Minimalism is Countercultural. Here are 7 Reasons to Do It Anyway

I’ve always had a knack for conforming to cultures.

In my early 20s, country hopping through Europe and northern Africa, it worked in my favor.

I picked up basic flamenco steps in Spain, learned how to whip up a decent dish of German spaetzle, navigated spice markets up and down the Nile, and held my own on karaoke stages in British pubs.

Yep, this ability to acclimate quickly to a culture was undeniably positive. 

Until I returned home.

I went to graduate school, entered the workforce, and soon found myself immersed in what many Americans dub “the hustle culture.” Naturally, I acclimated. I worked long hours, determined to prove my worth by my busy schedule and big purchases. The rushing was relentless and striving to get ahead became my new standard. 

Then came motherhood, and I stepped into what I’d call “the do-it-all culture.” Work, child raising, shopping, cleaning, dishes, laundry, social life, volunteer commitments, and marriage. It was all on me.

I soon found that, try as I might, I couldn’t conform to this culture in a way that felt right. I couldn’t authentically connect with my husband while maintaining a home full of stuff and a calendar overflowing with commitments. I couldn’t be the loving mother my children needed while constantly frustrated from tripping over yet another toy pile. 

I was on edge most of the time, rarely present, usually thinking about what I needed to do next and calculating how I’d complete it. I was too busy looking like I had it all together—the right car, clothes, kid’s toys—to actually cultivate any peace in our home.

Our family culture needed to change—I felt this at my core. Life needed to simplify. Significantly.

At first, I wasn’t sure how. Then I began asking myself this guiding question: “What culture do I want to build within the walls of my own home?”

I realized that we didn’t have to conform to anyone else’s standards, lifestyle or pace.

We could create a “culture of less” in our home, a culture that was authentic to us. 

And so we did. We transitioned to a minimalist lifestyle, and life soon became a whole lot more meaningful.

Living with less in middle class America felt countercultural then and still does now. But going against the grain has been life giving, and I can’t recommend it enough.

Minimalism is countercultural. Here are 7 reasons to do it anyway.

1. Busyness vs. Margin 

Our culture tells us that time is money and that our self worth is based on our productivity. We’re conditioned to believe we are “enough” if we’ve done “enough.” We glorify living with a sense of urgency, bouncing from task to task. We dole out our time and energy to every commitment and soon find ourselves “hyper-living”— skimming the surface of life.

Minimalism changes your pace and your perspective. You realize life isn’t a race to buy more, do more, or be more. You begin focusing on the essentials and build margin into your life. You’re free to pause more, reflect more, and experience moments more deeply instead of skipping ahead to whatever’s next. 

2. Discontentment vs. Gratitude 

Our culture conditions us to believe what we have is not enough. We’re bombarded by advertisements (up to 5,000 a day) and tempted by new trends. Marketers play mind games, planting seeds of discontentment and promising happiness in each bigger and better purchase.

Minimalism fosters gratitude. When you’re thankful for what you already have, you value it more. Rooted in gratitude, you no longer feel a chronic pull to replace or upgrade possessions. This frees you to reject excessive consumerism, leaving you with more time and money to focus on what matters.

3. Greed vs. Generosity

Our culture tells us to accumulate regardless of the financial, environmental, or ethical cost. Instead of buying what we can actually afford, our buying habits become driven by a need for another purchase-related dopamine rush. Credit card debt in our culture is normalized, with the average American owing over $6,000. Our high demand for more drives unethical production of cheap stuff overseas and harms our environment.

Minimalism frees us to be increasingly generous. Our eyes become open to the needs of others when we’re no longer focused on acquiring more for ourselves. We realize how little we actually need to be happy, and strive to live in solidarity. We can use our extra time and finances to solve world problems and help those in need.

4. Aspirational Self vs. Realistic Self

Our culture tells us we can be anything we want to become. Sure, there’s positivity in this, but it also leads to aspirational clutter and even guilt. We decide to climb mountains, but never do, and the once shiny, new gear sits, collecting dust. We decide to take up knitting, but the yarn never moves off the closet shelf. We’re stuck thinking about a lifestyle we wish we had when we see those unused items.

When you get rid of that stuff, and embrace minimalism, you begin to understand who you are and what you truly want out of life. Your life aligns with who you are today, not who you could be. When you start living in alignment with your truest self, you gain insight and freedom to build your life around what you value most and what makes you come alive.

5. Isolation vs. Connection

Our culture has normalized “getting ahead” at all costs. We work long hours to make more money to buy more stuff so we will be happy. We isolate ourselves in our busyness, often neglecting relationships that matter, but we justify it because we are “successful.” Yet study after study shows fulfillment is found in relationships, not in acquiring more stuff.

Minimalism makes your relationships that matter deep ones. When your time isn’t dominated by maintaining excess stuff or juggling half-hearted commitments, you can devote it to spending quality time with loved ones. When your mental energy isn’t spent calculating your next purchase (or feeling guilty about your last one) you become more available. You, truly present, is the best gift you can give.

6. Envy vs. Enjoyment

Our culture invites us into an endless race to own bigger and better possessions. We work to outdo each other with our purchases, attempting to increase our social status and approval. We compare our lives to others, wishing we owned what they did and feel unworthy that we don’t.

Minimalism shifts your focus from striving to live out the idealized American Dream to deeply enjoying your actual life. When your eyes are opened to how little you actually need to be happy, you’re free to want less and live more. You begin to cherish the slower, simple moments life brings. And soon you realize you had everything you needed all along to be happy.

7. Autopilot vs. Intentionality 

Our culture promotes reacting and doing without pausing and reflecting. Soon we naturally operate on autopilot, mindlessly checking off boxes, often headed toward burnout. Life lacks depth and meaning, although it may look good on the surface. 

Minimalism teaches you to ask better questions. You question your possessions, your commitments, and even your thought patterns, asking, “Does this add value to my life?” If it doesn’t, you intentionally let it go. Soon you learn to focus on the essential and live a lifestyle authentic to you. And your life becomes much more meaningful for it.

When you adopt a minimalist lifestyle, you’re committing to create your own culture in your home. A culture that develops from looking inside yourself, identifying your values, and choosing to focus on what matters most. 

This interior-based culture will look different for everyone—that’s why minimalism does, too.

Minimalism has been transformative for our family. We’ve strengthened our connections with each other and with ourselves. Our health has improved and our stress levels have lessened, as we no longer feel pressured to “do it all.” And, most importantly, we’re now comfortable with the lifestyle we’re modeling to our kids.

Minimalism may seem countercultural, but I’d argue it’s the only way to truly live.

So go ahead, ask yourself, “What kind of culture do I want to create in my home?”

Why not make it a culture of less?

***

Julia Ubbenga is a freelance journalist whose teachings on minimalism, simplicity, and intentional living have reached thousands of people worldwide through her blog. Julia practices what she preaches in her Kansas City apartment home with her husband, two extremely lively young daughters, and one-year-old son. You can also find her on Instagram.

***

I want to help you design a simple, intentional life! I’ve created a 30-day course that will guide and inspire you to make actual change in your life by decluttering your home, heart and schedule. It’s time to live focused on what matters! Learn more HERE.