Minimalism: Have Less, Live Healthier

Recently, minimalism has become trendy, and the topic is increasingly being covered in the mainstream media. It has influenced different industries like fashion and technology. A minimalist lifestyle is a mindset to help you sort out the clutter so you can free up your capacity and time to focus on what’s truly important to you. Scientific evidence indicates that clutter can cause stress and influence the hormonal balance in our body. They can trigger the release of a stress hormone called cortisol in our bodies. The prolonged activation of this system can disrupt the balance of the body, and put one at a greater risk of health conditions such as depression.

Supreme Master Ching Hai has spoken about the importance of cleanliness, as in this excerpt from a June 20, 1994 lecture in New York, USA. “It's not that somebody is cleaner than the others, or somebody loves cleanliness more. It is the inner expression of beauty, virtues, and truth. It's the saintly way of life. We should live a simple life, not an impoverished life. A simple life, not a messy life. And it's very practical. If a house is comfortable, it’s like a sanctuary. It's like a church. You feel peaceful. The passion, the lust, the anger, the ambition, everything will just calm down. It’s very important to keep your place wholly clean, for yourself, and also for the sake of this world, for the sake of the universe. Clean your house as a dedication to God.”

The link between motivation and cleaning is also scientifically proven. Professor Sophie Scott, who is a cognitive neuroscientist at University College London in the UK, has stated that cleaning up can act as a reward that augments the release of the “feel-good” neurotransmitter called dopamine. Let’s look at some tips for minimalist living. First, start slow. Decluttering is a continuous event and requires time to figure out. You can choose to start with one area of the house or room at a time. Second, repurpose. Try to repurpose items or up cycle them into something useful. Third, clean up regularly. Buying only what you need will save you the hassles of decluttering.