How non-minimalists can benefit from the lifestyle philosophy
Every year, it has been a running joke among some friends that the period from Jan. 1 leading up to Chinese New Year is just a “trial run” for all our resolutions. The real restart happens in late January or early February.
In case you’re one of us who have this excuse and subscribe to the idea, CNY this 2025 is happening next week (Jan. 29) and one of the things you can explore is your state of consumption.
A Gen Z short film competition that concluded last Saturday featured an entry that sends out that strong message about how our overconsumption of things leads to garbage disposal problems (and a whole lot more!). I was taken aback and prompted to revisit the concept of minimalism I discovered and tried to live out in 2010. Minimalism is a lifestyle that focuses on simplicity and deliberate elimination of anything excessive.
More than a decade ago, I tried to live simply and consume less. I did get the hang of it but got distracted along the way, especially with the rise of e-commerce sites and digital shopping platforms at the height of the pandemic! Retail therapy (a.k.a. buying small items I can live without) became a thing. Instant gratification arrived in the form of bubble wrap and cardboard boxes. To add to that, brand partners constantly send products as gifts or samples dressed up in fancy packages.
As I tried to declutter over the weekend, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for all the products I received but also felt so much guilt for accumulating clutter. I had to sort things out and give a lot of stuff away. Not only was it therapeutic, but it also reminded me of how little I needed from all that I was “hoarding.” My thought bubble was screaming, “This has to stop!”
I thank YouTuber Christina Mychas, a purveyor of minimalism for her tips and insights. In a video she posted in August last year, Mychas said, “I wouldn’t call myself a full-blown minimalist anymore (more minimalist-ish these days!), but these ‘rules’ of minimalism are the ones I still follow to save money, buy better and live clutter-free.”
Mychas emphasized, “You don’t have to be a minimalist to benefit from minimalism. To me, it’s a set of values and habits that you can implement to improve and simplify areas of your life that need it.” To that, I agree. With the work that I do, I cannot go extreme with minimalism but certainly, it can be incorporated into my way of life.
The minimalism enthusiast gave a rundown of her pointers in the informative episode.
Buy nice or buy twice: Invest in high-quality items to avoid frequent replacements, which can be more costly in the long run.
If it’s not a hell yes, then it’s a no: This way of thinking helps eliminate clutter and prevent burnout by only allowing things that truly excite you into your life.
Declutter before organizing: Focus on removing unnecessary items before attempting to organize your space, as true organization stems from reducing clutter.
If you don’t use it, you lose it: Regularly evaluate your belongings to ensure they bring joy or value. Otherwise, they should be discarded.
Wish list and wait: Maintain a wish list to separate impulse desires from actual purchases, promoting delayed gratification.
Have a place for everything: Keeping items organized and in designated places helps maintain a tidy environment and reduces stress.
Don’t buy a problem: Ensure that new purchases do not create additional issues, such as mismatched items or unnecessary clutter.
Have a why before you buy: Understanding the reason behind a purchase can prevent unnecessary spending and clutter.
Apply the “spark joy” rule: Inspired by Japanese professional organizer and consultant Marie Kondo, this rule suggests keeping only items that genuinely bring joy.
If I can’t pay for it in full today, then I can’t afford it: This principle encourages saving and reflection before making purchases, reducing impulse buying.
Mychas elaborates on each of the topics in her video. If you’re in for a deep dive, check out her self-titled YouTube channel teeming with episodes on how one can maximize life with minimalism. The good thing is that there is no need to strip ourselves of everything and suffer. We are just reminded of how living mindfully benefits us and those around us.
Embracing minimalism, as I was reminded, creates mental clarity and reduces stress, enabling a more fulfilling life focused on purpose rather than excess. True to the philosophy’s core, less is indeed more.
