Posts tagged Minimalist

MINIMALISM: The Joy of ONE

Minimalism & Sustainability

To live with less possessions has been my ultimate goal for a few years now. Unlike what others propose, I actually dream of sleeping in a bedroom with only a mattress, natural lighting and a nightstand; quintessential Minimalism – cliched but practical.

I’ve not only contemplated but also experienced the simplicity and the joy of owning only 1 of many things including life’s necessities. While to some this may sound extreme, owning one of each item has turned my life around; easy decisions, quick actions and quality pieces to name a few advantages.

I’ve been able to save up on time, energy and money for things that matter the most. During my journey, I realized that we possess ‘duplicates’ of almost everything in our homes, offices and lives. This wasn’t always an opportunity of joy. Owning 1 of each possession mean’t I’d be surrounded by things I loved the most, I was more intentional with the usage and it would mean I’d be making use of everything I own. “Love people and use things because the opposite never works” is the most shared quote from the Minimalism Film, and I completely agree.

So, here I am sharing with you, 25 things, I own only 1 of:

  1. Wristwatch – its sleek, its minimalist and I wear it everyday.
  2. Scrunchie – its a mauve satin, its soft, it does not leave kinks in my hair and is a cute wrist accessory.
  3. Hair Tool – a small hair dryer that my father got me years ago, and since I don’t heat-style my hair ever (may be once a year), it is more than enough for me.
  4. Skincare – I have 1 of each, a day cream, night cream, mask and an eye cream. I prefer simple skincare as opposed to a whole lot of products on my face.
  5. Beauty – I own 1 of each beauty product that I could possibly use including 1 BB cream, 1 bronzer, 1 eye-shadow quad, 1 eyeliner, 1 mascara, and most importantly 1 sunscreen.
  6. Bookmark – I own 1 bookmark which I absolutely love (and we will not be talking about the 1000 books lined up on my bookshelves).
  7. Phone Case – As opposed to my delinquent teenage years, I no longer own matching phone cases to my outfits, 1 clear, simple one suits me all year long.
  8. Handbag – Remember the days with 46 bags, well no more sweetheart, I technically own 4 but one is a day bag, the second is a crossbody, third is a backpack and the fourth is an evening clutch, one from each category serves me well.
  9. Traditional Festive Wear – Believe it or not, I own only 1 traditional, festive outfit that I use until the point, it is literally falling apart.
  10. Active Wear – I own a very good quality pair of leggings and sports bra from Lulu Lemon and it is more than what I need. It is expensive but the investment is completely worth it.
  11. Yoga Mat – 2 years ago, I purchased a good quality yoga mat, it has served me well and I do not plan to buy a new one anytime soon.
  12. Coffee Tumbler – I used to have 3 on-the-go tumblers but I ended up giving 1 to my brother and one to my bestie and now I am completely content with 1 that is my absolute favorite – no touchy!
  13. Stationery – I used to be a stationery monster and a religious diarist with everything you can imagine right from Disneyland to WarnerBros Studios to Paperchase and now I own 1 single, blue pointer that lives in my everyday handbag.
  14. Sunglasses – In one point of my life, I did have a sunglasses fetish but now I feel blessed owing only one but super quality, investment piece from Gucci.
  15. Strapless Bra – Why would you need more than 1 strapless bra?
  16. Wallet – Well thats nothing impressive is it? Everyone owns 1 wallet but I also have 1 credit card, 1 bank account, 1 key-chain and about 10 coffee reward cards from all over the city.
  17. Sneakers – I own 1 pair of sneakers and although I have had my eye on another style, who needs shoes now, walking is a thing of the past!
  18. Earphones – 1 pair and that is more than enough, I take care of them and cherish them.
  19. Brush and Comb – I own 1 of each, and it is like my personal and affordable hair salon which is accessible at all times.
  20. Anklet – Hell yeah just one baby! My entire jewelry collection now fits inside a Pandora Bracelet box and it makes me very proud.
  21. Laptop – Well this is a definitely cheat because I own 1 Windows (HP) laptop and 1 iOS (MacBook) but hey I earn my living off of them so I don’t mind.
  22. Hat – I own 1 straw-esque hat for those good, old days at the beach and I cannot wait to use it next Summer, fingers-crossed.
  23. Knick-knacks/Decor – I decluttered all of my decor items around 3 years ago and now adorning my bookcase is 1, little faux, potted Aloe Vera plant.
  24. Cleaner – Trust me all you need is 1 all-propose cleaner and the rest are just a marketing scam.
  25. Swimsuit – When you live in my part of the world, you will probably use some kind of swim-wear once or twice in your lifetime but for a water-baby like me this is definitely a good change.

There is a very good chance that I might be forgetting a few more things but for now this looks good. Someday, I’d also like to talk to about the things I own 2 of but now the ball is in your court. Tell me what things you only own 1 of? Or may be parts of your home, you’d like to delcutter? I’d love to hear. Ciao!

 

My Minimalism Journey & 10 Things I No Longer Buy

Minimalism & Sustainability

Hello & welcome to another instalment to my minimalism series.

Today, I am going to share my minimalism journey and how it has affected my lifestyle and well-being.

What is Minimalism?

The very first thing that one needs to understand about Minimalism is that it is different for everybody. It holds a different meaning and a different motive for everyone. People are under the impression that minimalists are all about white walls and monochromatic clothing but that is not the case. Whether you want to delcutter your life in general, save money for personal investment, reduce your carbon footprint or just travel around the world with a backpack, Minimalism is about what you ultimately want out of it.

If you like to put it into words, it is an intentional lifestyle whereby you reduce unnecessary possessions to bring more meaning to your life. People often assume that it is about throwing away everything you own, no, its not. It does not mean you can never shop again, it is more about being self-aware and making conscious decisions regarding what is important to you.

How Did I Discover Minimalism?

Honestly, I don’t remember but I can tell you this – I had never heard of this concept but back in 2012 with no sense of understanding, I began with my minimalism journey when I gave up writing on paper. More on this down below.

Is Minimalism for You?

Minimalism is an extremely versatile life choice, one can shape and bend the rules quite easily. All you need to remember is one basic rule – if it does not serve a purpose in your life, it is best to let go. If you are moving into your new place, it is the perfect time to declutter and bring only the important things into your new home. If you are starting a new job in a new country, best would be to let go of all the excess and gain more freedom. Minimalism is often associated with materialistic possessions alone but in reality it can also be also be used to cut out fear, negativity and guilt from your life. It is all about simplifying. Any and every thing!

10 Things I’ve Stopped Buying As a Minimalist

In the years, I’ve come to adopt this lifestyle, I’ve found myself using it as a tool to identify what brings me value and eliminate the superfluous. And today, I am going to talk about the 10 things that I no longer with my simple living approach.

Diaries & Notebooks

I have been scribbling in a diary since the age of 9 and all of a sudden in the year 2012, I asked my baby brothers to help me declutter 18 physical diaries that contained my inner most thoughts, dirty little secrets and every aspiration from almost 2 decades (they decided to have a bonfire). I sincerely believe that is the moment where the planets aligned and I started my minimalism journey. You know all those cute notebooks you see at Miniso and other designer stores? I no longer feel the need to add more paper to the landfills and yet continue to share my love of the written word using Google Docs or my Blog.

Handbags

And this is coming from someone who at one point in her life, owned a collection of almost 50 bags! Bags and books have always been my jam, something I have come to love from a very young age. And no doubt even today, it is quite easy for a well-constructed crossbody or a luxe clutch to take my breath away but I’ve chosen to invest in a few, fine pieces as opposed to a wardrobe full of low-quality and high-maintenance bags. Investing in 4 excellent quality pieces (1 handbag, 1 crossbody & 2 clutches) has fuelled my passion for this accessory and yet helped in downsizing immensely. In fact, I am happy to report, I haven’t spent a single penny over an evening clutch in over a decade.

Costume Jewellery

Curating a collection takes time and a budget and I know this isn’t for everyone. One must take absolute care when making expensive purchases and I did make that choice just a couple of years ago where I donated and gave-away 99% of my costume (imitation) jewellery in favour of a few fine pieces. Once again, yes, replacing expendables with indispensables does require you to invest a little but the value that it brings over an extended period of time is beyond measure. That is exactly why today, my entire jewellery armoire is just a 1″ x 3.5″ box from Pandora but holds more value (literal and sentimental) than my entire closet.

Makeup & Skincare

You know Bill Gates wasn’t fooling around when he said, wearing the same clothes helps him focus on what is more important. And thus I’ve chosen to set a makeup routine that works wonders for me and I stick to it. With already my handbag and jewellery collection downsized, I take less time to get ready in the morning and spend more on the breakfast table with my baby brother watching morning cartoons. I have one of each makeup item that I need and repurchase only once it is fully utilized. Who needs 25 lipsticks and 20 nail lacquers any way?

And don’t get me wrong, I do take care of my skin but instead of a cluttered bathroom counter, I’ve selected a few organic options that are great for the skin, easy on the pocket and excellent for the planet (Top Tip: Organic Coconut Oil does it all – cleanse, moisturize, protect and sooth).

Magazines, Cookbooks & Subscriptions

As hard as it was to leg go of a few favourite publications (RD, I am talking about you) I’ve chosen to opt for online reading and leisure-time browsing. Remember all those subscriptions, you clicked ‘yes’ to just because you were in a hurry to enter the website? They not only clutter your inbox but also lead you to tempting purchases. Today pretty much everything under the sun is available online and unless there is a specific medical journal that is available only through mail order that you require to complete your residency there is no need to add more trash to the bin.

DVDs

Now here’s an option that you can adopt right away as the trend is already dying out. And now that you’ve so many multiplexes and online video-on-demand subscriptions there is no need to hoard over 300 DVDs in your home. I decluttered my family’s collection 2 times in the last 3 years and today we are DVD free. Not to mention the money you can save on yearly subscriptions as opposed to purchasing new movies every Friday.

Ornaments, Kinck-knacks & Home Decor

This is something I’ve been very strict about and have had the most success with till date. I no longer spend money in buying decorative items, mantelpiece add-ons, antiques, artworks, faux flowers that in the end only add to the clutter around my house and most of the time are lost in translation. I’m extremely happy with a clear house and less items to dust every day thus making it extra easy to stop myself from buying things.

Single-use Plastic

Now this is more aligned with my attempt to leading a less-waste lifestyle but yes it has helped me much in saving money, and sending less and less trash into the oceans. But this takes time and change will not happen overnight but if you are looking for ways to eliminate disposable items from your household, here’s a quick guide for you and your family.

Snacks -The Munchies

And Woah! Did it help me get in shape or what! I belong to a family of kids who refuse to grow up when it comes to snacking. You would, at any given time, find at least 7 different kinds of snacks at my place. I no longer add any kind of sugar-based or oil-based treat to my cart and have noticed a sense of gratitude from my heart and body. Plus I save a tremendous amount of money along the way, every time, I say no to Pringles and Oreos.

Disposable Batteries

When you decide to settle for software and digital solutions you in turn make more, and more purchase in terms of batteries and chargers with all the power use. I have made a point of buying rechargeable batteries at home and in the office. They work just as good and you can find them in a variety of options. Less trash and more value.

Often when I share my minimalism journey with my friends or peers the very first thing they pick out of the entire story – is the investment. And I do not refute that at all. Few first-time investments are certain when you decide to opt for intentional living. But the key here is to remember that minimalism is a process. You do not have to turn around your entire life in a day. My advice is to take it easy. look at me, its been 6 years since I recycled my diaries but I still have a long way to go.

With minimalism you have the luxury to design your life of less and more. More of what you love and less of what you don’t. So breathe, decide and declutter.

And Good Luck!