HOW TO BECOME A MINIMALIST
“Down- sizing ” trend or not – how do you actually become a minimalist ? The book "Simply living" by author and minimalism expert Lina Jachmann portrays 30 personalities from a wide variety of areas and shows the tips and tricks with which minimalism can be implemented in everyday life. And how easy it really is to live simply, Lina explains in our interview.
WHY DO YOU THINK LESS IS MORE?
Minimalism is about getting rid of superfluous things. In the first step, we start with the physical decluttering, in order to then take a close look at all areas of life: habits, relationships and also thoughts. The focus is on the things that remain, for which we consciously choose, which enrich our lives. Minimalism reminds many that the most important things in life are not things.
DOES MINIMALISM ALWAYS MEAN ABANDONMENT?
First and foremost, it's about finding out which things enrich life and what can stay. Green minimalists, who at the same time want to live as sustainably as possible, are turning from consumers into consumers. You make purchasing decisions critically. However, the minimalists are less concerned with doing without than with making a conscious decision. Using the example of new purchases: Green minimalists try to shop locally, fairly and without outer packaging whenever possible. Because every receipt is a ballot that decides which products and companies should exist in the future.
WHY DO PEOPLE LONG FOR A MINIMALIST LIFE?
Many people crave "time instead of stuff". They feel trapped in a spiral of consumption, obligations, expectations and meaningless clutter. The minimalist lifestyle helps them to rid their lives of superfluous things and to restructure them on all levels. Resulting in more luck, more time, more money and more freedom to win.
WHAT ARE THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN YOUR LIFE?
Time. People. Love.
DO YOU THINK THERE IS A LINK BETWEEN MINIMALISM AND HAPPINESS?
Finding out what is really important makes you incredibly happy. Just try it once.
HOW MANY THINGS (IN NUMBERS) DO YOU NEED IN YOUR LIFE TO BE REALLY HAPPY? AND WHY EXACTLY THIS NUMBER?
The average European owns around 10,000 items. There are minimalists who count their possessions precisely and set a specific number as a limit or goal. For example , in my book "Simply living" I introduce the minimalist Joachim Klöckner, who lives with only 50 things. For most minimalists, however, the exact number of possessions does not matter much. Rather, once ownership is reduced to the right amount of things, a calm settles in.
HOW MUCH DOES SUSTAINABILITY HAVE TO DO WITH A MINIMALIST LIFESTYLE?
If you only own a few, selected things, the individual items take on greater importance. The relationship to things changes. Fundamental questions are becoming more relevant: Where does the object actually come from, how was it produced and under what conditions? Many green minimalists want to conserve resources and are looking for alternatives to buying new. They rely on the sharing economy, the community, exchange, recycle, repair and make things themselves.
IS MINIMALISM TREND RIGHT NOW? WHICH TREND DO YOU THINK WILL COME NEXT?
The minimalist lifestyle leads to a lasting change in one's own values, while at the same time providing answers to many social and ecological challenges of our time. That's why I prefer to talk about the minimalism movement, which provides impetus and inspires people.
CAN PERSONAL MINIMALISM POSITIVELY INFLUENCE THE WORLD?
I would like to quote Stefan Zweig: "Many small people in many small places, who take many small steps, can change the face of the world."
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP ADVICE FOR A MINIMALIST LIFE?
- Search and find your "why" in the first step. How do you imagine your life as a minimalist? What are your wishes and dreams? Visualize your goal.
- Don't get stressed out in the minimalism process. The superfluous things didn't come into your life overnight. It takes time and energy to free yourself from it.
- Make it easy. Start right away. Your new life is already waiting for you.
