The things that matter — Minimalism

I come from a house of abundance, literally. When I was growing up we had a lot of space in our house and it was filled with things, a lot of things. There were things we used and then there were a lot of things that we didn’t. Most them were shoved into the storage. We had a lot of storage and with time it was only getting more and more cluttered. Tonnes of clothes, utensils and what not. When you think about it, that’s what we usually do, we don’t easily let go of things we don’t need. We keep on hoarding. We get to a point where we buy more and use less. That’s the point where we need to teach ourselves to detach and keep only the things that matter.
Let’s start with the 5 simple things that you can let go -
1. Clothes 👗👔— Less is more. In my first year of college, I had so many clothes I barely repeated a t-shirt for the first month. Then started to downsize. Step one — have a look at everything you own and let go of anything that doesn’t fit or make you feel good. Then slowly keep removing the items that can’t be used anymore. Don’t buy anything new till you absolutely have to. I followed a rule where I bought one top when I got rid of three. In the end, if you’re left with even seven, that’s enough. Donate your clothes, make someone else happy. If it fits better on your friend, give it.
If you’ve enough to cover your body and make you feel good, you’ve enough.
2. Utensils 🍳— This depends on the amount of food you cook and the number of people you cook for. For me, one cooker, one saucer for tea and one pan is all I need and is all I have. Don’t buy unless you absolutely have to.
3. Gifts🎁 — When someone gives you something, it is to bring you joy. If any item doesn’t serve that purpose, give it to someone who’ll find joy in it. If you can tell your friends what you want, go tell them. If you don’t want things, ask an experience, a walk in the park or a coffee date☕️. After all, time is the biggest gift we can give someone.
4. Shoes👠👞👢⛸👡 — Alright, so there are a lot of people out there who absolutely love shoes and it’s okay. But… if you really want to live a minimal life you just need the basics. Buy good quality basic footwears for workout, parties and daily wear. Trust me, you don’t need 10 pairs. Get rid of any extra pairs that are not functional. If you’re not going to wear them, you don’t need them.
5. Duplicates ✄✂︎— If you already have something, be it a pair of scissors or bed sheets or a potato peeler, don’t buy another one. You definitely do not need it. This one isn’t that difficult, is it? Inspect and see if the old thing still works. If it does, keep it and if not then let it go and then buy a new one. If you’ve two something, the best thing is to give away one.
What happens when you start living a minimal life -
1. It makes you stress-free🙆. There are fewer things in life to worry about. You don’t have to stress over the massive 70% off sales starting at midnight. You only have a few clothes so you know what to wear when and which piece of jewellery will go with it. You don’t need to think which shoes are you going to wear.
2. It’ll bring you peace of mind😇. You’ll start being more aware of things you use and how you use them. You’ll realise how simple your life can be.
3. It’ll save you money🤑. You can use this money for a lot of other things like travelling and food.
Spending on experiences makes you richer.
I bought one pair of footwear this month (because I absolutely had to) and went to a lot of beautiful places🚞 and ate a lot of amazing food🍕🍱🍇, spent time with a lot of amazing souls👼 and had a great time that I feel 74683595672 times richer💰💰💰.

If you’re still in two minds and don’t know if you should downsize or live a minimal life, don’t force yourself. Just ask yourself a simple question “Why”. Why do I need one more pair of shoes, one more black top or one more purse? If it makes you happy then maybe you don’t need a minimal life and it’s okay. But if it is just going to clutter your house, make it messier and will leave you with the stress-monster, give it a try. Say no to the temptation and hello to a happy and content life. This is not a complete guide but if you’re struggling to start, this will help you.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on minimalism so don’t forget to leave them in the comment section. If you think, this post can help someone begin a minimal life do hit the recommend button.❤️
