Before becoming a minimalist, Joan enjoyed buying things on the fly just because they were quirky or seemed useful or were cheap. In her early 20s however, she jumped headlong into the minimalist lifestyle and changed her living habits entirely. Now that it’s been almost a decade since she adopted minimalism, we asked her what that’s been like.
“Stop buying shit to impress people who don’t give a shit about you.”Q: Hi Joan! Thanks for talking to us! Before we go further, can you explain what it means to be a minimalist?
A: Hello! To keep things concise, to be a minimalist equates to being someone who lives life with intent.
How did you end up as a minimalist?
I have always been enamoured by the chicness of Japanese meets monochromatic décor, as well as elements of the spartan lifestyle of vagabond meets cyber-punk/grunge from The Matrix and similar sci-fi movies.
However, after graduating from university at age 20, I had my first existential crisis on what do I want to do with my life. That lead me down the rabbit hole of a minimalistic lifestyle.
Can you describe what your living space was like before you adopted minimalism and how it looked after you did?
As most Singaporeans do, I lived with my parents for most of my life. It was incredibly cluttered with no personal line drawn. However, post decluttering, my desk is pretty much empty.
How did your routines change as a result of you adopting minimalism?
Wow. Honestly, the change was a huge relief to my mental health after making the switch. But it did take a few years to figure out what works and what does not.
Before, it was haphazard as I did not follow a routine and was constantly worrying that I’d be late for school or work. Additionally, not everything I did was beneficial to me. From worrying about what to wear (which ends up being the same few outfits) and what to do next. It led up to quite a bit of mental fatigue.
Thus, my younger self thought it was a huge waste of time and energy to not have a simpler routine.
Nowadays, it is a bit more structured but it’s on auto-pilot. I wake up to feed my two furry bottomless pits at 8am. After which, I would exercise and get my coffee. I start work at 1PM but I like to have a lot of time to myself in the morning, time block my priorities for the day and spend time with my partner and cats before that.
My job is fast paced, but thanks to time blocking in advance, I don’t have to use mental energy to think about what to complete in a limited time span.
So what did you have to actually do to become a minimalist? What did you have to throw and how long did the whole process take?
To become a minimalist, I think you need a lot of dedication and commitment to a lifestyle that really limits your ability to accumulate baggage, physical or otherwise. It really throws you into a monthly reflection cycle. If you do not find introspection and being intentional with your choices a source of joy, minimalism is really not a lifestyle to hop into.
The first time I decluttered was in my early 20s. But I recall bringing over 7 huge garbage bags of rotted textbooks, ill-fitting clothes that were crumbling into shreds to the garbage collection bins. Additionally, I discarded or donated almost all of my shoes (over 50 pairs) that were purchased because they were pretty, but barely used. Soon, they too disintegrated or were not worth selling off.
The whole process is ongoing, but I believe the first 3 years is integral to learn to pace yourself on what and how to declutter to prevent any more regrets or impulsive discarding.
Which was the hardest thing to do for the above and which was the easiest?
Hardest was definitely selling my CDs away. They are so sentimental (and expensive) to me but I don’t even have a CD player now. Even though I ripped them, I don’t play them as well. I only listen to a few albums (funnily enough, it’s also those I kept) on Spotify. My only worry now is if Spotify is taken away from my life, I might just die.
The easiest was definitely decluttering stuff that needed to be discarded like crumbling clothes, books etc.
How did the people closest to you react to your decision to become a minimalist? And how did you react to their reactions?
It was a mix of skepticism and encouragement, really. My friends and brother were onboard. However, I learnt that my mom was very much a sentimental person who did not like to part with things. Throwing away things around the house that clearly needed to be discarded caused quite a lot of friction between myself and my mother.
So what’s life like for you now that you’re a minimalist? Do you think it’s better, or worse?
Easier. There’s no turning back for me. It’s probably one part of me that I do not regret honing from a young age.
Is there any part of your non-minimalistic life of before that you miss?
Indulging in a more colourful wardrobe. I do have a few pieces that are not black, but I still rarely wear them. They are my designated “ran out of clothes” days or for occasions that call for some colour in the ensemble.
How many items do you own now and which 5 are most important?
I don’t count how many items I own as things are transient as we use them up, repurchase, get gifted etc.
My 5 most important (physical) items: Hair straightener. Work essentials (Phone + laptop). Make up (not 1 but I use the same palette daily, just switching up the intensity when needed). Supplements (saving grace for energy, cramped muscles and brain fog). Good Coffee.
Which 3 places are most useful for you as a minimalist?
A quiet space to introvert. A chill out bar to chill with friends. A well-equipped kitchen to reconnect with your food and body.
Can you list 3 things you realised only after leaving consumerism behind?
The things I own can define me only to a certain extent. The more accessible something is, the easier it is to lean towards purchasing those items. Happiness comes from you assigning that emotion to that purchase or experience.
What advice do you have for those currently thinking of becoming minimalists too?
Don’t be overzealous. It’s not a cult, it is a lifestyle. It’s ok to take a break from this lifestyle.
What advice do you have for humans in general?
Stop buying shit to impress people who don’t give a shit about you. Instead, try to show them that you care about why they do certain things. Some will let you in, some won’t. Cest la vie.
Lastly, if you don’t spend your money on stuff, what do you do with it?
Investing in dividend stocks/bonds (because I have no energy nor interest in higher risk financial instruments). Invest in relationships I treasure. Invest in my bucket list.
Joan is presently working on her career and bucket list, improving relationships with friends and family deliberately and growing the awareness of minimalism and how it can help the mental health of those with fast-paced lifestyles. You can get more minimalism tips from her at her blog, minimalisminsingapore.wordpress.com, and Facebook page, or discuss your own minimalism journey using the comment box below.
Other interviews with Joan:
Why We Choose To Be Child-Free
More interviews with people who’ve left habits behind here.
Photographs courtesy and copyright of Joan. Interviewer: Sy
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I am definitely not a minimalist, but many of my possessions have been around and used for decades. Things don’t buy happiness.
How could you possibly ‘find your zen’ while becoming a minimalist in your parent’s home?
I have been living minimalist for 5-6 years and find it freeing. I heard some minimalists limit their worldly possessions to some number. Once they possess that number or items, something old must go before he can acquire the new. That seems too hard core for my taste.
I hate hoarding things – my wife gets sentimental about many things we own and is reluctant to throw them out – whereas I love that feeling of letting the past go. It frees up the mind which helps to remain present. Less is more in my book. Good post – thanks for sharing 🙏
I’m totally not a minimalist yet. But I find this way of living very nice. In our lives we collect a lot things we never needed. Get back to the roots and know what is really important in life has an added value. Very nice article. Liked it.
I agree with all the points brought up, fellow minimalists. Personally, I do it because I do not want to waste my short life doing stuff management (storing, cleaning, choosing, utilising, cleaning, choosing utilising cleaning, storing, remembering, discarding) over and over. Also because sitting down to work at a spacious, utterly bare table is just the best feeling ever. – Minimalist interviewer Sy
I especially appreciated your comment that you “Investing in dividend stocks/bonds ” That’s what I did also and was able to retire at 59 1/2 (the earliest in US to start drawing on your pension). I continue to let my portfolio grow and withdraw only when needed. With a simple lifestyle, we rarely need any extra money, so it keep growing.