Reflections on Minimalism: A Personal Journey
Originally written by jgdxghfs from Zhejiang on April 27, 2023
Understanding Consumerism
Why Do People Keep Buying?
Since joining the minimalism group, I've noticed many members struggling with minimalism despite wanting to embrace it. This is perfectly understandable - when you own property, have a stable high-paying job, and maintain complex social circles, your life naturally accumulates material possessions that serve as necessary connections to these aspects of life.
When you find yourself constantly buying things, it often indicates that you've decided to put down roots somewhere. You've more or less convinced yourself that this is where you'll stay permanently. As someone who has lived in three different cities in two years, I somewhat envy that certainty.
My Journey to Minimalism
Childhood Origins
As a child, I was a collector - stones, feathers, used pen refills, even snack wrappers. I would clean them with detergent and stick them in a collection book. This continued until my mother threw everything away and scolded me - that's when I started on the path to minimalism (willingly, I might add 🥺).
Physical Minimalism
Clothing
My personal approach:
- Only wear black and white clothes
- White clothes are replaced when they yellow
- Discard clothes at first sign of pilling
- One medium-sized box for all clothing
Best tip for clothing minimalism: If you have any doubts when receiving an item, even slight ones, don't be lazy - return it immediately!
Bags
Reduced from seven to four essential bags:
- Professional work bag
- Cute small bag for basics
- Leather backpack for laptop
- Sports bag for travel
Solution for eliminating small bags: Consider a functional vest with multiple pockets - practical and stylish!
Personal Care
No-Shampoo Movement
- Joined the No-Shampoo community
- Using soapnuts for all cleaning needs:
- Hand washing
- Face washing
- Hair washing
- Body washing
Soapnut usage tips:
- Boil then soak for softening
- Use mesh bags for containment
- 13 nuts per batch is sufficient
- Create small batches to prevent spoilage
Bedding
Minimal essentials:
- One mattress
- One bedsheet
- Two blankets
- One duvet cover
- One pillow with case
- One sleeping bag
Digital Minimalism
Electronics
- Use phone until it stops working
- Avoid tablets and e-readers
- One laptop if necessary
- Utilize cloud storage for backup
Mental Minimalism
Hobby Simplification
Focus on hobbies that don't require physical items:
- Reading (digital books)
- Writing
- Activities requiring minimal equipment
If the format (digital vs. physical) affects your reading ability, it might indicate that you don't really need to read that particular book.
Social Relationships
My approach to social minimalism:
- New phone number with each relocation
- Fresh WeChat account for new beginnings
- Natural filtering of relationships
- Living in the present moment
Don't fear losing connections - truly meaningful relationships will naturally persist, and you'll often meet similar souls in new places.
The Ultimate Minimalism: Mental State
Anxiety Reduction
My journey from anxiety to peace:
- Learned to let go of perfectionism
- Embraced a more relaxed approach to life
- Understood that most problems have solutions
- Removed myself from anxiety-inducing situations
Final Thoughts
Minimalism is Personal
Key principles to remember:
- Minimize what doesn't serve you
- Keep what brings joy
- Don't blindly follow others' minimalism rules
- Focus on quality of life
- Remember that needs vary by individual
Photo Gallery
The following images illustrate various aspects of minimalist living and practical solutions.
