Why starting small can make a minimalist lifestyle more successful

How I eased myself into a minimalist lifestyle

A quick introduction

A simple life is one that has less stress, fewer things and more purpose.

Simplifying your life and adopting a minimalist lifestyle can introduce numerous lifestyle and health benefits. It can help to reduce our cognitive clutter and help increase our focus. Having less items around us can also lead to reduced levels of stress and anxiety.

Minimalism is not just a current trend popularised by the likes of The Minimalists, Matt D’Avella, Joshua Becker (all of whom I truly admire) and others, it’s a philosophy that has existed for decades. It reaches many different mediums including design, architecture, culture, art, software, lifestyle and diet. Nonetheless, for the purpose of this article, I will be focusing on lifestyle— particularly possessions and how best to start your journey based on my own experience.

I am someone who, a little over a year ago, was certainly not a minimalist. I enjoyed buying clothes and a lot of them. I enjoyed upgrading my car and my technology as soon as a new model was available, and I enjoyed a fast-paced lifestyle. Having discovered minimalism through my wife and witnessing first-hand the…