Let's talk minimal today, shall we? Well, hopefully it is minimal by the time I finish writing this. No promises.

Now, hello there wonderful beings of the earth. Long time no read a new post here, huh? Hopefully you're enjoying the also wonderful weather? How was your 4th of July? I can bet a lot more exciting than mine. I stayed home with apparently what I believe is a stomach virus because my belly has been hur-TING people, for days, that is. I got back to NYC from my one month long vacation in the Dominican Republic just back in July 1, 2015 so can't wait to share with you my experience. In the meantime, while you wait for that post, let me share with you one of my newly found obsessions...

Reap the benefits of learning to live a minimalistic lifestyle.

Minimalism

There's no doubt we all love stuff. But when does it become too much stuff? I have always been a naturally organized person which has led me to countless hours of sorting and making sure that everything looks neat and tidy (I do love doing that though). But this alone does not stop or take care of the huge mess that can come from having SOOO much. I am not sure when this began, but I have been striving to become a lot more aware of everything that I own because I have noticed that clutter makes me moody, anxious and overwhelmed. Sure this might be a trait of your overly tidy mother (ahem, my mother too, no worries), but it is not just the clutter, it is everything all around, be it organized or not. Things that I know I am not using or are not serving any immediate purpose in my everyday life, I wonder why have them? This is why I have adapted a minimalistic lifestyle where I am wishing to live with fewer, better things. It is true that saying "Less is More". Believe me, people. It is absolutely life changing.

Minimalistic Lifestyle

Making some small changes has really shown me huge positive outcomes. My peace of mind is intact and I have noticed I am not so anxious or overwhelmed by what was once the potential chaos. I have simplified each possible aspect of my life including clothes, shoes, makeup, body products, diet, health, schedule and everything in between. My intention was not to get rid of everything but to prove to myself that I can live with less. These are the benefits I have found by living with less, fewer things:

Saves Money

I save a lot more money. Living with less means that I will not be buying more than my essentials so I do not consider things that may just be deemed extras. "Do I really need another lipstick or blush? Hmmm, maybe not. I haven't used up the other three I have". That's the kind of thought process that goes through my head, stopping me right away from purchasing unnecessary products.

My version of a piggy bank.  Dollar bills in clear glass jars. — My version of a piggy bank. Dollar bills in clear glass jars.

Encourages Quality

Since I have opted to have a small quantity of each thing, this leads me to finding the best possible item because I know I will not be on the look out for another one in a long time. This usually goes for things I may use daily like body products or shoes. Superior quality is the way to go because you buy it once and get it right.

Less Stress

This is big for me. Leading such a hectic schedule: school, work, assignments, housekeeping, socializing + more would usually leave me completely stressed. Having less now keeps my mind at ease because I am not worrying as much. I handle one task at a time while not thinking of having to clean or clear my space.

This is a photo from my vacation to the Dominican Republic taken in Palmar De Ocoa — This is a photo from my vacation to the Dominican Republic taken in Palmar De Ocoa

Stops Clutter

This one is obvious but understand the magnitude of it. Piles and stacks of random stuff are no longer there. I turn around and the space looks decent, open and airy. The closet is spacious, my makeup items have reduced by 95% and that collection of products I wasn't even using are gone. The fridge? Wow, I didn't realize how large it was until we cleared it from so many unnecessary items. Why have excessive stuff?

This is the walk in closet at the house I was staying at during vacation.  An example of how organized and clutter free one can actually be. — This is the walk in closet at the house I was staying at during vacation. An example of how organized and clutter free one can actually be.

Cleaner + Fresher

The fewer things I own the easier it is to clean, sort and organize. I honestly believe "spring cleaning" is not the only time one should dedicate to deep cleaning our home or life. Everyday should be a day for that but it is harder when there is just too much to do or clean. But having less has encouraged me to want to always keep my life organized because it is now faster, specially for the lazy girl, like me.

Valuables

Determining what to keep or get rid of led me to learning about what's actually important to me. I don't know about you but that's a big step towards discovering yourself as a person. This is also great because I can now focus on what's important and skip what's causing more harm than good.

Giving Back

Constantly questioning everything I have leads me to wondering what purpose does it have in my life? Does it make me happy? When was the last time I even used it? Whatever lands in the "not good for me" pile, I give away to someone I know would benefit from it more than me.

Saves Time

Owning more means more maintenance. Simple. If I wanted to double my "free" time to do nothing or to focus on things I actually enjoy doing then I had to reduce the amount of stuff that required my attention.

These are just a few of the things I have noticed from living simply. I truly love it and enjoy it and promote it as much as I can to my family, friends and now to you because it has changed my life for the better, truly.

A Minimalistic Lifestyle