The Effects of Caffeine on Teenagers

As we grow old and mature, we collect many different objects that make us unique. The experience of keeping valuable things and getting rid of items that have brought negativity into our lives is something we all know about. An old photo of a late grandparent or a special gift from your closest friend—these are simple things that bring us a happy feeling. However, keeping a variety of clothes and shoes can make us feel overwhelmed at times. In society today, there are many different trends in the industry that go in and out at rapid speeds; and if consumers follow these trends, then the goods will likely pile up. With careless purchases piling up, do they really matter to us in the long run, or are they just resulting in harmful clutter?

There are two types of people in this world: minimalists and maximalists. My whole life I have been told that these types of people are incompatible, but are they really that different? The obvious answer is that they both focus on the quantity of what they have and not always the value. Another assumption made often is that different lifestyles can affect your mental health. Minimalism is known to slow down the overstimulation of your brain, and can bring you closer to happiness. According to Psychology Today, “Vast majority of studies found a positive relationship between simplicity and well-being.” Researchers have also found that maximalists have a harder time controlling what they consume. Everything that is consumed impacts how you live, and it is important to take a step back to evaluate what is actually necessary. 

 The praised lifestyle of minimalism can vary between having many basics, or a few beloved statement pieces. Over the years, I have thought constantly about the debate between basics and statement pieces. Anywhere you go, trends of clothing, shoes, gadgets and even slang terms will follow and stick by your side. Even as we move through this decade, more and more things have been purchased and consumed like never before. The cycle of buying and trashing clothing is exploding. According to a sustainable waste management company, “The volume of clothing Americans throw away in a year has doubled in the past 20 years, from 7 million to 14 million tons.”  We grow older and our collection of belongings increases, and the value of each item changes. One minute a certain pair of shoes is trending everywhere, and the next, something else outshines popularity of those trendy shoes. This continuous cycle of quick vogue is known as microtrends. As time goes by, trends go out of style faster and faster, and the once cool sweater you bought is no longer needed to stay relevant. At the end of the day, no matter what lifestyle we choose (maximalist or minimalist), inanimate objects will still likely fill up drawers and collect meaning.

So which lifestyle fits you best? Let’s play a game of would you rather. Is it preferable to have a whole closet of basics, or an entire collection of trendy statement pieces? It is more common for the minimalist brain to immediately go to basics, because a simple t-shirt and jeans can be reused in a million different outfits. The maximalist in all of us wants to have fun with a funky pair of striped pants or a bright pink puffer coat. But is it really realistic to see yourself using the same nifty items in a couple of years, when society’s trends change to completely different themes? Getting rid of what we lose interest in is therapeutic and refreshing for our minds. “Purging,” which is what my mom calls it, is a perfect balance of getting rid of old belongings without having to worry about whether you are a minimalist or maximalist. Never compromise on what lifestyle you want, because a middle ground can be found to keep a healthy balance of your needs and wants.