How to Be More Minimalist (8 tips from a digital nomad)
I’m a traveling musician who loves to blog and make short film projects. I’m used to living out of a suitcase and I love the idea of saying and creating more with less.
So this is my take on how to be more minimalist (from an adventuring artist’s perspective).
And while tips like upgrading to more expensive things and digitizing stuff like photo albums are solid pieces of advice, I hope I can add some different ideas to the mix.
So without further ado, let’s get to it.
Table of Contents Show
What Is A Minimalist Lifestyle?
A minimalist lifestyle is one that is optimized for things you value most or that serve some practical purpose. It’s a way of life that deletes the “fluff”.
An extension of minimalism would be essentialism, which focuses more on other external stuff, like taking on too many tasks at work or reducing the noise of social media or news.
But let’s stay on track and focus on just minimalism for this post.
So what are the benefits of living more minimally?
Why Bother? (the benefits of minimalism)
Minimalism is a solid way to live. Here are some awesome benefits I’ve experienced:
It’s better for the environment
I’m more productive (since I have less things to juggle)
I’m more intentional
My creativity is enhanced (less unnecessary clutter and better prioritization)
Better decision making
I’m more mobile (which is perfect for my digital nomad lifestyle)
Improved mental clarity and wellbeing (less stuff means less stress)
How to Be More Minimalist (8 things that work for me)
I’m a bit of a natural minimalist – it’s my default state. Still, that doesn’t mean I haven’t struggled with accumulating more than I need.
So these are my favorite ways to embrace a more minimalist lifestyle.
1. Travel More
Travel makes you a minimalist.
This is actually a recent revelation I’ve had, but traveling has forced me to have less things and prioritize what’s truly important. I’ve become a travel minimalist.
I wasn’t even trying for this, but here we are.
Travel – especially frequent or long-term travel – teaches you to shrink your stuff and shift your definition of what’s really “necessary”.
Plus, as an added perk, this is probably one of the funnest ways to become a minimalist.
So book those plane tickets and have an adventure (or a few).
Recommended: How to Travel More Often
2. Do Values-Based Decluttering
Decluttering is pretty good advice. But it’s also pretty generic.
This is why I like to take things up a notch. Value-based decluttering is minimizing the amount of stuff you own or have based on personal values.
For example, a few of my core personal values are creativity, authenticity, autonomy and independence. So in decluttering my life, I can ask one simple question:
Is this thing supporting my core values?
If it is, I’ll save it. If not, I’ll part ways (more or less). In my view, this is a nice starting point if you’re not sure how to organize your life stuff.
You can take a free personal values test at personalvalu.es (it’s the one I took).
3. Downsize
The idea here is simple: if you have less space, you’ll have less stuff.
And downsizing isn’t just moving into a smaller house or apartment. It can be as simple as getting a smaller desk or using a tinier wallet that only holds a few cards.
Downsizing is the art of shrinking your spaces and the containers that hold your things in life.
So even if you only downsize certain parts of your life (like a car or a purse), this stuff can add up over time and compound to a more minimalist lifestyle.
Downsizing can be difficult if you’re used to bigger spaces and ample room. But it’s an awesome way to become more minimalist in your life.
4. Don’t Be An Overnight Minimalist
Are you the type of person who goes all in on something but then loses motivation?
If so, you’re not alone. I’ve definitely struggled with this pattern (especially with my creative projects and passions).
So let’s try a different (more sustainable) approach. Because while it’s awesome that you’re psyched about minimalism, let’s not waste all of our energy right at the starting line.
Let’s not be an overnight minimalist.
This means taking things slower by starting small and not trying to make every aspect of your life minimalist all at once. Because the cold turkey approach can lead to disappointment, stress and frustration.
Minimalism isn’t all or nothing. It’s nuanced.
So don’t declutter every room or every part of your life all at once. Instead, start small and focus on just one or two areas at a time.
For example, you could start by cleaning up your email inbox. Then, when you’re ready, you could minimize your bathroom or closet next.
This way, you’ll slowly adopt a more minimalist lifestyle.
If you struggle with follow through, this is a way more sustainable approach to things.
5. Isolate the Causes for Non-Minimalist Habits
If you want to learn how to be more minimalist, understanding why you’re not a minimalist in the first place is a smart move.
I’m far from a psychologist or any sort of human behavior expert, but I believe this is a solid starting point for adopting new routines and behaviors.
Unpack why you struggle with minimalism (and why you want to become more minimalist in your life).
What obstacles or mindset nuances do you have and why?
Why do you want to explore more minimalism in life?
What’s causing a non-minimalist situation? (shopping habits, the endowment effect, etc.)
Understanding your motivations and why you have certain lifestyle traits adds a lot of clarity to the equation.
Ultimately, this can make changing behaviors more strategic and long-lasting (at least, this approach works for me).
Recommended: How to Change Unconscious Habits + Patterns
6. Practice Minimalism In Lesser Known Ways
Minimalism is more than just decluttering your life or having less things.
It’s far-reaching and we can practice it in a lot of interesting, lesser-known ways.
For example, you can start by cleaning up your computer or phone home screen to look more minimalist.
Or you can practice speaking, writing and texting differently. Try learning the art of saying less and listening more.
Some other less common ways to practice minimalism include:
Fashion and how you dress
Digital minimalism
Cooking and how you eat or drink
Practicing minimalist art and creativity
Setting up holiday decorations
Finances and spending habits
The products you buy
7. Study Design
Design is all about aesthetics and intention (according to me).
So learning these fundamentals and approaching our minimalist life as a designer is a solid strategy worth trying.
Whether it’s web design or interior design, studying design principles can help you become more aware of the things you have and their purpose or role in spaces.
So learn a new creative skill – learn design. Then, apply its concepts to your life in a unique way (as a minimalist).
You can learn more about design thinking here.
8. Care Less (be more laid back)
My best kept secret to happiness, fun and creativity is to stop caring so much.
So it’s no surprise that this also works for minimalism. Sometimes, non-minimalist habits and traits stem from attaching too much value to something.
It’s the result of caring too much (not to sound overly reductionist). So my best advice to nip this nuance in the bud is to care less and be more laid back and casual in life.
I know, this is easier said than done. So it’ll take some practice. But the act of letting go and enjoying the ride (whatever the ride is) is an awesome modern soft skill.
So stay patient and let go (or be dragged).
Recommended: How to Be More Carefree In Life
Later ✌️
A minimalist life is one that’s personalized based on your values, goals and lifestyle.
As a traveling musician and digital nomad, I’ve discovered a few unique ways to live a simpler life in a modern world.
Using my personal values, being more carefree, practicing minimalism in less common ways and traveling are a few of my favorite ways to be more minimalist in life.
But more than anything, it starts with your intention and mindset to adopt a simpler life.
And then, it’s all about having fun with the process and learning to let go, be more laid back and laugh at yourself more than stress.
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