Is A Minimalist Life Accessible for All?
Is A Minimalist Life Accessible for All?
7 practical solutions for facing obstacles head on
An intentional life that prioritizes experiences and loved ones over stuff is minimalism in a nutshell. There’s no correct number of items in your closet that lets you into the club. There aren’t any sad, empty rooms or pantries with only dry crackers. A minimalist life —at least in theory —is accessible to all.
Years ago, when I was learning more about minimalism, I felt like I couldn’t possibly meet all the requirements to fit in. I have specific health concerns, and I felt defeated when I learned that many sustainable minimalists are vegan.
With fatigue and a growing list of other obligations (like three children) I couldn’t devote my precious energy to such a major life transformation. But while there will always be obstacles standing in the way of a minimalist life for some of us, we can continue to make strides toward intentionality anyway.
What if you can’t do it all?
You may be tempted to assume that if you can’t go all out you may as well give up.
But if you can’t run fast enough for the Olympics, do you give up jogging altogether? Of course not, because every step helps you work toward your individual goals.
If life has thrown obstacles in your path, work around them to move toward a life full of value and meaning rather than throwing in the towel when your journey doesn’t match the versions you’ve seen on social media.
If you eliminate excess from your life, you’re a minimalist. Every action you take toward living with purpose is a step in the right direction, whether you take thousands of steps or just a few.
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What are some obstacles to living a minimalist life?
Anchors.
Folks with chronic illness can be both emotionally and physically encumbered by their disease.
How can I be a minimalist when I have a massive filing cabinet filled with original medical documents?
How can I pursue eco-friendliness when prescription drugs regularly arrive on dry ice to my front door?
The talk of untethering yourself from what brings you down is tempting but exclusionary for folks with challenges.
Physical challenges.
A person with rheumatoid arthritis may not be able to refold every piece of clothing in their drawers.
Someone going through an MS relapse won’t be hauling bags to the dump.
Modify the decluttering process to suit your needs and reach out for help wherever possible. An intentional life is too precious to be excluded from just because you have physical challenges.
Kids.
Having children who love toys doesn’t preclude you from living with less.
Focus on your own belongings first and then lead by example, suggesting experiences as gifts rather than more blocks.
Every small change shapes the trajectory of your life and theirs, even if you are living with some very maximalist kids.
The same goes for your partner: you can still practice minimalism while loving a collector.
Style.
Minimalist art and décor are popular, but they aren’t the point.
If you’re focusing on being present in your own life, you don’t need all white modern furnishings to prove it.
You can absolutely be a minimalist with paisley wallpaper and a crystal chandelier. Loving what surrounds you will bring you joy, so don’t attempt to conform to what you think a decluttered life should look like.
Actions you can take right now to live a minimalist life:
1. Clear out the digital clutter.
Unsubscribe from junk emails, unfollow accounts that don’t lift your spirits, and delete apps that might be slowing down your device.
Here’s a handy guide for removing your name from unsolicited marketing lists.
2. Start with trash.
It requires less mental and emotional energy to responsibly discard items that have no value to you, so clear out everything that is obviously not serving you like expired spices and skincare products or damaged clothing that can’t be repaired.
3. Take inventory before you buy.
My autoimmune disease can’t be fixed by Amazon, so I look for a solution for new symptoms in the products I already own.
If I’m still convinced I need something new, I research and read reviews and buy just one thing, then return it right away if it doesn’t work out. I don’t want to live in museum of failed “fixes,” and neither do you.
4. Streamline your habits.
Clutter on the floor, a complicated morning routine, overflowing closets, and more: such literal obstacles keep you from finding what you need right away.
Eliminate anything that hinders everyday tasks. Organize your necessary items and slash into lost time when you only have so much energy to spare.
Don’t waste your strength digging through drawers when you could use it on hobbies that bring you joy.
5. Differentiate between obligations and options.
Chronically ill folks know their capacity is limited some days. Don’t spend an ounce of your stores on something that isn’t important to you.
6. Ask for help.
If your challenges impede your progress, reach out to friends and family for assistance. Explain that you are cutting out distractions and preserving your peace and energy for things that matter the most.
7. Hone in on your goals.
With less clutter, you can focus on what you want from life.
Drill down on one specific obstacle or symptom that is holding you back and devote more of your newfound energy to working with your doctor toward better quality of life.
The final word
Practicing your own unique brand of minimalism will free up time and mental space.
The more obstacles you clear out of the way, the clearer you make your path toward a fulfilling, intentional life.
Every step toward your goal is crucial, even if all the steps aren’t available to you.
There is no trophy for living in a museum to modern design or only owning three shirts: the reward is a life you designed yourself and the freedom to live it.
Katherine Davis is a writer living in El Paso, Texas with her husband and three children. She writes about about minimalism, chronic illness, parenting, marriage, food, and life in the Southwest at wildthingsblog.com.
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