I became a minimalist the day I moved to the US. I had lived in Aguascalientes, Mexico for 3 years when I got a job opportunity to move to the US. Once I got accepted for the position, I started selling the majority of my stuff. The process was long and tiring. I lived in a two-bedroom apartment and the process took a little more than a month. I sold all the furniture, sports equipment and my car. I donated many clothes that I knew I wouldn’t use anymore, especially because I was moving from Aguascalientes (a warm city) to Albany, NY where it is cold for about 6 months (or that’s the way it felt to me, coming from Mexico).
The plan was to sell my stuff, and whatever I wanted to keep I would take it to my parents’ house.
When that process was over and I finally settled down, I promised to myself that, going forward, I would be very mindful of the things I bought.
A while ago, even before the big move, I noticed that when I bought clothes, if for example I bought a new pair of jeans I ended up using the new jeans and not using my old ones as much. I noticed that I only used the old ones in case the new ones were dirty. So, ever since, I decided that if I wanted to buy something, I needed to be aware that most likely I would end up not using something else, and that made me think if I really needed it. So, the rule that I have now, is that if I bring new clothes home, is because my old ones need a change, and I need to get rid of them, otherwise I will end with a closet full of stuff I don’t use anymore.
My habits changed even more with that big move.
- Books: I buy the majority of my books as ebooks. I only buy physical books when it’s a book that I enjoy a lot and I want to re-read it.
- Clothes: all the clothes I have in my closet I use them regularly, if I identify there is something I’m not using it as much I donate it. I have also noticed that when I like something like a shirt, I buy the same shirt in different colors.
- Shoes: I wish I had less. I don’t think I have that many considering I have a pair of shoes for each specific type of occasion/event/sport activity: running shoes, hiking shoes, hiking boots, golf shoes, sport winter boots, formal winter boots, office shoes, formal evening party, casual sneakers, sandals, etc.
Minimalism is important to me because I’ve moved 3 more times in a matter of 4 years, it’s important that I keep only the essentials with me, things that I really value and use all the time.
One book that changed the way I feel about things is “Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing”. With her book I learnt that I should only keep things that bring me joy.
I enjoy watching YouTube channels on productivity and minimalism.
These are some of the YouTubers I follow on minimalism:
Arabela Navarro 