe in a less-is-more philosophy, in which the absence of clutter and excess leads to a more meaningful and fulfilling life. The minimalist design aesthetic is characterized by clean lines, simple forms, and a neutral color palette.

Minimalism can also be applied to the way one lives. A minimalist lifestyle is one in which you only own the things you truly need, and you live simply and sustainably. This can lead to several benefits, including reduced stress, increased financial freedom, and a greater sense of happiness.

Core Values

Let’s look at some of the values that are common to minimalist lifestyles and designs:

Simplicity: Minimalism is about simplifying your life, both physically and mentally. This can mean decluttering your home, reducing your commitments, and focusing on the things that are truly important to you. This commitment to simplicity requires an ability to set boundaries around your time and choices, as well as a willingness to say “no” to things that don’t fit in those boundaries.

Sustainability: Minimalism is about living in a way that is sustainable for the planet. This can mean reducing your consumption, recycling, composting, and buying products that are made from sustainable materials.

There is a bit of a catch with this value. Let’s say you want to use glass instead of plastic because you don’t want to fill landfills with plastic. That is great, however, you can use the plastic you own instead of immediately replacing it with glass. Sustainability does not mean you scrap everything and start from scratch. Instead, focus on making good use of the items you already have.

Intentionality: Minimalism is about being intentional about the choices you make. This can mean choosing to buy only things that you truly need and using your time and energy on things that are meaningful to you. In a culture of cheap and easy shopping, this intentionality gives you the ability to look at things with a more critical eye. You can be patient when making the choices of what you want to do, and how you want to spend your time and money, and not just be trendy.

“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” – William Morris

Gratitude: Minimalism is about being grateful for the things you have. This can mean taking time to appreciate the simple things in life and expressing gratitude to the people who make your life better. By redirecting your thoughts to what you already have, you will find yourself less likely to struggle with feelings of envy or covetousness. You can see how green your grass truly is.

Benefits of Minimalism

Some of the things that Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount reflect the benefits of minimalism and they include:

Reduced stress: When you have less stuff, you have less to worry about. This can lead to a reduction in stress and anxiety and a greater sense of peace and well-being. Taking care of stuff all the time can be exhausting.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:19-21, NIV

Increased financial freedom: When you only buy the things you truly need, you can save money. This can give you more financial freedom to do the things you love, such as travel, invest in your education, or start a business. While the need for money exists in the culture we live in, we do not have to be consumed by the accumulation of money.

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” – Matthew 6:24, NIV

Greater sense of happiness: When you live a more intentional and sustainable life, you can experience a greater sense of happiness and well-being. This is because you are focusing on the things that are truly important to you, and you are making choices that are aligned with your values.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” – Matthew 6:25-27, NIV

A closer relationship with God: There is no guarantee that by pursuing God you will have external peace, but no amount of stuff can replace the peace that God adds to your life. By setting aside stuff, you create space to build your relationship with God.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:33, NIV

How to Become a Minimalist

If you are interested in adopting a minimalist lifestyle, there are a few things you can do:

• Start by decluttering your home. Get rid of anything you don’t use or need. This can be a difficult process, but it is essential to creating a minimalist home. Don’t feel that you have to do it all in one go. A little bit at a time is ok.
• Reduce your commitments. Cut back on the number of activities you participate in, and only do the things you truly enjoy. This can free up your time and energy for the things that are truly important to you.
• Choose quality over quantity. When you buy something, choose something that is high-quality and will last. This will help you avoid buying things that you will eventually end up throwing away.
• Be grateful for what you have. Take time to appreciate the simple things in life, and express gratitude to the people who make your life better. This will help you to be more content and happier with what you have.

A warning about performative minimalism

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 6:1, NIV.

It is easy to fall into the trap of performative minimalism. The aesthetic of social media, the trends, the newest decluttering book, all of these can become distractions from the value that minimalism is ostensibly adding to your life. There is a temptation to become self-important and vain about your minimalist lifestyle.

There is also a weird amount of consumerism that can occur, the buying of organizational tools, the capsule wardrobes, etc. It is a pendulum swinging in the opposite direction but doing the same thing. The practice of self-reflection can help you determine if you have taken minimalism too far.

Minimalism is a journey, not a destination. It is about making choices that are in alignment with your values and living a life that is simple, sustainable, and fulfilling. No matter where you are on the journey of minimalism there are a few ways that a counselor can help you.

Contact us to make an appointment with one of the counselors in our directory. Ask your counselor to help you work out whether the choices you are making align with the values of minimalism. Having an objective perspective is a great tool for uncovering your values and goals on the journey.