What Are the Top 3 Principles of Minimalism
When I started my minimalist journey in 2020, I thought it best to study the principles of minimalism. I felt that if I wanted to do this right, I had to know the core foundations of the movement. Now, minimalism means different things to different people. It depends on the person practicing it. But the core principles never change.
Many people assume I live surrounded by white walls and plants. All because I tell them I'm a minimalist. When I reply that I hate white and do not have any living plants in my home, their heads tilt. And so instead of trying to explain it to them, I explain the central principles of minimalism that I follow.
Here are the top three principles of minimalism
#1 — Owning less
Of the three principles of minimalism, this is the one that scares people the most. The idea of owning less in a culture that tells us to buy, buy, BUY, can be nearly impossible. The keyword: Nearly. The principle of owning less is the minimalist’s way of saying to society, “You won’t control what I buy anymore.”
Trust me, before I started my simple living journey I owned A LOT. My closet was bursting at the seams with clothes I never wore. I kept books I knew I’d never read. All my shelving units had knick-knacks and other memorabilia. Cleaning was a nightmare because of all the stuff I had to move.
It wasn’t until I read Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up that I realized I needed to change my perspective. Marie asks you if something “sparks joy.” Minimalism asks you if something “brings value” to your life. In other words, does that knick-knack fill you with effervescent excitement? Or is it just taking up space because you feel bad decluttering it?
When I started decluttering my life these were the questions I asked myself. And I was surprised by how many things didn’t spark joy or bring value. If you take the decluttering process slowly, you're going to find a ton of stuff that doesn't spark joy for you. That's okay! The key thing to remember is minimalism is not about owning less for less sake. It’s about owning intentionally, which I’m going to talk about soon.
#2 — Removing distractions
We live in a world full of distractions. If it’s not our phones buzzing with new messages or notifications, it’s the latest TV show streaming on Netflix, or our loved ones demanding this and that. Distractions are literally everywhere. And that’s why one of the principles of minimalism to learning to remove or at least limit distractions.
Removing or limiting distractions is not that hard. Take your phone for example. If you turn off every single notification you’re removing distractions. How many times have you stopped working because your phone chimed? You say, “Let me check this one thing.” Before you know it, an hour has passed.
Now, you obviously can’t remove the distractions of your loved ones. But you can try to limit them. How? It depends on what those distractions are. Do your kids distract you by asking for a snack? Try organizing your pantry so snacks are within easy reach. Tell your kids where they are so they can grab them when they want. Asking permission first is good. But then leave it in their hands to follow through with getting the snack.
Schedule time in your day for some “me time.” Even if it’s five minutes. Lock yourself in the bathroom with a book and read for five minutes. Step outside and breathe in the fresh air for five minutes. Those little distraction-free moments are enough to get you through the rest of the day.
#3 — Embracing intentionality
Of all the principles of minimalism, this one is the most important. It’s the foundation that minimalism was built on. But what does intentionality mean? Simple. It means approaching life — and anything you want to bring into it — with a sense of purpose.
Let’s take shopping for example. When you walk into a store, do you have a plan? Do you know what you’re there for? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Most people go to the grocery store with a list because they need specific items. But other people go and wing it. The latter is when you end up buying things you don’t need and forgetting the things you do.
Living with intention means always having a plan. That might sound boring and predictable, but trust me, it’s harder than it seems. Whenever my sister or mom wanted to go to Target, I would often tag along. And I’d find myself leaving with 3-5 things I didn’t need but bought anyway. I love black cardigans. But do I need five of them? No.
To buy with intention means giving yourself an extra 10-30 seconds before deciding. Look at the item and ask yourself:
Do I need this?
Will I use it?
Will it bring joy or value to my life?
If I answer no to even one of those questions, I don’t buy the product in question. If I answer yes to all, then it means I do need that item. Embracing intentionality means buying things you will use and/or love. Are you buying a new pair of boots because you need a new pair of boots or because you want a new pair of boots?
Embracing intentionality means learning to differentiate want vs need. It means saving money. It means breaking free from the consumer culture that says you’re nobody if you don’t have the latest trend or gadget. And it means focusing your energy on relationships and experiences rather than on possessions.
Minimalism is more than owning less, removing distractions, and embracing intentionality. It’s about refocusing your energy on the things that matter. Things can be replaced. Most things in life are a commodity. The relationships you have and the experiences you live are not replaceable.
On a tour for their book, Love People Use Things, The Minimalists made a comment about how the word “minimalism” scares people because it’s too extreme. They go on to add that you don’t need to use minimalism if you don’t want to. Simply add an -ism to any other word you prefer.
Simplism, intentionalism, enoughism, essentialism, and practicalism were some examples they gave. Your goal is to simplify your life. Who cares what you call it? Want to know something even better? You can practice minimalism without labeling yourself as a minimalist. I even wrote a blog post about it.
So don’t think that if you apply these principles of minimalism to your life that you’re a “minimalist.” If you don’t want to be a minimalist, don’t call yourself one. It’s fine. If you simply want to apply the principles to improve your lifestyle, that’s okay. What matters is that you’re working towards bettering your life. That is what simple living is all about.
Have you ever applied the principles of minimalism in your life? Do you call yourself a minimalist or not? Do you find the minimalist lifestyle too extreme? Comment below.
