5 GREAT Things Minimalists Have More Of!
As I write this I’m in the post vacation glow of our trip to Belgium and France. That’s right, Europe!
Honestly there was a time when I thought I would never be able to go anywhere like that. I’m just a small town girl from the “Wild West” and I clean houses for a living.
But here’s the thing, we were able to go because we keep life simple. In fact for all the things we don’t have there are lots of things minimalists have more of. What kinds of things? Well, I’m about to tell you and maybe when I’m done you will want to be a minimalist too!
Things Minimalists Have Less Of
You might be surprised to hear that there are things minimalists have more of. You always thought of minimalists having less and you are absolutely right. Minimalists try to have less stuff. Sometimes a lot less stuff and sometimes a little less stuff. It depends on the minimalist. But stuff isn’t the only thing minimalists have less of.
Because we have less stuff we often need less space to store it which means less rent. We only purchase stuff we actually need and so we usually have less debt and maybe even less work. Because we choose to have less stuff we are often less obligated to the normal course of our consumer society and that means that there a lot of things that minimalists have more of, and those things are things at all.
Things Minimalists Have More Of
Obviously being a minimalist comes with sacrfices. It’s a countercultural way to live because it opposes the consumer society we live in. We all know we don’t need lots of stuff but it so fun and tempting and easy to get it!
The question is, if you are going to sacrifice for the minimalist lifestyle, is it worth it? What are you going to replace all that stuff with? Let’s talk about all the things minimalists have more of and you can decide for yourself!
Most Minimalists Have More Time
Did you know that your average minimalist has 34 hours in their day instead of that measly 24 you are used to?
Just kidding!
Of course minimalists have the same amount of time as everyone else but their 24 hour allotment seems to stretch further. Why? Because minimalists have to learn to say no. They say no to stuff they don’t need so they don’t have to take time taking care of it. They say no to obligations that aren’t worth the effort and they even say no to social events if they need rest instead.
Usually a minimalist will have a smaller home, fewer toys and less work because they simply say no to the consumer society and it’s requirements. And having less to take care of means minimalists end up having a lot more time!
Minimalist Have More Money
Well, it might go without saying but minimalists have money. I promise I’m not being snooty. I’m still a small town cleaning lady. I’ve been broke and I’ve had big bad bills but in the grand scheme of things my husband and have gone on some amazing trips and simultaneously gotten completely out of debt because we are minimalists.
The math is simple. When you keep life as simple as possible and you are very conscious about what you buy, more money stays in your bank account and building savings is a lot better than filling your house with clutter.
Minimalists Travel More
Speaking of travel, why does it seem like all minimalists are obsessed with travel? Well, it’s simple. We want our lives to be filled with experiences instead of stuff, memories instead of external markers of success, fun instead of burdens.
Because minimalists keep things simple, save money, and don’t find their joy in the latest iPhone or the newest car, most minimalists travel more. My husband and I have been on cruises, epic road trips, and two European vacations so far. I can’t be sad about what I’ve passed up.
Minimalism Allows You to Be More Generous
There are a lot of things minimalists have more of. Time, money, energy, and experiences. And you know what? Because we have more of those things we are in a better position to share them with others.
We want to make memories with our friends so we look for opportunities to have them over, do fun things with them, and help them out when they need it. A lot of minimalists even find time to volunteer or otherwise help people they don’t even know yet! As it turns out, when you aren’t so worried about competing for who has the best stuff it gets a lot easier to just love people.
Minimalists Have More Skills
I could probably go on and on about all the things that minimalist have more of and all the reasons I love the simple life. I mean, I have a whole blog about it. But one of the best things that minimalists have more of is something you might not ever think of. Minimalists have more skills.
What do I mean? Well, most of the minimalists I know, including myself, are driven to keep things simple because they are strongly passionate about the career or path that means the most to them. For me, that’s the volunteer teaching work I do. And beyond the career, most minimalists have creative or active hobbies they love too. For me that’s sewing, writing, and other crafty projects.
I love the minimalist lifestyle because it means you get to have more time to be yourself. When you find who you really are you can develop skills that bring you joy and allow you to contribute something wonderful to the world.
Are the Things Minimalists Have More of WORTH IT?
So here’s the big question you have to ask yourself. Is it worth it? Is letting go of stuff worth all the things that minimalists have more of? Would you be willing to make the swap? Could you get rid of stuff and stop buying it if you knew that your life would look like what is described above?
If you would like to start the minimalist lifestyle but you don’t know where to start, don’t worry! I’ve made simplifying simple and I want the minimalist lifestyle to be doable for you. Learn everything you need to know in Doable Simplicity (minimalism for normal people). Grab your copy today!
