Minimalism and Change
As a minimalist myself, I often assume that minimalism has benefits for everyone. I've even used minimalism as a coping mechanism during my most acute times of bipolar depression. I simplified my kitchen to make it easier to cook, I reduced my wardrobe to reduce my stress when getting dressed, and I streamlined my household items to make it easier to clean and get organized. In general, the value of minimalism for people with anxiety or depression goes relatively undisputed. But watching a lot of YouTube videos and reading blogs on the subject has made me notice something interesting. A lot of minimalists just keep reducing their belongings to the point that I wonder what the endgame is. For some, it might be to live out of a backpack, but I do start to wonder what the point of eliminating a handful of items is when it's a noticeable sacrifice. I mean, why get rid of your colander when you use it fairly frequently? This aggressive, almost competitive pursuit of owning less starts to seem more like an obsession than a positive change.
And so I've begun to wonder if minimalism really is good for everyone, especially people going through significant change. As I'm slowly getting better and stabilizing in terms of my own mental illness, I'm experiencing a lot of change in how I see myself and in what my activities are. And if I were to maintain a very strict doctrine of constantly reducing my belongings, there would be no room for new things to come into my life as I change. Minimalism often demands that we become more realistic about who we are and what our lifestyle really is. But for someone who is going through a very dark time in terms of mental health, this type of assessment can be brutal. When I found myself reducing my wardrobe to the things that still fit me (after my weight gain on Seroquel) and that were comfortable for around the house (when I was never leaving the house), I was left with a pretty drab, unfashionable capsule of basics. There was little color, and practicality was what mattered. But as I'm starting to break through a bit into the outside world, I've found a renewed interest in style and in finding my own authentic style. So I bought some new things, some colorful, less practical things. And like a "bad" minimalist, I've expanded my wardrobe a bit. So my question now is, how can we embrace minimalism and embrace change at the same time?
I've heard people talk about the "one in, one out rule," where for every new item you buy, an old item has to go. In terms of clothes (and keeping them out of landfills), I've had good luck with selling those older items on Ebay. And for sentimental items, repurposing is a good option: I had a beautiful blouse from high school that was wholly unflattering, so I sewed a few handkerchiefs from pieces of the fabric. As much of a minimalism enthusiast as I am however, I do feel there are considerations to make when decluttering during a difficult time. One thing to think about is whether going through belongings from the past might prove too difficult and not worth the rewards of clearing things out. What may be cathartic for some, for others can uncover issues they are not ready to deal with. In this way, clutter may actually be protecting you from dredging up regrets and memories that might make you feel worse. Right now I have a box full of photos I've been meaning to digitize for over a year. When I think about it rationally, I want them preserved and out of the way on my hard drive. But I've been blocked when it comes to actually getting started. I believe the reason for this is that going through those photos is a lot like that old game show "This Is Your Life" where you are reunited with people and events from your past. This may be a project better saved for when I'm feeling better about my current life and less prone to comparison and regret.
Another thing to consider when decluttering is whether getting rid of belongings is actually a symptom of suicidal thinking. It has been noted that when people are planning suicide, they might give away precious objects to friends and family. If you have any suspicions that this is your situation, cease and desist decluttering and see a mental health professional immediately. Another clue that this might be your situation is "decluttering" people and activities from your life. Advice from minimalists might suggest decluttering your time and schedule, but for someone battling mental illness, this may in fact be a red flag.
In general, if you are thinking of trying out some decluttering in order to simplify your routines and make daily tasks easier, I'd suggest going slowly and storing things away instead of getting rid of things outright. When I reduced my wardrobe, I stored my clothes that didn't fit in a plastic bin on my top shelf. This leaves me the option of returning to those items if my mindset or my weight shifts, things that are bound to happen as I recover from acute mental illness.
Which brings me to my last point regarding clutter and minimalism: sometimes hanging on to objects can give us hope. I like to call this "aspirational clutter." For me, five pairs of high heels that I don't currently wear (and haven't worn in years) constitute some of my aspirational clutter. I fantasize about the outfits I'll wear them with when I'm better. I imagine wearing them casually to go to a coffee shop, or putting them on for social occasions (which I don't currently attend). While they don't feel right just yet, I like to keep hope alive that sometime soon they will.
Studies have shown that the risk of suicide declines sharply when people call the national suicide hotline: 1-800-273-TALK
There is also a crisis text line: Text HOME to 741741
The lines are staffed by a mix of paid professionals and unpaid volunteers trained in crisis and suicide intervention. The confidential environment, the 24-hour accessibility, a caller's ability to hang up at any time and the person-centered care have helped its success, advocates say.