Organizing everyday thoughts is not easy. As you attend an online work meeting, you don’t notice that your child has spilled orange juice all over the carpet. When driving to the mall, you forget to take an immediate left turn! Do you find time to stay present and pay attention to your thoughts in the hustle to fulfill obligations? This rush to be productive causes us to miss out on the present.
In the study of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by Kearney and his colleagues (2018), they defined mindfulness as “the awareness that emerges by paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgementally to the unfolding of experience moment by moment.”
This practice of experiencing every moment encourages a minimalist lifestyle as it allows you to pay attention to important matters and people.
Living Less is All About Feeling More
A minimalist mindset cultivates an intentional and simple lifestyle. Learning to live on less through decluttering your thoughts, possessions, and even social circles do not mean you choose to live cheaply, picky, or in shortage. Instead, to live with a minimalist mindset means nurturing the people, thoughts, experiences, and possessions that allow you to feel growth, contentment, and happiness.
The Shift Towards Feeling More
Two years ago, I encountered a difficult moment in my life. Feeling desperate to stay grounded amid academic and personal obligations, I sought out podcasts on minimalism that advised on managing thoughts and personal space. And it was The Maximized Minimalist Apple podcast by Katy Joy Wells that introduced me to the ways of living a more minimalistic life amid adversities.
You can achieve a more fulfilling and intentional life today! Start your mindful journey through the following ways:
Declutter your personal and digital space. The road towards a simpler life starts when you throw away or discard the items that no longer serve you. I hoarded many clothes, objects, pictures, and files, thinking they would do a vital purpose again. Eventually, the stockpile of possessions amounted to clutter in both my personal and digital space, which led me to feel accountable for items that no longer deserve a space in my life.
Check your list of friends and social circles. I agree that having many friends and being a part of social groups is fun because you get to know different personalities, and they contribute to your growth. But it is essential to evaluate your friend groups: Are they contributing to your growth? Do they make you feel confident and appreciated? Or do they give daily gossip and share the latest drama? Reflecting on your friend groups does not make you selfish. It allows you to let go of unwanted energy from unhealthy environments to create extra space for the right ones.
Know your priorities and delegate the rest. A cluttered mind is a product of not knowing your priorities and failing to delegate tasks. Understanding your limitations allows you to take the initiative on the essential things while assigning the rest to others. In this way, you reduce the amount of work on your shoulders while still ensuring the quality of work.
Avoid purchasing unnecessary items. A minimalist knows that purchasing unnecessary household items or clothing will create clutter in their personal space. Learning to manage your expenses and direct your finances on more important things saves you the burden of potential debt.
Start valuing experiences and memories. The moment you dedicate your life to living less, you start appreciating the simplest experiences and feelings. Instead of thinking about what clothing piece, gadget, or object to purchase, you begin investing your time, attention, and energy in relationships and learning opportunities that prompt your personal and professional growth.
Mindfulness Means Living on Less
Building a mindful approach in life is not easy, and it does not happen overnight.
On social media, the ideas of “hustle” and “productivity” are commended. Although these concepts reflect one’s passions and goals, they create pressure that everyone is expected to be in a frenzy of activity in their everyday plan, creating distress and scattered thoughts.
Learning to embrace mindfulness means taking the time to be more present amid responsibilities. This is possible when you start to declutter your space, evaluate your environments, purchase less, and value experiences.
Developing minimalistic habits allows you the privilege of staying connected with your thoughts and feelings because you declutter unnecessary load and baggage. You start being more present for the important people and events in your life.
The moment you practice living less than more, you will feel more satisfied and grateful for everything you have.
