The Mindful and Minimalist Approach to Stress Reduction
You can’t change something until you recognize it and accept that there’s a problem and you’re ready to make the necessary changes to fix it. And that includes stress.
Yes, you can have some control over how stressed (or stress free) you are. Don’t fall into believing the myth that you can’t do anything about stress because there will always be work responsibilities, family responsibilities, debt, and people needing you and your time. This is true, there will always be things in your life demanding your attention but you CAN do something about it, and embrace a mindful approach to your lifestyle. A more minimalist lifestyle.
The minimalist lifestyle requires awareness, about what you want and what you have or do that doesn't support or serve you.
There are no right or wrong answers when it comes to defining this. It’s going to be a different mindset and experience for each individual, so keep this in mind if you start doing any sort of research on the topic and find yourself feeling confused about what it is and isn’t.
The easiest way to think about minimalism is this:
It’s purging the things in your life you don’t need or don’t use – paring down to the essentials, leaving you with an uncluttered surrounding and a more simplistic life. This also means reducing your overbooked schedule.
It’s all about breaking free from the bondage of commercialism that today’s society is trapped in and not believing any more that you must have the newest phone, car, clothing trends, a bigger house etc. to survive or feel happy.
This doesn’t mean that having material things is wrong. It’s important though, to figure out which things are essential and which you can live without.
How Does Minimalism Reduce Stress?
Think about your current situation.
Is your living environment so cluttered that half the time you can’t find what you’re looking for?
Do you despise cleaning your house because it is so cluttered and it takes so much time?
Do you find yourself staring at a closet full of clothes but stressed because you just don’t have anything to wear?
Now think about your work
Does your office seem so cluttered?
Do you feel like you’re or must be “on call” 24/7?
Do you always have a busy schedule and still work to be done?
All those things put a lot of pressure on you and cause stress. There are so many reasons stress or chronic stress is bad but you already know that.
The point is that minimalist living reduces stress because you’ll be getting rid of the clutter. You’ll start clearing your calendar of things you don’t need or enjoy doing. In other words, you might start saying NO and leaving it at that; after all, no is a complete sentence!
You can also donate to local charities or foundations that help those in need and feel good about what you’re doing. Doing all these things will declutter your life and your mind.
Here’s the bottom line.
A mindful and minimalist lifestyle, is a way to reduce stress and may include any of these ideas:
Be aware of what you really need or use at home. Decluttering your home or your office has a lot of benefits.
Start with small steps i.e. one area of your home/office at a time.
Downsize your wardrobe to a minimal and functional one (less stress about what to wear!)
Stop eating lunch in front of your desk and reduce multitasking in general.
Start saying NO to commitments that are toxic or make you feel stressful and overwhelmed.
Sell or donate material things that are no longer needed or useful to your new lifestyle.
Create new habits, which make you feel happier.
The beauty of embracing mindfulness and minimalism is that you are aware of what you really need or enjoy and you get to choose what works for you and leave the rest behind.
It’s your life. You can design it the way you like, despite any compromise or concessions you may need to make. That will reduce your stress levels and improve your productivity and overall wellbeing.
Mindful and minimalist living is an ongoing process. Be patient and persistent.
This article is for informational purposes only. It does not provide medical advice and it is not a substitute for a professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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