When you think about simplifying and living with less, you might wonder, what are the benefits of minimalism? Can it truly improve my life? The answer is a resounding yes —and there’s evidence to prove it. Here’s more about minimalism and the science-backed benefits of minimalist living.

What is minimalism?

Minimalism is a lifestyle or aesthetic characterized by profound simplicity.

A minimalist lifestyle embraces living more intentionally and values simplicity, satisfaction, and purpose. A minimalist aesthetic, commonly seen in interior design, fashion, and art— embraces visual simplicity to cultivate a clean, uncluttered look.

At its core, minimalism is about eliminating the unnecessary to bring focus and appreciation to what truly matters.

The benefits of minimalism, backed by science

If you’ve ever decluttered your home or nixed unnecessary commitments from your calendar, you know the positive impact it can have on your life.

But research also shows that minimalism has real, science-backed benefits, too. From reducing stress to increasing time, freedom, and satisfaction, here are 15 major benefits of minimalism.

1. Less stress and anxiety

Science has found a direct correlation between clutter and cortisol, your body’s primary stress hormone [1, 2].

In one study, women with cluttered homes were likelier to have elevated cortisol levels later in the day than those with uncluttered homes [1].

A follow-up study also showed that women with tidy homes had better moods and a more significant reduction in cortisol later in the day than those with cluttered or unfinished homes [2].

What’s the big deal about cortisol? Chronically elevated levels put you at risk for numerous health problems, including anxiety, depression, digestive issues, headaches, muscle pain, heart disease, sleep problems, weight gain, cognitive impairment, and more.

Minimalism can have substantial mental health benefits by reducing feelings of stress and anxiety and helping keep cortisol levels balanced.

2. Increased productivity and focus

Our brains like order, and constant visual reminders of disorganization drain your cognitive resources and reduce your ability to focus.

One study found the more physical objects there are in your visual field, the harder your brain works to filter them out —which can increase tiredness and reduce productivity over time [3].

On the other hand, research shows simplifying your environment can improve productivity and focus. For example, in one study, clearing visual clutter from home and work environments resulted in increased productivity and a better ability to focus and process information [4].

3. More money

Goods, housing, and heating costs are at an all-time high, yet nearly half of Americans consider their homes cluttered with things they don’t need or use, and one in seven Americans has a room in their home they cannot use because it’s filled with clutter [5]. That’s a lot of money spent buying and storing unnecessary stuff.

By cutting back on purchases and finding satisfaction in what you already have, minimalism can help you spend significantly less. Selling your extra things can also put extra money in your pocket.

Nearly half of Americans estimate they have more than $1,000 in unused items sitting around their homes. Surprisingly, only 19% intend to sell their unwanted items [5].

If you have a lot of stuff you don’t use, selling your unwanted items can pay off big time.

4. Less cleaning and tidying

Getting rid of all your unnecessary things could mean significantly fewer chores.

According to the National Soap and Detergent Association, a 2019 study found that removing clutter would eliminate 40 percent of housework in the average home [6].

When you own less stuff, you’ll spend less time cleaning and have more free time to enjoy in your daily life.

5. Increased happiness & satisfaction

Materialism, a tendency that places great importance on material possessions, is associated with greater dissatisfaction in life [7, 8].

Spending money on experiences, however, has the opposite effect. One study found experiential purchases (for example, taking a trip or going to a movie) can produce more happiness and positive feelings than material purchases [9].

Researchers believe experiences can make people happier because they are more open to positive reinterpretations, are a more meaningful part of one’s identity, and contribute more to successful social relationships [9].

6. Greater sense of well-being

Minimalism can help you create a happier, more meaningful life by increasing your well-being.

Those with greater well-being are happier and perceive that their lives are going well. They have higher life satisfaction and fulfillment, positive functioning, and fewer negative emotions [10].

A review of studies on minimalism and well-being showed 85 percent found a positive association between minimalism and well-being. One study found that “voluntary simplifiers” (minimalists) exhibited more positive emotion and well-being than non-simplifiers. [11]

Another small study of self-identified minimalists found that minimalism has numerous well-being benefits related to autonomy, competence, mental space, awareness, and positive emotions [12].

Participants also noted that minimalism gave them a sense of control and made it easy to maintain order in their environment, a key factor in their well-being [12].

7. Deeper, more focused play

Have kids? Research shows that having fewer toys is key to better (and longer) play.

One study found that children provided just four toys engaged in longer periods of play with a single toy and played more creatively with the toys supplied than children given 16 toys [13].

Fewer toys, fewer distractions!

If you’re inspired to declutter your toys, take my 5-Day Toy Declutter Challenge!

8. More free space

One study of middle-class American families found that three in four garages are packed with so much stuff that there is no room for a vehicle, even though the average new home in the U.S. has more than 2x the square footage per person than homes built in 1950 [14].

Creating a clutter-free environment will give you more usable space to use and enjoy in your home.

9. Less environmental impact

The depletion of natural resources and pollution produced from consumerism is not only wreaking havoc on the planet, it is also driving climate change [24]. A 2015 study found that the production and use of household goods and services was responsible for 60 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions [15].

In addition to reducing clutter, minimalism encourages the reduction of everyday consumerism.

By buying fewer new things and recycling, reusing, and repairing items we own, we can use significantly fewer natural resources and produce less waste and pollution.

10. Healthier food choices

In addition to helping you be physically active, maintaining a minimalist home may nudge you to make healthier food choices.

In one study, participants in a tidy room chose healthier snacks, while those in a messier space were more than twice as likely to choose chocolate bars over apples [16].

If you want to clean up your diet, simplifying your surroundings may have some benefits.

11. Better sleep

Because they’re private spaces, bedrooms are often one of the most cluttered rooms in the house. For example, 27 percent of Americans use their bedroom for storage [17].

However, research shows having a highly cluttered bedroom can mess with your sleep. Clutter has even been linked to sleep disorders.

In one study, the more bedroom clutter someone had, the more likely they were to have a sleep disorder [18].

Clutter doesn’t have to get in your way of a good night’s sleep, though. Research has found a few minutes of decluttering each week may reduce sleep-related problems and improve sleep quality [19].

Here are some tips for creating a minimalist bedroom that may help you get a better night’s rest.

12. Fewer lost items

Americans spend roughly 5-20 minutes every day looking for misplaced things [20, 21]. That may not sound like much time, but over one year, those lost items can take anywhere from 30 hours to 5 days of your life.

When you own fewer items, your belongings are easier to track and keep organized.

13. More freedom

“The more things you own, the more they own you.” This famous minimalist saying seems to have some truth to it.

The good news is minimalism can help you break free from the burden of your belongings and significantly improve your sense of freedom.

One study showed that individuals who had once felt “trapped,” “tied down,” or “burdened” by their possessions reported feeling “liberated” from their possessions and the unsatisfying cycle of consumerism after adopting a minimalist lifestyle [12, 22].

14. More time and energy

You’ll spend less time and energy managing your material things with less clutter, which means

you’ll have more to devote to what matters most.

In one study, self-identified minimalists —particularly those with children— reported having more time because their simplified spaces required significantly less cleaning and organizing [12].

Participants also reported having more ‘mental energy’ as a benefit of minimalism, which they largely attributed to spending less time and energy on clothing [1 2].

15. Better physical health

Having a tidy home may be one of the secrets to better health.

Research shows those with tidy homes are more physically active and in better physical health than those with cluttered homes [23].

While it’s not clear whether the condition of one’s home impacts physical activity or whether people are staying more physically active by keeping their homes tidy, regular dusting and decluttering seem to do a body good.

Summary

While the practice of minimalism will look different to different people, the benefits are the same. Adopting a minimalist mindset can improve your stress levels, sleep, mental and physical health, increase happiness and well-being, reduce your environmental impact, and also save you time, energy, and money. Maybe most importantly though, minimalism can bring awareness to what adds value to your life, and help you let go of what doesn’t.

Decluttering

15 Science-Backed Benefits of Minimalism