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…
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When a new year starts, we often feel motivated to make changes in our lives. As I said in a post about how to enjoy winter, I recommend not trying to overhaul everything at once in January. At least where I am in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s still cold and dark this time of year, and not the most energetic time. That being said, a very straightforward, easy 30-day declutter challenge that takes just a few minutes a day can be an excellent way to gain momentum for the rest of the year. This challenge doesn’t take much of your time. But it helps you start the year on a positive note. By February, your space is clear, and that means your…
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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,…
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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 …
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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…
