The Psychology Behind Minimalism
You may have scrolled through your Instagram feed and seen yet another photo of a neat and organised pantry: ingredients stored in matching jars, with cute labels telling you the spaghetti-looking things are, indeed, spaghetti.
This is one instance of how minimalism and a related concept, home organisation, has been trending for some time now. Over 24 million photos on Instagram are tagged under #minimalism. It’s also become commonplace to hear personal stories of family and friends who are decluttering and reorganising their homes, and enjoying the fruits of their labour. Some have even made a living out of it—check out what Eve, Singapore’s first KonMari™ tidying consultant, has to say about her journey to becoming certified.
But why is minimalism getting so popular? Here are five observations on the psychology behind minimalism and why we think it’s taking over the world.
1. It’s an Effective Stress Reliever
Visual clutter has a way of trapping people in an endless cycle of anxiety—how many times have you looked at a pile of items and felt your resolve to clean up slowly ebb away? I’ll do it another day, you think, feeling a little guiltier each time you procrastinate. Little by little, this begins to undermine your personal wellness and mental health. Some people never break out of the cycle, while others hit a threshold before they become adamant about not living like they’re preparing for the apocalypse.
Discarding things that no longer serve you helps you feel more at home and be more productive. With fewer belongings, your house becomes easier to clean and the things you own become more accessible, since you no longer have to dig for them. You focus better, become more efficient, and are more discerning about what you do bring into your home. Leo Babauto and Joshua Becker, who’ve authored books on mindfulness and minimalism, and Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus of Netflix film, The Minimalists: Less Is Now, all swear that decluttering has improved their quality of life. This concept also extends to relationships, media consumption, commitments and anything that demands your time and attention.
Given today’s fast-paced and overstimulating world, it’s no wonder that more people are embracing minimalism.
2. We’re Becoming Less Materialistic
Social values are shifting. According to a study in the US, millennials prefer a life filled with memorable experiences instead of material possessions. People are realising that material things don’t make them happy, and any initial joy of owning something new is often short-lived. This also means people are no longer shackled to jobs they otherwise would still be in, to keep up with the Joneses.
3. It’s Growing in Popularity
With so many books, videos, podcasts, online courses and magazines produced about minimalism over the last decade, “less is more” has itself become the accepted norm. Branded as both a way of living and a design aesthetic, people may suddenly find themselves motivated to finally rid themselves of their excessive belongings, or borrow inspiration from the clean, simple and monochromatic colours, in keeping with the latest trends.
4. It Paves the Way to Self-Actualisation
Minimalism sends the message that there’s more to life than our modern consumerist culture. By forcing us to live intentionally through constant introspection and by asking what truly matters, minimalism encourages us to focus less on the deficiencies in our basic needs and more on the things that contribute to our personal growth. In making sure that our needs are reasonably—but not excessively—satisfied, we can more effectively navigate the lower tiers of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs while moving towards self-actualisation.
5. We Want to Do What’s Right
Perhaps the most important reason for minimalism’s rapid uptake in recent years is the idea that excessive consumption is bad for the environment. From production to disposal, excessive consumption increases pollution and the demand for our Earth’s dwindling natural resources. Environmentally conscious people see minimalism to be in alignment with their goals to lead zero-waste lives.
If you’d like a deeper dive into minimalism, discover how you can incorporate minimalist ideas like building a capsule wardrobe into your life, and check out our recommended reads on minimalism.
