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What’s New in Minimalism?
Looking ahead to less
I just saw an article that we can expect life in the U.S. to return to normal in August. Trips to restaurants and movies, and even vacations, are all on deck.
I’m still feeling a little guarded, but can you blame me? I was expecting life to go back to normal last summer. But this is good news for minimalists.
A core idea of minimalism is to seek out experiences, not things. And with the country shut down, experiences have been hard to come by. We’re spending more time at home, so formerly cozy spaces are getting a little cramped. There are also more stressors: job loss, kids home from school, worries about relatives.
In the past year, I’ve definitely shifted my expectations when it comes to minimalism. Previously I was interested in the idea of “no buys,” where people go a certain amount of time without buying clothing, but now I do not plan to do any.
Why? Well, people have different needs. Starting last April, most of my blazers and dress pants sat in a closet. I replaced them with some new lounge wear (because I was home more) and scrubs (which my clinic required for infection control). I have definitely used them over and over again throughout the year. And this year, I had to buy some office clothes, because I was at a new clinic. Things change.
