Minimalism: Can you live with just 15 items?

Minimalism: Generation Contentment 

According to Business Insider, self-help guru James Altucher lives with just 15 things. Including: 

· Three pairs of trousers

· Three T-shirts

· A laptop

· A mobile phone

· Cash worth 4'000 dollars 

Could you do that too? 

The average household in America today houses 300'000 items; in Europe we accumulate 10.000 things. Restricting yourself to just 15 seems like an impossibility. Want to give it a try? 

A lifestyle blog gives us the following instructions: "Go through your home in your mind, room by room. Try to remember all the things inside it: every piece of furniture, every book, every tiny item." The instruction is clear. But – if we're honest with each other – you and I would fail this task. 

How minimalism works

However, more and more people are making this their life's mission. They want to cut back to – well, why exactly? On the one hand, a minimalist makes a statement against mass consumerism. On the other hand, consumerism plays such a huge role today that many people define themselves by their possessions and hide behind their property. Who wants that? 

There is too much stuff we don't need. Experts, psychologists and self-help gurus all agree: less is more. But why are we attached to all this clutter? 

- Because owning nice things triggers good feelings and sentimentality 

- Possessions make us feel powerful. 

- Our minds play tricks on us, giving us a brief rush of happiness when we buy something. But where does that feeling go once the item is paid for and stowed away in a cupboard at home? 

Top tips from the minimalism experts at Squarefoot Selfstorage

Makes you want to give it a go, doesn't it? But where to start? There's a helpful rule of thumb: everyone should own as few things as possible, but as many as necessary. That varies from person to person, but most minimalists set an initial goal of limiting themselves to 100 items. 

How to declutter

1. Say goodbye to sentimental feelings 

Get rid of everything you no longer need. Unsure what counts? Minimalism pioneer Marie Kondo follows a great principle: hold the item in question. If it brings you joy, it stays; if not, thank it for its service and take it to recycling. Or bring it to us to put in storage.

2. Organise by category 

Kondo recommends focusing on one category of items at a time. Start with things like documents or books, gather them all together, and take the time to go through them. Check what you need and what brings you joy. Donate or dispose of the rest.

3. Store your clothes properly 

Most people fold their clothes and put them in a wardrobe or on a shelf, or hang them up. Marie Kondo, on the other hand, recommends folding your clothes and standing them upright in a chest of drawers instead. Folding clothes vertically lets you fit even more in.

4. Shift your style 

Over the years, you might find that things you used to love no longer appeal to you. Why not rediscover your style? Getting your friends on board allows you to swap and reuse items with each other, giving your home a fresh look for free in the process.

5. Review regularly 

Do your clothes still fit? How about your decor? If you're looking for a fresh look, be adventurous with bold splashes of colour. Stop hoarding unnecessary stuff and focus on giving things away instead. The reward? A sense of freedom. 

Storage unit takeaway: embracing minimalism 

You might be asking yourself: "Is it worth it?" You can answer that for yourself. Remember how it felt the last time you cleared out your wardrobe? It felt great. 

And if the minimalism trend isn't for you, you can always put items and furniture into storage in a storage unit with us in Aarau.