The lipstick, the great bag, the latest cell phone - of course we are tempted by beautiful new things. But the younger generation, especially in the cities, is increasingly opting out of consumerism. My house, my car, my designer furniture - these are no longer status symbols for them. Instead, there is a demand for mini-houses or apartments, car-sharing and the opportunity to spruce up grandma's dresser. The biggest status symbol today is time, as study results confirm. According to this, experiences with friends and family make us happier than yet another thing we buy. Minimalism is about doing without things we don't need, and minimalist living is in.

Where does the minimalist trend come from?

The minimalism trend is not actually a trend at all - because this movement has been around for a long time. It started with the art movement in the 1960s, which is the counterpart to expressionism. The works of minimalism consist only of reduced forms and colors. Nowadays, the minimalist design style is more popular than ever: whether in interiors, fashion or even technical devices. Simple design with a few selected, simple shapes and colors can be found in all categories.

Minimalist living in your own home

"Minimalist living" - we probably all first think of the often sterile-looking style of living that was celebrated in the 90s. Yes, this is obviously minimalism in its purest form - some find it uncomfortable, for many aesthetes it is the only true way of living. It doesn't have to be so "over the top", but it makes sense to think about it: What do you really need to feel good and be happy? At the latest when tidying up or during the annual spring clean, we are confronted with things that we don't actually need. Or have too many. What don't we hoard? Do we really need the tenth place mat, the hundredth Tupperware container or the third set of dishes for a special occasion that comes around once every ten years? And how many chests of drawers, cupboards and cabinets have you bought to store all the things you don't actually need? Creating space within your own four walls and surrounding yourself mainly with things that are important - that's what minimalist living is all about. Minimalism not only creates space within your own four walls, it also clears your head. Then that has something to do with being tidy overall - try it!

Minimalist living at work

We live to work. For a long time, this was a dogma in our society. If you spent a long time in the office, you were considered ambitious and had a career. But the latest figures tell a different story: more than half of all employees in Germany feel stressed and exhausted. This is also changing people's perceptions. Today, dropouts who fulfill their dreams or travel around the world are highly regarded. It is not for nothing that the sabbatical, a year off from work, is so popular.

Living a minimalist lifestyle also means cutting back - for example, only working part-time. Sweden is currently leading the way and testing the 6-hour working day - with the same pay. This is unlikely to catch on here in Germany without a reduction in salary. And many newcomers to the job market are prepared to do this, preferring to demand flexitime and time off in exchange for giving up their own home or car. Thanks to the internet, there are more and more jobs that make a presence in the office or in the country superfluous. Traveling around the world while working - these are the dream jobs of today. Then all you need is a registration address in Germany.

Minimalist living in everyday life

The trend towards simplicity has long since arrived in everyday life. Apartments are being furnished more sparsely, walls of books have given way to Kindles, record collections to MP3 players, entire kitchens to open kitchens. Appliances such as lawnmowers and drills are rented out. This saves on costs and storage space. Clothes, toys and even services can be traded in swap rings and exchanges.

In cities, more and more people are saving on cars and bicycles. Car sharing and call-a-bike systems are replacing them at a mini price. Instead of going to the canteen or snack bar during their lunch break, employees are bringing their home-cooked food back with them in a pot. This kind of minimalist lifestyle saves money, time and also helps the environment. Handicrafts are also very popular: sewing, knitting, crocheting and handicrafts.

Even if something breaks, you should first try to repair the item and not throw it away or replace it straight away. By repairing something, you are also practising your craftsmanship and can be proud of your work afterwards. "Do it yourself" is the motto, and everyone is happy about a new tip or a nice idea. Not a bad development, is it?

Minimalist shopping

It's best to go for unpackaged and fresh food. There are more and more unpackaged stores that completely do away with plastic packaging and the like. You can fill your own containers with food there and do something good for the environment. Go shopping at the weekly market, where food is also available fresh and without packaging.

Minimalist living at home

According to statistics, every German owns around 10,000 items. Sounds like a lot at first. But a look in the wardrobe or kitchen cupboard shows: It can add up. For US American Dave Bruno, it was all too much. In 2008, he decided to live a minimalist lifestyle and prove to the affluent society that less is more: Less is more. And so he mucked out his possessions until he had 100 things. He now lives happily, contentedly and freely, as he says. What else does he own? A tent and a camping stove, for example. He has also kept his skateboard. After all, minimalist living doesn't mean fun-free living...

His example caused a sensation: people everywhere are following his example, getting rid of clutter and bringing minimalism into their lives. In Germany, the huge success of the book "Simplify your life" by Marion and Werner Tiki Küstenmacher back in 2004 showed that we suffer from too many things. Today's tidying bible is called "Magic Cleaning" by Marie Kondo. The bestsellers show that there is a great need to organize the household and life more clearly and simply. This is another aspect of minimalism.

Benefits of minimalism at a glance

• You produce less waste by consuming less.
• Fewer possessions also means fewer worries (e.g. about a house, car, etc.)
• You learn to appreciate the necessary consumer goods and focus on the really important things. This also means less fear of loss and more gratitude!
• You get to know yourself better, because with fewer possessions you sometimes have to improvise and constantly assess yourself well.
• Fewer possessions allow more flexibility, for example when it comes to traveling or moving house. You are less tied down.
• Saving money is probably one of the biggest benefits of minimalism!
• More space also definitely speaks in favor of the reduced trend.
• If you own less stuff, you automatically have a tidier home.
• You consume more consciously, think before you buy something and question its necessity.

Minimalism: tips and information on the internet

Minimalism knows no boundaries. It is also present on the Internet and gives us plenty of inspiration:

The minimalist: Michael is a German blogger and minimalist. He turned his life upside down in 2010 and writes about it on his blog www.minimalismus-leben.de

Swapped: There are many online swap shops. The principle: swap instead of throwing away, e.g. with books, DVDs and CDs: e.g. www.tauschticket.de

Small houses: An absolute trend - the so-called mini houses. The size varies, starting at 18 square meters and going up to a maximum of 100 square meters: www.tiny-houses.de

Saving food: Every year, millions of tons of food end up in the bin. Why not swap it instead of throwing it away? For example at www.foodsharing.de

Date: 15.05.2020
Author: Lena Radke