Skip to content
Effect and psychology of minimalism

The psychology of minimalism - 5 reasons why it makes you happier

What is the Psychology of minimalism - and how does this lifestyle, which is limited to the essentials, affect our feelings? If you want to answer these questions, you've come to the right place! Minimalism - many people associate this word with a longing for a simple, modest and orderly life. Living minimalism has many facets and ranges from decluttering your home for some people to completely detaching yourself from consumer society for others.

But what is its psychological effect? What positive effects does minimalism have on your own psyche if you align your life with it to a certain extent? Does it really make us happier? In this article, I will answer these questions in detail.

Minimalism psychology - The effect on our emotional world

The Duden dictionary defines it as "conscious restriction to the bare essentials." However, if you take a closer look, you will recognize more than that behind minimalism: an attitude to life and an art of living in its own right. In the process, a minimalist lifestyle is becoming increasingly popular. While for many people of the older generations, ownership was still a sign of prosperity, the younger generations are much more interested in flexibility, mobility and the freedom that comes with it.

Living minimalism definitely has a number of psychological benefits, which I will now explain to you in more detail.

1. minimalism gives things more meaning

Maybe you own things to which you attach a very special meaning, even if the object itself is not particularly striking. Perhaps a cuddly toy that reminds you of your childhood, a camping set that reminds you of a great vacation or a gift from a loved one that makes you think of them every time. These items are so special because they tell a story and you feel emotionally attached to them.

Living minimalism also means taking care of things and looking after them instead of quickly throwing them away or replacing them. It is better to own few things, but of high quality and for long-term use, than a lot of "throwaway goods". The psychological reason: by consciously limiting yourself to just a few items, you develop a Stronger attachment to individual thingsto which greater value is then attached. You give things the opportunity to tell their own story. This can lead to the paradoxical feeling that although you objectively own less, your possessions feel very valuable. This is definitely one of the most important aspects of minimalism psychology.

2. minimalism creates peace and serenity

You've probably been there: you've tidied your apartment or home, dusted it thoroughly, polished the windows and cleared out the cupboard. The feeling of having shed ballast lets you breathe again and also makes your thoughts appear tidier and more orderly. Suddenly you see some things in a different light. This is exactly how the psychology of minimalism works: tidiness on the outside also creates a feeling of calm and serenity. 

3. minimalism promotes enjoyment

How can minimalism promote enjoyment? For some, the idea seems almost paradoxical, as many people associate minimalism with giving up all kinds of "pleasures". However, the psychological effect behind it can be explained as follows: Through deliberate restriction and simplicity the moments of pleasure appear all the more as something special, something apart from your routine.. If you limit yourself in your everyday life and treat yourself every now and then or buy something special, you will be able to enjoy these things all the more.

4. minimalism promotes independence

Psychological effect of minimalism

A quote from philosopher Prof. Dr. Jürgen Manemann: "The less a person owns, the more independent they are from any consumer constraints. Consumption plays such an important role in society that many people hide behind their possessions and define themselves by them."

This is also an important psychological effect. Through the psychology of minimalism, you are almost forced to deal with yourself, as you No more distraction and stimulation on the outside can look for. If you manage to do this, you will gain a better inner perspective and develop on a personal level. 

5. minimalism helps focus on social relationships

People who go on a "media diet", i.e. consciously abstain from consuming media, unanimously report the following effect: they had more of the Need to maintain social contactswhich often results in their Social relations improved and the overall quality of their lives has improved. After all, many studies have shown that successful social relationships are a factor in happiness. Here is another fitting quote from Jürgen Manemann: "Reducing yourself to the bare essentials helps you to find out what a good life can mean. This is how inner fullness can arise from outer emptiness."

Minimalism vs. Advertising - The Role of Business

To better understand the effect on the psyche, we should take another look at the origin of minimalism. Where does it even come from and why do we often have to "learn" it first?

In today's society, we are bombarded with promises from the advertising industry. We see advertisements on posters, on television and now we even take them into our rooms on our smartphones. All these advertising promises entice us with products whose purchase is supposed to make our lives better in some way. Advertising is deliberately designed psychologically to stimulate our emotions to the maximum. The creation of disgust or the presentation of attractive bodies are just two everyday examples. Our brain has not learned to deal with this and reacts with Stress and excessive demandswhich awakens a longing for minimalism in many people. What's more, many of these products do nothing to make us happier in the long term. But why are they advertised at all? 

Advertising is done for the reason that buying people promotes the growth of the economy, and as long as the economy is growing, the hope of a better life makes social differences seem bearable. 

That's why some people are completely committed to minimalism and renounce consumer society. Of course, you don't have to do this. There are many ways in which you can naturally integrate minimalism into your everyday life and continue to live your normal life. In conclusion, I would like to share these with you.

Tip: "Get rid of everything that slows you down." - If you could use some more inspiration for a minimalist everyday life, then take a look at the Quotes about minimalism.

Use the psychological effect of minimalism in your everyday life

A simple guiding principle: Instead of focusing on possessions, it makes more psychological sense to focus on experiences. Cultivate social relationships that Enjoying time outdoors in naturepracticing a craft, learning a new language. These are all things that cost little to nothing and from which you can derive a lot of enjoyment from life.

So think about how you can reduce your possessions. Another advantage: those who own little also tend to need little money. This can result in you working less and creating more time to enjoy your most valuable possessions. Resources of the human being in general.

Tip: Have a look at the article about the Saving money through sustainability. There you can find out a few more reasons why a conscious lifestyle is easy on your wallet.

Keep in mind, however, that an actual lack, especially of food and physical security, makes you unhappy and depressed in the long run. Minimalism should never go so far as to endanger your own health or safety.

So do you have to give up consumption altogether? Absolutely not. Rather, this article is intended to encourage you to question your approach to possessions, raise awareness of what is really important and examine how the psychology of minimalism can enrich your life.

Best regards,

Christoph from CareElite - Plastic-free living

PS: You can also use your smartphone in a minimalist way! Here are some Minimalism appsthat will help you!

Coffee box Suggestions for improvement Newsletter

* Links with asterisks are so-called Affiliate linksIf you click on it and buy something, you automatically and actively support my work with CareElite.de, as I receive a small share of the proceeds - and of course nothing changes in the product price. Many thanks for your support and best regards, Christoph!

Christoph Schulz

Christoph Schulz

I'm Christoph, an environmental scientist and author - and here at CareElite I'm campaigning against plastic waste in the environment, climate change and all the other major environmental problems of our time. Together with other environmentally conscious bloggers, I want to give you tips & tricks for a naturally healthy, sustainable life as well as your personal development.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *