Living with less means creating space for the important aspects of our lives that bring greater value. We are increasingly encouraged to consume more in a tech-saturated environment, where the rise of targeted advertising is driving growth in our spending. The emphasis on needing more things in our lives to feel a sense of satisfaction leaves many of us unfulfilled. When we let go of the need to fit in, we can feel a greater sense of freedom. When we have gratitude for all that we have, we can look around and realise that we don’t need a lot in life to be happy.
Spend time with those you cherish. Friendships are quality over quantity. A person’s worth is not determined by how many people they surround themselves with. Spending time with those that we love means investing in a deeper connection with others. Living with less isn’t contained only to our material possessions but also in the relationships that we have. It means putting up healthy boundaries with people and spending one’s time and energy with the people they love the most.
Save money and time from spending less. How do you spend your time? Perhaps you like learning new things such as a new language or joining a sports team. The more we spend our attention on the hobbies we enjoy, the more we save time on the things we don’t. We can save money from unread magazine subscriptions or unfinished courses. By picking up a few interests to focus on, you can spend your money and time more wisely. We don’t buy unnecessary materials that may take up more space in our homes or have a list of unnecessary tasks that fill up our schedule.
Practice Digital Minimalism. Digital Minimalism is a term popularised by computer scientist and author, Cal Newport, who doesn’t use social media. It describes the philosophy of technology use in which the time spent online is cut down to a small number of carefully selected activities that support things you value, and then you can happily miss out on the rest of the online world. By leaving behind unimportant acts of social media, we reclaim time and we are more mindful of being in the present.
Embrace your own Personal style. The fashion industry seems to move faster than we can keep up, with changing trends and seasons. Personal style, on the other hand, never goes out of style. Are there certain styles or pieces of clothing that you always wear year after year? When we embrace our own personal style, we save time from browsing the never-ending rows of shops and save money from buying clothes that may only be worn a few times.
A minimalist lifestyle can nourish you. The accumulation of stuff and social obligations in our lives can create more added stress. Minimalism gives you more space to live your life and be in charge of your space, schedule and mind. When a home is decluttered, it creates balance and peace in our mind. Living a more simple life means embracing deep connections, purpose in one’s work, and spending time and energy on the people and activities that you love the most.
Art by Marialaura Fedi
Tien-Jen 