We are addicted to consumerism; all the more so, as we fail to recognize it as an addiction.
But it is wrecking our lives. We keep consuming to compensate for our 9-to-5 grind. And we keep working to buy more meaningless toys. It’s the perfect vicious cycle.
What’s the way out?
Our lives have too many moving parts.
First, there are all the things you should be doing. Work hard. Pay attention to your family. Exercise regularly. Volunteer.
Then there is the myriad of distractions around us. Social media. Video games. Netflix. Online porn. Consumerism.
Between duties and time wasters, we have no space to ourselves. It makes us yearn for a life of simplicity.
Some hobbies require a lot of equipment. Think quilting or music production. So, which pastimes can you enjoy as a minimalist, without cluttering up your home?
But even if you prefer an equipment-rich hobby, there are still ways to make that work. You just need to become a bit more creative.
Most jobs create overwhelm.
Hundreds of emails. Endless backlogs. Crazy bosses. Office politics.
You can try to put up with it. Or you can find a minimalist job which eliminates these distractions.
To succeed with minimalism, you need to adopt a minimalist mindset.
Only when you know your reasons will you be able to make minimalism stick.
This goes well beyond decluttering your wardrobe. A minimalist mindset signifies a radical departure from what we value as a society.
It affects everything — your behavior as a consumer, your productivity, even your relationship style.
Are you getting a nagging sense that you should choose quality over quantity in your life more often?
Maybe you are weighed down by a plethora of consumer goods that keep breaking.
Maybe your large social circle doesn’t provide the fulfillment you were hoping for.
Maybe you have a million ideas, but feel that you should focus on just one.
Have you ever wondered “What if I didn’t own all that stuff?” How liberating would that feel?
I know I did. So in late 2014, I sold almost everything. Since then, I have been living with only what I can fit into a backpack.
This lifestyle is called extreme minimalism. Think 15 items or less, no furniture, and sleeping on the ground.