psychology
Does minimalism really make us happier?
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A minimalist life is not only an alternative to our fast-moving consumer and performance-oriented society, but can also make you happier and more content. This is confirmed by researchers in a large study.
In uncertain times like these, between pandemics, wars and the climate crisis, many people long for a simpler life. So it’s no wonder that the Minimalism has become a huge movement in recent years. It’s about reducing to the essentials, about not always wanting more, but to reflect on what you really need.
Minimalism is thus clearly to be understood as the antithesis to the consumption-oriented turbo-capitalism of our time with an ever-increasing urge to grow. Minimalists ask themselves and the world the question: Does it really always have to be more? Do we need constant consumption and abundance? On the contrary: wouldn’t we be happier with less, with a simpler life?
Studies show: A simple life actually makes you happier
Many researchers have already investigated this question. The Journal of Positive Psychology has one Meta-analysis of 23 studies on minimalism and well-being published. And the study by the team led by Joshua Hook from the University of North Texas actually confirms that more than 80 percent of the studies examined were able to identify a positive connection between a deliberately simple life and increased well-being. Both studies with a quantitative component, i.e. a number-based evaluation, and those with a qualitative evaluation, i.e. interviews for example, confirmed the thesis that a minimalist life makes people happier.
The researchers suspect that this connection is based on the fact that people who prefer a simple lifestyle are better able to control their desire to consume than others. They automatically become more concerned with the psychological needs that contribute to personality development, such as independence or competence.
But: Wealthy people don’t necessarily make minimalism happier
However, another finding of the study is that this clear connection between minimalism and life satisfaction can be found above all among people with low incomes. Those with greater financial resources do not necessarily find greater satisfaction in the “less is more” approach.
This could be related to the fact that people with higher incomes adjust more quickly to a certain standard of living and therefore find it more difficult to be fulfilled and happy with less consumption and growth.
Less is more: is this the way to happiness?
“I think this research counteracts the general tendency of our society to always want more,” explains 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 easier could be something worth trying.”
A minimalist life does not have to mean that we are allowed to move into a cabin in the woods like the writer Henry David Thoreau or that we are only allowed to own 100 material things. But asking yourself what you actually need can help.
When making life decisions such as a larger apartment, a new car or another handbag, at least ask yourself what the real need is behind it. It is often the pressure of our performance and growth society that leads us to believe that we need to expand and definitely want more. Being a little more careful when dealing with consumption not only protects the planet, but also makes us happier in the long term.
Sources used: Journal of Positive Psychology, Psychology Today