Fresh Thinking – October 2017

This one’s fresh thinking right out of the box. Let’s talk minimalism and whether this is a trend that can work for you.

 

When you think about minimalism you might think about tiny meal portions on white plates or austere rooms untroubled by the mish-mash of stuff we accumulate through life. Actually minimalism can mean different things to different people but lately the movement is bringing together some interesting concepts – frugal living, downsizing, decluttering, clean eating, buying once but buying well, to name but a few.

The idea is that by uncluttering our homes and workspaces we live more sustainably, give ourselves the space we need to live and innovate and become less tied to the daily grind. Here are some ways you could start to embrace a more minimal lifestyle;

  • Ditch paper: scan in documents and store them digitally. Add your photos and display the best ones using a digital photo frame rather than leaving them to sit in boxes.
  • Can’t stand the idea of throwing something away? Do it in stages – box it up and see if over the next 3-6 months it is missed.
  • Think about wearing the same ‘uniform’ every day – it’s one less decision to make each morning and much less costly – both to yourself and the environment. This is what Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook said about his grey T-shirts “I really want to clear my life so that I have to make as few decisions as possible about anything except how to best serve this community…..I feel like I’m not doing my job if I spend any of my energy on things that are silly or frivolous about my life, so that way I can dedicate all of my energy towards just building the best products and services.”*
  • Before making a purchase, calculate how long you would have to work to pay for that item. Consider the value that item will bring to your life compared to having the time free to do what you want.

People report that living more minimally makes them feel happier, allows them to work part-time or more flexibly or to feel more positive about work and to have less impact on the planet.

 

Further reading

*https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/facebook/11217273/Facebooks-Mark-Zuckerberg-Why-I-wear-the-same-T-shirt-every-day.html

https://www.theminimalists.com/

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/nov/27/top-tips-to-joyfully-declutter-your-home-from-marie-kondo