Less is more:
simplifying your life with minimalism
By Noreen Shazreen
The minimalism trend has taken over the world and inspired many people to declutter their living space, yet youths still struggle to keep up with the lifestyle due to consumerism. NOREEN SHAZREEN finds out why.
Minimalism: the pursuit of living with less. Photo by Noreen Shazreen.
Ms Joan Chong, 31, wears mainly black pieces: a top, blouse, skirt or dress, on a daily basis as part of her ‘uniform’.
She is not a beauty consultant. Neither is she a lawyer or an undertaker. She sticks to wearing those basic pieces as everyday wear simply because of her minimalist lifestyle.
Ms Chong is one of the few millennials in Singapore who began adopting minimalism eight years ago. Having founded a Facebook group chat called ‘Minimalism in Singapore’ that has grown to have over 2,700 members, Ms Chong created this community as a form of support group for fellow minimalists residing in Singapore.
Ms Anggun Nur Dinie, 18, a second-year student at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, says: “Being a minimalist allows you to have more time and focus on the things you need or do things that you enjoy. No more worrying about a materialistic lifestyle which may not be healthy.”
Whether you are interested in wanting to start minimalism or not sure how to declutter your living space, here are three tips on how you can start living minimally.
A youth’s minimalist bedroom in Singapore. Photo by Noreen Shazreen.
1. Take your time to declutter ​
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Ms Anggun started off her journey in minimalism by letting go of items that no longer make her feel at ease. Removing these distractions has helped her in achieving a much clearer direction in life.
For Ms Dawn Lim Gan, 20, minimalism has not got off to a good start. She often gets worried when decluttering in case she gets rid of items that she may still need in the future.
Ms Chong says: “Don’t just sort everything and throw it out within the period of one to two months. I know it feels like you should and you want to get rid of it as an end goal but at the end of the day, you never know when you will need a certain object in three months.”
2. Keep only things that spark joy​
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Having feelings of attachment towards items that hold deep sentimental value makes it daunting for most people to declutter their possessions. Sentimental items are things that evoke emotions and relive past memories. These include childhood toys, old clothes, belongings of a deceased loved one, old photographs, and faded letters.
“Some people have a drawer, some people have a very small box in which they have sentimental items. My rule is if it holds a meaning to you, don’t throw it out. Because every time you hold that object, read that letter, or play that toy, most of us have that one childhood toy that we cannot let go of. Then, keep it,” Ms Chong advises.
Marie Kondo, a Japanese organising consultant and founder of KonMari, further advised on keeping items that bring happiness to oneself. The KonMari method introduced in 2011 was built upon Japanese values and the practice of Shintoism. According to her website, ‘KonMari’ means to “keep only those things that speak to the heart, and discard items that no longer spark joy”.
Ms Gan says: “Only keeping things that spark joy gives you a gauge of what is important to you in this stage of your life. That alone can reduce much clutter already.”
Minimalism is not just about getting rid of your possessions, but also about minimising contact with people who do not resonate with your values in life. Ms Chong says, “If you’re really bothered by a person, just unfriend them.”
3. Focus on yourself and your well-being​
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After many years of exploring and adapting to this lifestyle, Ms Chong emphasises the importance for one to stay “true to yourself”. Staying true to yourself means to set your own personal boundaries, to accept and respect yourself.
For her, minimalism is a philosophy. “Don’t lose yourself in your social groups and then forget who you are, what your interests were before all these external influences came in,” she says.
Another important aspect of minimalism is taking care of your well-being. Most people in Singapore face difficulty trying to achieve a work-life balance due to the country’s workaholic culture.
“In minimalism, we also emphasise on rest. Rest days will help you to prioritise things in life and make it more balanced,” Ms Chong adds.