Hi there!
Let me tell you a little story about myself. Back in my 20s, I was what you might call a very sensitive person. Seriously, I was so sensitive that if something I loved broke or went wrong, I would feel super sad. Even watching bad news or an accident on TV would make my heart feel heavy. I was like a sponge, soaking up all the worries in the world!
I worried about everything, from big things like losing something important to little things like friends having a tiny argument. I thought that if everything around me was perfect, I would finally be happy. But guess what? Trying to make everything perfect just made me more stressed out and worried! I was like a cat chasing its tail—going in circles but never really getting anywhere!
One day, I stumbled upon an article about a Japanese style of living, which introduced me to this cool idea called minimalism. In Japanese, there’s a phrase: “少ないほど豊か” (Sukunai hodo yutaka), which means “Less is more.” Let me try to explain what minimalism is in a way that even my younger self would understand!
Minimalism is a way of living that helps people focus on the important things in life. The idea is simple: “less is more.” This means having fewer things, but choosing the things that truly make you happy and add value to your life.
This lifestyle isn’t just about things, though. It’s about how you spend your time and energy, too. Instead of doing many different activities that don’t make you happy, minimalism helps you focus on the things that bring joy. It’s about making life simpler and more meaningful.
Theory is great, but what exactly can we do to make our lifestyle minimalist? Here are some practical habits I’ve implemented, which I would like to share. “LET GO NewS, Phone” is the mnemonic I came up with to remember my minimalist habits.
So, here’s what my silly little phrase means:
- L stands for Late Nights: The first step to a simpler life is waking up early, which means going to bed early. Waking up early lays the foundation for a healthy rhythm. And I thought, “Wow! If I keep sleeping late, I’ll turn into a sleepy sloth!”
- E stands for Excessive Social Media: This is a habit many of us struggle with—endless scrolling on our phones. It can be super distracting! I’ve started using the Digital Wellbeing feature on my phone to limit my social media time to 30 minutes a day. It’s like putting my phone on a diet! But I still catch myself getting sucked in sometimes. “I’m working on it!”
- T stands for Toxic Words: “The words we speak can manifest into our reality.” This means we should be careful about what we say because our words can shape how we feel. I used to say silly things like, “I’m not good enough!” But now, I remind myself to say nicer things.
- G stands for Guilt from Perfection: I’ve always struggled with wanting everything to be perfect. It’s okay to aim for 80% instead of 100%. It’s like trying to bake a cake—you don’t have to make it look like a bakery masterpiece!
- O stands for Obligations: I learned that saying “yes” to everything can waste time. I’ve started saying “yes” only to things I’m genuinely excited about. This has helped me focus on what really matters instead of running around like a chicken with its head cut off!
- N stands for Watching News: A lot of news is negative. While I do want to stay informed, I’ve learned to be selective about it. Letting go of constant negativity makes my mind feel calmer. It’s like turning down the volume on a loud radio!
- S stands for Seeking Happiness: Happiness is often right in front of us. It’s not something to chase; it’s something to notice in the little things around us, like a sunny day or a good slice of pizza—yum!
- P stands for Phone Proximity: Keeping my phone too close to my bed was a bad habit. It made me want to check social media before sleeping and right when I woke up. Now, I keep my phone away from my bed, which helps me sleep better. Plus, it forces me to get up to turn off my alarm—exercise for the win!
These small but impactful changes are already making a difference in my life, and I hope they can help you too. Thank you for listening to my story! Remember, you don’t have to be perfect—just keep it simple and enjoy the little things. And if you ever feel overwhelmed, just think about how much better life can be with a little bit of minimalism. You’ve got this!
