Minimalism is owning fewer possessions. Simple as that.
Like many of those who got converted to the minimalist lifestyle, I used to own exuberant amount of clothes, shoes, books, useless paperworks, among others. I perfectly recalled the days I was itching for my salary to reflect on my bank account so I could shop for brand new tees and trainers. No purpose, I just needed to buy new things. The incessant urge was merely driven by want than the reason of necessity. Nothing more. However, my viewpoint changed when I was contemplating of moving in London a year before my work contract expired in 2019. Years passed, I have actually accumulated a mountain of clothes and useless stuff I had no intention hauling with me to the capital. To add, the idea of travelling alone with 3 luggages and 2 backpacks did not interest me at all. Pursuit. Searching the internet for tips on how to organise my stuff, I stumbled upon minimalism; I read about it and read more. Intrigued, I bought a book, "The More of Less" by J. Decker seeking for guidance on how I could implement it in real life. Give, Donate, Bin, Sell Segregating everything that I own into groups (with the help of bin bags) was tiresome but productive experience. Bin - stained and overstretched clothes, broken gadgets, old learning materials, insignificant documents, etc Donate - Shoes, Training Gears, Books Sell - Mostly shoes Give - Mostly clothes By the way, this process took me roughly 3 months to complete until I ended up with two luggage-full of stuff. This did not end here, however. A month before I moved in London, I decided to just bring with me enough clothes and shoes to fit in my small travel bag and my all-purpose backpack. The rest I would leave to my friend's. What I brought in London early last year. 4 tees 2 pants 1 raincoat 3 jackets 6 sleeping-wear 1 trainers (pair) 1 lifting shoes (pair) 1 formal/casual shoes 4 socks (pairs) 5 underwear 5 books 2 journals 10 gym-wears 1 gym bag Assorted important documents Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, etc) That same year, my major purchases were: 1 running windbreaker 1 towel 3 pillows and pillow cases 2 bedsheets 2 sleeping blankets 5 books 2 perfumes 1 electric fan 1 kettle 1 pair of pants (changed the old one; ripped off lol) Today, the rest of the stuff that I left are long forgotten. Good riddance. Psychology. Detaching myself from at least 90% of what I previously owned was shockingly effortless. I did not miss any of those stuff. I think this is because I don't complicate the way I make decisions. If I want something, I do it with grand enthusiasm. Also, in retrospect, I actually hated shopping believe it or not. Shopping is a painfully stressful experience for me especially if I spend too much time and effort looking for things that I want but couldn't. This entire exercise, although still a work in progress has rippled towards many positive effects in my life e.g. buy with purpose, increased productivity, renewed focus, positivism. My life became way easier to live than before overall. End note. Minimalism is one of the best things that ever happened to me. And I could only hope that many Filipinos will reap the merits of this lifestyle should they attempt it. For more info visit: The Minimalists Becoming Minimalist End.
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