How to Spring Clean Like a Minimalist

The onset of spring delivers the promise of new beginnings. It nudges us to reflect and ask how can we live happier, freer, and lighter. And in my experience, achieving a more fulfilling life is about not chasing more but thriving with less. As a minimalist, I definitely partake in this annual spring ritual of cleansing and clearing out. However, my spring cleaning is not restricted to my physical possessions.

READ MORE

Ask These Three Questions Before Buying

As minimalists, we aim to be more conscious of our possessions and purchases; not just buying less, but also buying better. Since embracing minimalism, what I own and what I buy is largely determined by beauty and functionality, craftsmanship and quality, and the ethos of the business behind the goods and services.

Recently I dropped in at ‘Fat Face’, a popular UK high street clothing store,  and came across a simple cotton blouse that was priced at £45 (about US$60).

READ MORE

The Two Biggest Myths of Minimalism

When you think of the word minimalism, what comes to mind? Monotone clothing? Stark white decor? Near empty spaces? Minimalism can be all of these and a lot more. It is not just a physical manifestation; it is relevant to your mental and emotional levels as well. To get the most out of minimalism, it should be looked at from a holistic perspective and not just a physical one.

Minimalism is really all about reassessing your priorities so that you can strip away the excess and nonessential stuff— the possessions,

READ MORE

A Roadmap to Living Well With Less

Winding Road

The abundance many of us enjoy in the world today has not increased our level of happiness and fulfilment. In fact, for some of us, we are less happy than the generations before us despite having more. If being more, having more and doing more are not delivering the happiness we desire, perhaps embracing less in order to live more is a viable option.

A minimalist life is about focusing on what’s truly important and that adds value to our life,

READ MORE

5 Ways to Simplify Your Life in the New Year

Path to the beach

After the exuberance and excess of the festive season, the arrival of the New Year tends to imbue a sense of moderation and reflection amongst many. The promise of new beginnings and fresh starts provides the impetus to reflect and ask how can we be happier, freer, more fulfilled. The achievement of these and more are usually not done through being and having more, but rather with less. As we strip away the excess and clutter,

READ MORE

Stop tolerating and start living

Bird Flight on Sea

The word ‘tolerance’ just crossed my mind today and I could not stop thinking about it. Simply because like many, I think I spend a less than healthy chunk of my life tolerating instead of living. I am referring to the word defined as  ‘the act of capacity of enduring’ rather than the other that describes ‘a fair, objective and permissive attitude toward opinions, beliefs and practices that differ from one’s own.’

READ MORE

The sweet spot between too little and too much

photo-1431552779098-4cf79c53638e-1

With the start of the year, I have continued with my practice of not having specific goals in mind. Instead, I will advance in the direction of where I would like to be and in the process, arrive at situations where I can derive happiness, fulfilment and inspiration. I can say as of now, I am quite happy and contented to be where I am. Quite.

Happiness is a place between too little and too much –

READ MORE

Life after Debt

 

Girl on a SwingSince I embraced simple living and minimalism and started this blog two years ago,  a post on  ‘I am debt-free’  has been at the top of my list.  I still can’t believe that I am finally in a position to write such a post: I am debt-free and I have money in the bank. It feels rather surreal and after two months, it has  yet to fully sink in.

READ MORE

Top 10 Books on Simplicity and Minimalism

Vintage-book-infographic

Books have been a key motivator and resource in my journey towards simplicity and minimalism. I did not have any mentors or friends who were on a similar journey and these books and their  authors provided inspiration and connections to ideas and like-minded people. Below are ten of my favourite books on simplicity and minimalism- the list is certainly not exhaustive as I’ve read many more good books on the subject.

READ MORE