I didn’t realize the extent to which I was obsessed with de-cluttering and keeping a neat space until my sister came back home from school. Even though the same mother raised us both, we couldn’t be more different.
I’m more of a neat freak like my mum, while she is a laid back, chill, I’ll-do-it-when-I-get-to-it kind of gal. And, as you might imagine, sharing a room with her almost drove me insane.
For instance, I like to lie down on a neatly arranged bed, and while she couldn’t care less if there was unfolded laundry on it, she would happily push them to the side and jump in.
This definitely caused some friction between the two of us. On multiple occasions, I had to stop myself from micromanaging everything she did or hovering over her to make sure she did it "right.”. She is an adult, after all.
I also had to force myself to express my discomfort in a respectful way so we didn’t end up in a brawl instead of a resolution.
I bring this up because in those moments where I watched her sleep comfortably on the bed while the corners of the sheets crumbled up underneath her, I realized something. I realized that the reason I got so riled up was not the clutter itself, but how it made me feel.
The clutter made me so uncomfortable, I couldn’t think straight. As long as the room was messy, my mind could not be calm. It affected me mentally, and that was why I felt triggered to lash out at anything that threatened the peace and serenity of my mind.
That is one of the reasons I embraced the path of minimalism. It provides me with an Inner Tranquility that I doubt could be found anywhere else.
Another reason that pointed me towards minimalism is the sheer Increase in Productivity. If there is one thing all my cleaning and yearning for a neat space has taught me, it is that when you have a clear space, you provide room for productive work.
It’s almost like getting rid of the distractions and disturbances makes space for the important stuff. A practice that has helped me in this regard is clearing out my desk when I am ready to write. I always make sure that nothing aside from my system and note book is on there.
This helps me better focus on the task at hand. I even go as far as leaving my phone in a different room so I am not distracted. I find that this has helped me devote the majority of my time to productive work. And the satisfaction that comes with ticking it off my to-do list is fulfilling.
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Lastly, there is the topic of Finances. This one definitely earns its spot in the Top Three Reasons I Chose Minimalism. When you are down and broke, there is this spirit of discernment and discipline that appears within you.
Suddenly, you find yourself second guessing every purchase and discovering that you actually don’t need an eighth pair of shoes. You begin to appreciate the things that you do have and cherish them, knowing that it’s them or nothing.
When I found myself in this position, I soon succumbed to the minimalist lifestyle and eventually made it my home.
These are my three reasons why I chose minimalism and I’d choose it again every day of the week!
All Images are mine.
