One week of minimalism
- Archana
- Mar 15, 2019
- 3 min read
and how to get started.
Discovering the power of less will help you realize what it takes to live with less.
Few well-known benefits of minimalism : -
1. Less stress
2. More freedom
3. Less maintainence
4. Sustainable lifestyle
5. More productive.
Getting started can be quite confusing, therefore follow this easy 7-day minimalism challenge which I put together.
DAY 1: Start with space where you spend a lot of time, your desk probably. Clean the drawers, give it a quick wipe. Toss unwanted things.
DAY 2: Your house is a space where you tend to be relaxing. Start cleaning little by little, and be amazed how excited you are to be back to a tidy house.
DAY 3: Try building a more ethical closet, donate ripped or unwanted clothes.
DAY 4: Check my previous post, where I've written more about decluttering your purse.
DAY 5: Turn off your notifications, clean your inbox and remember social media isn't reality.
DAY 6: Spend less money this day. This is a good practice to control your spending habits.
DAY 7: Make a list of things you're grateful for today? Take time to pause and thank people around you. The best time to be grateful is always.
Now the main question is whether this lifestyle is practical on an everyday basis? What better way to know than to ask an expert?
I reached out to my colleague Sherin, a Psychology student who has been a minimalist for the past 4 years and still going strong.
Whats your story and how did you get started? “I never really thought about a minimalistic lifestyle. I mean, I was busy with my life and never really thought about my clutter. One day I felt very low and noticed the mess around me. I felt like I was owned by my own mess. That’s when I decided to get rid of things. It felt great, I started doing it more often, then I discovered more information on the internet about minimalism and never stopped”
What are the common misconceptions about minimalists? "Well for starters, people think we are control freaks, which is not true. We simply don't like to be controlled by what we own. Secondly, people think we become a minimalist overnight. No, this lifestyle takes patience. The main goal here is self improvement. It’s a voluntary lifestyle choice. Another one is that you have to be a Vegan to be a minimalist. No you don’t have to be a vegan, I personally don't follow a plant based diet. However a minimalist would rather eat healthier food".
What is the most difficult part of this lifestyle? "Basically a lot of things, the world we live is not minimalistic. Everywhere people hoard, depend on material possessions. Therefore, to think differently and do something different can be a bit taunting. Another difficulty I face is exhaustion, sometimes I feel like I'm so focussed in decluttering and not excited anymore, it’s also a hassle to get rid of clutter. Plastic wrappings everywhere. Also sometimes old habits catch me off guard".
Bottom line: In today's world, there is a lot of pressure from society. The pressure to own better and fancier things, to look good in front of others. The fancier the car we drive or fancier the clothes we own, the better we look in front of others. This leads us to live a meaningless life. Minimalism helps you seek a new perspective on living. Its all about simplicity, and being more aware of the world. Trying to create less trash, recycling and being more conscious. Anyone can lead a minimalistic lifestyle. If you're driven and focussed then nothing can stop you. Loving the challenge so far? Why not try some more? Follow the links, to find more challenges. 25-Day Organization Challenge 30 Day Plan to Declutter Your Home 30 & 60 Day Minimalism Challenges Mental Cleanse Challenge
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Thanks for reading
Wow! Amazing 😃