Make Your Life Meaningful by Living The Minimalist Lifestyle

Have you ever feel the burden of lots of things that you have in your life?

You might need to adapt and learn about the minimalist lifestyle! Living a minimalist lifestyle will not only make your life happier but also more meaningful. Nowadays, there are many campaigns that encourage people to live simply – with less stuff, yet more flexibility and happiness. Two of the many minimalists that have been succeeded in applying the minimalist lifestyle are Joshua and Ryan.

Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus are American authors, podcasters, filmmakers, and public speakers who promote a minimalist lifestyle. They help over 20 million people live meaningful lives with less through their website, books, podcast, and documentary. 

 “Minimalism is a tool we use to live a meaningful life. There are no rules. Rather, minimalism is simply about stripping away the unnecessary things in your life so you can focus on what’s important.” – Joshua Fields Millburn

When you decided to live minimally, you need to go out of your comfort zone and letting go the things that you have.  

Why minimalism makes you happier?

Minimalism makes people live happier because it gives you less stress and worry. 

“It’s peaceful and satisfying when you free yourself from the incessant “need” for material things. Materialism has destroyed the personal finances of so many, led to environmental damage, human rights issues (e.g. sweatshops), and never brings us complete satisfaction or genuine happiness. Materialism makes us want more and more; it’s a never-ending trap.” – Sarena Dills, Minimalist Lifestyle Enthusiast

How to Start Living a More Minimal Lifestyle?

To start a minimalist lifestyle, The Minimalists suggest that there is no rule for that. What brings value most to our lives could get in the way of ours. “When it comes to letting go, I wish I could hand you a list of the 100 items you’re supposed to own to be a minimalist. But minimalism doesn’t work like that”, Millburn added. 

Here are sixteen ways you can start to live a minimalist lifestyle. 

1. 30 Day Minimalism Game – remove an ‘unnecessary’ thing out of your life every day within 30 Days
2. Photo Scanning Party – turning your physical photos into the scanned version and saved them online 
3. No Junk Rule – keep things that are essential (such as food, shelter, and clothes) and nonessential things that add value to our lives, it can be a bookshelf or even a couch. Things that don’t serve a purpose or bring us joy can be called junk. 
4. Seasonality Rule – known as 90/90 Rule. 

To apply this rule, you can simply ask yourself this question:

Have you used that item in the last 90 days?

If you haven’t, will you use it in the next 90 days?

If the answer is no, it is okay to let go.

5. 1 In, 10 Out Rule – for every new item you want, you need to release your 10 old items
6. Just In Case Rule – Start getting rid of “just in case” stuff you might need it someday. 
7. Emergency Items Rule – some emergencies are not that emergency, be careful on how you define it.
8. Just For When Rule 
9. Wait For It Rule
10. Don’t Upgrade Rule – go without it, repair it, or replace it. 
11. 10 Most Expensive Possessions Rule – listing 10 most expensive stuff and next to that list, make a top-ten list that adds the most value to your life. This is to illustrate how important something in your life.
12. Selling Deadline Rule – Selling stuff that is no longer give value to your life within 30 days, if it’s not sold, then donate it.
13. Spontaneous Combustion Rule – “Would I feel relieved (to have this stuff)?” 
14. Willing To Walk Rule – don’t get too attached to your belongings 
15. Minimalist Gift Giving Rule – presence, experience, contribution, or even a smile is the best gift.
16. Minimalist Gift Getting Rule – tell the people who want to give you a gift in the right direction. A gift doesn’t have to be expensive but gives value to your life. 

If you feel that you got so many burdens from the stuff you have, you might need to try a minimalist lifestyle. Try it out yourself and see how it goes. By following this, you can actually become happier in your day-to-day life.

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