A Minimalist Lifestyle

Simplifying your life isn’t about your possessions — it’s about value

A minimalist lifestyle looks different for everyone. For me, it’s helped me pay down $42,000 of student loans in just over two years, lend more of my attention to my loved ones, and set me on a path of intentional living. In the past six months, I’ve felt happy, healthy, and at peace.

While I can’t guarantee that what I have incorporated into my life will do the same for you, reflecting on a few of these things may help provide clarity to your life.

1. Downsize your stuff

Personally, I donated about 70% of my clothes to various non-profit organizations. I realized that I owned several items of clothing that I hadn’t really worn in months. If I didn’t love it, I didn’t keep it. To prevent myself from accumulation creep, I review the contents of my wardrobe once a month to see if I can get rid of anything more.

I’ve also slowly donated shoes, bags, books, mugs, electronics, and artwork. I thought I would regret letting go of some of these things later, but I can honestly say I don’t even remember everything that I’ve gotten rid of. This goes to show that things we may have grown attached to don’t mean as much to us as we think. Of course, I still have some sentimental items (I…