if you struggle with minimalism watch this

[@EmmaLemmon]

I think I've failed at minimalism. I like things too much. I have less things than I used to have and I can definitely let go of a lot more but I don't think I have the mindset for minimalism and I've decided that's ok. I still enjoy your videos though, they give me a lot to think about.

[@Karincl7]

You didn t fail you made your own style of minimalism

[@EmmaLemmon]

@@Karincl7 thank you that's very kind of you to say. I don't mind "failing" though, I think of it as a stop on the way to learning. The fact is, I like collecting things and looking at them. The best I can do is be more mindful about what I'm collecting and curate more frequently.

[@abc-flower]

Minimalism is just a tool for making life simpler. It is not the answer to life (lol you said it right now as I have written it😂😂😂) For me I have realized minimalism has helped me to reduce the stuff that I don't use or need. And this makes everything easier. But sometimes I feel bad because of other reasons and then I try to declutter something because of that good feeling that comes with it.. but like you said minimalism is not the answer to every problem..

[@mmk82758]

It’s hard for me to balance low/zero-waste with minimalism. I save so many things (jars, anyone?!?) that can be reused but then all that stuff ends up driving me crazy because it’s “clutter.”

[@manusanchez1618]

Same!

[@Autumn1988]

We have a cupboard just for recycling and jars. That cupboard is busy however when it’s full we allow to recycle excess jars containers etc

[@status101-danielho6]

I'm an advanced minimalist, but I still struggle with sunk cost fallacy and getting rid of some of the expensive mistakes still hanging around the house. These things take up a disproportionate amount of my mental space because I want them gone, but it's a waste to donate them or throw them out. I did make some progress though, Last week I finally donated an expensive vacuum cleaner we've had since 1990 (a Kirby G3) in like-new condition that my father (who didn't even do housework) bought on impulse, and I've been stuck with for decades. Afterwards, I thought to myself, "What took me so long to get rid of it?" haha

[@antiringlo509]

I feel like I am becoming more aware of what adds value to my life. So, although I am decluttering, I am also adding things that make me happy and that are useful for me.

[@ecofriendlia]

I am sorry the comments were turned off, that didn't happen for the first time but I am still confused because I really want to hear your feedback and never change that setting :) looking forward to everyone who is watching now and being able to comment ☺

[@jacquelineveach]

Hi, Lia. I adore your approach as you encourage a minimalism journey. I love the depth and warmth you offer with ideas in sharing your journey, open questions for us to ponder ours, wonderful helps-particularly the emotional/mindful aspects, etc. It’s as if two friends are sitting in a room together having a heart felt discussion. Thanks sooo much, Lia. I’m in my late 60s and am a minimalist. I’m a born organizer. That’s easy for me. Examining the why behind my spending and impulse habits, and therefore subsequent purging hasn’t been easy for me. It’s at this point I choose to view purging as a fun challenge so I’m not paralyzed. My journey to-date has taken several years. Each time I remove a layer, as I call each stage-I see more stuff I don’t need or have outgrown. Then I make it a game to find creative ways to give to folks who’d like my stuff. I live in a century old apartment building in the middle of a major city. So, many a time I set up a corner outside my door with the freebies. (quality like-new) My neighbors love it!!! (As to why your comments were turned off, here are my thoughts. Hopefully they will address your confusion. I’m speaking from knowledge and kindness. YT takes this action if a creator’s topic is geared towards children, is offensive in any explicit manner, uses foul language, or a person reports an offense and YT looks into it. The only thing I can think of was the backside of your revealing swimsuit. Otherwise, I have no idea. I’m glad your comments were turned back on so quickly.) Sincerely, Jacqueline

[@zerowastehomestead2518]

it is doing this as well on my channel and I have no idea why

[@etta0840]

Your low buy idea to buy one item per month has been a life changer for me. Impulse buying has always been an issue for me. Now I cannot think of even one thing that I need to buy!

[@mariluwilhelm5742]

This was so helpful. Thank you. I enjoy watching videos about minimilism cause it calms me as I'm surrounded by my clutter. And always thought I want to live a minimalistic lifestyle but realize now that I just want and need to have a major decluttering first. And take it from there. I do know for sure that clutter makes me anxious and it affects my mood and productivity. Love your channel by the way. Discovered you actually because of knitting.

[@moniousova]

Hi Lia, thank you for another video. I love the way you talk about these things, how understanding and non-judgemental you are, and I feel "safe" here. I have a totally different feeling about my minimalism journey right now though. I want to go for a few days roadtrip next week, just me and my dog, and as I am packing in my mind, I feel really good about it, because I know, that anything I take with me, will fit me and I will not have to worry too much about putting together an outfit :) I am so glad, that I decluttered a lot over the last few years, and now I only have clothes that I feel really good in :) it makes my life so much easier!

[@jessicasifnotis3828]

You are such an inspiration! Thank you for sharing 🤗

[@ecofriendlia]

Thank you! I am glad you liked the video! ☺

[@OfWavesAndWinds]

Decluttering is a tool that helps us to keep our homes beautiful and functional. But if it starts to cause us emotional distress this may be a sign we are taking it to an extreme. That's why I don't declutter things I have emotional connection to - things I use for my hobbies, things that connect me to my ancestors, culture, family, friends, my past... I think that beautiful and meaningful things are as important as the useful ones. Just keep them tidy and organized.

[@creilly3728]

You made me rethink my definition of minimalism for myself. I am going to be less hard on myself for not cutting back as much as I originally planned. It’s all new to me and I’m going to take it slower.

[@Bumbledora]

My life has gotten easier with minimalism, but sure, sometimes I feel a bit confused. I'm not sure about what because I don't feel stuck or anything like that. But I do enjoy the lifestyle and mindset. It makes me feel less stress and that's a huge reason why I turned to minimalism. A great positive side effect of it all, I think. Of course, we are all different individuals and our journeys are also different. Thanks for sharing! :)

[@ChristineMichelleYT]

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about culture and how people practiced culture in the past. As a white, third generation Canadian, I almost feel like I don’t have culture to practice. I could look into my heritage and adopt some parts of those different cultures but I feel so distant from it. Anyways I think maybe my point is that people might hoard and collect things in replace of the culture that was stripped from them. My ancestors stripped culture from practically all people in the world including themselves and it makes me wonder if that’s one of the reasons overconsumption and collecting became such an issue in North America and some other countries in the world. I like minimalism and have been practicing it for probably my entire life, but also I am starting to see it as the lack of culture. I think I want to build off of minimalism and use my empty space in my life to learn more about different cultures and embrace them too. Maybe my comment makes no sense but if it makes sense to anyone I’d love to hear your thoughts on my strange ideas.

[@status101-danielho6]

As a second generation Chinese Canadian, you don't recognize Canadian culture until you travel and recognize the mindset difference. Minimalism is a tiny sub-culture, and if it speaks to you, you must hang around us more often. :)

[@emmylee8862]

Your thought about the lack of culture is intriguing. I also live in Europe and we have lots of old family heirlooms, like furniture, tools or crafting stuff which is older than the US! But we don't have much clutter and trash. "Cultural" things are also long living and non trashy, eg dresses and gowns (Native American, Asian...) or ancient jewellery...

[@andaminiart4288]

I also thought about something similar lately, but kinda from opposite point of view. I'm from Eastern Europe, and traditions, culture dishes, culture specific behavior is abundant, but at the same time - in my expirience at least - people who are the most cought up in those traditions and 'traditional', rural living, are more prone to hoarding than others. In their minds, everything could be saved for future generations or later use (maybe because for many years they didn't have much?), even if it's straight up trash. My grandfather used to hoard everything (after his death we threw out THREE demolished washing maschines, one of witch had to be at least 50 years old) and this behaviour is still very much alive in villages and small towns.

[@OfWavesAndWinds]

You make perfect sense. Culture (right or wrong) is how we orient ourselves in the world. Without roots you cannot grow branches. After rejecting religion and its rituals I found my life meaningless. I had to recreate my own world view and new rituals (based on nature and turning of seasons which was close to my heart since childhood) to be able to function healthily in this world.

[@zerowastehomestead2518]

I tell my boyfriend often, "I just want to sell it all" and that is mostly true. I get real tired of all the stuff around me but it takes time. Plus I can not touch the boyfriends or kids stuff as its not mine but there are days I wish the house was almost empty

[@eleanor1531]

im tryna hang on to this dream, it will help me leave my abusive family and move out, also, i want to live life to the fullest and have an easy life

[@CiaraColette]

Wonderful video. I do feel Im failing at minimalism but I do want to be a minimalist and will keep trying to simplify. My struggle lies in my interests and hobbies. I accumulate books, art supplies of all kinds, film photography stuff, etc. If you are an artist or have any kind of maximalish hobby I would love to hear about your outlook on this kind of thing in a future video. 🌿💕 lots of love to you sister. ✨🌼

[@CiaraColette]

Also, I sent you a message on Instagram. 😊

[@ecofriendlia]

I do not have any hobbies with a lot of stuff, but I think it is always about the followong: do you need all the stuff to get the fulfillment out of your hobby? If yes, you should keep it but sometimes we only need a fraction of the stuff to still get 100% (or maybe 99%) of the fulfillment out of our hobby. I used to be in a youth circus and had a unicycle, juggling clubs, juggling balls, juggling rings, special clothes for aerial acrobatics, and more... And then I decluttered everything because I realized that practicing handstands is as fulfilling as the rest and I don't need any special equipment for that ☺ maybe something like that can partially work for your hobbies too ☺

[@CiaraColette]

@@ecofriendlia thank you so much. ♥️✨

[@emmylee8862]

I also have a very materialistic hobby but the rest of my life is minimalistic. My flat is very "clean", and my hobby room with all the stuff is separate, like a workplace.

[@CiaraColette]

@@emmylee8862 cool, thanks 🐹🌿♥️

[@marid.2874]

I was a hardcore collector for the first 22 years of my life. Going to every yard sale and buying so much stuff. Getting clothes from friends and family and stores. I did a big decluttering a year or so ago, and it was amazing. My room was a hoarder's nest, and now it just looks like a fairly normal bedroom. But I still don't feel minimalistic enough for my taste, and the things I have now, I'm emotionally attached to. I've lived in the same room my whole life, and things have their place that just feels empty without them, so I think maybe I'll get rid of things when I move out because I won't feel like it messes up the harmony of the room. I know it's not a "bringing things in" problem though, because I've barely bought anything all year. By that I mean, one item of clothing, maybe 3 books, and that's it.

[@heleen_terrafrost9438]

How has this journey affected other parts of your life? For example diet or alcohol consumption, if there was any before you started. Thank you for sharing your life, it really has been an inspiration! I love your thinking that goes much further than just decluttering.

[@lena-aline]

i really needed to hear this today, thank you so much

[@lindawarner7046]

Excellent video! Your hair looks adorable!

[@ecofriendlia]

Thank you so much! And I am glad you liked it :)

[@helenread5767]

Minimalism does not have to be extreme. It can range from slightly less stuff than people usually have to the bare basics.

[@giom8737]

I think my biggest challenge is that I live 24 years at the same place, and me and my two sisters used to share clothing (sometimes with my mother as well) and none of them is used to declutter. Now, my two sisters have already moved out and I'm here with tons of stuff that I don't know if I'm even allowed to declutter! But anyway, I'm doing the best I can do deal with this. I have a question also: sometimes I feel like most of my clothing don't represent who I am now, but I don't find the right pieces either, and even if I do I feel guilty in buying them! How to overcome this? For me, clothing is the HARDEST part of minimalism 'cause I love fashion and I think I'm still finding out who I am. :((

[@ecofriendlia]

Oh, that does sound challenging! I think it is important that you allow yourself to have clothes you feel good and authentic in! Even if that means decluttering 99% of what you have now (you can tell your sisters to come by one day and take everything they want to save from being donated or sold) and then buying some new things. But talking about your feeling of guilt: you can maybe find sustainable options like shopping secondhand and then you don't need to feel guilty! It does take a certain time and some trial and error to find your style and so I think you are definitely allowed to bring some new pieces in and also declutter them later☺

[@ashjoma]

I’m finding it hard to get rid of things but I’m trying.. I have a box of stuff for the op-shop.. I’m making a conscious effort not to bring any more into my life unless it’s absolutely required and I’m staying out of the shops.

[@abc-flower]

Also like you said in another video minimalism isn't about a specific aesthetic... it just helps with life..

[@Diego-Designs]

I'm kind of deciding how to go about certain things. On one hand all my stuff fits in 7 boxes, so I'm fine with that. On the other hand I've been thinking about prepping and have enough supplies to last me for at least 6 months. So I don't know what to do...

[@raggedblossom508]

Prepping is a wise thing to do. I have a food stockpile too. It all goes into designated areas, either behind cupboard doors or on shelves covered with an attractive cloth. Beyond that, minimalism rules.

[@abc-flower]

Sometimes we are just too extreme in minimalism. I think we need a pause from minimalism sometimes because it is not our whole life and it can't fill this void in us. For me only God can fill it

[@ewalad]

I'm decluttering my room. I'm putting my clothes on sale at the moment. It's taking a while. 😅 All the photos I have to take and set prices on the website I use. Not sure how I will sell the books yet. I'm having difficulty with budgeting because I have different currencies flowing in to different bank accounts. Any tips?

[@naomisandoz3448]

nice video