My Minimalist Toolkit for You All
When I quit my job and sold my belongings to travel, I've realized that I don't really need a lot of things in life. So I've simplified my life down to a minimum over the past few years. If you call that minimalist for the sake of identifying what is, then that would be fine, even though I don't really want to be called anything. Simplifying your life does not mean going back to primitive, embracing off-grid lifestyle, resorting to destitution or becoming like him,
it only means eliminating the unnecessary and giving more time and space to what's more important to you.
You have probably heard less is more, or quality over quantity. For me, success in life is not only about having more - more money, more things, more responsibilities, especially if it means sacrificing the quality of activities or the more important things in your life.
You don't really need to quit your job and travel to embrace a simple life, you can start decluttering now and leave only the essential things. However, getting to simplicity is not a simple process, it does not magically happen overnight. Especially if you are too attached to your things. It's a journey and not the destination. And my own journey to simplicity has become bittersweet yet rewarding, especially those times when I was selling and losing stuff. It makes you feel empty, and nothing to show off to anyone anymore because that is the consumerist lifestyle you have always been living in. You have been conditioned all your life to work more, buy more - repeat. It's a vicious cycle and I wanted out of it.
Now if you aspire to become a minimalist, and wondering what do you need to start your journey, then here's my minimalist toolkit for you.
Tadaaaa - nada!
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Why nada? Because I don't really know what are the essential things in your life. A simple life has a different value and different meaning for every person. So it's up to you to fill that empty box. To start, you can make a short list of the things you can't live without that you can put in that box.
The steps to simplicity:
- Determine what's most important to you.
- Remove everything else.
I am sharing here what I am going to put in that box. I'm not a doomsday prepper but I want to make sure that I am ready to go wherever, and possibly with these things. I would like to be able to enjoy life at least before the end of the world.
Some books I am currently reading, my laptop, headphone and my journal. I was using my smartphone so include that in the box as well.
Yes, you got to make a choice and I understand that it is not easy. But not becoming attached to a lot of things will let you experience freedom and happiness.
You can also apply the 80/20 rule, the 20% that matters. What is that 20% in your life that you need to focus/improve on, which will give 80% better results or more time? Or should I say, more quality? I had worked as a QA for many years before I became a supertramp, so I know how to apply the Quality principle to my own life. You can be a minimalist in your work too, if possible, as most of the tasks can be done in less time, and not having to stretch it to 8 hours a day. So you can redirect a big chunk of your time to more important things in life such as relationships, health, leisure, and hobbies.
The minimalist lifestyle will give you less stress, better finances, more peace, more focus, and most importantly, more space for the things that matter to you most. Slowly, with effort and determination, everything is possible.
Now as you embrace this lifestyle, you will even make it possible to live the dream, such as traveling or becoming location-independent, especially if you don't have kids or family yet. This is your perfect chance to Simplify, Travel and Write - How to Live the Dream and Make Anything Possible
Minimalist life means having more time to do what you love and pursue your passion. I've learned to spend my money more on experiences that will give me a more meaningful life.
If you don't know what you want," the doorman said, "you end up with a lot you don't.
― Chuck Palahniuk
What about you?
I am a frugalist which is a bit different from a minimalist. If I were a minimalist my essentials that I can't do without would be my glasses and my smartphone - while hoping that eSteem will only get better with time!
Thanks for sharing your minimalist toolkit!
Oh so maybe I am also a frugalist, minimalist or something, all I know is that I'm trying to live with less, and spend less on things too.
Awesome!
Cool post! My minimalist toolkit - simply an iPad Pro .. only thing needed for trading - and filling in time between by posting silly steemit comments😀
Ouch your profile pic is so @diabolika. Ipad pro is ok I think, but I need a larger display. Sometimes I want to travel with an extra monitor lol.
Haha....temporary scary one! Nothing like me, will need to revert back soon!😸
Yeah, it doesn't look like the funny guy anymore lol.
Thanks! 😊
Extra monitor.... minimalist toolkit .... you got to be kidding, right?!😂
A 15in retina MacBook Pro is pretty good for any type of work....you really can get away with a smaller screen when the pixel density is high. But still, don't find I have a need for it unless I'm going to do some software development. Guess you might need it for photo/video editing or web design - but not so much for just writing I think!😀
After dual monitor, life has never been the same again. I posted about it a long time ago, it's just a wish to bring an external monitor as it increases productivity. But won't make sense traveling with it lol.
It's good for plagiarizers too, copy pasting would be easier for them haha.
Nice insight ! It's actually less expensive to travel than one would think, if you choose to embrace a minimalist life as you describe it. Would love to do that !
That is right, to travel and be homeless by choice can be less expensive - no more bills!
I hope you would be able to do that someday.
It differs depending on context. But, when I'm travelling, in order:
Everything else is a solvable problem.
When my companions ask me to watch their stuff while they go to the toilet, I make sure they keep these three items with them just in case we get separated. Actually, everything is a solvable problem, but missing these 3 things causes big delays.
I know what you mean if I only I could swallow my passport and cards. Passport is solvable but still, I don't want to go through all trouble of replacing it overseas. And I know the problem of losing cards, in fact, all of my cards were stolen when I was traveling, ahhh, so difficult. I will probably post about it too soon.
I don't think I will ever really be a minimalist but I think we should all take lessons from minimalism, it's such an eco friendly way to live. I love your approach to it. I always find it funny when I see Youtube videos with titles like "essential minimalist items". Some of them are quite ironic. 😉 Great post as always.
Haha really, I didn't know there are an essential minimalist items videos on youtube. Quite ironic indeed!
This is so true, I forgot to include this in my post. Aside from the personal benefits, there's the environmental benefit as well, as we can also reduce our carbon footprint.
This post has received a 0.63 % upvote from @drotto thanks to: @banjo.
That's what I am going to do too. I don't buy anything during my travels. I only window shop because I do not want things to collect dust. I am trying to keep my place as minimalist as possible.
Me too, it makes me feel freer and calmer.
Ya @diabolika, I only buy clothes and I also kept that to quite minimal.
I know what you mean, I seldom buy clothes, except if I see something really really nice, which is quite rare these days lol. I'm ok with my old ones for now.
Ya, if they are not torn and you still like them, I don't see any point in buying new clothes. My approach is the same for electronic gadgets too. Unless they are broken, I don't keep upgrading to the next latest model.
Oh I love this! I fairly recently discovered minimalism (or simplifying/decluttering/focusing on what matters in life).
I've been gradually getting rid of things using this system:
Ask three questions of everything,
If something (or someone haha!) doesn't answer yes to at least one of these questions, I'm better off letting it go.
I think minimalism means different things for different people. And as you said, it's about focusing on what matters in your own life.
My minimalist toolkit contains my laptop, the works of Neville Goddard, phone and headphones, tweezers and poncho!
Thanks for sharing your minimalist toolkit!
Ohhh!!! I love this! I'm a bit of a hoarder as I can't seem to let anything go... even pretty branches I find when walking. lol I always think I can use it for a craft project and such!
Totally working on it though. I've been giving my clothes away to friends first. 🙃 Baby steps.
Also, I remember you mentioned you needed a travel logo! Would love to help out. Let me know if ya still were looking for one!
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Thanks! Yeah baby steps, no pressure haha 😎
Aladdin's lamp. Barring that, a 3D printer, I guess.
Thanks for sharing!