What if living with less was better?

Are you familiar with minimalism? No, it's not about surviving with a cactus, two plates, and a coffee machine. It's not about restricting yourself, but about taking a breather! The idea is simple: make room for what really matters. Less clutter, more essentials. And reducing things to the essentials is not universal: it's up to each person to invent their own version. The one that feels good, not the one that impresses the neighbor. Owning less to live better, okay, but where do we start? Here are a few tips for living with less, slowly regaining control. Over objects, over space, and a little over yourself too.

💡What is minimalism?

But where does the concept of minimalism come from? Quite far back, actually, since it has its roots in an ancient philosophy, Zen Buddhism. For its followers, emptiness is not an absence, but a presence full of possibilities. Space lets things breathe... and the mind as well.

It was in the 20th century that modern minimalism took hold in architecture and art galleries. This artistic movement seeks simplicity: remove the unnecessary and, almost magically, the essential appears. To shine in society, remember the names of Donald Judd, sculptor, and Mies van der Rohe, architect. "Less is more," they said.

In the 2010s, minimalism left museums and entered our homes. It became a bulwark against burnout linked to overconsumption and digital overload. We no longer seek to own more, but to own "better." Not emptiness, not austerity, but keeping only what really matters.

Why adopt a minimalist lifestyle?

Why choose a minimalist lifestyle? Good question. Why rebel in a world that constantly pushes us to want bigger, newer, and more connected?

To reduce mental load

Simplifying your environment is a bit like closing 17 tabs open in your brain. Every object we own demands a little bit of attention: putting it away, cleaning it, finding it, repairing it... or feeling guilty for never using it. Yes, like that guitar stamp you bought during a flamboyant 48-hour creative phase.

Fewer items = fewer pointless micro-decisions ("Should I take my pine green or olive green umbrella?"). Result: more energy for important decisions.

To value experiences over possessions

Feeling suffocated by your own possessions is a bit ironic, isn't it? So, "I have, therefore I am" slowly transforms into "I live, therefore I feel." That's a lot of money saved on impulse purchases, and time saved no longer searching for your favorite sweater for 12 minutes in an overflowing closet. We reinvest in travel, connections, moments of sharing... Welcome to slow living and its intangible memories, which are infinitely more precious.

To preserve our beloved Earth

Minimalism encourages us to choose a single beautiful object, steeped in history, over ten interchangeable trinkets. No need to draw you a picture (even though we love doing that), the planet doesn't want yet another gadget wrapped in plastic and delivered within 24 hours. That's where the BISOU method comes in, with its five little letters encouraging us to consume less and avoid unnecessary purchases!

Where Can You Apply Minimalism in Your Life?

Minimalism can be applied everywhere, from closets to phones and even plates:

• Minimalist decor: every object has its place, and above all, a reason for being there. We no longer keep things "just in case"; we choose "because" (and not because it was on sale, of course).
  
  
• Minimalist wardrobe: owning few items, but ones that are high quality and can all be mixed and matched. A capsule wardrobe prevents panic at 7:42 a.m.
  
  
• Digital minimalism: we no longer seek to be everywhere, but to be fully present wherever we choose to be. We clean up our computer desktops, sort through our photos (yes, all 9,876 of them), and limit the number of apps we use.
  
  
• Culinary minimalism: we seek out natural flavors, without artifice, using few ingredients, but of the highest quality. Less show, more taste, and less washing up!
  
  
• Minimalism at work : we reduce processes, clarify priorities (no, not everything is urgent), avoid meetings "to discuss the next item on the agenda," and, above all, we put away the 58-slide PowerPoint presentations with rainbow-colored graphs and replace them with... sentences. Why not?
  
  

  
  👉 See also: Need a little digital detox?
  
  

How to Start Minimalism

Becoming a minimalist doesn't mean throwing everything away in one dramatic gesture. Sure, radicals claim to own only about fifteen items... but not all of us are obliged to eat seeds in front of a blank wall. So, taking a more realistic approach, we ask ourselves the simplest of questions: what do we really need to be happy?

When you don't know where to start, the Minimalism Game, created by Americans Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, is a fun challenge: on the first day, you get rid of one item, on the second day two items, and so on for 30 days. In one month, you can get rid of... 465 items!

Tips for when you're unsure about an item? Put it in a box. If you haven't opened it in six months, it's time to say goodbye forever. For your clothes, turn all hangers upside down. Each time you wear an item, turn the hanger right side up. Take stock in a year!

And to avoid falling back into the trap of hoarding, you can adopt the "one in, one out" rule. The principle is simple: every new item that enters your home must replace another. A new book arrives? Another finds a new home. Balance is maintained, your space breathes, and so do you.

And what is mental minimalism?

Minimalism doesn't stop at objects; it can also find its way into our minds to calm the inner noise. The goal of mental minimalism is not to stop thinking (spoiler alert: impossible, you're not a sea sponge on vacation), but to avoid having 11 mental conversations open at the same time. Here are a few tips:

• Turn off notifications: yes, especially alerts telling you that someone you don't know liked a photo of a cat you don't know either.
  
  
• Do one thing at a time: the brain loves to finish one task before starting another, and no, nobody is good at multitasking (another spoiler alert).
  
  
• Practice brain dumping: write down everything that's going round and round in your head on a piece of paper (you know, that little piece of plain white or lined paper?) rather than sending an email... to yourself.
  
  
• Plan screen-free moments: walking, reading, staring at the ceiling (hey, why not?). The brain needs silence to digest information.
  
  
• Say no more often: no, no, and no, period!
  
  

And then there are those relaxing, almost meditative activities that perfectly embody the minimalist spirit. Activities that require no performance, no notifications, no comparisons. Sitting down at a table, turning off your phone, letting your tea steep... and patiently putting together a beautiful 1,000-piece puzzle, for example. One piece at a time, without any rush. Just you, a few pieces of cardboard, and time slowing down.

👉 See also: 13 craft activities for adults

Source: Minimalism: a documentary about the important things, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus.