If you find yourself holding back from making unnecessary purchases and downsizing your possessions, you could be living a minimalist lifestyle. This lifestyle has grown increasingly popular among millennials, who prioritize flexibility and experiences over possessions.
Sustainable products also provide a greater sense of fulfillment when purchased.
Focus on What’s Important
The rising popularity of minimalism has heavily impacted the millennial generation. Thanks to the Netflix show Tidying Up with Marie Kondo and books like The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, more and more people are choosing minimalism as a lifestyle change and giving away unwanted belongings in favor of living a simpler existence. Minimalism provides a wonderful way of keeping focus on what matters in life, such as health, family, or experiences, over material possessions.
Millennials tend to lead a sustainable and responsible lifestyle. They prioritize environmental sustainability, ethical production and sourcing practices, financial security, self-sufficiency, and adventure—values that they appreciate in themselves and companies that share these beliefs, such as organic products sold at fair trade rates or volunteering their time for causes that align with them.
As such, they tend not to want to buy houses as quickly as their baby-boomer parents did. Many millennials instead rent apartments or even build tiny houses as weekend getaways while working from home remotely; this allows them to save money on rent while simultaneously freeing up space to focus on passion projects and working remotely from home.
Millennials tend to value experiences over material objects more than their baby boomer counterparts, believing that memories created through travel and experiences are far more rewarding than anything they could buy for their homes. Perhaps this explains why millennials tend to prefer coworking spaces or coffee shops over traditional offices for their work spaces. Additionally, their preference for minimalistic living may be influenced by their flexible mobile lifestyles.
Be mindful of your space.
The millennial generation has become more conscious of how much stuff they own and is looking for ways to simplify their lives. Minimalism is based on an ideology that says living a minimalist lifestyle is environmentally friendly and promotes health and wellness. It encourages people to only purchase what they need while donating or recycling anything no longer used. This movement gained momentum thanks to Netflix’s hit show Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, which encourages them to declutter their homes by getting rid of items that no longer spark joy for them.
Millennials also tend to place greater value on experiences than possessions, postponing many traditional markers of adulthood that previous generations followed. Instead of rushing into buying homes or cars right away, millennials tend to save for travel and leisure activities instead. Furthermore, their economic instability has taught them to be more prudent with their finances, less likely to spend money frivolously, and to invest in high-quality items that will last them a longer period of time.
Studies have shown that minimalism positively impacts millennials’ hedonic well-being (Lloyd & Pennington, 2020). It can help millennials feel calmer and happier by clearing away physical clutter and focusing on what matters. The relationship between minimalism and eudaimonic well-being requires further research (Kasser & Ahuvia 2002); therefore, it may be more beneficial to view well-being as a continuum rather than focusing solely on hedonic and eudaimonic well-being (Lloyd & Pennington 2020).
Don’t overbuy.
If you find yourself trying to reduce clutter like cluttered countertops, messy desks, and excessive closet clutter, minimalism could be right up your alley. Minimalists believe that buying less allows them to focus more on family, friends, and self-development rather than things they accumulate over time, like physical possessions, leading them down an enriching path towards happiness.Numerous companies offer minimalist products and services, such as Getaway, which rents out tiny houses for weekend getaways..
Due to the economic challenges they are currently experiencing, millennials are opting for simpler lifestyles compared to previous generations, who enjoyed more luxurious experiences during their formative years. Many millennials are postponing traditional rites of passage such as getting married and starting families until they have achieved financial security first.
Millennials’ attraction to minimalism stems in part from an awareness of environmental concerns. As a result, they seek out less harmful ways to live, such as using less energy and reducing plastic waste. Furthermore, their purchasing decisions become more deliberate as they aim to prevent further pollution and waste production.
As such, minimalism has gained increasing traction among the millennial generation due to its positive effects on well-being. Although this study established that minimalism could increase hedonic well-being, further research should investigate its effect on eudaimonic well-being too. Furthermore, environmental awareness, contemporary aesthetics, voluntary simplicity, normative influence, and resource sharing can contribute towards minimalism, which ultimately can increase one’s sense of fulfillment.
Don’t overwork.
Millennials often face ridicule for their spending habits, yet they strive to minimize expenses to the best of their ability. They are not as concerned with flashiness as their parents were; they have a more intuitive sense of what it means to live responsibly, as evidenced by Getaway offering unique tiny house experiences for only $99 per night, so guests can try living in one! Such experiences help millennials better understand the minimalist lifestyle.
Minimalism has become popular with millennials for several reasons, not the least of which is that it helps them focus on their priorities and reduce stress levels in an often distracting world. Studies show that those who practice minimalism tend to have greater eudaimonic well-being (Lopez Palafox 2020).
Minimalism can also aid environmental concerns. For example, millennials prefer purchasing items made from organic and recycled materials, as this helps contribute to maintaining the health of our environment while limiting our exposure to toxins and chemicals.
Minimalism can also improve millennials’ hedonic well-being by helping them save money on unnecessary purchases, which they can then spend on activities and experiences that provide fulfillment and satisfaction. Furthermore, minimalism may lead to more productive lives because it reduces how much time millennials devote to activities they don’t really need; as a result, they can pursue their dreams without worrying about finances or meeting needs more efficiently.
Make time for yourself.
Millennials understand the importance of self-care for their wellbeing, and many consider minimalism a means of improving mental health. By eliminating unnecessary clutter from their lives and prioritizing what matters most in their lives, minimalism provides space and relieves the stress that comes with having too much stuff.
This generation is also more aware of the negative impacts that consumerism has on our environment, seeking ways to minimize waste while living a greener lifestyle. They donate unwanted items and move into smaller homes while shopping at thrift stores or slow fashion brands, keeping mindful purchases in mind. Minimalism encourages this mindset by prompting purchases of higher-quality items that last longer (i.e., spending more on one pair of sandals that will last several years rather than buying multiple cheap pairs that break quickly).
Minimalists prioritize experiences over possessions and work to live debt- and clutter-free lives, giving them more time and freedom to pursue their passions, develop new skills, and grow as individuals. Plus, having less stuff means saving more for retirement and emergencies!
This study examines the antecedents and outcomes of minimalistic consumption, with a particular focus on its effect on consumer wellbeing through fulfillment. We conducted a literature review to identify potential drivers of minimalistic consumption, proposing five drivers—environmental awareness, contemporary aesthetics, voluntary simplicity, normative influence, and resource sharing—as potential catalysts of such behavior. We tested these five drivers via a quantitative online survey using a structured questionnaire. Finally, we utilized SMART PLS for data analysis, and the findings indicated that a key mediator between minimalism and consumer wellbeing is fulfillment.
