/r/minimalism
For those who appreciate simplicity in any form.
Rules: (more details »)
[lifestyle] - Decluttering of possessions & thoughts
[arts] - Minimal art, design and music
[meta] - About this community
/r/minimalism
I am wondering where else in your life do you apply minimalism except for decluttering and organizing.
Is anyone here also a digital minimalist? I am trying and installed some apps such as minimalist phone and Stay Focused....and I have distracting apps blocked or hidden or time-limited.
I am also thinking that I am going to be minimalist with my hobbies and with friendships more than before.
I am realizing that I'm an introvert and that it's more valuable for me to have a few core relationships that satisfy me on many levels than to be part of a larger group or community and I am realizing that I don't have to be everyone's free therapist. Developing boundaries in relationships and only meeting up with people sometimes feels compatible with minimalist for me.
How do you apply the principles of minimalism beyond de-cluttering and organizing?
I am going to buy a brand new car. What car is most minimalist and what colour should it be?
Please be specific on models that can be suitable for a minimalist.
I’ll get straight to the point: my home is not minimalist.
But, I think my lifestyle might be? Is it still minimalism if it’s just:
Always picking up or eating out instead of ordering from an app
Canceling streaming services and maintaining a personal media server/physical media collection or renting a disc instead
Doing groceries in person instead of ordering from an app
Switching to a dumb phone
Deleting Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. Sticking to forums, Reddit, and Discord.
Keeping smart devices out of the house or disabled to bare minimum features
I don’t know if it would be called minimalism or just being stuck in the past. I was hoping I could get some insight?
EDIT: A couple other points
Shopping locally when possible, then local-corporate, then online small businesses, then Amazon if all else fails
No cable/satellite
No TV in the bedroom
And if yes: How much? Has anyone dealt minimalistically with this situation?
I am brand new here.
I'm not an expert in minimalism... at all.
I'm interested in minimalism in terms of design, and in terms of minimalist music, and indeed the sort of "philosophy" or ideas around minimalism.
From what I can see this subreddit is more about fanatically minimizing consumption.
Can anyone recommend some subreddits which might be more relevant for my interests in minimalism?
I grew up in a borderline hoarder household and get totally overwhelmed by an untidy home with lots of clutter. I stayed at my friend's house for a few days. She's very much a maximalist with a definite shopping addiction that she won't really admit to, and just the amount of (cheap, pointless) 'stuff' everywhere made me want to run home and get rid of everything I own.
Having said that, I'm also a very sentimental person and have all kinds of things from my childhood (photos, scrapbooks, stuffed animals), as well as some of my grandmother's clothes and belongings. She was very dear to me and died when I was 13. I very rarely look at or use any of these things, and the clothes really aren't my style, but feel reluctant to get rid of any of it, especially my grandmother's things as it's all I have left of her.
I am not planning to have kids so there won't be anyone to pass it down to. And my sister and I were my grandmother's only grandkids. She's not sentimental at all and I couldn't trust her not to just trash it all if I gave some to her.
What's the best way to go about this? It would be hard to get rid, but I also don't want these boxes following me around for the rest of my life!
Looking for advice on what to prioritize in a carry-on with a strict 7 kg weight limit! Curious with what essentials do you pack to make the most of the space without going over? Any tips or packing hacks?
I'm just happy and proud. I'm looking forward to being able to spend more quality time and less time picking up clutter. I also got rid of 2 toy boxes so now we have boundaries of only 1 toybox downstairs and 1 in each kids bedroom (plus activities on shelves). I feel like I've taken my space back and I can finally relax and enjoy myself and my family ♡
I bought a brand new computer… And just kept it in the box as I saw no reason for it. I currently work with equipment handed over by the company and don’t feel the need to get one of my own.
I feel as if things just keep us heavy and cumbersome. I like my 2018 pc, my 2020 phone, my 2021 tablet and I already feels as if it its all too much.
But the trouble for me is that I’m starting to lose interest on things I actually like. Comic books for example…
Am I disappearing or transforming? Anyone went through anything similar?
Edit 1: I honestly appreciate all of your replies, everyone. I have never felt so cared about in a reddit community. I am not depressed, I believe, but I thank everyone who was honestly concerned. I am in my mid-30s, so it certainly is about a change of interests and world view. Its just that when you're in the middle of change, not often you can see yourself changing clearly...
Hey guys! I want to buy a new futon to put on my tatami mats and I can’t choose between hemp and cotton shikibutons. Is there anybody who has experience with both? Is there a significant difference? Unfortunately I can’t try them before buying because either of them is available in my area.
I may be moving soon, on somewhat of a last-minute basis. I've been thinking about it for a few months, and finally made my decision a few days ago, and so I went to go tour a new potential apartment yesterday that I really like. Upon returning home to my current place, I immediately went into action, and started packing up my own place, since (if I move) the move would be in about two to three weeks. Within about 90 minutes, I had already packed up a solid 40-50% of my current place. In theory, if I really wanted to, I could be out of this current place within the next 48-72 hours or so.
It felt SO refreshing! I was amazed at how much I was able to accomplish so quickly. My ex-husband, who I just divorced a year ago, was a legitimate hoarder. Our (now former) house was 4,200+ sq ft, and it took 6+ months to declutter, purge, clean, and pack up, and even then, it was down to the (literal) final hours, with me still having to clean/purge stuff during the final hour in the house, because he kept creating new messes, and he barely lifted a finger. "We" finished packing the house with only one hour to spare before the appointment for the sale of the house. I put "we" in quotation marks because it was really me that effectively did it all, with him (quite literally) screaming in my ear as I loaded final items onto the truck and final bags of trash on the curb.
I've been in my current place for the past twelve months, and while I've decorated and curated it to my own personal taste, I very much embraced minimalism. Now that I may be moving in the next few weeks, I thank myself for having embraced minimalism, because I'm not experiencing a crisis of sorts to try and pack up my home. A little bit each day goes a long way in terms of progress, as does maintaining a minimalist lifestyle, so that you can remain agile and nimble in the face of change throughout life. Minimalism has made such a profound difference in my mental health. 🧡
After a few years journey into minimalism (at glacial speeds) I finally feel like my mind and my house are starting to align with my goal of less clutter.
This weekend I decorated a bit for Halloween and the fall. And I was thinking that in my family I've seen holiday decoration storage take up entire rooms and garages in homes.
So I've always decorated our house for seasons instead of holidays mostly because I don't want to put things up only to take them down in a month (I mostly seek minimalism because I value my time, and short term decorations seem like a waste of time, but I really enjoy a cozy decorated house, so changing decor is important to me).
But this method really helped cut down on storing boxes for months out of every year.
This year is one of the first years that I'm putting up things outside my house for fall decorations and I went with decorative gourds, pumpkins, squashes etc. Everything is biodegradable and I don't have to keep it in my house in the off seasons. It also makes me feel a little more green which is a bonus.
Next year I plan on planting pumpkin and squash seeds so they can decorate my yard/house for me, and I can get good compost out of it for the other parts of my garden once their season ends.
I've been thinking about this because I was looking online for some "cozy minimalist" house inspiration and there isn't much out there. I feel like this is like having my cake and eating it too.
What do you think of holographic fireplaces that project 3D flames onto logs for a realistic fire effect? Are they a good minimalist alternative to traditional fireplaces?
Hey r/minimalism!
This weekend, I tried something I’d wanted to experience for a while: minimalist bikepacking! With just my Omnium Mini Max cargo bike and a few essentials, I set out on a solo camping trip near Copenhagen. I’ve always been drawn to minimalism, and this trip was a great way to explore it in a whole new context—getting into nature with only what I could carry on my bike.
Packing was a challenge, but letting go of "extras" really felt liberating. Plus, focusing on the essentials helped me appreciate the journey even more. I filmed the trip to share the experience, hoping it might encourage others to try out minimalist adventures of their own.
Link to the video: https://youtu.be/afmisyFZxGM?si=1fQu7wQq8YHUjvbU
Would love to hear any tips or similar stories from you all! How do you approach minimalist travel or outdoor adventures?
I don't have a ton of stuff but I feel I still have more than I want. What do you ask or tell yourself when you're going through things?
Type | Item |
---|---|
bathroom | Cleaning Gloves |
bathroom | 3x Toilet cleaner |
bathroom | Mold Remover |
bathroom | 5x Soap |
bathroom | Safety Razor |
bathroom | Razor Blades |
bathroom | 2x Nail Scissors |
bathroom | 2x Minitowel |
bathroom | Broom Attachment |
bathroom | 4x Toothbrushes |
bathroom | 5x Toothpaste |
bathroom | 4x Dental Floss |
bathroom | Toilet Paper |
bathroom | 2x Electric Razor |
bathroom | Nail File |
bathroom | Drain Sticks |
bathroom | Deodorant Stick |
bathroom | Hair Scissors |
bathroom | Nail Scissors |
bathroom | Toilet Brush |
bathroom | Body Scale |
bathroom | Bath Spray |
bathroom | Hand Mirror |
bathroom | Laundry Basket |
bathroom | Shower Tray |
bathroom | 3x Bath Towel |
bathroom | Metal Bucket |
bathroom | Rags |
bathroom | Wet Mob |
bathroom | Broom |
bathroom | Washbasin |
bathroom | Mirror |
clothes | Winter Pants |
clothes | Black Gloves |
clothes | 3x Pullover (Spring) |
clothes | 3x Running Vests Light |
clothes | 3X Wolfskin Overjacket |
clothes | 8x Training Pants Cotton |
clothes | 3x Jeans |
clothes | 4x Polo Shirt |
clothes | 2x Beanie |
clothes | Winter Jacket |
clothes | Adidas Cap |
clothes | Sunglasses |
clothes | Fall Jacket |
clothes | Mountain Jacket |
clothes | 2x Belt |
clothes | Cotton Vest |
clothes | 21x Boxer Shorts |
clothes | 40x Black Socks |
clothes | 16x Black Socks (warm) |
clothes | 2x Training Jacket |
clothes | 28x T-Shirts Cotton |
clothes | 7x Sports Shorts |
clothes | 5 Sports Sweaters |
clothes | 3 Sweaters (Winter) |
clothes | Checkered Shirt |
furniture | Extendable Table + Chair |
furniture | 3x Folding Chairs |
furniture | Chair |
furniture | Large Chest |
furniture | 2x Filing cabinet |
furniture | Desk |
furniture | Hall Closet |
furniture | Wardrobe |
furniture | Bed |
furniture | Desk Chair |
furniture | Kitchen |
furniture | Shower |
furniture | Toilet |
household | 25x Clothes Hangers |
household | Sanitary Silicone |
household | Pipe Wrench |
household | Side Cutters |
household | Slotted Screwdriver Long 5.5 |
household | File |
household | 2x Wall Hooks |
household | Matches |
household | Slotted Screwdriver 4 |
household | Tweezers |
household | Sewing Kit |
household | Repair Express |
household | Paint tools |
household | AA Batteries |
household | AAA Batteries |
household | CR2032 Batteries |
household | Amazon Charging Cable Micro-B |
household | Curtain Rings Reserve |
household | Reserve Apartment Key |
household | Bicycle Lock Spare Key |
household | Flashlight |
household | Rubber |
household | 6x LEDs |
household | 2x Packaging Paper |
household | 3x Fitted Sheets |
household | Reflectors For Bicycles Reserve |
household | 2x Fitted Sheet Gray-Blue |
household | Yarn |
household | Wrapping Paper |
household | Handkerchiefs |
household | Hammer |
household | Rubber Bands |
household | Christmas Paper |
household | Blanket |
household | Silicone Spray |
household | Birthday Paper |
household | Bicycle Pump |
household | Flat-Nose Pliers |
household | Filler For Repairs |
household | Loctite Superglue |
household | Bicycle Tool Set |
household | Screwdriver |
household | Drill |
household | Wrench 14/15 |
household | Bicycle Lights Reserve |
household | Loctite Superglue |
household | Putty knives |
household | Wood Filler |
household | Wooden Box For Coins |
household | Shopping Bag |
household | Hexagon Tool Set |
household | Bedside Table |
household | Wallet |
household | Backpack |
household | Wrap Paper |
household | 2X Giant Container |
household | 4x Large Plastic Box |
household | 3x Bed Linen |
household | Broom + Shovel |
household | Ruler |
household | Cutter Knife |
household | Steel Container |
household | Screwdriver Set |
household | Adhesive tape |
household | Spirit Level |
household | Matress |
household | Blanket |
household | Pillow |
household | All-Purpose Glue |
household | Green Cushion |
household | Curtains |
household | 5x Posters |
household | 2x Paintings |
kitchen | Large Wooden Cutting Board |
kitchen | Microplane Grater |
kitchen | Tin Opener |
kitchen | Ladle |
kitchen | Potato Masher |
kitchen | Tissues |
kitchen | Yellow Cleaning Gloves |
kitchen | Microfiber Cloth Gray |
kitchen | Nrg-5 Emergency Food Ration |
kitchen | 4x Cleaning Cloth |
kitchen | Kitchen Timer |
kitchen | Water Glass |
kitchen | 4x Cans: Beans, Lentils |
kitchen | 2x All-Purpose Knife |
kitchen | Stainless Steel Cleaner |
kitchen | Black Garbage Bags |
kitchen | Green Garbage Bags |
kitchen | 2x Mineral Water |
kitchen | 4x Baking Powder |
kitchen | Dishtowel |
kitchen | Quinoa |
kitchen | Wholemeal Pasta |
kitchen | 2x Oat Flakes |
kitchen | 2x Plate |
kitchen | Kitchen Rolls |
kitchen | Kitchen Tissue |
kitchen | 4x Small Storage Containers |
kitchen | Dishwashing Detergent |
kitchen | Sieve |
kitchen | 2x Small Pot |
kitchen | Soup Bowl |
kitchen | Frying Pan |
kitchen | 2x Glass Bottle |
kitchen | 8x Condiments |
kitchen | Dining Knife |
kitchen | Pumpkin Seed Oil |
kitchen | Detergent |
kitchen | Baking Powder |
kitchen | Organic Bucket |
kitchen | Waste Basket |
kitchen | 8X Storage Container Glass |
kitchen | 2x Small Spoons |
kitchen | 2x Dinner Forks |
kitchen | 2x Tablespoons |
kitchen | Cutlery Drawer |
kitchen | Bottle Brush |
kitchen | 2x Olive Oil |
kitchen | Balsamic Vinegar |
kitchen | Linseed Oil |
kitchen | Lunch Box |
kitchen | 4x Sponge Cloth |
kitchen | Chopsticks |
kitchen | Pancake Turner |
kitchen | 5x Clamps |
kitchen | 2x Aluminum Foil |
kitchen | Vitamin D3 Drops |
kitchen | Timer |
kitchen | Tablet Holder |
kitchen | Notebook (Cooking) |
kitchen | Measuring Cup |
kitchen | Knife |
kitchen | Bread Knife |
kitchen | 1X Wooden Spoon |
kitchen | 1X Black Small All-Purpose Knife Pointed |
kitchen | Whisk |
kitchen | Refrigerator |
office | Webcam |
office | In-Ear Headphones + Mic 3.5 Mm |
office | Logitech M575 Wireless Trackball |
office | 5x A4 Envelopes |
office | Vertical Mouse |
office | CPU Cover |
office | USB-A USB-C Adapter |
office | Whiteboard |
office | Blue Microphone |
office | 18x Clear Films |
office | Samsung Tablet |
office | Safety Pins |
office | Adhesive Tape |
office | Paper Clips |
office | 2x Erasers |
office | Tesa Reserve |
office | Apple Magic Keyboard |
office | 2X A4 Block |
office | 3X Paper Folders |
office | Hama Wireless Mouse Reserve |
office | Hama Headphones + Mic |
office | USB-C Extension |
office | USB-A USB-C Cable (Short) |
office | Motherboard Screws, Thermal Paste |
office | Apple Macbook Pro 2012 (Reserve) |
office | Ballpoint Pen Refills |
office | 8X Mini Notepad |
office | Micro-B USB Cable |
office | Lightweight Headphones |
office | Copy Paper |
office | 5x Folder |
office | 5x Ballpoint Pen |
office | 3x Finepen Red |
office | Toner for Laser Printer |
office | 3x Folder + Clear Plastic Sleeves |
office | 5 Pencils |
office | 6X Notepad Reserve |
office | 2x SATA Cables |
office | Windows 11 |
office | Double-Sided Adhesive Tape |
office | DVD Writer external |
office | Folder: Invoices |
office | Daily Diary 2024 |
office | 19x Envelopes |
office | Stamps |
office | External Hard Drive 2TB (old) |
office | External Hard Drive My Passport |
office | Screen Protectors |
office | Glass Shelf |
office | Pen Cup |
office | USB Cable (PC) |
office | Monitor Support |
office | 2x Charging Cable |
office | Powerstrips |
office | 4X Slip-In Folders |
office | Package Roller |
office | USB Backup Stick For Mac |
office | PC Monitor |
office | Laser Printer |
office | USB Stick 512GB |
office | Document Folder |
office | 4x Folders |
office | Macbook Pro M3 2023 |
office | Laptop Holder |
office | Table Lamp |
office | PC |
office | Power Cable Distributor |
office | Router/Modem |
office | Mini Lamp Desk |
office | Mouse Pad |
office | Office smartphone Galaxy |
shoes | Dress Shoes |
shoes | 2 Pairs of Slippers |
shoes | 3 Pairs of Sneakers |
shoes | Boots (Hiking) |
sparetime | Sports Headphones |
sparetime | Bicycle Helmet |
sparetime | Saddle-Bag |
sparetime | Logitech G403 Gaming Mouse |
sparetime | Selfie Stick Small |
sparetime | 52 Playing Cards |
sparetime | Tournament Chessboard + Pieces |
sparetime | iPad |
sparetime | Sennheiser Headphones |
sparetime | USB-C Headphones Benewy |
sparetime | USB-C Headphones Ugreen |
sparetime | Travel Chess Reserve |
sparetime | 2 Boxes: 100 Books (Future reads) |
sparetime | Usb Micro-B Cable Short |
sparetime | Travel Bag |
sparetime | Gaming Mousepad |
sparetime | Xbox Controller |
sparetime | X-Tra Warm Winter Cycling Gloves |
sparetime | Travel Chess (Analysis Board) |
sparetime | Kindle Paperwhite |
sparetime | Walker MP3-Player |
sparetime | Monhtly magazines |
sparetime | Sun Milk |
sparetime | Bose Speaker Wireless |
sparetime | Camping Mat |
sparetime | Northface Backpack |
sparetime | Audio Cable (3.5mm) |
sparetime | Personal smartphone Pixel |
sports | Mountaineering Vest |
sports | Mountain Boots |
sports | Mountain Pants |
sports | Mountain Shirt |
sports | 4x Small Weights |
sports | 8x Weights |
sports | 2x Swimming Trunks |
sports | Running Shirt |
sports | Swimming Goggles |
sports | Headband (Running) |
sports | Spikes (Hiking) |
sports | Running Gloves |
sports | Rings For Ring Gymnastics |
sports | 4x Towels For Fitness Center |
sports | Fitness Center Shoes |
sports | 2x Dumbbells |
sports | Mini Flashlight (Running) |
sports | 3x Asics Running Shoes |
sports | 8x Weight Plates |
sports | Barbell |
misc | Uric Acid Meter |
misc | Blood Pressure Monitor |
misc | Local Map |
misc | Earplugs |
misc | Emergency Backpack |
misc | FFP2 Protective Masks |
misc | Pushcart |
misc | First Aid Kit |
misc | 5g Gold |
misc | 3x Birthday Cards |
I have been shaving using a twin-blade razor for a while now as I like my face clean shaven. Use an electric trimmer occasionally. To simply my life, was wondering why not always use the trimmer instead of shaving.
Pros:
Cons:
To me, the pros seem to outweigh the cons. Am I missing anything? What are your experiences?
Edit: condensed the post to be shorter.
I admire minimalists. We are being forced to start over. I have two young children. How do we create an elegant apartment with not much $. What should we replace first? How do we adapt to having memories taken away (all books/artwork/journals/photos)? How can we make this a healing, meaningful change with a chance to be more intentional?
Any inspiration, stories or ideas appreciated. <3
I bought a family sized food processor for £10 in a charity shop today. I've started baking again and needed a bigger food processor, so the little babyfood one is going to charity. I'm still saving up for a decent one though, one I can pass on to my daughter.
I have an iPad Air form 2021 that i was going to use for school. I don’t want to spend the $ for a new one. The screen is cracked. I was going to get a screen protector and a keyboard to make it like a laptop. Thoughts?
It took me years to realize that true minimalism isn’t just about owning fewer things, but about thinking fewer thoughts. A clean, quiet mind is the ultimate decluttered space.
I used to believe minimalism was only about living with fewer possessions. I cleared out my closet, gave away furniture, and pared down my space to just the essentials. But still, I didn’t feel the internal peace I’d imagined. My mind was cluttered with to-do lists, worries, and plans. It didn’t matter that my apartment looked Zen when my head was anything but.
One day, I caught myself mindlessly scrolling on my phone, jumping from one app to another, craving distraction without even realizing it. That’s when I realized: the noise in my mind was coming from all these digital “things.” The constant influx of notifications, the endless scroll, the infinite mental to-dos… my phone was a source of clutter as real as any pile of laundry.
I decided to try something new: minimalism for my mind. Every time I had a thought, I asked myself, Is this necessary? Is this valuable? I applied the same logic to my phone, too. I deleted every app that didn’t bring value or peace and put strict limits on my screen time. No social media in the mornings, no aimless scrolling before bed.
Gradually, my mind quieted. I was more present, tuned into my surroundings instead of lost in endless mental dialogue or digital distraction. I could walk down the street and just… walk. I could sit with a cup of tea without needing to scroll through my phone. By embracing minimal thoughts, I felt like I’d finally found the essence of minimalism—not just around me but within me.
What do people think about this? Has anyone else noticed the noise that comes with constant thoughts and apps? True minimalism starts in the mind, and when you declutter your thoughts and limit digital distractions, everything else falls into place.
I recently came across a fascinating study published in Science (2014) that found people would rather receive electric shocks than spend time alone with their thoughts. This research really got me thinking about how uncomfortable we can be with our own minds.
The study involved participants who had the option to sit quietly with their thoughts or experience mild electric shocks. Surprisingly, many chose the shock! It raises some important questions about our relationship with our thoughts and the lengths we go to avoid introspection.
Here are a few points that stood out to me:
Discomfort with Silence: Many people struggle with the quiet moments that come with being alone. It seems like we’re conditioned to seek distractions rather than face our inner selves.
Modern Distractions: With smartphones and constant notifications, we rarely have to spend time alone with our thoughts. Instead of reflecting, we scroll through social media or binge-watch shows, which keeps us from confronting what’s happening in our minds. This study suggests that we might be losing the ability to engage in self-reflection.
Mental Health Implications: This research highlights a potential mental health concern—if we’re avoiding our thoughts at all costs, what does that mean for our emotional well-being?
As for me, I find that spending time alone with my thoughts can be a mixed bag. On one hand, it’s a chance for self-reflection and personal growth. I often uncover insights about myself or my situation when I take the time to think things through.
On the other hand, it can sometimes lead to overthinking and spiraling into negative thoughts. I notice that when I reach for my phone instead of sitting with my thoughts, I’m often just avoiding the discomfort rather than addressing it.
To overcome this, I’ve tried a few strategies:
Mindfulness Meditation: Practicing mindfulness has helped me become more comfortable with my thoughts. It allows me to observe my thoughts without judgment, making it easier to sit with them.
Journaling: Writing down my thoughts has been a game-changer. It not only helps me process my feelings but also clears my mind, making it less daunting to confront my inner dialogue.
Setting Boundaries with Technology: I’ve started to set aside specific times to put my phone away and disconnect from distractions. This intentional break has given me space to think and reflect.
Nature Walks: Spending time outdoors without my phone allows me to enjoy the moment and encourages a natural flow of thoughts. It’s surprising how many insights come to me when I’m surrounded by nature.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this! Do you think we’ve become too reliant on distractions like our phones? How do you feel about spending time alone with your thoughts? What strategies have you found helpful in overcoming this discomfort? Let’s discuss!
How do I practice minimalism while living with a slob? I live with my boyfriend in a townhome. Basically, “my space” is in a room off the kitchen downstairs, and “his” space and the living room is upstairs. He takes about 10 baths a day (not exaggerating) and every time he brings his towel upstairs. We probably have 30 towels, yet I keep 3 towels in my space to use for when I work so I won’t run out during my three 12-hour workweek. He also brings all the drinking glasses upstairs. We probably have 20 drinking glasses but I keep two in “my room” so I’ll have a glass to drink from when I want water. I also keep a cache of silverware in my space for the same reason. It’s just so frustrating when he goes on a cleaning binge and brings all the stuff down, and we have so much crap! But within days, it disappears again and I’m back to scrounging for basic household supplies.
Please don’t tell me to go upstairs and get these items myself. For one, he gets mad when I do that, and two, he’s a grownass man, I am not picking up after him until I get desperate for supplies.
So how do I practice minimalism when living with a slob? It is really overwhelming and crowded when he brings all the stuff down, but I know it’ll be sorely missed if I downsize these items, as I’ll be the one to do without or have to go upstairs to collect against his wishes.
Hi. I’m planning a minimalist landscape. Seek advice and insight. I’m planning to cover most of my ground with gravel.
A few years ago, I lost a large collection of bookmarks when I switched computers. Since then, I’ve been meticulously organizing new bookmarks, images, and memes. However, I’ve now reached a point where managing all of this has become mentally overwhelming. The problem is no longer about saving content, but about dealing with the growing volume.
I save images that resonate with me, potential tattoo ideas, or simply things I find aesthetically pleasing. I save institutional websites that were useful for resolving issues, though they often become outdated or obsolete over time. On top of that, I save books, recipes, and countless other items.
Recently, I tried using a tagging/labeling system to categorize everything. Initially, this seemed like the perfect solution. Now I can filter bookmarks by date and by an endless number of categories. However, despite the ease of retrieval, I rarely revisit these items. Life moves on, interests change, and this digital collection starts to feel mentally draining.
I’d like to open a discussion to see how others manage this issue. Do you have any strategies that work for organizing and actually using saved content? I’m on the verge of deleting everything again because this excessive organization feels exhausting and possibly unnecessary. Does anyone else experience this or have any practical suggestions for improvement?
I’ve simplified my skin care routine significantly and now my skin is thriving, but I have some left over products that I’d like to find a purpose for.
I have an oil cleanser and a toner that I’m looking to repurpose, thanks!
I’ve been wondering… did our cave-dwelling ancestors ever get bored? Sure, they didn’t have phones, TikTok, or Netflix to keep them entertained, but they were pretty busy surviving—hunting, gathering, building shelters, and avoiding predators. Life was probably so focused on survival that they didn’t have much time to sit around thinking, “Man, I’m bored.”
But what about those quieter moments, like sitting around a fire or waiting out a storm? Did they experience boredom like we do? Maybe, but instead of scrolling through Instagram, they told stories, created cave paintings, or just let their minds wander. Imagine having no phone to reach for every time you had a few spare minutes!
It’s funny to think how differently they used their downtime compared to us constantly reaching for our phones. While we use technology to fill every little gap, maybe they were more in tune with just… being still.
What do you think? Did boredom exist for early humans, or have we created it by needing constant stimulation from our phones?
So here is my back story as it is important to current day.
I 41M lived by myself for 3 years in a 550 soft studio in Denver before meeting my partner. With having only 550 soft to myself, I knew I had to be conscious about my buying decisions. I was very well of the space I had and didn't buy out of want. I only had a double bed, a love seat, tv stand and the TV in the one room. My closet was a walk in, so I was able to have a dresser in there with ample room for clothing and storage. So that was where I had an extra sheet set and comforter, my laundry basket, laundry supplies, and stored off season clothing in vaccum packs. My kitchen was literally smaller than my closet, so not much storage either. I only had 2 plates, 2 bowls, 2 coffee cups, 2 water glasses, and silverware. Instored my pot, frying pan, and a baking sheet in my oven.
My current situation has me wanting to go back to that! My partner and I live in 3k sqft home with 2 small dogs. There is, what I consider, clutter everywhere! Every wall has about 2 or 3 pictures on it. Dinningroom sitting for 10, with a buffet table, and a china hutch. We have a music room with a sofa, 2 arm chairs, the piano, with plants, floor lamps, and coffee table. 4 bedrooms, 1 turned into a office and 3 1/2 bathrooms. 2 car garage, yeah we don't even park the cars in there because every wall has a 7 foot shelving units that are filled with bins and other stuff. Our attic is chalk full of Christmas; 7 trees and decor to decorate those trees. Decor for the outside innthe attic and garage. Other seasonal decor in the attic as well. Oh, did I mention his clothing takes up about 90% of our master closet along with 2 other walk in closets? I cannot forget his costum closet either!
We have been going on 8 years in March. I knew what I was getting myself in when we moved from Denver to Vegas to Phoenix to our current home. I have asked him before can we pair stuff down, can we pull strings to get rid of stuff, and he has always said "no". It is so bad that there is a 4 foot by 4 foot cow print foot rest stool in one of the bedrooms cause we can't put it somewhere else!
I now dream about living back in that 550 sqft studio, I cannot go anywhere without seeing something we do not use. Such as I bought him for his birthday a blow up hot tub, we haven't used it in 4 years. I told him let's get rid of it since all it does is sit in the garage on a shelf, he said no.
I have also gotten to the point of instead of buying him things for our anniversary, birthday, and Christmas; I get him experiences. Such as for Valentines Day, I bought a city pass to 4 places in Atlanta... it has been used!
I am at my witts end! I am ready to screen HEEEELLLP!
I'm set on having a minimalist lifestyle but others don't understand. My childrens great grandmother buys stuff for my kids constantly. It's honestly dollarstore junk. I don't know what to do because she doesn't see eye to eye about anything. How should I approach this? I usually just end up throwing it. I'm already overwhelmed and trying to downsize as is.
I live in Texas, where it's usually hot. I usually buy a lot of clothes on sale, but I'm not happy with most of them. I just buy them because they're cheap.
I have a variety of activities, including working out, kayaking, swimming, and attending different events in my area. I can wear anything to work, and I like to wear jeans, skirts, shorts, and crop tops. I would like some advice on what and how many items of clothing I should have.
I want to minimize my wardrobe and do laundry only once every 2 weeks. What do you suggest I get?