The Benefits of a Minimalist Lifestyle in College

By Katherine Gardner on July 8, 2016

Minimalism is often thought of as an extremist lifestyle with strict rules and stark, white walls. Many people believe that in order to become a minimalist they must live in a bare studio apartment that has a bed lying on the floor covered with a white comforter beside a bedside table that has a single succulent on it. We’ve all seen the pictures on Pinterest. Although some people do choose to live this way, this is certainly not the only way to live your life with less. One thing I have learned about this particular lifestyle is that minimalism differs from person to person — how you choose to employ minimalism depends on who you are and what you believe adds value to your life. The joy of minimalism is the freedom you feel by knowing and appreciating every item you own, and what better time to start appreciating your things than during college? Here are a few reasons why embracing a minimalist lifestyle as college student could be beneficial to you:

You’re already dealing with a small space – College dorm rooms and student housing are notorious for their nonexistent storage space and cramped layouts. Attempting to squeeze your life’s possessions underneath your twin bed and into your minuscule closet will only leave you with a room full of clutter and a heart full of frustration, at least that’s where it left me. By getting rid of possessions that no longer add value to your life, like the clothes you don’t wear or the junk that’s been collecting dust under your bed, you will allow yourself to live much more comfortably in your new petite home.

(Pinterest.com)

Cleaning becomes a breeze – Once you’ve reassessed  all of your possessions and either thrown out or donated what you no longer need, you’ll find that your cleaning time is now cut in half. By owning fewer items and being aware of every item that you own, cleaning on a regular basis is a lot less overwhelming and far more enjoyable. However, this is coming from a person who has always had a passion for cleaning and organization, so I might be biased in claiming that minimalism equates to enjoyable cleaning for all. For those of you who are not as fond of cleaning, minimalism will hopefully make cleaning a less painful and daunting experience for you.

(pinterest.com)

You will save money – One aspect of minimalism that a lot of people find themselves struggling with is letting go of items that at one point cost them a good deal of money. Handing hundreds of dollars worth of unused clothing, trinkets, and impulse purchases that seemed like a good idea at the time to the guy at Goodwill is a traumatizing yet invaluable experience. After realizing the amount of money that I had wasted on the unnecessary items that were cluttering my room yet adding absolutely no value to my life, I was far less tempted to go to the mall and buy things simply because I had the means to do so. By eliminating the urge to shop for the sake of shopping money will be saved and storage space will be rendered.

These are just a few of the benefits when embracing a more minimalistic lifestyle in college. In addition to these three points, owning fewer things will allow you to spend more time doing the things you love because you will no longer be tied down to materialistic items, it will allow you to truly value the possessions you do decide to keep, and it will make move-out day significantly less stressful for everyone involved. So get a donation box and start living your life with less so you can have more of what really matters.

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format