The Benefits of Minimalism.

The average American household owns 300,000 items (LA Times). That's a lot of stuff. And I guarantee you, most of those things aren't very beneficial.

First off, a lot of people think minimalism is getting rid of everything except things that serve a purpose. While that may be some people's definitions, it doesn't have to be yours. I define minimalism as keeping things that serve a purpose and/or bring me joy.

I recently watched The Minimalists on Netflix. I mainly chose to watch it for environmental purposes, but I quickly realized, a lot of reasons to embrace owning less have to do with positive mental health and general well-being.

I'm moving to Chicago at the end of the month and I've been planning on moving for quite some time. I'm on my way to living in a studio and have been worried about it feeling cluttered. So, I've been Spring Cleaning. . . for about a year. I frequently find myself going through my closet and drawers asking myself: Do I really need this?

I've been a frequent flier at Salvation Army and Arc Thriftstore (and I'm racking up the tax deduction slips because of it). Now that I have much less stuff, I've been saving money, loving my space, and feeling lighter; happier.

I've been doing some more digging and here are some common benefits of minimalism:

1. You spend less. When you're more conscious of what you need and what brings you joy, you begin to question your shopping habits and typically end up purchasing fewer things.

2. Freedom. A big reason for me getting rid of a lot of my stuff was due to my desire to drop everything and move somewhere new and exciting. That's difficult to envision if you have a lot of stuff to take with you, bogging you down and holding you back.

3. Good for the environment. The less stuff we buy, the fewer resources used, and the better the planet. It's that simple.

4. Be more productive. Our possessions distract us and take up more of our time than we realize.

5. Be happier. Owning fewer things has been linked to more happiness.

6. More space. Minimalism doesn't involve clutter.

7. Quality over quantity. If you want few things, you'll begin to prioritize things that last.

8. Being present. If you're holding onto a lot of sentimental things, you could be holding onto the past. Once you lighten your load, you're better able to focus on the present. Items don't represent our past, memories do.

How to embrace minimalism.

Getting rid of things may give you some apprehension or anxiety. So instead of jumping on the bandwagon, how about you give it a test run?

Here are a couple different approaches to testing out minimalism:

Try getting rid of one thing a day for 30 days straight (I have a feeling you'll quickly see the light and get rid of more than just one thing).

Go room to room. When questioning if you should keep something or donate it ask yourself these questions:

1. Do I use this?

2. Does this serve a purpose?

3. Does this bring me true joy?

4. Does this make me feel present?

If you answered yes, to any of those questions, keep it for now! If you answered no to all of them, put it in the "donate" pile.

Watch The Minimalists on Netflix or check out their podcast. They go more in depth on the benefits and strategies to reduce your stuff.

In short, minimalism has a ton of benefits in this fickle life and very few cons. Some might come to mind now, but once you get on the Reduce Stuff Train, those initial objections will fade into oblivion.