Minimalism - a lifestyle option

I stumbled across some YouTube vids on minimalism as as way of living and I've watched a few now. Cut to the chase: getting rid of everything you don't need or love and then continuing to live in that style.

As an example, vids lke this:



It has made me think. I have always been a collector; I like "stuff" and I don't like getting rid of it. But my loft and shelves are full of "stuff" and much of it I don't look at, let alone use. Am I collecting some things just for the sake of collecting? What is driving me to keep stuff - and why do I feel sad at the thought of not having it?

Hmmn. I like my "stuff" but, sometimes, I also feel overwhelmed by it. Could I cut back? Could I get rid of lots of "stuff"?

What do you think? Have you ever considered minimalism as a lifestyle before? Would it suit you?

I find it all rather dull and sterile, i like having stuff, as i sit here typing i can look around and see no less than 12 mini eiffel towers of varying sizes, and a whole bunch of lucky cats.

I certainly wouldn’t do it as a lifestyle option, but I tend to like things to be uncluttered and I am not bothered by physically owning things like games, CDs, books or magazines.

I have a wife and a 2 year old though so my home is a strawberry floating mess most of the time.

I like the concept as I generally don't like clutter but I also like having stuff so no, minimalist living isn't for me.

I like the idea of a minimalist lifestyle. I don't need nor want a big living space, or lots of things. I think to an extent I do live minimally, as I don't have a lot of "normal stuff" that most people do. I have a very limited wardrobe, I don't have a TV or a radio or a landline phone, and I do tend to throw things away (to a charity shop / recycling) when I'm done with them.

IMO you can definitely have a collection of things (like mini Eiffel towers or games or anime figurines...) and still be minimalist. Minimalism is about making a decision - "yes, I want to keep this, it brings me happiness" - about everything you own. It's not about owning as few things as possible per se though that is a natural consequence of trimming stuff you don't really like.

Yeah, I don't think it'd suit everyone. I just wonder if - personally - I have too much "stuff"; is it controlling me in terms of money, space and time... or does it bring me enjoyment?

It's a hard balance as I'm an out-and-out collector. I have piles of old gaming mags and games in the loft that are just sat there. I love them... or, I used to love them.. and I've always been reticent about getting rid of them. I think I'd get physical pain if I did get rid of them.

But... I'm thinking. Do I really need all that stuff? Why?

I'm never gonna get rid of all my games but maybe I could feel better with far fewer. And not just games, either; I am definitely not up on fashion but I do keep clothes that I never wear - things that take up space. And, personally, I feel calmer in clear spaces.

It's odd as I've never considered minimalism before but, just from watching a few of these vids over past days, I can see aspects that appeal. Could I be calmer and happier with that kind of approach to living? I need to think about that.

Karl_ wrote:...I don't have a TV or a radio or a landline phone...

. Karl, that is an unusual approach! Do you watch programmes via your computer, or do you choose not to watch stuff? It's quite intriguing!

Karl_ wrote:...IMO you can definitely have a collection of things (like mini Eiffel towers or games or anime figurines...) and still be minimalist. Minimalism is about making a decision - "yes, I want to keep this, it brings me happiness" - about everything you own. It's not about owning as few things as possible per se though that is a natural consequence of trimming stuff you don't really like.

Absolutely, man. I would never get rid of all of, say, my gaming stuff; but I'm wondering if I could feel calmer and more content with a far smaller collection. Similarly with CDs and books... maybe I would better appreciate the things that I have, and desire to have, if I only kept those things that truly delight me. It's an interesting thought.

jawafour wrote:Yeah, I don't think it'd suit everyone. I just wonder if - personally - I have too much "stuff"; is it controlling me in terms of money, space and time... or does it bring me enjoyment?

It's a hard balance as I'm an out-and-out collector. I have piles of old gaming mags and games in the loft that are just sat there. I love them... or, I used to love them.. and I've always been reticent about getting rid of them. I think I'd get physical pain if I did get rid of them.

But... I'm thinking. Do I really need all that stuff? Why?

I'm never gonna get rid of all my games but maybe I could feel better with far fewer. And not just games, either; I am definitely not up on fashion but I do keep clothes that I never wear - things that take up space. And, personally, I feel calmer in clear spaces.

It's odd as I've never considered minimalism before but, just from watching a few of these vids over past days, I can see aspects that appeal. Could I be calmer and happier with that kind of approach to living? I need to think about that.

If you like having the stuff and you are not a crazy hoarder, then what’s the harm in keeping it?

Moggy wrote:If you like having the stuff and you are not a crazy hoarder, then what’s the harm in keeping it?

... .

Not so much hoarding... but, yeah, I can be a little too keen on "collecting" and "keeping". Especially over the past decade or so.

I don't know if this will be a flash in the pan or if I'll do anything about it. But, for the first time (ever?) I'm thinking that slimming "stuff" down could be an option; as well as having a longer term target of changing my thinking towards an ongoing minimalist / essentialist approach.

Maybe.

Not for me. I like being surrounded by things I like. The more the better. That said I don't like clutter and am quite a tidy person.

I like having things. I also like being tidy. It's possible to do both.

OrangeRKN wrote:I like having things. I also like being tidy. It's possible to do both.

Yup

jawafour wrote:

Moggy wrote:If you like having the stuff and you are not a crazy hoarder, then what’s the harm in keeping it?

... .

Gemini73 wrote:...The more the better. That said I don't like clutter and am quite a tidy person.

OrangeRKN wrote:I like having things. I also like being tidy. It's possible to do both.

Oh, absolutely, guys. Don't get me wrong - although I have "stuff" around I am also a bit of a neat-freak; I don't like untidyness. I think it's this last aspect that is a factor in me exploring minimalism. It's more - I think - about focusing in on your main loves and getting rid of those things that aren't a part of that.

Moggy wrote:...

...I'm not quite that bad . Not quite!

I live in a trash heap.

Moggy wrote:I certainly wouldn’t do it as a lifestyle option, but I tend to like things to be uncluttered and I am not bothered by physically owning things like games, CDs, books or magazines.

I have a wife and a 2 year old though so my home is a strawberry floating mess most of the time.

Your wife is that messy?

jawafour wrote:

Karl_ wrote:...I don't have a TV or a radio or a landline phone...

. Karl, that is an unusual approach! Do you watch programmes via your computer, or do you choose not to watch stuff? It's quite intriguing!

A bit of both. I don't have anything against TV as a medium -- it started out that I didn't want to lug one up to student halls, and I just never felt the need to buy one after that. But it does mean I watch a fair bit less TV than most people, which is perhaps a good thing, and I think it's maybe healthy that the shows I do watch are those I made a conscious choice to go and find on a streaming service. (Mostly anime, which makes me laugh even if it's not very stimulating, and Star Trek at the moment.)

Don't get me wrong though, I'm not some clean mind guru, I just procrastinate and consume crap in other ways (funny cat videos, j-pop, reading hot takes on Twitter/Reddit...).

jawafour wrote:

Moggy wrote:If you like having the stuff and you are not a crazy hoarder, then what’s the harm in keeping it?

... .

Not so much hoarding... but, yeah, I can be a little too keen on "collecting" and "keeping". Especially over the past decade or so.

I don't know if this will be a flash in the pan or if I'll do anything about it. But, for the first time (ever?) I'm thinking that slimming "stuff" down could be an option; as well as having a longer term target of changing my thinking towards an ongoing minimalist / essentialist approach.

Maybe.

I'll help you get rid of your "stuff" I'll pm you my address and you can send me all your physical games new and retro please. Oh, you won't need all those Japanese consoles either. I won't be paying though, oh no, I'm doing you a favour by helping you get rid of your "stuff".

Pedz wrote:

Moggy wrote:I certainly wouldn’t do it as a lifestyle option, but I tend to like things to be uncluttered and I am not bothered by physically owning things like games, CDs, books or magazines.

I have a wife and a 2 year old though so my home is a strawberry floating mess most of the time.

Your wife is that messy?

Not really but she does sometimes read the forum and I like to leave little messages of abuse about her as payback for her spying on me.

Karl_ wrote:

jawafour wrote:

Karl_ wrote:...I don't have a TV or a radio or a landline phone...

. Karl, that is an unusual approach! Do you watch programmes via your computer, or do you choose not to watch stuff? It's quite intriguing!

A bit of both. I don't have anything against TV as a medium -- it started out that I didn't want to lug one up to student halls, and I just never felt the need to buy one after that. But it does mean I watch a fair bit less TV than most people, which is perhaps a good thing, and I think it's maybe healthy that the shows I do watch are those I made a conscious choice to go and find on a streaming service. (Mostly anime, which makes me laugh even if it's not very stimulating, and Star Trek at the moment.)

Don't get me wrong though, I'm not some clean mind guru, I just procrastinate and consume crap in other ways (funny cat videos, j-pop, reading hot takes on Twitter/Reddit...).

Are you one of those annoying people that spend huge amounts of time on Facebook boasting about not owning a TV?