Impact of Simplified Living on Mental Health and Cognitive Functions

Minimalism, a lifestyle choice focused on simplicity and eliminating excess, has gained popularity as a means to enhance cognitive well-being in today's digital age. By reducing cognitive overload, lowering stress levels, and improving mental clarity and focus, minimalism offers a powerful solution to the overwhelm caused by our modern, fast-paced lives.

Key mechanisms that contribute to this relationship include:

Reduction of cognitive load and decision fatigue: Minimalist environments, whether physical or digital, limit distractions and the need for constant decision-making, freeing up working memory and executive function resources in the prefrontal cortex. This improvement in concentration, planning, impulse control, and decision-making capacity is crucial in our increasingly complex digital world [1][4][5].
Lowering stress through decreased amygdala activation: Cluttered spaces, both physical and digital, are perceived as stressful and threatening, causing sustained activation of the amyggala and elevated cortisol. Minimalism, with its ordered, predictable spaces, signals safety and reduces chronic stress responses [1].
Disruption of compulsive consumption and dopamine-driven reward cycles: By minimizing material cues and digital distractions, minimalism shifts reward focus from transient external acquisition to stable internal states, tempering dopamine-driven desire and promoting contentment [1][2].
Enhancement of mental clarity via mindfulness and slow-living principles: Minimalism often intersects with mindfulness approaches that foster present-moment awareness and intentional pacing, which are linked to improved cognitive functions such as selective and executive attention and working memory [3].

Psychological frameworks supporting this include:

Cognitive Load Theory: The idea that reducing extraneous information improves working memory capacity and learning/performance, applicable as minimalism reduces environmental clutter [1][4].
Neurobiological Models of Stress and Executive Control: Minimalism decreases activation of stress pathways (amyggala, cortisol release) and supports executive control networks in the prefrontal cortex [1].
Reward System Theories: Minimalism modulates the dopamine-related reward circuits by reducing stimulus-driven compulsive acquisition [1][2].
Mindfulness and Slow Living Theories: Emphasize focused attention, reduced multitasking, and present-moment awareness as key to enhancing cognitive well-being and reducing overwhelm [3].
Simplicity Movement Insights: Highlight mindful consumption, time affluence, and intentional living as aligning cognitive resources with values, enhancing well-being [4].

In the digital realm, minimalism takes on a new dimension, extending its principles to our online behaviours and digital interactions. By applying minimalist principles to our digital habits, we can reduce cognitive load, enhance focus, and improve overall digital wellbeing [1]. However, the role of technology in promoting or hindering minimalism lies in using it in a way that aligns with minimalist values, focusing on functionality and efficiency rather than excess and distraction [6].

Strategies for digital minimalism include setting specific times for checking emails and social media, unsubscribing from unnecessary digital communications, using technology to automate repetitive tasks, and being more selective about the digital content we consume [5]. By adopting these practices, we can counteract the negative effects of digital clutter, such as an overflowing email inbox or excessive social media consumption, which can lead to decreased productivity, increased anxiety, and difficulty in processing information [1].

In conclusion, minimalism, when applied to both physical and digital environments, offers a powerful solution to the overwhelm caused by our modern, fast-paced lives. By simplifying our environments and lifestyles, we can reduce stress, enhance focus, and foster sustainable, internal sources of reward and fulfillment. These effects are grounded in cognitive, neurobiological, and mindfulness-based psychological theories [1][3][4].