2023-11-17 05:00:00
From the perspective of neurosciences, the practice of minimalism can have profound effects on mental and emotional health (Courtesy Ibero León)
In previous publications, recommendations have been provided to promote active and healthy lifestyles. On this occasion, Adriana Fiorino, director of the Occupational Therapy Department of the INECO Group, will address what the minimalist lifestyle is.
It is a lifestyle that proposes simplifying and reducing possessions, commitments and distractions to a minimum so that people can focus on what is essential and what is truly meaningful to them. It covers various areas of life, from reducing material belongings to simplifying agendas and priorities.
“In practical terms, minimalism means getting rid of objects that are not truly necessary, prioritizing quality over quantity, reducing excessive consumption and concentrating on activities and relationships that provide real and important value for each person,” says Adriana. Fiorino, who is also Deputy Operational Director of Interdisciplinary Treatments at INECO.
The professional explains that this approach can help free up time and resources so that they can be allocated to occupations that promote personal and emotional satisfaction, as well as greater awareness of sustainability and environmental responsibility.
Order and avoiding spaces loaded with objects saves time spent cleaning the house and contributes to sustainability
From a neuroscience perspective, the practice of minimalism can have profound effects on mental and emotional health. Lloyd & Pennington (2020) indicated, in their work “Towards a theory of minimalism and well-being”, that reducing the number of possessions and commitments can reduce stress and anxiety, which is reflected in greater satisfaction with life. life. By making simplifications in different aspects of daily life, cognitive load is reduced, allowing the brain to adapt more effectively to new experiences.
“The objective of this approach not only involves reducing material possessions, reducing the visual noise of the environments, promoting order and efficiency, but also giving us back hours of the day,” explains Ms. Fiorino. And she exemplifies: “Having spaces that are less loaded with objects saves time spent cleaning and caring for them. Likewise, having fewer clothes in the closet minimizes the time and energy we allocate to making decisions about how to get dressed each morning.”
On the other hand, the minimalist lifestyle also focuses on optimizing the organization of the day, simplifying agendas and establishing priorities focused on the person’s interests. By doing so, it is possible to have more time, which can be allocated to, for example, family and friends, and to carrying out important occupations that did not previously take place in the routine. In this way, occupational balance is favored, which is closely linked to health and well-being.
At the same time, minimalism is intrinsically related to a sustainable lifestyle, promoting habits such as the conservation of resources and reduction of excessive consumption, the reduction and recycling of waste, and the modeling of one’s own profile as consumers, always considering purchases in function of social responsibility and environmental impact.
Below, the professional shares a series of suggestions for adopting a minimalist lifestyle.
In this sense, it can be useful to ask yourself which activities are truly satisfying and relevant to you. Once identified, organize time and carry out planning around those occupations.
Prioritize meaningful activities, evaluate the commitments/occupations you have and eliminate those that cause stress or do not add value to daily life. It is very important to learn to say “no” assertively.
To achieve a minimalist lifestyle, it is essential to cultivate deep, true relationships instead of having many superficial connections. In turn, this can be worked on by reducing the consumption of media and social networks. That is, try to limit the time spent in front of screens, to deepen face-to-face connections.
Take an inventory of the belongings you have and ask yourself if all of them are really necessary. Get rid of unnecessary objects such as clothes, furniture and other items that are not used and simplify spaces. Maintain digital order, digitize documents and reduce paper use, using digital backup and organization tools, and eliminating unnecessary files.
Reduce waste production, recycle, responsibly manage resources and evaluate the environmental impact when consuming products. Likewise, it is suggested to limit consumption since it is a key point to acquire new sustainable habits. It is also advisable to make conscious purchases, acquiring only what you really need, and prioritizing experiences over possessions.
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