Minimalism has been all the rage lately. On paper, it sounds pretty great since tidying up does help. People everywhere have thrown out their extra stuff for that clutter-free life that’s supposed to make us all happier. But the minimalist lifestyle isn’t a definitive recipe for joy & it’s time for everyone to know that! Here are ten reasons why minimalism may stop you from being happy.
Featured Image Credit: AndrewLozovyi /Depositphotos.com.
Decluttering Is Stressful

A purge sounds liberating, although have you ever actually tried sorting through your stuff? Deciding what stays and what goes is quite overwhelming when you’re knee-deep in items you “might need one day” and all those memories! Eventually, decluttering becomes a mountain of stress as opposed to a fresh start.
Being Under Pressure

Once you’ve decluttered, your place looks great—for now. But keeping it that way is a whole other story! since the pressure to not mess up your perfectly curated space is intense. It makes every purchase a big decision. You’ll miss being able to get something fun without having to overthink it.
Quality Isn’t Free

Minimalism supports the idea of “fewer, better things” and that’s okay—until you see the price tags. High-quality items cost more and not everyone is able to get on board with that plan. Naturally, you’ll feel disheartened because your ideal lifestyle is out of reach—only because you’re budgeting more for everything.
Being Deprived

For some of us, joy comes from being surrounded by things that make us happy—books, art supplies, video games, you name it. Minimalism tells you to cut down on your happiness. As such, it feels like you’re giving up bits of yourself instead of simplifying your life. This makes it difficult to feel happy. You miss the things that light you up.
An Identity Crisis

Similarly, possessions are a part of who we are since they tell our stories & remind us of our journeys. We can even use them to express our personalities! Stripping down to the bare essentials makes many people feel lost. They feel that, along with their clutter, they’ve erased parts of their identity.
The Family Issue

Anyone with kids knows that they come with stuff. And lots of it. Trying to keep a minimalist home with a family is hard because kids grow and their interests change. Suddenly, that minimalist living room you worked so hard to curate is drowning in toys and art projects yet again.
Understanding Happiness

Happiness isn’t one-size-fits-all—what brings joy to one person might not work for another. Some people find happiness in abundance with a home full of loved ones & things. The idea that less automatically means more happiness is misleading because you can be happy with more or less stuff. It’s your life!
The Social Side

Trying to keep things minimal forces you to turn down shopping trips with friends. Beyond missing the chance to buy stuff, you’re also missing out on experiences. After all, social events revolve around activities that don’t fit the minimalist mold & this makes it hard to stick to your goals without feeling left out.
The Environmental Paradox

One of the big sells for minimalism is the eco-friendly side to it—yet there’s a catch. The initial purge actually contributes to the waste problem and especially if you don’t do it thoughtfully. It’s a paradox, really—you’re trying to live with less to help the planet but where does all your discarded stuff go?
The Challenge of Gift-Giving

Getting gifts as a minimalist is rather difficult since you’ll probably receive a bunch of stuff you don’t really need or want. You’re stuck in a weird spot where you’re grateful for the thought but stressed about where to put this new thing you didn’t plan for. Somehow, you have to avoid upsetting those who went out of their way for you while also sticking to your own beliefs.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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