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10 Insights From 10 Years of Enjoying Minimalism
#3. Decluttering still feels magical.
Ten years ago, my then-partner introduced me to minimalism as I struggled to fit all my clothes in a college dorm room. The “less is more” lifestyle mindset stuck and seriously elevated my quality of life ever since. From moving to San Francisco with two suitcases to quitting tech work for an extended sabbatical, simplicity made adventures possible.
The fall season motivated me to do more decluttering as I prepare for shorter days, more time at home, and some deep cleaning projects. As world-famous organizing consultant Marie Kondo shares, tidying makes your cleaning possible.
“If a room becomes cluttered ‘before you know it,’ it is entirely your own doing. Tidying up means confronting yourself. In contrast, dirt does accumulate of its own accord. Cleaning means confronting nature. If you want to succeed at your year-end cleaning, the secret is to finish your tidying marathon beforehand,” wrote Kondo.
I describe minimalism as the ongoing process of removing the unnecessary to create space for what matters most. As my life continues to shift, so do my priorities. Reconsidering physical items helps me create a nurturing environment for rest, growth, and big changes.
