Minimalism is about adding items that add value to your life and letting go of things that do not.

Minimalism has its roots in the Pareto Principle: 20% of the things you own will add the most value; the rest exist because you let them exist.
In digital minimalism, optimising actions you take for certain apps and software can be key in reducing screen time.
Minimalism does not need to be a life that deprives you of joy. Instead, it's the culture of researching items and actions that will lead to fulfilment.
High focus minimalism can help you to move away from materialistic pleasures and intense screen based attachments.

What is minimalism?

Minimalism is the act of making changes around your life by sticking with items and actions that add more value towards your life goals.

In essence, minimalist principles can help you create a lifestyle where you make great strides towards success without the need for fancy, under-researched possessions.

Who is a minimalist?

If you get rid of 5 items you haven't used for a long time, you are someone who practices minimalist principles. If you get rid of all items you haven't used for a long, then you are a minimalist.

A minimalist opens up free space by giving away items. This space can then be used for adding valuable items or creating open spaces for healthy thoughts and actions to happen.

Example: there's a cupboard no one uses and you stub your toe each week against it accidentally. By removing that piece, you can make room for an item that doesn't hurt or you don't go through that pain anymore.

In the same line, a digital minimalist is someone who lets go of apps and services that do not add any value. Removing all apps that do not see any usage will make you a digital minimalist.

Is minimalism for everyone?

Following minimalist principles is easy for someone making minor changes in life. To be a hardened minimalist, you will need some discipline and spend hours on exploring what you need and what you don't.

How do I get into minimalism?

The first step into minimalism is looking at items, actions and software. Make a list and for every listed material, ask the following questions:

When was the last time I used this?
Do I currently need it?
Do I see myself using it one year from now?
Will I be troubled if I need this app at a certain point in life?

Example: I live in Mumbai and I have the Mumbai 1 app installed which lets me book metro tickets for a certain route. The problem is I barely use the app. But can I get rid of it? No, it is not a daily usage app but I definitely need it within the year in case I need to use that metro line. Sure, I can book tickets at the counter but this is faster and lets me avoid queues; therefore, I will keep it.

On the other hand, I do not play Pokemon Go anymore. It went from daily usage to once per week to me not wanting to go back to it ever again.

How to get into high focus minimalism?

You can apply some of my minimalist mantras to get into the basics of minimalism. High focus minimalism is another gravy.

This means that you delete, archive and sell off folders and items until you reach a certain stage where you have optimised every part of your life.

My wardrobe used to consist of over 200 items, now it is:

7 jerseys and 7 shorts for football aka soccer.
10 pairs of socks.
4 trunks and 4 briefs.
2 pairs of jeans.
4 shirts and 4 pants.
2 jackets and 2 sweaters.

This kind of optimisation helps me avoid choice fatigue and also keep things limited; I can of course get discounts if I am purchasing items from the same store in bulk.

Here's what I do for WhatsApp:

High priority work groups remain pinned; others are archived.
Main chats are family and close friends. Close friends' messages are muted.
Friends' chats are usually archived until a few hours before I am supposed to meet them. Then their chats are archived again. Same goes for non work related WhatsApp groups.
Unimportant chats are cleared and deleted each week on a Monday.
Businesses I do not interact with are blocked; same goes for people that have a habit of bailing out or ghosting.

These steps may seem extreme to some but to me they are vital in order to ensure that I am not wasting time skipping tabs to reply to some unimportant text.

This process helps me "stay on top of what's important" every day and tackle action items.

How do I get into high focus minimalism?

Prepare yourself by remembering that you are now entering a zone where you will let go of material possessions and on-screen attachments.

On your devices, make a list of files, apps and software you need to get rid of or use in limited capacity.

For your living space, make another list of items you no longer need or use; items that are redundant for eternity are the ones getting binned.

This is a great starting point. Once you have items that bring you value, start to see how you can integrate them in your daily life so that they save you time. WhatsApp is essential but I optimise it to deliver what I want and when I want it.

Is minimalism like a cult?

I would say no though I wouldn't be surprised at the sacrifices a group of people would be willing to make if brought together to share ideas at a large scale.

If you are joining a community for a large sum, that is not minimalism once the bank statement is delivered.

If someone wants to be your minimalism coach then ask them to stay away; same with anyone trying to sell you courses on the topic, even me.

Can a minimalist and a non-minimalist co-exist together?

A minimalist and a non-minimalist can co-exist in a living space given that they set boundaries:

The minimalist can sell and delete their items but not those that belong to the house or the house-mate. Sell your PS5 but not the house's dishwasher. Do not sell your wife's car.
If you wish to remove a certain item, talk to your house-mate and ask if it is a wise idea. Do the pros and cons and do it occasionally. Asking each day will only cause distress.

Can a collector be a minimalist?

This can sound ironic but a collector of items can also be a minimalist.

If you are collecting sneakers to sell for a higher price in the future, yes you are a minimalist collector.
If you collect toys and create content which adds value or provides validation, then you are a minimalist.
But, if you collect because someone else has the same and you want it to, you are not a minimalist and you may also be bad at finances.

Collectors and minimalism can be a dodgy area but it is fair to collect for value intended purposes and still stay true to your minimalism mantras.

I tried minimalism and I am not successful yet. Why?

Minimalism does not guarantee success and you would be in a trap to believe it does. Sure, there are some folks who are doing better and minting bank because they are practicing minimalism but you cannot rely on those success stories.

Minimalism at best can help you remove all other distractions that steer you away from the life you envision but won't guarantee you success.

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