Practicing Minimalism: The Path to Greater Fulfillment

Minimalism has profoundly changed my life. By doing less, I experience life much more deeply than I used to. I am more present and spend less time on things that do not matter. Here’s how this transformation happened.

Discovering Minimalism

When I was 16, I read the book Goodbye, Things by Fumio Sasaki. It had a significant impact on me. Inspired by its teachings, I got rid of 5 trash bags of junk and felt amazing. However, I soon returned to my old habits and lifestyle without fully embracing the philosophy. Essentially, I just ended up cleaning my room.

Then, I forgot about it entirely.

A Second Chance at Simplicity

Last year, I rediscovered the book and read it a second time. This time, it had a much bigger impact on me. After reading it, my entire perspective changed. I have read many books before, but this one was different — it contained actionable ideas that drastically changed and simplified my life.

Some of the biggest lessons I learned in that book were:

• Embrace minimalism
• Declutter your home
• Focus on what truly matters
• Reduce material possessions
• Simplify your life
• Increase mindfulness
• Prioritize experiences over things
• Create a minimalist mindset
• Find joy in less
• Improve well-being through simplicity

Clarifying My Intentions

Let me be clear — this is not an endorsement of the idea “you will own nothing and be happy.” I am totally against that. This idea implies that the state would control all possessions. The minimalism I pursue is about owning less junk to focus on what’s important in life. Minimalism can be as little or as extreme as you want it to be.

Overwhelmed and Seeking Change

I was in a place where I had so much on my plate that it was overwhelming. This included owning too much stuff, trying to do too much with my time, and doing things I did not actually want to do. I thought that if I owned certain things and did certain activities, I would be liked and accepted. It turns out that was not the case — far from it. This only hindered my ability to be myself.

I didn’t understand why. I had everything I wanted when I was younger: an apartment, living on my own, and working on a project I was passionate about. It wasn’t until I reread Goodbye, Things that I realized it wasn’t the things I wanted, but what I thought came with them. I believed that owning houseplants would show how responsible I was, and a huge book collection would display my intelligence.

Turning Dreams into Goals

What I really wanted to do was travel the world full-time — it had been a dream of mine since I was 18. However, I kept putting it off, waiting for the “right time” to embark on this adventure. I convinced myself that maybe “one day” I would be able to do it, but that day always seemed to be somewhere far in the future.

For years, this dream sat on the back burner as life took over. I focused on my career, accumulating possessions, and trying to meet societal expectations. The idea of traveling the world became a distant fantasy, something I would get to “eventually” when the stars aligned perfectly. I kept telling myself I needed to be more settled, have more money saved up, or reach a certain point in my career before I could take the leap.

Then, something shifted. As I embraced minimalism and began decluttering my life, I realized that waiting for the “right time” was just an excuse. There would never be a perfect moment where everything fell into place effortlessly. If I wanted to make my dream a reality, I needed to stop postponing it and start taking concrete steps towards it.

Turning this dream into a tangible goal was a game-changer. Instead of fantasizing about “one day,” I started planning how I could make it happen now. I did thorough research on what it would take to live as a digital nomad, traveling full-time while working remotely. I calculated costs, explored destinations, and figured out how to minimize my living expenses.

I realized that my dream was more achievable than I had ever imagined. By letting go of unnecessary possessions and embracing a minimalist lifestyle, I could significantly reduce my overhead costs. The money I was spending on rent and maintaining a cluttered life could be redirected towards funding my travels.

The Cost-Benefit Analysis

Rent was getting expensive, and keeping up with startup expenses while living on my savings was becoming unsustainable. I made the bold decision not to renew my lease. I was paying too much for rent while getting little value besides a place to sleep, eat, and relax… alone.

The realization dawned on me when I did a cost-benefit analysis of living in an apartment while dreaming of traveling full-time as a nomad. After reading Vagabonding, I realized this was a possible goal. So, I did the math. For less than $1400 a month, with an upfront cost of about $1700, I could live full-time around the world as a nomad and live like a king. Comparing this to my rent costs, this was about half of my rent. So, I had two choices:

A) Keep paying my rent and renew my lease, and be stuck in one place for a minimum of one year

or

B) Travel the world full-time and get rid of everything while spending half of my rent costs on full-time travel.

The choice seemed obvious. I chose B.

I made a detailed plan, setting a timeline and actionable steps to transition into this new lifestyle. I researched the logistics of living in different countries, from visa requirements to the cost of living. I learned about remote work opportunities and how to manage my career on the go. I connected with other digital nomads and learned from their experiences, which gave me valuable insights and the confidence to move forward.

The process of turning my dream into a goal reignited my passion and gave me a clear sense of purpose. I was no longer passively waiting for the perfect moment; I was actively creating the conditions for my dream to come true. This shift in mindset was empowering. It taught me that dreams remain distant until we take deliberate actions to bring them closer.

As I started to take those steps, the excitement built up. I began to see the dream taking shape, not as an abstract wish, but as a realistic, achievable goal. The more progress I made, the more motivated I became. I was breaking free from the mental barriers that had held me back for so long.

Now, with my entire life fitting comfortably into one 40L bag, I am living my dream. I travel the world full-time, experiencing new cultures, meeting amazing people, and growing in ways I never thought possible. Turning my dream into a goal — and taking action — was the key to transforming my life. I realized that the “right time” is whenever you decide to make it happen.

Letting Go of Possessions

I took all of my things and put them into storage where I was staying temporarily. I hoped that one day after my travels, I would reuse a lot of the stuff I had accumulated because of the time and money spent acquiring them, and potential future use.

Going through and getting rid of my stuff felt really good, but I still ended up taking a small U-Haul full of items I wanted to, or thought I wanted to, take with me. I thought my world travel essentials would fit into four bags I would carry wherever I went.

After putting my stuff into storage and traveling a lot, I realized that even after all the simplifying I did, there was still a lot I could get rid of.

Day-by-Day Decluttering

So, day by day, I got rid of things I did not need. I wanted to take it to the next level. The logic tree involved in making my decisions was very simple:

• Have I used this in the past two weeks?
• if yes: does this make my life easier or more complicated?
• if no: does this spark joy?

The answer to that was, for the most part, no. I quickly realized that most of the things I owned neither made my life easier nor sparked joy. Deciding this was the easy part — the hard part was actually letting go and taking the time to go through everything.

The Process of Letting Go

I started to get rid of clothes I didn’t wear, kitchen items, old memorabilia, junk from drawers, and swag from conferences and events. Just because something was Bitcoin-related didn’t mean it was important to me; it was just another physical advertisement I held on to for no reason. I also got rid of furniture I thought I might reuse one day for my next apartment, even if that idea was 3–4 years away.

After every trip I took for work, I brought less and less. I started out traveling with a huge backpack and a suitcase, but now all I need is one bag. The place I am storing my stuff has shrunk to half its original size, with most of the remaining boxes being books I want to hand down to my kids. Other than that, I kept very little.

A Month of Minimalism

After about a month of putting this philosophy into practice, my quality of life became so much better. I worked less but got more done. My life was easier. I had more time to pursue hobbies I had always wanted to try, such as writing. I found more joy in simple things and my daily routines, and became more mindful of them. I am more grateful and present. I focus more on experiences and less on consuming useless products that do not serve me. I feel as if a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

The Benefits of Minimalism

It is no wonder people such as Steve Jobs embraced this practice — it has become essential to the way I live, think, and operate. Having less on your plate frees up your time, energy, and money to experience more and worry less. I can never imagine going back to the way I used to live.

Now, I can live wherever I want, whenever I want. My entire life fits comfortably into one 40L bag. It has everything I need at any given time. The rest of my belongings are in storage, which is 80% books. However, even the items in storage are another project for me to sort through and decide what I truly need.

There is an incredible sense of freedom in not having to worry about anything beyond the essentials in my bag. I feel liberated and unburdened, as if I can do anything I want because I am no longer weighed down by unnecessary possessions or the subconscious worry of dealing with chores and clutter in an apartment.

This lack of physical baggage translates to a lack of mental baggage. I no longer dread the thought of cleaning, organizing, or maintaining a space filled with stuff I don’t need. Instead, I focus on living in the moment and pursuing what truly matters to me.

Minimalism has given me the gift of time and clarity. With fewer distractions and obligations, I can dedicate more energy to my passions and goals. I have the flexibility to adapt to new opportunities and experiences without being tied down by material possessions.

The freedom to live anywhere, with everything I need in one bag, has allowed me to explore the world and immerse myself in different cultures. It has also enabled me to build deeper connections with people and experiences rather than objects. I can be present and fully engaged in my surroundings, making the most of every moment.

Living minimally has not only improved my quality of life but has also enhanced my sense of self and purpose. It has taught me to value what truly matters and to let go of what doesn’t. This lifestyle change has been transformative, and I can’t imagine going back to the way things were.

By embracing minimalism, I have unlocked a life of greater freedom, intentionality, and fulfillment. The simplicity of having less has opened up a world of possibilities, and I am excited to continue this journey, discovering new heights of personal growth and happiness.

Minimalism is not about depriving yourself; it’s about creating space for what truly matters. It’s about making intentional choices that lead to a more fulfilling life. By embracing minimalism, I have discovered a newfound freedom and joy that I never thought possible. I encourage anyone feeling overwhelmed or bogged down by the weight of their possessions and commitments to give minimalism a try. It could change your life just as it has changed mine.