Minimalism
Minimalism...oh well no.. I don't own ONLY 100 things or even 50 things or insert numbers.I own things that matter for me,especially that it adds value in my life-something I really and will use in my daily activities.
To begin,I started this journey a year ago. It rooted from my own frustration on things I owned.I had lesser time and was overwhelmed with everything. Naturally poor at time management and being forgetful,it added up to the whole frustration. So,I began to search ways to feel liberated and more organized.
However,organization tips didn't work for me.I tried.There was still something missing.I already had an idea what minimalism was.Yet, like any other uniformed and trends follower,that time I knew I could never be a full minimalist.
It appeared that to be a minimalist, I need to have these following items:
- Black and/ gray plain t-shirt.
- Wooden flooring apartment.
- An apartment in upper class neighborhood.
- Macbook pro and a blog.
- Expensive convertible bags.
- Camera gears and coffee machine.
- 50 items in a whole room.
- Living off a backpack in an exotic countries. (I did).
However most requirement are impossible for me at the moment. I don't have a macbook,apartment in upper class neighborhood, wooden flooring; none of those. Can I still be a minimalist or am I just in the line of poverty?
I asked myself that question. Especially after someone commented "minimalism is easy, it's called poverty". But then, I look at some poor people in my neighborhood who earn less than 100$/month. They own things,they love to hoard under a mindset that they might need it later and they could not afford it.
Hence,I proceed to ask myself, what do I truly need to survive? When I got to answer that question, I came to a conclusion, I need food, shelter, clothes, internet,herbs, laptop, that's it. Everything else is secondary.
It took me a while to realize I don't use most of the things I owned. So,I gave it away- radically downsizing my items.
I still am, a minimalist even different from the portrayal of the mainstream media.
Moreover, my journey did not stop with things. Soon,it expanded to my relationship with my surrounding, digital consumption and my mindset on technology.
As a result of incorporating this lifestyle, minimalism has helped me :
- [x] Spending lesser time choosing my clothes.
- [x] Going early to any occasion.
- [x] Getting more quality relationship.
- [x] Focus on my health.
- [x] Lesser time do to house chores.
- [x] More time to read books.
- [x] Get rid of my scarcity mindset.
- [x] Saving up more money.
- [x] Having lesser distraction.
- [x] More focused.
- [x] Proper sleeping time.
Those are only a few that I can mention.More importantly,it also helps me with my pursuit of happiness.
At this moment, I am focusing on fixing my addiction towards mindless scrolling on any feed: twitter, steemit, discord,etc. Instead feeding on "what's happening right now, at this second" I tried to process the information and then think. Is it going to add any value?.
I start to think that way with my blog as well.
I like to bring this topic all over again. That's because I will never get tired to remind you to be more conscious about spending money, time, day, whatever you think is your precious commodity.
Links to my previous article on minimalism :
1. Update on my Minimalist lifestyle
2. What Minimalism Means to Me and Why You Should Try it
3. Saturday Decluttering
4. Minimalism and Travel
Signed, M.