We all go through difficult times in our lives. Major illnesses, loss of a loved one, loss of a beloved family pet, being fired from your job, accidents, and financial emergencies all affect us adversely. We all respond to and handle these situations differently. Certain situations which may seem like minor inconveniences to certain people may appear to some as devastating circumstances.
Adopting a minimalist lifestyle means that you intentionally choose to keep material things that are essential or things that add value to your life or things that bring you joy. You also make a conscious choice to remove anything material that is cluttering up your life.
How does minimalism help you to face difficult times better?
Minimalism helps you to identify your priorities
As a Minimalist you intentionally choose your material possessions. Similarly, you also exercise caution and make conscious decisions about people you surround yourself with and the activities that you spend your time on.
When you are going through a difficult time it is very difficult to function as you would under normal circumstances. The reason is that a lot of your mental and physical energy is spent on dealing with the problem at hand. It becomes very difficult to focus on daily tasks.
Minimalism helps you to identify your priorities
As a Minimalist you intentionally choose your material possessions. Similarly, you also exercise caution and make conscious decisions about people you surround yourself with and the activities that you spend your time on.
When you are going through a difficult time it is very difficult to function as you would under normal circumstances. The reason is that a lot of your mental and physical energy is spent on dealing with the problem at hand. It becomes very difficult to focus on daily tasks.
Minimalism helps you manage your time better. Minimalism helps you to identify your top priorities and the tasks that require your immediate attention. It also gives you permission to put certain tasks which are not as important in the back burner and focus all of your energy on dealing with the difficult situation. In turn, it improves the quality of your life even during difficult times
Less stuff, Less clutter, Less chores = More time
Less stuff, Less clutter, Less chores = More time
Being a minimalist saves you a lot of time on household chores and simplifies your life. A minimalist lifestyle involves surrounding yourself with a few material possessions which are essential and adds value to your life. Decluttering what is not essential frees up a lot of space in our homes. This means chores such as cleaning, laundry, cooking and organizing takes a lot less time and effort. Time is an invaluable asset. It helps tremendously when you have an extra few hours to deal with the problematic situation you are facing, instead of performing some mundane chores.
Minimalism helps to clear your mind and focus only on the things you can control.
Being a minimalist has a significant impact on our mind. It helps us to clear our mind and be present. This is an essential life skill that every adult needs to learn. It helps to remove the unnecessary emotional stress as well as toxic people from our lives. Minimalism helps to focus on what you can control. If your loved one is sick, unnecessarily worrying or overthinking, is not going to help either of you. If you can clear your mind, you can focus on finding the best treatment option for them. You can't control the illness, or the time someone will take to recover, but you can control how you react to the situation. Focusing on only what you can control helps you gain clarity and helps you take your conscious choices about the situation.
Minimalism helps you save money
When you stop spending on unnecessary stuff and buy only what is essential you can save a significant portion of your monthly income. A minimalist lifestyle helps you save money. If you have saved up money for an emergency to cover your expenses for a few months, this will help you take away the additional stress relating to your daily finances. Even if your problem is not related to your finances, having a decent amount of savings will definitely help you face difficult times better, and handle the situation better without being emotionally strained by financial worries.
My previous posts on minimalism :-
BENEFITS OF A MINIMALIST LIFESTYLEAdvice for aspiring minimalists
My Thoughts on Minimalist Living