5 Things You Can Learn About Minimalism From Marie Kondo

Minimalism is about only living with what is necessary. It’s a philosophy centered on intentionally getting rid of excesses and living life based on experiences rather than worldly possessions. It is a way to declutter and bring more simplicity into your life.

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Marie Kondo is a best-selling author and star of the Netflix series “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.” She is a Japanese organizing consultant and author who has received worldwide recognition for her books on organizing. Through her work, she has helped many people find more clarity in their lives.

There’s a lot that can be picked up about minimalism and the secret to decluttering from her books and even her lifestyle. Here are some of the lessons about minimalism that Marie Kondo teaches. 

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Clearing Clutter Helps Make Space For Real Joy

According to Marie Kondo, clearing clutter isn’t just practical but is also healthy. Less stuff that clutters our space and our mind can help us be more attuned to what we feel and think. Psychologists also agree that a sense of external order can promote internal productivity.

Ask Yourself If You Need It

The lion’s share of the minimalist philosophy is living with only that which is necessary. For this to take root, one needs to ask themselves a few questions.

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Do I need this? Have I used this recently? Is this important to me? If and when the time comes that I do need it, would it set me back financially if I do not have it? Decluttering should be about making your life easier. Therefore, you should get rid of unnecessary items.

Minimalism Is Only A Virtue When It’s A Choice

What about those who have less and it’s not by choice? This is a common question asked by many. The truth of the matter is that minimalism can only be a choice and not a force of circumstance.

Giving people the freedom to practice minimalism by their own free will allows them to reap the benefits of practicing this philosophy. It also allows people to see the importance of minimalism for one’s psychological well-being. However, it is only by making this choice that the psychological benefits can be felt.

Minimalism Doesn’t Always Have To Be Extreme

Everyone’s version of minimalism is unique and personal to them. Minimalism is not about following someone else’s rules or way of living as a minimalist. It’s about figuring out what is important to you and getting rid of everything that’s distracting you from what you consider important. 

Whatever you decide is important to you will be unique to you. So, of course, your version of minimalism may or may not be extreme, depending on what you want to cut out and what you want to focus on.

Minimalism Isn’t Gradable

You can’t be a good or bad minimalist. There’s no scale or scheme to decide who is better at minimalism than the other. It’s a personal philosophy that is unique to everyone. Everyone has a different interpretation of what minimalism means to them and their reasons for practicing it.

The best thing is to read about the philosophy and learn about other people’s versions of minimalism. This will help inspire you to custom-make the version that will be ideal for you.

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Bottom Line

The goal of pursuing minimalism is to give yourself the time, space and freedom to enjoy your life and the things and people you value most. Hopefully these tips will help you get a good start!