How an obscure Japanese sentiment changed my relationship to life, death, and letting go. — I try to catch it, I try to save it, I try to control the damage. But it’s too late. The most expensive wine bottle I ever bought is nosediving toward the ground. For the few milliseconds before impact, I find myself in a liminal state between wholeness and destruction…

Five unconventional lessons on minimalism from “The Longing for Less” by Kyle Chayka. — I have a strange problem with most content on minimalism: It’s all a bit too convenient. See, the typical minimalist hero’s journey goes like this: (1) discover you feel miserable, (2) blame all your problems on your stuff, (3) get rid of as many possessions as you can, and (4)…

Three rules for handling sentimental clutter (and one surprising lesson) — I had been dreading this moment, although I was unsure why. In fact, I’d forgotten what I would find inside the boxes. I just knew they had been there all this time, taking up physical and mental space — like uninvited guests at a party. I stood there for a…

Minimalism isn’t a reversed arms race to own less; it’s actually about curation. — For years, I completely misunderstood minimalism. I used to think minimalism was about living a frugal life, eliminating as many possessions as possible, and creating a clean aesthetic. Flashy colors should be banished, I assumed. Just like owning multiple versions of the same item, physical book copies, my smoothie maker.

How to scan your stuff for value and filter out the clutter. — Talking about minimalist purchases may seem ironic to some people. The best minimalist purchase, these people might argue, is no purchase at all. But I think that purchases and minimalism are two sides of the same coin. How? Our purchases unveil our relationship with stuff, and talking about them makes…

Guidelines for simplicity that emerged from years of trial and error. — Over the past three years, I tried countless things to create a simpler, more minimalist life. To name a few: I cleared out my entire apartment, lived out of a backpack (twice), went on a pilgrimage, and radically changed my consumption habits. But I also did a lot of stupid…

Minimalism isn’t a product you can buy but a concept you should experience. — Minimalism has become mainstream. And honestly, it’s easy to see why: With thousands of ads, notifications, and inputs bombarding your brain every day, minimalism promises an effective antidote to chaos. If you trim down your life to the essentials, you’ll finally gain space to breathe. That’s the promise, at least. …

Or: why I choose to sleep on the floor. — I was skeptical. Sleeping on the floor always seemed so strange to me. If anything, it was a cliché promoted by minimalist influencers to propagate their lifestyle — never a worthwhile custom, though. But then, something changed. I moved to Munich. And as this is an insanely expensive city, the…

A minimalist’s guide to making smarter purchases. — I used to fill my life with a lot of empty crap. Another fancy watch. A new smartphone for no reason. Clothes I only wore once. And that was nice for a while. But over time, I realized a disquieting truth: I’d filled my life with empty stuff to feel…

Three (unexpected) lessons from living the hardcore minimalist life. — One month ago, I started solo traveling through Northern Europe with nothing but a small hiking backpack. Inside: 49 of the most essential things I own. (More on the exact list of items later.) And so, for the next 30 days, my entire livelihood would literally sit on my shoulders. …

How to practice minimalism with minimal effort. — I’ve studied and applied minimalism for a year now. It’s one of my favorite philosophies of all time. But when I first got into minimalism, it wasn’t easy. The whole shebang of simplifying and decluttering life used to be endlessly overwhelming. …

A selection of items that create remarkable joy with utmost simplicity. — I’m really careful with calling myself a minimalist. I feel like labeling people as minimalists or non-minimalists creates box-like thinking. Which, in turn, can spiral into a destructive “us vs. them” mentality. But here’s the thing: I do like to make this distinction — minimalist vs. non-minimalist — with the…

An honest look at the downsides of minimalism. — There’s a reason why minimalism has garnered such a massive following over the past few years: It’s a remarkable idea. The core concept is simple, accessible, sustainable, financially attractive, and even therapeutic for most people. Minimalism encourages you to focus on what matters most while eliminating all the junk. …

How to practice minimalism from within. — One of the biggest misconceptions about minimalism is that you should basically own nothing. The strange vibe I often get from articles, videos, or pictures boils down to this: “If you own more than 100 items, you’re not a minimalist.” “If you wear more than one outfit, you’re not a…

“Don’t let the things you own end up owning you.” — I used to have this baseball cap I really liked. Usually, I hate hats. But this cap felt as natural on me as cheese on pizza. It gave me confidence. And it became part of my identity. But then, unexpectedly, I lost it after going out to a bar one…

How not to overcomplicate absolutely everything. — A few weeks ago, I tapped into the power of a simple life. I had a 7kg rucksack strapped to my back, held a wooden stick in my right hand, and was hiking the Camino de Santiago. I made peace with myself and the world. Life felt light. But before…

Use this 5-step model to create simpler spaces in a day or less. — The 0% Decluttering Method is the easiest, most effective, and fastest strategy for a simpler life I’ve ever discovered. It works for physical and digital spaces and shows immediate effects — usually in a day or less. Here’s the idea: Instead of decluttering a few things here and there, you…

How to use your brain so it doesn’t use you. — Once upon a time, a student visited a wise master to learn about Zen. The master welcomed him and said, “Sure, let’s talk about this over some tea.” He poured the student a cup of tea and kept pouring until the cup was overflowing. Not sure what to do, the…

How to escape the clutter loop for good. — Many people approach minimalism the wrong way. They only think about decluttering, obsessing over getting rid of their stuff. And, of course, cutting down your possessions to the ones that matter most is important. But it doesn’t solve the root cause of clutter: Amassing more stuff than you need. Think…

How to overcome the sunk costs fallacy and live with less. — In June 2021, I made some radical changes in my life. I felt stuck, needed to take a break from the hustle culture, and wanted to give myself a shot at freelance writing. …