English 3 topic minimalism

Benefits of a minimalist lifestyle...7 3.1 Increased Positive Emotions...7 3.2 Living a Minimalist Lifestyle Means Having More Money...8 3.3 Fewer Material Possessions , Less Stress...8

THUONG MAI UNIVERSITY

ENGLISH 3

TOPIC: Minimalism

Teacher: Ms Vu Thi Hoai

Class: 241_ENTH1611_39

Group: 7

Ha Noi, 2024-2025

Table of Contents

LIST OF MEMBER 2

I INTRODUCTION 3

II BODY 3

1 Overview of minimalism 3

1.1 The definition of minimalism 3

1.2 The brief history of minimalism 4

2 Fundamental principles 5

2.1 Less is more 5

2.2 Quality over quantity 6

2.3 Focus on quality of life 6

3 Benefits of a minimalist lifestyle 7

3.1 Increased Positive Emotions 7

3.2 Living a Minimalist Lifestyle Means Having More Money 8

3.3 Fewer Material Possessions , Less Stress 8

3.4 Less cleaning and tidying 9

3.5 Less environmental impact 9

4 Minimalism in many fields 10

III CONCLUSION 11

No Name Student ID

These days, people have numerous lifestyles With homeowners favoring simplicity and clean lines in design, minimalism is a trend that has shown staying power over the last several years In addition to a pleasing aesthetic, minimalism offers practical benefits, including improved organization and a calmer living environment

Minimalism is a philosophy and design style that focuses on simplicity and reduction The core idea of minimalism is that "less is more," encouraging people to eliminate unnecessary items or distractions and focus on what truly matters This approach can be applied in various areas of life, such as organizing living spaces, shopping habits, time management, and even thought processes Minimalism not only helps reduce clutter and stress but also brings freedom, clarity, and a sense of peace in everyday life Recognizing the importance and popularity of minimalism in daily life, Group 4 has decided to choose minimalism as the topic of discussion

We will introduce minimalism with four main parts: basic principles, minimalism

in daily life and benefits of minialism

II BODY

1 Overview of minimalism

1.1 The definition of minimalism

“Minimalism is defined as a design or style in which the simplest and fewest elements are used to create the maximum effect.” (Ongaro, n.d.)

Minimalism is about using only what is necessary to create something meaningful

or functional Instead of adding many details or decorations, it focuses on simplicity The goal is to remove anything unnecessary, making sure every element serves a purpose This approach can be applied in different areas like art, design, fashion, and even lifestyle, where people choose to have fewer things or live with less to achieve more focus and clarity

Minimalism has changed and developed over time, starting from different movements and ideas, and eventually influencing many areas like art, music, architecture, and lifestyle

In the 1920s and 1930s, minimalism began to take shape, influenced by the Bauhaus Movement and Zen Buddhism The Bauhaus school in Germany encouraged designs that were simple, functional, and free from unnecessary decoration One example

is the Wassily Chair by Marcel Breuer, which used simple shapes and clean lines At the same time, Zen Buddhism taught that living with fewer things can lead to inner peace It promoted using minimal space and possessions This blend of Western design ideas and Eastern philosophy helped shape modern minimalism

By the 1960s, minimalism became an art movement in the United States Artists like Donald Judd and Frank Stella rejected the complex and emotional style of Abstract Expressionism and focused on simple, geometric forms For example, Judd’s "Untitled (Stack)" was made of identical rectangular boxes stacked vertically, with no personal expression This marked a big change from the earlier focus on emotion and complexity, highlighting minimalism’s idea of stripping things down to their essentials

In the 1970s, minimalism moved into music Composers like Steve Reich, Philip Glass, and Terry Riley created music using repeated simple patterns that slowly changed over time, making the music calming and meditative A good example is Reich’s "Music for 18 Musicians," which uses repeating rhythms and small changes to create a hypnotic effect This minimalist music style reflected the broader trend of focusing on simplicity and reducing detail, creating a pure, uncluttered sound

During the 1980s and 1990s, minimalism strongly influenced architecture Architects like Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Tadao Ando embraced the idea of "less is more." Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House used open spaces, glass, and steel to create a clear, simple design that connected the inside and outside Similarly, Tadao Ando’s Church of the Light focused on simplicity, using natural light to create a powerful

yet simple effect Minimalist architecture became popular worldwide, with a focus on clarity, openness, and removing excess

In the 2000s, minimalism extended beyond art and architecture and became a lifestyle choice People began applying minimalist principles to their lives, often in response to the pressure of consumerism Books like Marie Kondo’s “The Life -Changing Magic of Tidying Up” spread the idea of decluttering and keeping only things that bring joy This minimalist lifestyle, focused on intentional living and reducing unnecessary belongings, became a way for people to manage the fast pace of modern life and find peace through simplicity

In the 2010s, minimalism also adapted to the digital age As technology and social media took over more of people’s time, many started cutting back on their digital habits Cal Newport’s “Digital Minimalism” encouraged people to spend less time on screens, remove distractions, and focus on meaningful offline activities This reflected the larger minimalist idea of focusing on what truly matters and cutting out unnecessary digital clutter

Overall, minimalism has grown from a design and art movement into a broader way of thinking and living Across different fields and decades, the core idea stays the same: reducing excess to focus on what is essential and meaningful

2 Fundamental principles

We will discuss the principles of minimalism in lifestyle This is the aspect where the principles are thoroughly applied and bring a lot of value to each person

2.1 Less is more

“Less is more” is the core principle of minimalism This principle refers to reducing unnecessary elements to focus on what is truly valuable and brings higher efficiency The quality of life will decrease when we have to spread out too many things, and that is also the reason why we should spend time on what really creates value

To know what to keep and what to let go, we have to determine what we need This is not the same for everyone, because each person will need different things Some people need one suit, some need three, but some do not need them at all Therefore, there

is no specific standard for a minimalist lifestyle, it depends entirely on what you feel is necessary Determining how much is enough is also very important We will live according to our own needs, no more, no less

Many people think that minimalist living is living with only a few things and the less things, the better From what we have proven above, this point of view is completely wrong What we use and how much is enough depends entirely on ourselves It is not that less is better, but it is important that we live enough to meet our needs

2.2 Quality over quantity

Once we cut back on the unnecessary, we will be able to fully utilize what is important and gradually feel satisfied Therefore, we will be more careful about allowing other things into our lives

Pursuing minimalism doesn’t mean not buying anything Instead, it encourages us

to spend money with purpose and focus on quality over quantity for long-term use Although the price may be higher than other products, investing in quality saves us money over time by reducing the frequency of purchases Furthermore, owning fewer items helps us reduce waste and maintain a clean environment in our own homes There is a misconception that minimalism is only for the rich who have to buy more expensive and high-quality items The truth is that minimalism is not dependent on income level It encourages us to shop mindfully, avoid overconsumption, and invest in quality instead of quantity

2.3 Focus on quality of life

Minimalism is not simply about reducing the number of things or eliminating excess, but also encourages us to live more proactively and consciously about our goals, values, and choices in life Many people misunderstand that living a minimalist life is

boring, but in fact, when living a minimalist life, we will get rid of boring things and have more time to focus on more valuable and meaningful things

 Spend time on important people and things

Living according to the philosophy of minimalism means we learn to focus our time and energy on important people and tasks Minimalism can be applied to many aspects of life We can minimize our relationships, instead of wasting time on social relationships, we should prioritize meaningful relationships We can also minimize our concerns, not caring about what others think of us, not worrying too much about the small things

A minimalist lifestyle focuses on satisfaction and happiness through better relationships and goals, helping us have a more worthwhile life

 Slow down and enjoy the moment

The purposeful living principle in minimalism also encourages slowing down and enjoying every moment of life Instead of being caught up in the rush and pressure of modern life, we choose to slow down, focus on the present and enjoy the simple things around us This helps create a more peaceful, less stressful and satisfying lifestyle

3 Benefits of a minimalist lifestyle

Fumio Sasaki is a Japanese author, editor, and minimalist, author of the book Goodbye, things : “ My feeling is that minimalists are people who know what’s truly necessary for them versus what they may want for the sake of appearance, and they’re not afraid to cut down on everything in the second category.”

3.1 Increased Positive Emotions

Simplifying our lives and reducing clutter can create a space that promotes tranquility and harmony Living in an environment that is free from excessive belongings allows us to appreciate the beauty of simplicity and be more present in the moment

For instance, a study published in International Journal of Applied Positive

Psychology found that individuals who embraced minimalism reported experiencing a

range of positive impacts on their overall well-being The study identified five key themes, namely:

 Positive emotions These findings reinforce the idea that intentional and mindful approaches to consumption and possession can have positive effects beyond just making your day-to-day life a little easier Not having to worry about accumulating more things can broaden your horizon and create meaningful changes in your worldview as well

3.2 Living a Minimalist Lifestyle Means Having More Money

The first and probably the most important benefit of living a minimalist life is being free of financial stress and saving more money They shy away from the purchases that threaten their less-is-more philosophy Instead, Minimalist Seekers often take time to research products and services and buy what they need and when they need it

Minimalist Seekers also place importance on quality and are willing to pay more if

it means that their purchases will have longevity Their desire to minimize waste means they will fix products - rather than buy new replacements - or purchase second-hand items The articles Euromonitor International Voice of the Consumer: Lifestyles Survey,

2023 have shown that “52% of Minimalist Seekers repair broken items rather than

replacing them”

3.3 Fewer Material Possessions , Less Stress

One of the primary benefits of minimalism is its ability to reduce stress and anxiety Our environment plays a significant role in determining the status of our mental well-being, and living in a cluttered space can be overwhelming Studies have concluded that having more clutter leads to spiked cortisol levels (stress hormones) Chaotic environments can cause tension, which can be contagious

In a study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, women who described their homes as less cluttered and more organized experienced a decrease in depressed mood over the course of the day In other words, a home environment free from clutter and disorder may contribute to a more positive emotional state

For example, the desire for the latest Birkin bag comes from mostly social cues and superficial desires What happens next? The next Birkin bag comes out You want it

so bad you can’t sleep thinking about it Even if you can’t afford the bag, you buy it using your credit card and accumulate debt The vicious cycle will keep repeating itself until you firmly decide to stop buying things you don’t need

3.4 Less cleaning and tidying

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 A bigger house means more space to be filled with more things, which means more time and effort needed for cleaning We spend money on items we don’t really need just to tire ourselves and waste more time cleaning It doesn’t make sense We’re the ones creating our own discomfort Instead of worrying about buying new stuff and spending more time cleaning, determine what’s really worth your time and energy

3.5 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 A 2015 study found that the production and use of household goods and services was responsible for 60 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions Increasing carbon footprint is a serious environmental issue which is related to consumption of electricity and gases The tiny houses will cut down the consumption of energy and gas requirements by individuals, thereby improving the environment The tiny houses, smaller accommodation, living with few possessions and space optimization will pave the way for a better environment and reduce negative environmental impact

Minimalism is a concept that has influenced many fields, especially in fashion, art and lifestyle In the fashion field, when it comes to minimalist style, it’s not about what you wear, but about how you wear it The minimalism concept means simplicity, functionality and elegance, which mainly concentrates on using neutral colors, clean lines and minimal embellishments Furthermore, minimalism relies on a few key, high-quality pieces to create an effortless style For instance, pairing a classic blazer with a simple white T-shirt will create a clean and basic foundation, then adding a well-tailored knit skirt will elevate the look with a touch of sophistication The adoption of minimalism in fashion has grown steadily and has been highly praised by many experts in the fashion field As a result, this trend continues to influence both high fashion and everyday wear Regarding art, minimalism emphasizes simplicity, focusing on the use of minimal elements such as basic shapes, monochromatic color schemes, and clean, unembellished compositions Ellsworth Kelly, an American painter, sculptor, and printmaker, who was famous for minimalism style in paintings and sculptures His work, "Blue Curve" (1972), only contains a simple, sweeping curve filled with a bold blue hue Kelly impresses his viewers by using simple colors and forms, which introduces them to his artwork in the most direct way Therefore, minimalism can create powerful visual impact through simplicity, and encourage viewers to engage with the artwork on a deeper level by stripping away distractions

Minimalism in lifestyle is about simplifying one's life by minimizing clutter in order to lower stress levels and enhance mental well-being In reality, many people always force themselves to take multiple responsibilities, which leads to burnout and decreased productivity By embracing minimalism, individuals can focus on what truly matters and allow for a more balanced and fulfilling life To start a minimal lifestyle, people can simply stick to the rule “less is more” For example, a clean workplace where everything is in its place, no piles of unnecessary files will boost your energy and get rid