The transition to a new calendar year is a time when many of us want to start fresh. We write resolutions and goals to create the lives we want. But sometimes, especially for those of us in the Northern hemisphere, the bitter cold and dark of January 1 is not exactly a high-energy time to implement change. But that doesn’t mean you can’t start new habits at this time. You just need a little extra motivation. If one of your goals is to start living a minimalist life this year, here are the best ways I’ve found to get inspiration. Most of these suggestions are super low effort – you can do them even while hungover and sleep deprived on New Year’s Day. But…
-
-
Christmastime is fraught for minimalists. In many countries, the winter holidays mean big spending. Every person is obligated to buy things for every friend, family member, and coworker in their lives. Lists go online about what to buy the person who already has everything. People exchange useless gadgets and ugly sweaters, which then become clutter. And often we receive gifts from our closest loved ones that make us wonder if they even know us at all. Certainly, where I am in the U.S., we’re indoctrinated as children through the Santa Claus myth to the idea that Christmas is all about giving and getting stuff. All of this is in stark contrast to minimalist values. So, you might ask, is it even possible to have a minimalist Christmas? And if so,…
-
When I boarded the minimalism train years ago, one of the first steps I took was to purge my closet. My goal was to build a capsule wardrobe that would last me for years. Basically, I wanted to look nice every day without having to think about it much. I had no idea where to start at the time. Knowing nothing about fashion, I started my quest by searching for capsule wardrobe ideas on Pinterest and YouTube. And I learned a lot of important lessons in the process. Through that research, plus trial and error over the last few years, I discovered some great minimalist clothing brands that are my go-to’s for basics to build a capsule wardrobe. My Approach to Minimalist Clothing Brands …
-
If you’re preparing for an international trip, you might assume that you need to check a bag. There’s all kinds of stuff you need to bring with you when you’re flying overseas, right? I used to feel that way, too. But it’s not true. Your packing list for international travel doesn’t have to be that much different from your list for a domestic trip. I’ve written before about how, through the process of traveling to 45 countries and taking hundreds of flights, I managed to transform from a chronic over-packer to a carry-on-only traveler. In that post, I shared a generic one-week vacation packing list. Here, I’d like to focus on international travel specifically, since there are a few extras you’ll need to consider when packing. But there are also a lot…
-
So, you want to become a minimalist. You’re ready to chuck out 90% of what you own. Ok, maybe just declutter your house. If you’re in a relationship and your partner also caught the minimalism bug, you may end up going ultra minimalist, building a tiny home, or trying out the #vanlife lifestyle. But what if your partner is not as interested in the idea of decluttering as you are? What if they’re even kind of a hoarder? Believe it or not, that doesn’t have to prevent you from living your clutter-free dreams. Read on for some practical tips about how to become a minimalist when your partner is not. …
