The Pros and Cons of Minimalism

By Haley Harmicar

photo by Jon and Moch photography

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” —Leonardo da Vinci

America saw the beginning of minimalism arguably during the late 50’s and early 60’s. At this time, artists started to turn away from the Abstract Expressionism movement and began to gravitate towards more extreme abstractions, which often meant the use of simple geometric shapes in their art. Additionally, rather than using forged iron or metal for sculptures, the minimalist artists introduced the use of clay and plaster casted in bronze for their sculptures, due to the material being better for the environment.

Fast forward to modern-day society, the definition of minimalism has slightly changed. It has admittedly strayed away from art and has become more of a lifestyle. Though the topic may be intimidating for some people, here are the pros and cons that accompany minimalism.

PRO #1:

The first surface-level pro is, obviously, the lift of stress after the release of attachment to material items. You will learn to appreciate experiences over things, and it will help you to know what you are actually grateful for. Whether it be a passion you have or a movement that you are an activist for- letting go of things you do not truly need will make room for pursuing those passions and understanding what it is in life that is important to you.

CON #1:

Minimalism might overwhelm you at first. The thought of decluttering may be intimidating to someone who has a lot of connection to their belongings, but a mental shift and a consideration of priorities will help to determine what is truly important in one’s life.

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PRO #2:

You will produce less trash + contribute to less carbon emissions. With minimalism comes minimal waste due to the lack of objects you will need to throw away. Also, minimalism usually calls for buying less clothes or switching to thrifting rather than shopping at fashion industries such as Brandy Melville, Urban Outfitters, etc. Shopping at thrift stores minimizes carbon emissions since the fashion industry is said to be second to the petroleum industry in terms of emitting fossil fuels. In fact,if every piece of clothing had a second life, carbon emissions would decrease by 71%!

CON #2:

Minimalism might not be able to suit your lifestyle. Indisputably, a mom of three children would probably have a harder time becoming a minimalist versus a 20 year old college student. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t embrace certain minimalist lifestyles. Simple changes like buying less plastic-packaged items, bringing reusable bags to the grocery store, and opting out of using disposable cutlery or straws will go a long way in reducing your carbon footprint, which goes hand in hand with minimalism.

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PRO #3:

More financial freedom. Minimalism will help you learn to spend less on things you do not need, and you will learn to be happy with only the items you absolutely need rather than the things you want. Therefore, you will save a lot of money in the process.

CON #3:

Having little clothes or dishes might mean more maintenance. You might find yourself washing your clothes more often than you usually would since the relatively small amount of clothes that a minimalist has calls for more cleaning. This is why minimalism doesn’t have a black and white answer to all of the downsides. Minimalism is owning what you need. Some people need more than others and that’s okay.

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Overall, the pros of minimalism on a scale of environmental friendliness outweigh the cons. Again, minimalism is what you make it. If you are a musician and need cords and microphones etc., that is okay, because it pertains to your lifestyle and is something that will not be wasted. No matter your lifestyle, there are always things you can do to better the environment even more. But take your time with minimalism, everyone’s journey is specific to the individual.