#37 - Power of Minimalism

Minimalism is one of the most profound ways of life which I managed to discover, because of its practicality and specificity.

Minimalism can assist you to find freedom. Especially from the illusory pursuit of material goods, which should make you feel complete. It offers more time, less destructive thoughts.

Minimalism is owning fewer possessions, living with things that are really needed like items that support the purpose. When you remove the distraction of excess, then it creates a space to focus on things that really matter.

It's not true that a person following this lifestyle can't own stuff. It's more about surrounding yourself with things that are essential, and not being owned by what we have.

It's being able to focus on relations that are meaningful. Projects which resonate with who we are. It helps us focus more internally on our wellbeing, health, and passion.

It's a practice of detachment, or non-attachment, which is one of the important elements in many spiritual or even religious paths.

Generally, it can be explained as shifting quantity to quality.

Who knows, maybe it's the practical topic you were preparing yourself for all that time?

Minimalistic "to do" vows:

• Identify what adds value, brings joy, and eliminate what doesn’t.

• Don’t get rid of things you truly enjoy.

• Ask yourself: When was the last time I used this item?

• Don’t exaggerate. Only you can decide what is worth keeping.

• By default, we are set to hold onto everything. Change it.

• Prioritise your spendings.

• Always think about what you are going to buy, and reconsider what you REALLY need. Always double-check before the checkout which will save you time and money.

• Change lifestyle to one that fits you and makes you happy.

• Very often happens that – less means more. Contemplate on it.

• Work smarter, not harder.

• Sometimes it’s better to buy more expensive, but more solid stuff, especially in the long run. Instead of going for countless short-lived low quality/price items.

• „Just in case things” – 20/20 rule – if you can replace something for under 20 dollars in under 20 minutes then get rid of it.

• Understand that every item drains your energy and wants to get your attention.

Minimalism benefits:

• We find contentment if we focus on less.

• It will teach you to let go of things.

• Create more space for creative energy.

• Helps save the planet by decreasing the ecological footprint from stuff.

• Can help developing better and more meaningful relationships.

• Easier and faster house cleaning routine and laundry.

• It really helps finding what values to you.

• It helps appreciate small things more.

• Overall more time.

• Less decision fatigue.

• Less anxiety, guilt, and stress.

• Helps in following your goals.

• Helps make better decisions and buy better things.

• Minimalism can improve gratitude and generosity.

• Helps in becoming more organised.

• More freedom and more flexibility.

• More opportunities that truly matter.

• More confidence and dealing better with insecurities.

• Let you save up money to use for something that you love.

• Fewer things to take care of brings clarity in mind and peace in the heart.

• Will make you feel more free thanks to the practice of detachment.

• Eliminate our discontent.

• Live in the moment and enjoy life.

• Pursue our passions.

• Experience real freedom as a feeling.

• Become more of a creator and less of the consumer.

• Focus on our health.

• Grow as individuals.

• Rid ourselves of excess stuff.

• Discover purpose in our lives.

• Less stuff more space for creative energy.

And many more….

Minimalistic "what to clean" checklist:

• Key chain: All the hanging stuff, do I really need this? What about the forgotten key to my last apartment which I carry for almost a year?

• Wallet: No more old coupons, pictures, or any unnecessary stuff. Close all debit cards except one card which is used every day (multi-currency), carry only essentials like ID, passport, driving license, gym membership.

• Subscriptions: Track subscriptions and always ask yourself do I really need them? If I need something I can always buy a subscription for a short period of time, and often the first month is for free. Or I can always set reminders in my calendar to cancel it at right time.

• Body care products: Use alum deodorant, grey natural soap, argan oil for hair and face, fluoride-free toothpaste, natural shampoo. I could go further and cut shampoo, and oil, but I enjoy using it.

• Everyday activities: Apply 80/20.

• Goals: Rethink and focus on what really matters. I had many goals, but I couldn't achieve even one of them. Now I keep it simple and I enjoy the process.

• Open space: Hide stuff into shelves. Everything has its own space.

• Simplify cleaning products: For floors only hot water. For toilets - never use harmful chemicals. For dishes - gentle soap. Vinegar, Sodium bicarbonate and good cloth cleans everything perfectly and disinfect pretty well!

• Simplify the cooking process: I try to go for nutritious, very easy, and most importantly – quick to prepare meals. I provide all that my body needs. Many things I eat raw, like carrots and greens.

• Wardrobe: Things I like and really fit me. It’s important to keep the higher ratio of stuff you wear every day and less special occasion things. It all depends on the lifestyle we follow.

• Turn things into digital versions: Except if I am a fan of keeping the physical versions of photos, CD, etc. I try to have the digital version of everything - it’s so convenient nowadays. All available on your devices and memory! No worry about losing important files, as there are great cloud services.

• Cutleries and dishes: Perfectly, it would be nice to use one of each thing I need. So, no dirty cluttered stuff laying around. If people share one house: I decided to mark possible personal stuff like spoon, glass, fork – it helps me to always keep tidy space around.

• Clean your workspace: It's all about removing distractions and maximising the workflow.

• Clean cables, broken things, devices: I try to have only those cables which I use, no broken devices around, no used batteries. I own as little electronics as I can, and as much as it is possible!

• Clear yourself from duplicates: Like dozens of pens, knives, etc.

• Organise items and sort them into categories: Freestyle.

• Clean debts: very important! No chains, just freedom. Before starting to save up it’s better to pay off everything. I think it's better not to own anything than owing someone money for that. If I can’t afford it – I don’t buy it.

• Everything needs to have its own place and purpose: From time to time I got this day where I look around and think: Do I really need this? What is the purpose of owning this thing?

• Food in fridge and food supplies: What do I really eat? Open fridge > check supplies; is it close to a good healthy diet? Are there many things that I barely touch?

• Clean all papers around, segregate them: What can I throw out and what can I still use? I try to use both sides of the paper for printing something not important.

• Schedule: I reduce time spent on things that drag me down. Everything has to have a time frame. What is it that I do every day? Does anything drag me down? What is essential to do every day and what is not?

• Feed on social media: Unfollow unimportant accounts. Majority of the information we receive is useless and there is no practical use of them. So I decided to cut everything that doesn’t improve my practical approach to life. If I need something I just search for it myself.

• Clean desktop and phone from unused apps: I do it very often. It is so nice to have everything as simple as possible. Since I can download everything back in a snap of the fingers, what is the point of keeping apps I don’t use?

• Notifications: Found it very useful. I only have the most important ones. Even when I got a messenger notification I try to minimise any unnecessary people in the app with the „mute” option.

• Friendships: I stick with people whom I feel good with and I can learn something from. It will help me improve myself a lot. It doesn’t necessarily mean I have to say goodbye to anybody (if I don't feel the need to).

• Body harming furniture, interior: To be honest I don’t need a bed, a couch, a computer table, a coffee table – but it’s nice to have it. If we share a space with someone, we can sometimes relax a little bit on the sofa. Most of the time, however, I sleep and sit on the floor. Matter of habit.

• Consider sitting and sleeping on the floor: It’s amazing, it’s a great preparation for meditation practice where we usually sit still for many hours. Found it extremely beneficial for my spine health and it’s the natural way to get flexibility with low effort.

• Think about using public transportation, e-bike, ride-share: I don’t think I would own a car in a city where public transportation is well managed. It’s about saving time, helping the planet; whereas owning a car is usually quite costly. Share a car with a person of trust. Go for low fuel consuming and easy to get spare parts type of car.

• Eliminate unnecessary driving. Try walking if the distance is short and is convenient during the day. Healthy, and also minimising a road traffic.

• BONUS!

Barefoot shoes: the best type of shoes ever made! If you look for all-purpose shoes, make sure you choose a water-resistant option.

Minimalistically "how to do" it:

• Go through the "what to clean" list

• I usually try to get rid of things I didn’t use for at least a month.

• Try to sell things. You can start with an average or a little bit higher price, lower it after some time. Or donate if it's more suitable for you. Recycle if possible.

• Give stuff away. I think: what you can’t sell – give away. Someone will have fun using it and you will contribute to saving the planet.

• You give it a try. You did as much as you could – now get rid of the rest of things – make sure to recycle them.

Minimalistically wrote important questions:

• When did I use an item for the last time?

• What personal success looks like for me, and how far it is from the idea of minimalism?

• What is really important for me?

• What am I passionate about?

• How much is enough for me?

• What is the worst scenario in which I will need this item?

You can go full-purge mode, or schedule it and do it little by little.

As a BONUS search on Youtube for the phrase "Upcycling"