psychology
Does a minimalist life make you happier?
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Those who live minimalism are usually looking for an alternative to our consumer and performance society. And according to studies, minimalists are actually happier than others.
In our uncertain and fast-moving times, many people long for a different, simpler life. It’s hardly surprising that Minimalism has become a major movement in recent years. It’s about reducing things to the essentials, to the things you really need. And about consciously opposing the “higher, faster, further” idea that is considered the unwritten motto of modern society.
Minimalist living is a clear antithesis to 21st century consumerist capitalism. Many people are asking themselves – and the world – the question: Do we really need more and more? Does it have to be constant consumption and excess? Or can we return to a simpler but fulfilling life?
Studies confirm: minimalism makes you happier
Many researchers have already investigated these questions. The “Journal of Positive Psychology,” for example, has one Meta-analysis of 23 studies on minimalism and well-being published. And the team led by Joshua Hook from the University of North Texas actually confirms: A minimalist life makes you happier. More than 80 percent of studies were able to demonstrate a positive connection between a consciously simple life and greater well-being. This was confirmed by both quantitative studies and those with a qualitative evaluation, such as interviews.
The researchers attribute this connection primarily to the fact that minimalists can control their desire to consume better than others. Instead, they are more concerned with their psychological needs, especially those that contribute to personality development, i.e. issues such as independence and competence.
But: A minimalist life does not necessarily make people with high incomes happier
Another finding of the meta-analysis, however, is that this clear connection between minimalism and high life satisfaction is particularly evident among people with modest financial resources. On the other hand, people with more money are not necessarily happier with a simple life.
This could be due to the fact that these people have adapted more quickly to a certain standard of living due to their higher income and the resources available to them. This makes it harder for them to be satisfied with less consumption and growth.
Less is more – the easy way to happiness?
“I think these research findings counteract our society’s general tendency to always want more,” said Joshua Hook. “It’s one of the biggest lies of our time that we simply need more money, more material possessions, and more in general to be happy. Instead, we should look for other ways to increase our happiness – and living more simply might be something that it’s worth trying.”
There are many forms and levels of minimalism. For some, living in a simple forest cabin à la Henry David Thoreau may be the only true path to happiness. For others, there can only be a maximum of 100 things that they own. But perhaps it can be enough to pause occasionally and ask yourself what you really need.
This can affect a wide variety of life decisions – such as a larger apartment, a new car or an additional handbag. Beforehand, we should make sure that our individual needs are really behind the purchase or change. Because very often it is the pressure of our society, which is focused on performance and growth, that leads us to believe that we need more and more and bigger things. If we manage to be a little more careful when dealing with consumption, it not only protects the planet, but can also make us more satisfied and happier in the long term.
Sources used: Journal of Positive Psychology, Psychology Today