Many people have heard of both minimalism and essentialism. Some people will choose one over the other, while others can’t tell the difference. It is because ordinary minimalism and essentialism are closely related. To understand that relationship, we will look at some of the similarities and differences.
The definition of minimalism vs essentialism
Minimalism is promoting what you value by excluding what you don’t. It means getting rid of whatever you don’t use. It also means not buying useless stuff in the first place. It is because everything you own demands resources. So, things you don’t use will waste resources while giving you nothing in return. For example, a picture on the wall is useful as decoration. That same picture in a box in your closet is wasting closet. It is even worse if you kept that picture in paid storage. That is because you will be paying money to not look at it. By excluding useless things from your life, you keep the resources they would have wasted.
Essentialism is doing (or having) less but getting better results. In fact, a popular essentialism slogan is “less but better”. Often, a small fraction of your efforts bring a majority of the benefits. So, it makes sense to focus on them because they are essential. This will let you get much better results with less effort. Also, saying yes to something usually means saying no to something else. So, you might as well say no to non-essential things so you can make the most of the essentials.
Minimalism is easier to misrepresent.
The name “minimalism” does not do the concept any justice. It gives the false impression of austerity. This can be a turnoff to many people who judge it before trying it. Merchants often use it to paint minimalism in a negative light. They do this because minimalism can threaten their profits. So, although minimalism helps people, it has an image problem.
Essentialism does not have this image problem because the name is self-descriptive. It lets people know they should focus on the essentials if they want the best results. This is a very easy message to understand and sell. Also, it carries no false image of austerity or deprivation.
Essentialism is more goal-oriented.
When people try minimalism, they notice that they have more space in their homes. Their homes will be easier to keep tidy and will look better. They will also have more money and time. The minimalist might have started for one of these benefits. Yet, the other benefits often come as a pleasant surprise. Later on, minimalists will have other benefits such as greater satisfaction. These benefits are fantastic, but they are incidental. They are rarely if ever the reasons for using minimalism.
Essentialism starts with knowing what you want to achieve. You then focus your efforts on achieving these things. It means saying no to commitments that distract you from them. So, the benefits are the main reason and not just incidental.
Essentialism is more strict.
Minimalism is about excluding things you find useless. This leaves a lot of room for interpretation on what to keep. A minimalist can keep things that are barely useful, even if it is not ideal.
For an essentialist, something can be good and still not be good enough. The essentialist is looking for the few things that give the best results. So, if something is not a resounding yes, then it is a no. This is a much stricter standard than ordinary minimalism. It also goes with the concept of less but better.
The beginners in each usually have different motives.
People often start minimalism to make their homes look and feel better. It is why they start off with decluttering. Over time, they realize that it can also apply to intangible things such as time, effort, and attention. Then ordinary minimalists start showing some of the attitudes and behaviors of essentialists.
Essentialists often start by figuring out their purpose. They then say no to commitments that don’t strongly support their goals. Over time, they realize that essentialism can apply to making their homes beautiful. They then start showing some of the attitudes and behaviors of ordinary minimalists.
They both make your life easier.
Ordinary minimalism is about excluding things that clutter up your space. This results in less time and energy used to keep your home tidy. It also results in a more beautiful and tranquil home and an easier life.
Essentialism is about excluding commitments that clutter up your time and attention. This allows you more time and attention to achieve your goals. The result is that you achieve more with less effort. This will also make your life easier.
They are the same general concept.
Despite their differences, ordinary minimalism and essentialism are very similar. It is because they are different versions of the same thing. In fact, essentialism is a stricter type of minimalism that focuses on achieving goals. They both focus on improving your life’s efficiency. You experience this efficiency as an easier life. They can also be used to improve your life’s performance. You experience this improved performance and greater achievements.
In summary, minimalism is about excluding things you don’t value. By doing so, you will have a calmer and more beautiful home along with more money, time, and space. It will make your life easier and better in more ways than you initially realized. Despite this, the name gives many people a bad impression.
Essentialism is about focusing on your goals and only including things that greatly contribute to them. It is stricter than ordinary minimalism. This is because something that is slightly good is not good enough. It will allow you to achieve more with much less effort. Essentialism is a more focused type of minimalism.