Minimalism has changed my life. I’m less stressed, I spend less money, and I value experiences over items.

In October 2018, I wrote the following blog:

“Did you know that I’m a complete nerd about minimalism? I’ve been a self-defined “minimalist” for maybe three-ish years now, but the story of how I got to this point goes back a bit further.

Growing up, I was actually a hoarder. If you know me now, you may not believe it but I seriously kept everything. I wouldn’t even throw away legitimate trash (like, not even an empty Capri Sun or Chick-fil-A kids meal bag). I have no clue what was wrong with me. I felt attached to all items, and had a hard time letting go. When I was eleven, our family moved states and it was like a switch flipped. I went from hoarder to neat freak. Well…sort of. I still had a lot of stuff but all of it was suddenly kept nicely organized. My room went from always being messy to always being organized.

A few years and another move across states later, I followed a lady on Instagram (@mytinytribe), who posted about her journey with minimalism. She referenced The Minimalists, and I was hooked. I started watching videos and listening to their podcast. I read their book. A light bulb went off for me. Pretty soon I was purging all kinds of excess stuff from my life. It was liberating.

When they released their documentary, Kemper bought me two tickets to the Dallas premiere. I even got to meet The Minimalists, Josh and Ryan, themselves!! Told ya I was a total nerd about it 😉

Minimalism helps me align with my priorities.

When I remove all of the extra, I’m left with the things I truly LOVE. For example, my closet only consists of items I feel good in. When I walk in, I can easily pick any outfit and know that I’ll love it. It removes the stress of finding something to wear, and makes the process super simplified. Minimalism goes beyond material items, though. I also thrive on a simplified schedule, a simplified diet, and a simplified budget.

To me, minimalism feels more and more natural the longer I live this way. Sometimes it’s even weird to call myself a “minimalist”. But it just seems right. For me, it’s not a strict discipline either. It’s something I find truly beneficial to the flow of my life. I can feel the disruption and chaos creeping in when I stray from simplistic living.

A life of less gives me more.

More headspace.

More freedom.

More money.

More energy. More joy. More peace. More purpose. More time.

I understand minimalism sounds ‘extreme’. It may not be for everyone. But, if you can’t help but feel like maybe, just maybe, there’s an alternative to this hamster wheel of life, I challenge you to explore it.”

3 years later, Minimalism is still a part of my life

Fast forward to 2021. I’m now married, a dog mom, and have moved across states once AGAIN! And, I’m still finding joy in minimalism. It still brings me peace. It still allows me to give my energy to the things I prioritize. It still works, six years later.

Minimalism isn’t a one-size-fits-all method.

If your passion is books and you want to have a library full, then by all means – keep all the books!! But if you spend hours in your closet sorting just to find an ‘okay’ outfit, you should probably look at minimizing it. Minimalism is designed to remove pain points. Try it out in one area of your life, and see how you feel. You just might find that in the end your days run smoother, you love everything you own, and you have more time and energy for your passions. Because that my friend, is always the goal 😉

I love you dearly, and I can’t wait to chat more about the specifics of my minimalism journey! Let me know, what are you going to minimize first?