3 Minimalists Who May Just Inspire You to Become One

I am a very sentimental person. Growing up, I have kept receipts from dates out with friends, my friends’ scribbles on tissue paper, photos, little trinkets from family events, and even the wrappers from chocolate bars that my best friend gave me… borderline hoarder, if you may.

My mother used to call me a “basurera” (garbage collector) because I’d keep all of that stuff in my drawers. I kept those things for years. Imagine the lot that I have accumulated starting from elementary school until college.

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This is an example of the mementos I kept before becoming a minimalist

As I was spending my time *~productively~* browsing through social media and watching YouTube videos, I stumbled across interesting people who have inspired me to become a minimalist.

I would say I am still on my way to becoming one as I realize that becoming a minimalist is a process… and it takes time; but I’d say I have made good strides in becoming one.

It all started when I saw a video while thumbing through my Facebook Newsfeed. It was a video featuring this man living with only 150 belongings. In less than two minutes, it shows minimalism on the rise in Japan, basing its concept on the Zen Philosophy. It sounded very simple and this so-called minimalism sparked my interest.

It did not take that video alone for me to take action to becoming a minimalist, though. I have seen more inspiring materials and listened to podcasts since then. Eventually, I found myself getting rid of stuff that I do not need; I have started to declutter. I have donated a lot of stuffed toys and clothes.

I have thrown away the receipts and the chocolate wrappers, and yes, even some photos.

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This photo shows the bracelets, photos, tickets to shows, and more things that I have thrown out after deciding to become a minimalist. This is just the tip of the iceberg. I have way more things disposed and donated, but I won’t share the photo anymore because it’s not a feast to the eyes just like this.

I realized that most of the things taking up my space, and the things I was holding onto were not giving me true happiness. One of the minimalist concepts I have been living up to is that we cherish the moments, not the mementos. I have disposed and donated so many things that it even came to a point my mother asked me if still I had enough clothes left to wear.

[Why I Became a Minimalist and How You Could Be One, Too]

While there are many inspiring minimalists online who may get you to pursue becoming a minimalist, I am just going to mention the main ones who actually made me get up and start decluttering.

3 Minimalists Who May Just Inspire You to Become One

3. Jenny Mustard

Jenny Mustard is a minimalist lifestyle blogger and vegan food vlogger residing in Berlin. I have found her videos about minimalism quite fun to watch. With a little over 280K subscribers, Jenny Mustard shares concepts about minimalism, as well as videos about personal matters, those most frequently asked on the comments section by her audience. Jenny Mustard is a very interesting personality and I’m most certain that watching her approach to minimalism with her how-to videos will also make you consider becoming a minimalist.

[5 Ways to Declutter (The Japanese Way)]

2. Pick Up Limes

With content also revolving around veganism, Sadia, the person behind Pick Up Limes, has also inspired me not only to live on a plant-based diet, but also to become a minimalist. Pick Up Limes also shares videos about travels, which also come in handy for her more than 690K subscribers in Youtube. There is also a collaboration video between Jenny Mustard and Pick Up Limes about minimalism entitled “Habits For A Clean Home”; it’s one of my favorites.

Watching videos on the Pick Up Limes Channel will make you want to live a simple life – one like Sadia’s in the Netherlands. You know, biking around the city, getting groceries early in the morning from the local market and living life with things that only bring you true happiness.

1. The Minimalists

Given the namesake, I probably don’t need to elaborate much on them. Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus. I say… these two guys are the bomb. I listen to their podcasts while cleaning out my closet and I can say that these guys have helped me the most in realizing that I would really like to live my life the minimalist way.

I listen to the people who share their stories with these guys and their team, and I know that it’s very true. They are not limited to discussing simple concepts about minimalism. They go as far as discussing how a person can be a minimalist in both a physical and mental way. I heard them talk about how an individual may overcome the struggles of becoming a minimalist.

For example – something that I have coped with so much: there was a discussion where they brought up how someone can be a minimalist if they do not have their own house. I can relate to that. See, I don’t have my own house. I live with my parents, my parents own a lot of, what we – minimalists – would call: clutter. How do I deal with that? The Minimalists suggested answers.

I also follow this 90/90 Minimalism rule I have learned from The Minimalists, and I try to make my family follow it, too, you know, to avoid clutter. To quote The Minimalists:

“Look at a possession. Pick something. Anything. Have you used that item in the last 90 days? If you haven’t, will you use it in the next 90? If not, then it’s okay to let go.

Maybe your rule isn’t 90 days. Maybe it’s 120. Maybe it’s six months. Whatever your rule, be honest with yourself. If your material possessions don’t serve a purpose or bring you joy, then they are likely in the way of a more meaningful life.”

Personally, I go with six months.

These guys have so much more to share, and I have learned so much from them. Ask me two things why I recommend listening to The Minimalists? Number one, it’s fun, and number two, their advice helps a lot.

Learning from the aforementioned minimalists, if hearing the word minimalism immediately makes you think of black and white scheme, owning a specific number of items, being vegan and being limited to a wardrobe style, you may want to reconsider your thoughts about it.

We can go on all day discussing about what minimalism really is because there are a lot of different takes for different people. Personally, the best definition of minimalism I see is living a meaningful life with less. I am doing it, I can testify that it’s true.