Am I still a minimalist?
5 years on - its time to reassess
Hello, I’m Molly, a full time creator based in the Scottish Highlands. Subscribers can enjoy weekly posts around the themes of slow living, thriving in a creative career, books & nature. Members get access to ALL my content, including video tea times, slow scrolls of all my favourites and seasonal book reviews.
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Its no exaggeration when I say that minimalism has changed my life.
I was 26 when I first stumbled across the term minimalism when watching a favourite YouTuber. And I knew instantly that this was exactly what I had been craving.
You see, I was stuck. I was in a career that I no longer wanted and in a rented house I could barely afford. I felt like I was racing through life, yet had no idea where I was going.
Minimalism gave me a purpose. By removing the unnecessary from my life, I re-learnt what was necessary. What I needed to thrive. I felt clear and free for the first time in far too long.
I moved out of that expensive rental to a cheaper ramshackle caravan, meaning I could reduce my hours, start my creative side hustle AND save for our dream Tiny House, which we moved into two years later.
But lately I’ve started to wonder, is minimalism really right for me?
The dark side of minimalism
I became a decluttering addict
About a year into practising minimalism, I noticed that decluttering had become more than a tool to simplify my life. It had become an obsession.
Nothing was safe. I went through my home with a fine-tooth comb again and again. Riding the thrill that had replaced the dopamine of shopping. I wanted to see how little I could live with, but never felt like I went quite enough.
Chasing the minimalist aesthetic
On envisioning minimalism, typically this elicits visions of white walls and a wardrobe packed with clean neutrals.
This is the image that we are sold online and one that I started to crave. Never stopping to wonder whether a closet of light neutrals was sensible for someone that spends a large proportion of her days on muddy dog walks.
No matter how much I decluttered or how many capsule ‘staples’ I brought into my wardrobe, I never felt like I lived up to this ideal. The failure was crushing.
My life became empty
Like most things in my life, I wanted to do minimalism perfectly, so I set myself an ever-increasing number of rules that were non-negotiable.
I didn’t allow myself hobbies that would create ‘clutter’. I decided my wardrobe should be functional, not fun. I could only spend time with loved ones when we indulged in ‘minimalist friendly’ activities, and I cancelled if I felt I might spend outside of my strict budget.
Somewhere along the way, the freedom that minimalism had once given me had morphed into a different kind of cage.
And enough was enough.
What I’m doing instead
A new mindset
If I’ve learnt anything over the past 5 years, its that minimalism is a tool, not a personality trait.
I’m so much more than just a minimalist. I’m a hiker, dog-mum, tea drinker, friend, bookworm, daughter and aspiring baker.
And these are all parts of my life that should be treasured, rather than ruthlessly decluttered when they don’t meet someone else’s definition of minimal.
I’m allowed joy
Right back at the start of my minimalism journey, I read Mari Kondo’s ‘The life changing magic of tidying’ and learnt her infamous method that you should only keep things that spark joy.
There is no perfect number and everyone’s ‘joy list’ will look different.
This means that I now own an unnecessary number of mugs. My bookshelf is a jumble of special edition classics and well-thumbed YA novels. I have various hobbies and welcome their ‘clutter’. My wardrobe is packed with colour again, including clothing that is fun and functional (read more about my new ‘granola girl’ style HERE).
Life really is too short
I’m grateful that minimalism has taught me to recognise what my values are. I am now able to prioritise filling my life with things that make me happy.
For me, this looks like reading a book in a café, just because I can. Investing in quality time with loved ones. And going on countless adventures in nature, which has been made even easier now I’ve fulfilled my dream of owning my very own camper-van.
As I approach my 32nd birthday, I feel that I’ve finally found balance between a simple life and one that is rich and full of joy. With no labels required.
Until next time,
Molly xx
More reflections from my slow life…
Simple joys of a very ordinary week
I agree that "minimalism is a tool, not a personality trait", and that a clean interior of white walls does not make a minimalist. However, like you, I have found peace in having less stuff to deal with. Fewer belongings to manage means you have less waste. You don't buy things you don't need or waste time looking for things you think you have - and it reduces your cleaning time!
My new mantra is that everything must have a home. If I buy more clothes than fit in my wardrobe, then I need to get rid of some. If I have so much in my bathroom cabinets that it is hard to find anything, then I need a clear out. I also find having a 'not sure if I need this' box is a great half-way stage before taking it to the charity shop.
I think the most important thing is to be constantly reflective. I am in my sixties and have embraced living a simpler life after a leaving a very stressful career. This means I have hugely decluttered but still have a full house, but the things I have are either beautiful or useful. I admire the way you plan and even plan your reading, I smile when I see the tabs in your books, and that is just who you are. I’ve learned to really ease up and in the words of the famous poet, I now have the time to sit and stare, and I love it. Take care x