Gone are the days when new equated better. Come 2020, recycling objects and repeating outfits has become fashionable, and most of us are trying to change our consumption habits to be kinder to the planet, choosing timeless, enduring purchases over disposable goods. Be it via podcasts, TV shows or books, the ‘less is more’ mantra has made its way into all forms of media. Whether you’re new to the minimalism trend or need a convincing reason to embrace this way of life, here are three different mediums through which you can educate yourself.
The Minimalists Podcast
Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus discuss living a meaningful life with less in this podcast, discussing topics like financial independence and being intentional about our use of social media. But the duo isn’t obsessed with the concept of ‘less’ when it comes to imparting their philosophy. Instead, they look at it as creating space for ‘more’—more time, more passion, more creativity, more experiences, more contribution, more contentment and more freedom. They have now completed 215 episodes since they started their podcast in 2010, and now have an audience of over 20 million. Their primary mission? “Love people, use things.”
But why should you listen to them? Apart from being bestselling authors, the hosts have practiced what they preach. Back in 2009, Joshua and Ryan gave up their six-figures salaries, massive houses, and luxury cars to take back control of their lives using the principle of minimalism. An 80-hour work week only gave them enough time to fill the narrow gaps with more excess clutter. “Growth and contribution: those are the bedrocks of happiness. Not stuff,” the duo has quoted in the past.
Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things
If a daily podcast is too much commitment for you, or if you prefer to consume your content visually, Joshua Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus still have you covered. They have self-produced a 79 min documentary titled Minimalism: A Documentary about Important Things, which was released on Netflix in 2016. The film documents Milburn and Nicodemus on a year-long book tour, as they visit several towns and cities in the U.S. As their tour gains traction, larger audiences start showing up. At the end of the tour, they receive an invitation to appear on NBC’s popular show, Today. The film also features voices of minimalist mavens from all fields––economists, neuroscientists, architects, designers, writers, musicians, as well as a former Wall Street broker.
Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long Happy Life
On the Japanese island of Okinawa, for every 1,00,000 inhabitants, there are 24.55 people over the age of 100––way beyond the global average. Published in 2016, the self-help book, Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long Happy Life, by Hector Carcia and Francesc Millares explores the concept of ikigai, which can be described as the intersection between what you love, what the world needs, what you can be paid for, and what you’re good at. The convergence of these sections lead to one’s mission, vocation, profession and passion, and at the centre of it all lies the precious ikigai––your reason for jumping out of bed each morning. From the 80 percent secret––a formula that tells you to cut out “the extra side dish, the snack we eat when we know in or hearts we don’t really need it, the apple pie after lunch”––to setting “good riddance goals” for ourselves, the book supports adopting a minimalistic lifestyle. It convinces you that living happily ever after isn’t just for the characters in fairy tales.
Also read:
From hoarder to minimalist: A Vogue editor contemplates her drastic new life choices
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Earthy, boxy, boring: Do sustainable clothes have a standard look?
