Many people think that minimalism only applies to things. In this chapter, you will learn how minimalism can help you in other aspects of your life.

Frugal Living

Frugal living isn’t about being cheap. It is about being a wiser and more practical consumer.

Time Management

By learning how to manage your time properly, you will also learn how to make good decisions, how to avoid procrastination, and how to keep the motivation to do valuable tasks.

Organization

You can greatly reduce your stress by reducing the things you don’t need and leaving room for only the things that bring joy to your life.

Elegant Communication

Because communication is an integral part of your social interaction, it is important to learn how to communicate effectively, without adding irrelevant words or gestures that may misconstrue your meaning.

Mental Health

By simplifying the way you think and process your thoughts, you can give your mind enough room to analyze things that really matter.

The following is a list of things that make note of while you are about your minimalist journey.

You may need to test the water first, or have a dry-run. Do not immediately go into a full minimalist mode, because it may stress you out more than it will help you.

You need to set your goals.

Be with someone in this journey.

Plan your own course of action.

Keep in mind that it would be worth the effort.

Making your own meal is a minimalist practice because it is cheaper. You also help in minimizing waste by not carrying disposable food containers like you would if you take home overpriced food from a restaurant. Packing your own lunch will also save you from traveling to a restaurant and waiting for your food.

The easiest way to begin implementing this practice is to begin by cooking breakfast. It’s the easiest meal to make for yourself, and it’s a simple way to introduce the habit. After a month, you will have saved plenty of money you otherwise would’ve spent on overpriced breakfast meals.

Limit the time that you spend shopping for groceries or any other item that you need. 

Why? 

Because the more time you spend in stores, the more likely it is that you will buy something you do not need.

You will be surprised to know that there are a plethora of other household products that you can use to clean your house.

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Save energy by making sure that you unplug any electronic device that is not in use.

By batching your tasks, you can save time and energy. For example, you can save energy by washing and ironing your clothes in batches. Washing machines and flat irons take too much energy to get their inner mechanisms working. You can lessen the energy it takes to start these appliances by making sure that you wash everything that needs washing in one go. Doing it in batches will also save you time and effort.

Consider sun drying your clothes, instead of using a dryer. Open the windows if you need ventilation. Utilize the temperature outside of the house, instead of automatically reaching out for the thermostat. Your appliances and other electrical devices should only come second to nature. 

Dedicate a day just to see if all your electrical cables are in good condition and if all your appliances are working properly. Faulty appliances and exposed wires can contribute to a lot of wasted energy expenses. By scheduling a few minutes every few months to make sure your energy expenses are in order, it can save you hundreds in the long run.
 

If you choose water, you will save a significant amount of money, and feel much better for it (both mentally and physically). You will be perfectly hydrated without the terrible health side effects of sugar. You do not even need to spend money on bottled water. 

Just make sure that you are eating healthy food and that you are keeping yourself active by exploring the world outside of your computer or TV screen. 

Instead of a gym membership, connect with groups who organize marathons. You will likely find an expert who’s willing to train you for half the price of exclusive gym membership packages, or you can just get in touch with some of your friends and ask to jog with them around your neighborhood. You can also keep yourself physically active

Instead of wasting your money on template exercises that may not even work for you, pay your physician a visit first. You can only determine the exercise/diet that will help you if you know your current health condition. Have a professional tell measure your Body Mass index, your blood pressure and even your sugar level. Then, ask your physician about the best-recommended diet for you. 
 

You will save a significant amount of money if you travel in groups. Airlines and hotels offer group packages for as low as 50% off the original price. Group tours are also considerably cheaper than individual tours. You can save money on food and other tourist activities. Planning for travel can also be a time-consuming task. By electing to book a group travel experience you are saving money while saving time you’d otherwise spend planning your trip.

If you want to really take minimalist travel seriously, then you should learn about the place you are visiting by going ‘local’. This is not only beneficial from a minimalist standpoint, but also by opting to actually immerse yourself in the culture of the place you’re in. Take public transportation, eat where locals eat and do what they do. You will learn that the best way to experience a place is to live like its inhabitants. 

Urgent and important

These are the things that are critical to one’s life, work, and environment. One’s growth and success depend on the accomplishment of these things. 

Things that are important, but not urgent

These are things that add value to one’s life and career, but do not require immediate attention. 

Things that are urgent, but not important

These are the things that people feel compelled to do because they are pressed for time, but when you look at these things closely, these don’t add value to their current task (or sometimes, their life in general).

Things that are not urgent, and not important

You need to start with the list of the day's tasks. 

Follow the order given. 

1. Do the URGENT and IMPORTANT things first.

2. Do the IMPORTANT but NOT URGENT things next.

3. Save the URGENT but NOT IMPORTANT things for later.

4. Say NO to things that are NOT URGENT and NOT IMPORTANT.

5. Do your tasks in the simplest way possible.

If you want to be productive and efficient, you have to ensure that the process that you undertake when you complete your tasks are elegant. If you can do something in 3 steps and get the same results like you would if you do it in 5, then choose the shorter route. Your growth and development will always depend on the things that you deliver, not on the way you do those things. For as long as you remain integral, conscientious and ethical, you can take whatever shortcuts you like.

6. Take advantage of technology.

Do not be scared to try your hand at automation. Technology is there to help you manage your time, not waste it. Learn how to use your electronic devices to make things simpler and faster for you.

Many people find it hard to let go of some particular things because they have ‘sentimental value’. The thing is, if you continue to be sentimental about things that do not bring value to your life and surroundings, you are putting your space at risk of accumulating clutter. There is simply no sense in keeping things especially if 

a) you can’t use them.

b) others can’t use them.

c) keeping them takes up so much space.

d) last and most importantly, if they aren’t producing feelings of joy, happiness, and love.

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In minimalism, striving to own items that have more than one function is an important concept. This is to avoid occupying more space than is necessary. If you can find furniture that serves more than one purpose, then choose it over having to own multiple things. For example, instead of getting a movable wall divider and cabinets to separate rooms, you can opt for a floor-to-ceiling open storage. This way, you can divide the room and have somewhere to place your books or pictures. Do not just get a work table. Get one with a built-in file cabinet. By opting for furniture that has more than one use, you can save space and money.

If you want to decorate your space, opt to have flowers and potted plants. There are many psychological and health benefits to owning house plants. 

Many people take nooks and crannies for granted, thinking that these spaces are meant to be left untouched. The thing is, you can actually take advantage of these spaces and turn them into storage spaces for things that clutter your home. Spaces under the stairs can be fitted with a customized cabinet where you can store things for cleaning or your sporting equipment. You can install floating shelves in the corners of your living room and turn them into bookshelves.

Whether it’s paint or wallpaper, stick to hues that are simple and give off natural illumination during the daytime. Light colors create an illusion of space. The lighter your colors are, the more spacious the room will look.

Accents are brightly-colored pieces of art or furniture that give life to the room. They are called accents because they draw attention.

You wouldn’t want to have too much stuff drawing your attention if you want your space to be minimalist. Instead of having too many decorations, stick to one or two that really stand out.

This also touches upon point #1 where you should just find a couple decorations that you love and will appreciate every time you look their way.

It’s time to ditch the habit of leaving things where you used them. This is the reason for clutter. Use the 2-minute rule as your guide to reducing clutter, stress, and procrastination.

1. Avoid using euphemisms

Misunderstanding does not start when the receiving end of the information ‘fails’ to understand what is conveyed. It starts when the conveyor does not convey his meaning directly. Euphemisms are terms that are used to ‘soften’ other words. It aims to provide a ‘kinder’ message to whoever receives it. The thing with euphemism is that it does not convey the information as is. When you use euphemisms, you put yourself in danger of being misunderstood. If you have to relay a message

2. Avoid sarcasm

Just like euphemisms, sarcasm also puts you in danger of being understood. Not everyone is quick to understand sarcastic statements. In written communication, especially, sarcasm can be taken as a direct opinion. Do away with figures of speech that destroy the essence of what you mean to convey. Figures of speech are for creative writing or speech, not for everyday communication. Be direct with what you want to say.

3. Speak with integrity.

Say only what you mean and eliminate anything else. Avoid giving empty promises or other statements just to make the other person feel good. You are as good as your words. Stand by what you say and follow it up with action.

4. Avoid & eliminate the non-essential.

Do not beat around the bush. If you have to say something, be direct and say it immediately. There is no point in saying too many things, especially if these things do not drive your point.

5. Deliver your message clearly& concisely.

If you do not want to be misunderstood, deliver your message clearly. Do not use vague adjectives or jargons that will only confuse the other person, especially if you are not in a close relationship with him/her. If you can summarize what you want to say in just a few words, do it. 

6. Confirm if the other person understood.

The best way to know if the other person understood what you said is to ask him if he has any questions or clarifications. This is when you can expound on your statements. Getting in the habit of confirming that your message was delivered accurately will ensure that both parties have a clear understanding.

Here are some examples of the kinds of thoughts that clutter people’s minds

Sad memories

Memories of unfortunate events fill people with hate, disappointment and regret. People find it hard to forgive themselves for the mistakes that they have done in the past.

Happy memories 

Instead of using happy memories for inspiration, many people only find longing. There is constant longing for moments that were long gone. People try to relive those memories by forcing their current situations to work in exactly the same manner as it did when they were happy in those memories. 

Expectations

Expectations are ‘false memories’ of the future. People do not know what will happen yet, but they play out various scenarios in their mind that cause them to expect certain things to happen. They expect people to behave exactly as they did in their false memories.

Apprehensions

Also false memories, apprehensions are expectations of negative events to happen. These thoughts cause people to be extremely wary. They resist the natural flow of events for fear that their negative false memory will actually play out. They set limitations and restrictions for themselves, thinking it would be safer for them to be boxed inside their psychological defenses.   
 

Stop haunting the past.

You read that right. It is not the past memories that haunt you, it is you who haunts those memories. Memories are stored in different areas of your brain. These memories are recalled when there is a trigger, and you actively associated it with a memory. By actively associating things with past memories, you make it almost impossible for your brain not to recall those memories. You are the one who made the decision to remember the past by connecting it to the present. It is time for you to stop that habit.

Pull yourself back to the present moment and look at the things in front of you. See those things for what they are. Do not make any associations with the past.

Stop making assumptions.

The moment you make assumptions about something or someone, you are already creating false memories in your mind. Assumptions are baseless inferences, drawn from your own perspective (which is heavily influenced by your past experiences). Learn to see things as they are, without guessing how they will behave. Every time your mind wanders and tries to make an assumption about a person or thing, notice the thought of assumption, and bring yourself back to the present moment.

Clear your mind by focusing on your body.

The only way that you can go back to the present moment is to direct your mind towards your body. When you find it hard to concentrate, stop whatever you are doing and close your eyes. Slowly, take a deep breath. As you slowly inhale, feel the air passing through your nose and filling your lungs. Pay attention to how your chest moves as you inhale. Then, slowly exhale and notice how your chest moved along with the air. Do this several times before you open your eyes. You will find that as you open your eyes, your attention is back to the present. 

Organize your thoughts by thinking of one thing at a time.

Aside from the mental clutter described above, there will be times when your mind will just be full of thoughts about things other than what is in front of you. This can get you flustered and can make you digress from what you have to do. 

To prevent this, organize your thoughts by writing them down. 

List down all the things that you are thinking about and figure out whether or not they are relevant to what you have to do at the present moment. 

Mark the irrelevant thoughts and say to yourself “I will think about that at X time” then dedicate a specific time to that thought. relevant to what you have to do at the present moment. 

Encircle thoughts that are relevant to your task and start focusing on them in an organized manner.

Act on your thoughts.

If you feel that a particular thought just persistently pops up even after doing the steps above, then you may want to consider actually taking actions. For example, if your mind keeps wandering and thinking about doing something you haven’t done before, do it. If you are thinking about a person from the past, reach out to that person. One of the ways to free yourself from physical clutter is to throw things away or give these to someone, which means the need to actually get up on your feet and do it. It’s pretty much the same for mental clutter. Act on whatever you are thinking so that it doesn’t bother you anymore.