Why did you choose this lifestyle? I was homeless once, then had to move 2000+ miles with nothing but 1 carry-on and 2 suitcases, then moved 3 times within 10 years. Necessity demanded it, I suppose. But I'm an anxious and mentally ill person with a low amount of energy and obsessive traits. I apply minimalism to my life as both a symptom of and coping mechanism for my illnesses.
How do you incorporate minimalism in your daily life? I don't own many things, usually what I can get by with having and I avoid purely decorative or disposable objects. My clothing is very simple and limited in order to reduce decision fatigue -- merino wool, linen, and organic cotton in black, white, gray, and navy. I eat a simple, primarily plant-based diet and consume the minimum amount of calories because that's simply easier for me to manage. I also compost, strive to produce very little landfill waste (reusable bags, buy in bulk, compostable brushes, homemade cleaning supplies, etc, see the "zero waste" movement) and stay away from petroleum byproducts. My personal care products are just local bar soap, tooth powder, and deodorant I make myself from a few ingredients. I don't drive, I walk and use public transportation. I shave my head, which isn't typical for most women. I don't smoke, drink, or do recreational drugs. I tend to my garden to grow my own food and medicine. I also like aesthetic minimalism and industrial design, so what I do own is carefully made and cleanly designed. I especially like Japanese interpretations of Nordic design; the use of natural materials, neutral color palette, and harmonious but streamlined elements are very appealing.
Has being a minimalist improved your life in any way? How? I need to carefully manage and control my existence for the sake of my mental, emotional, and physical health. On the one hand, it's much easier and simpler to not care, or to allow for much more leeway here or there, but too much moderation on my part exacerbates decision fatigue. If this sounds neurotic, it's because it is. But, this is a life in which moments of joy have been made possible and fear/panic/self-loathing don't necessarily fill my every waking moment.
Where/how does being a minimalist conflict with what society (job, family, friends) wants of you? My entire life is in seeming conflict with society in ways big and small; and simultaneously my life is about avoiding that conflict. The small things are my diet or lifestyle decisions I've made for ethical reasons, but I choose to keep to myself so they are no one else's concern. I am bad at handling gifts or having unexpected things end up in my house -- freebies, junk mail, etc. I've never been a big consumerist (a side effect of a lifetime of poverty) or easily swept up by advertising.
What are the difficulties of minimalism? Worrying about other people's judgement, but that tends to seep into everything else. If I tell someone, "I don't own X or do Y or eat Z," the assumption is that I'm either self-righteous or secretly miserable. I only talk about it when asked directly. I would never proselytize to someone to live exactly the way I do, it's very restrictive and I spend an unhealthy amount of time preoccupied with doing things "correctly".
It also takes a certain amount of energy, organization, and self-control for me to do this everyday, but that could be said of anything I decided to do beyond lying in bed.
What is minimalism to you? Being mindful and deliberate about the way I live my life. I'm sure I could write a lot of philosophical fluff about finding meaning, discarding the unnecessary, and transformative energy but I'm getting tired.
(edited in) How long have you considered yourself a minimalist? Most of my adult life, I guess. Though I didn't walk around thinking, "Oh, I'm a minimalist."
(edit) Do you have any issues with sentimental items/gifts? What do you do with them? I refuse most things if I can. Otherwise, if refusal is not an option, they are accepted with gratitude and then I donate/sell/recycle them.