20 Signs You Are Secretly a Minimalist

Are you secretly a minimalist???

You feel overwhelmed and stressed when your home or life is cluttered.

You are trying hard not to get sucked into our consumerist culture.

Maybe you teach your kids that things will never satisfy them.

You know that when you look back on your life, you will most regret not spending more time with the people you love.

Oftentimes, we crave a life that’s different from the one we are currently living. Sometimes, we don’t even know exactly what we really want or how to get there.

It is important for each of us to define what we want out of life. Once we know what’s most important to us, we can make a plan for how to get there.

If any of the statements above describe you, a more minimalist life might be exactly what you need. Just maybe…you are secretly a minimalist.

What is a minimalist?

I believe that people are minimalists and don’t even know it. We crave a different life than those around us. Or we hold to different values than the culture at large. Oftentimes, we are secretly a minimalist, meaning even we don’t know that’s what makes us different.

Minimalism isn’t just a fad. But, it is a reaction to today’s culture. Sometimes it takes being completely turned off by something for us to make a drastic change.

It’s the same as when we want to raise our kids differently than our parents raised us or when we realize we have different values than the generations that went before us and need to alter our course accordingly.

According to Joshua Becker of Becoming a Minimalist, a minimalist is someone who esteems “the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of everything that distracts us from it.”

In other words, a minimalist is someone who knows what they want out of life and knows what is getting in the way of that.

A minimalist has a mindset that focuses on what really matters in life.

She is willing to sacrifice good things for great things.

She is not afraid of going against the culture if it means she will be able to live her life to the full and REALLY enjoy it.

Want to learn more about minimalism? Then check out this post on minimalism and simple living!

Why would someone decide to become a minimalist?

If you find that you are secretly a minimalist, you might decide to move to publicly calling yourself a minimalist.

People decide to call themselves a minimalist for many reasons.

For some, becoming a minimalist keeps an important mindset at the forefront of their minds. They want to change their notion of how much they need. They want to stop living for the amassing of things. Or maybe, they want to learn to be content with what they have.

For others, becoming a minimalist helps keep stress triggers at bay. They know that excess stuff overwhelms them. They know that they need to cut the clutter, and keep it that way, in order to enjoy their life.

And others become a minimalist as a means to do things they never thought possible. They know that living minimally will leave more time, money, and space for whatever is important to them. They may want to prioritize a relationship, hobby, or dream better.

What is it that you want out of life? What would make you move live a minimalist lifestyle? Why might you need a little more minimalism in your life?

What can minimalism do for me?

Minimalism can greatly alter your life for the better. Here are just some of the benefits of minimalism.

A minimalist lifestyle:

• allows you to have more time for who/what you love, because you aren’t wasting your time on unimportant things.
• causes you to have more energy because you aren’t wasting energy on unimportant things.
• leaves you experiencing less stress because you don’t have more, or do more than you can reasonably handle.
• gives you more space to live your life and be you because your house, schedule, and mind aren’t cluttered.
• leaves you with more money because you buy less and are intentional about what you spend your money on.
• provides you with more freedom because your money, possessions, health, or other people aren’t dictating your life.

I don’t know about you, but I could use a little more time, energy, space, and freedom. Do you know what all of these benefits sound like to me? JOY.

Living a more minimalist life will bring you more joy than you thought possible because you won’t waste your life. You live with no regrets. You prioritize what matters to you, and you unapologetically leave out the rest.

Minimalism can literally affect every area of your life in a positive way. Don’t believe me? Check out all of these posts by me and others that prove how life-changing minimalism can be:

Signs You’re Secretly a Minimalist

There are many signs to look for in your life to decide if the minimalist lifestyle is right for you. I have already touched on some of these, but I will give you a few more signs you’re a minimalist.

If ANY of these describe you, it’s important for you to consider developing a more minimalist lifestyle.

20 possible signs that you are secretly a minimalist:

1. You are turned off by the consumerist culture.
2. You feel like you should have been born in a different day in age.
3. A cluttered home causes you stress.
4. A busy schedule leaves you feeling overwhelmed.
5. You are frustrated by how much time it takes to clean up after your life.
6. You never feel like you have enough time in the day to do what you want.
7. Your priorities are usually put on the back burner because of urgent tasks and activities.
8. You want your kids to grow up knowing that relationships should always be put before things.
9. You try to teach your kids about needs versus wants in hopes that they won’t get sucked into consumerism.
10. Looking back, you regret not prioritizing a hobby, a dream, or a relationship.
11. You wish your life was different in terms of how you spend your time and money.
12. You are willing to give up some of your things if you know that it will make you happier.
13. If you knew you would have no regrets, you would be willing to give up the things you currently spend your time on.
14. You feel like you don’t have the time, energy, or money you need to truly enjoy your life.
15. You wish you could be more content with what you have.
16. Wasting time has become an issue, and you know that it is preventing you from getting to where you want to be.
17. You feel like you should be able to handle the amount of stuff in your life, but you just can’t.
18. Wasting money has become an issue, and you want to get your finances back under control.
19. You wish you had the money to buy higher-quality items that last longer and work better.
20. You want to gain control of your life instead of letting your stuff or situation dictate how you spend your time.

So many people are minimalists at heart and don’t even realize it. It may be time for you to embrace a more minimalist lifestyle and begin living the life you have always wanted!