What is minimalism anyway?
On simplicity, symbolism, and the emoji
“Your initial reaction is not your forever reaction.”
— The Minimalists
00: When the world felt smaller
Minimalism Life’s premium edition continues with an essay on embodied memory in a digital age. There was a time when we navigated the world through our senses—the warmth of light shifting across an afternoon, the texture of a familiar street, the scent that signaled home. Orientation was not a task but a feeling. Today, much of that quiet knowing has moved into our devices, changing how we remember, move, and belong. This essay reflects on what we lose when memory becomes outsourced, and what we might regain by returning to a more present, physical way of being.
Support and subscribe for $5/month or $50/year to read the full essay when it lands on October 22. Plus, unlock our growing archive of reflections on simplicity, intention, and what it means to live with less.
What is minimalism anyway?
If minimalism would be an emoji, it would be the knife (sorry white square). Elimination, killing your darlings, knowing when to say no and slicing off unnecessary baggage from your life is a big part of being a minimalist, if you ask me.
Minimalism can be a lot of things to a lot of people, but to me it is about focus mostly. About being radical in making decisions. About designing your own life. About taking 100% creative authority over your everyday. About setting priorities. About saying yes or no and nothing in between. About the ongoing, ever changing quest to finding what makes you happy—and what doesn’t.
It is about trusting your vision and yourself. Putting all your focus on a handful of things that make you absolutely happy and eliminating everything that doesn’t. Cutting out everything that doesn’t 100% excite you (you know, the Mary Kondo filter: ‘does it spark joy?’). Only focusing on the good things and letting go of all the mediocre. About consciously considering every thing and every activity.
Making radical decisions will ultimately start to reflect aesthetically (no need to paint everything white or stock up on black and white home accessories). It will be a reflection of yourself and what you stand for. I think that minimalism will automatically lead to a very pure form of your own aesthetic—whatever that is.
Words by Ivania Carpio
01: Journal
Read entries from the archive of the Minimalism Life® community journal
Being able to walk away: your ability to walk away is your strongest tool
Words by Leo Babauta
A bunch of things I did to get out of debt: a path toward financial freedom
Words by Joshua Fields Millburn
Beyond the empty room: when minimalism feels cold, comfort brings balance
Words by Carl Barenbrug
Share your story
Do you have an interesting story you would like to share on minimalism.com? We want to read about it. You have the opportunity to write about your experience of how minimalism has impacted your life and get your words published in our community journal.
02: Minimal art
From our curated gallery
03: Minimal design
Explore our list of curated design resources
John Pawson on making calm, simple spaces (video/architecture)
focusedOS (tool/software)
The light phone 3 (tool/hardware)
04: Minimal lifestyle
Explore our list of curated lifestyle resources for simple living
Open: mindfulness studio (tool/sessions)
05: Shop
Discover our hand-picked minimalist products in the Minimalism Life® shop
06: Brands anchored by simplicity and sustainability
Minimalism can mean frugality and owning less, but it can also mean supporting ethical brands with sustainability at their core. Here are a few you might find interesting—just remember, clothes are not an investment.
Nordic Knots: rugs inspired by the beauty of the Nordic light
Collars & Co: minimalist polo shirts
Steele & Borough: vegan, lightweight and water repellant bags
Void Watches: simple Swedish timepieces
Meller: minimal shades
Wahts: minimal monochromatic menswear
Mismo: bags and accessories from natural materials
Discover more minimal brands on minimalism.com