Three Common Misconceptions About Minimalism

I’ll be honest – I don’t like the word minimalism. “Minimal” implies the least possible amount, and therefore can raise quite a few eyebrows if someone isn’t familiar with what it actually means- a lifestyle that gives you more– more time, energy, money, and freedom just to name a few.

Imagine if your girlfriend told you she was going on a new diet called minimalism.

“Is it like veganism or vegetarianism?” you ask politely.

“No,” she replies. “It’s just eating the least amount of food possible.” 😳

Yikes! That sounds dreadful, doesn’t it? And yet, that’s the mindset that many have about minimalism simply because of the nature of the word itself. Here are three common misconceptions about minimalism:

1. Minimalism is restrictive. Because of the word “minimal” many assume that minimalism means that you can only own a certain number of things. When I speak to moms, I always joke that minimalism doesn’t mean that you can only own four forks.

Less stuff doesn’t mean no stuff. Instead, minimalism means living with the right amount of things for you– which looks different for every person. Removing the excess makes room for what matters most, so it’s about finding out what is excess and what is “just right”- what you own, what you purchase, and what you say “yes” and “no” to in your life.

2. Minimalism is prescriptive. Going back to the diet example, there are pretty set guidelines about what it means to be vegan or vegetarian. If you are eating meat, you can’t identify as someone living a vegetarian lifestyle.

But minimalism is not about rules, or doing something a certain or “right” way. It is about understanding what works best for you and your family. There is no minimalism police force that will arrest you if you buy something in the Dollar Spot at Target. I promise.

Even the Minimalists, who have a Minimalist Rulebook with 16 rules for living with less, start the book by stating, “There’s no real Minimalist Rulebook…We must constantly question not only the things we acquire but the things we hold on to.”

Minimalism is about saving our most precious resources of time, energy, and attention for what’s most important. So why would we waste those precious resources on comparing ourselves to others who do it differently?

3. Minimalism is afflictive. OK, I’m a poet so I had to make this last one rhyme. Afflictive means “causing pain or suffering.” 

Because of the word “minimal” people assume that minimalism means that you don’t buy anything so you are obviously miserable. Not true! Minimalists focus on quality rather than quantity.

Going back to the diet example, it’s about slowly savoring the most nourishing foods that make you happy, rather than stuffing a pack of Twinkies in your mouth that make you feel like crap. (No offense to Twinkies, of course).

Rather than causing suffering, minimalism is freedom. As Joshua Becker says in his book Simplify, “The sense of freedom that comes from minimalism is truly refreshing, because it is more than a feeling; it is a reality that can define your life.”

I’d love to know more about what minimalism means to you and what misconceptions you’ve had or have heard about it! Please leave a comment below.

If you’re new to minimalism and want to learn more, check out my Beginner’s Guide to Minimalism and Simple Living!