What I’ve Learned One Year into Minimalism

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Taking a quick break from this month’s topic on finances and “Make More Money May” to reflect on what I’ve learned one year into minimalism. My birthday (today!) marks the one year anniversary on a promise I made to myself to consume less. Consuming less involved less social media, news media, T.V., food products, cosmetics, toxic thoughts, clothes etc. The list could go on and on. I took the idea of minimalism and let it infiltrate my entire life.

What a year for personal development! If you want to improve yourself, focus on less. It will bring the most important and urgent needs to the surface. Here are the 10 best benefits of taking on a year of minimalism and the lessons I learned along the way.

1. I Became An Optimist

Once I cut out all the clutter (physically and mentally) I realized the world is a pretty amazing place. We still need to make progress, but I truly believe humans are capable of solving the world’s troubles and that we are continually taking positive action, even if we take a few steps backwards from time to time. I see more than ever people coming together for a cause, and being conscious of their decisions.

2. Minimalism Saved Money and Time

The more I researched my spending habits the more I realized I was overconsuming nearly everywhere. I’ve always been pretty good at saving, but I was still spending a lot of money on stuff I didn’t need, want, or care about. Cutting out spending money on things you don’t even want is so easy, and it saved me a ton of time. It has allowed us to pay off larger chunks of our student loan debt.

It also gave me permission to spend my money on things or ideas I find beneficial. For example, I made a few investments into my blog this year and was glad to pay for quality services. I also took suggestions from a personal stylist, which has been an investment into my capsule wardrobeand my own personal style.

It also allowed me to give more. I can now give to organizations and people that I believe in. I can take financial risks for personal development because I spend less money on stuff I don’t need. Not only that, but I waste less. I find ways to use up products I purchase before buying new. Even my trash takes up less space!

3. I Spend Way More Time in Nature

If I can, I’m outside every single day, and so is my daughter. It’s no excuse that we don’t have a yard. We have parks, and lovely bodies of water all around us here in the PNW.

4. Minimalism Made me a Master of Prioritization

Because everything I consume now is questioned, it made me super focused on my top priorities in life. Turns out these were always my priorities, but among all the distractions had become less clear. With prioritization comes efficient time management. I have pockets of time that have opened up and have been filled with creative endeavors, rest and play. Even as a mom of a very busy toddler, I have time for myself.

5. I’m a Better Mom and Human

When I’m not as distracted, I can be more present. I still have meltdowns, but I’m a bit more aware of when I’m overwhelmed. I can sense when my ego is at play, if I’m being selfish, and if I’m judging. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not perfect, but cutting out distractions has allowed me some pretty powerful self-awareness.

6. Decisions are Easier

Less distractions means less decisions. Less decisions makes it easier to solve problems.

7. I am More Creative

Writing content for the blog, and collaborating to finish up the book I’m writing with a dear friend has become easier. It used to be so hard to sit down and write, and now sometimes the words just flow through me so quick I barely can type them out! Creativity in my life isn’t just through writing but in our finances, parenting, and managing our family activities.

8. I am Happier

Probably the best benefit is my personal happiness. Happiness is never found in material possessions, and the more I seek simplicity the more pure joy I find in just being. Being grateful has turned into a habitual practice because I now have the mental space to practice it.

9. I am Just as Ambitious, but Less Busy

I’ll always be an ambitious gal, but now there is a difference in how I navigate this trait. I don’t need to be “busy” to feel important anymore, and I fill my time with fulfilling tasks that I enjoy, which also includes rest. Even though I write a lot about finances, it’s not just about making more money. I see that money buys me time more than anything else.

10. I Can Let Go Easier

Finally, I let go of physical clutter easier, but also mental toxic thoughts like worry. It helps me focus on what I can control: myself. Any problems I see in the world I try to ask myself what I can do to help. If I have the capacity to help, I try to take action. I can’t solve everything, but I can be a leader by my actions.

What I learned from years of teaching is that you’ll never quite realize the impact you have on someone. Sometimes this impact shows up many years later. Minimalism led me to the realization that you can be a leader even when you think no one is following.

Final Thoughts

A lot of qualitative data here for any readers, but the ultimate question is will I be continuing on my minimalism journey? The answer is yes! The benefits have far outweighed the negatives (if any) and within this year I’ve been able to gain a new perspective.

My goal for next year is to continue consuming less and in doing so inspire others to seek their top priorities in life. I write about wellness, finances, and minimalism on the blog and will continue, but now in a much more focused and intentional way. Cheers to a new year of personal growth! Will you join in with me?

Join the Discussion

What’s stopping you from consuming less? What have you learned from decluttering this year?

P.S. I always ask readers to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. I consciously try to document my everyday simple life. Since we happen to be on a debt free journey, it can be motivating because most of my activities are intentionally inexpensive. However, if you’re trying to cut out social media, you’ll need to subscribe directly to this blog.

Author

-Maria Halcumb
B.A. in Secondary Education, English, and Physical Education
M.A. Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction and Reading Specialist