I like that you encourage us to find OUR minimal lifestyle. I think this is important because minimalism will look different for everyone. What is considered minimal for a monk living in the Himalayas will be very different from an accountant living in San Francisco. I don't think minimalism is a competition to see who can have the fewest things, it's simply the philosophy of owning exactly what is necessary for you and your lifestyle.
I agree wholeheartedly, and minimalism as a family, as opposed to a single person or couple, will look different as well. We also change from time to time, so our personal type of minimalism may evolve.
I feel like one of the important parts of minimizing belongings is, as you say, buying things that bring you true joy, but also things that will last, so that you don't have to keep buying things over and over. This is also good for the environment, because we don't keep buying more and more things, which is still possible even if you follow minimalism.
Aki. It’s brave to talk about being homeless. I happened to me too about 7 years ago… after losing my kids, put in hospital, lost home and pets… then I lived in a tent in the Rocky Mountains. Even then one night someone stole my tent. Lucky I had a little help when desperately needing it. I think it’s more common than the world knows. In the end we can just become fringe, dwelling bedouins. It’s wise to decide and know how to have the inner power to be independent. It’s all universally interesting evolution experiences. And minimalism, zen like and living kindness are all in the ‘right’ direction. Thank you. Sincerely Janet
I've been decluttering my belongings for many years. I keep the things I love and need and sell, but mostly give away the rest. My condo is stylish and free of excess. I feel relaxed and at peace there!
becoming a minimalist has been the single best improvement in my life that I've ever made, for all the reasons you stated and many more! thanks for the great content!
Thank you! You are very right about minimizing belongings. The more items one has the more they start to be afraid of losing them, and become very anxious. Also I have my own sad experience, not only I spent a lot on things I don't use much later and they just lay all over my place, but when russian began attacking Kyiv l, where I live, I was very confused where should I go, what should I take with me, and where those the most important thing are, because they are everywhere in my apartment. I definitely need to change this attitude to my life.
Over a year ago, in October 2022, finding your videos changed my life. Simply, i was so inspired that I took actions to improve my space and mental health. I had severe depression. And then after watching your videos, I cleaned out my room and changed many things in my space and started waking up at 8AM to make matcha, and from these actions i was able to move on from that severe depression and entered a new state of mind. Ever since, I havent gone back to the way i was. Still dont have good mental health, and to others I might seem like a failure, but I actually changed profoundly. And now I need to try again that process again :)
That sounds like a great accomplishment, congratulations! :) It can be difficult for people to see those kind of things as accomplishments, because our society values money, belongings and power in a career as things to strive for. Please be proud of yourself, only you truly know how much you have changed and after changing your habits and your minds slowly the rest of oyur life will change too. It usually is a gradual process, therefore it is also more difficult to see it externally. I am rooting for you and wish you the best!
Iam also became a minimalist afte the pandemic.I'm still trying to remove stuff that I haven't used for more than 6 months. My life has become much easier. Thanks for making these videos to keep me in track 🎉
As an gamer - like you before - I had a great collection of games and merch, most likely zelda. I still have some stuff but reduced it a lot and besides I get rid of so much stuff. I never thought that minimalism would change my life in such a good way. And you were the start of everything. Thank you so much for all your content. By far my most favorite RU-vidr
I feel you! While watching this Video I thought about finally selling my old Game Boy Games. I really loved them as a child / teen / still do, but didn‘t play some of them for years. So maybe it is time to let go of the guilt of not playing.
I'm already cleaning my toilet WAY more than I used to. After this video I had a clear idea how to get rid of a lot of clothes in my closet that I never use, and where to take them. You always seem so healthy, happy and light, that's a great inspiration to me.
Hey Samurai Matcha! Yes! Everything I bring into my home demands my time and attention. I have released many things and it is so freeing! You get to know yourself better. Now when something breaks, I ask myself if I need to get a new one - usually not. Or when I'm sorting through my art supplies, I let go of the ones I no longer use. And when I'm at a store, I ask my self "Will this help me do something I already do better and be true to myself?" If the answer is "no" then I leave it.
Great informational video. From your previous video(s), I've been getting up at 0530 everyday except on Sunday which 0600. Due to unforeseen reasons I've been homeless twice before. While in the military I was a semi-hoarder and in process of getting rid of items. Today I walked 2 miles to get coffee at McDonald's, laundromat to wash clothes, dried clothes at home, went to Walmart for shopping, put out my solar panels to charge batteries, workout at home, had breakfast, checked email, paid bills and showered. This was all before 0905 am!!
i have some questions and maybe video suggestions what are your hobbies as a minimalist? what do you currently do for work and is it less stressful then your old job? if you dont use weights how do you maintain and build muscle do you have an exercise routine? have you counted what you own lately?
I have been minimizing my belongings because I want to live overseas and in order for that to happen I need to get rid of a lot of stuff so that way I can move with relative ease. I also dont want my daughter to be burdened with having to deal with my stuff when I pass on. Thanks for sharing your journey.
I was close to a minimalist in my 20s, after moving several times. But in recent years I have acquired too many things that don't spark joy anymore...some of it was due to family members passing away or moving into senior housing and taking on their special items or family treasures....your videos have inspired me to take time each day to find items to let go. It is very empowering, and seems to help with my stress and energy levels. I am enjoying more space in my home, and every day it become easier and more joyful to let go of things. Thank you!
I’m currently going through my possessions with the intention of getting control of what I have, what I need, and what I can get rid of. I don’t see myself becoming a full-on minimalist, but only something closer to that. It’s so hard! Especially to get rid of things that bring back forgotten memories of people, places, and events - cards, letters, pictures. Our online world has eliminated many of these physical expressions of love and friendship.
Becoming healthier is so true. I have been decluttering for a month already (I started with your easy tip about grabbing 10 things you don’t need) and I feel like I can breathe better on my room. I don’t have to be constantly moving things around or cleaning so much. Dust seems to not cover everything so fast, and my frustration is way lower. I wake up and sleep more happily.
I agree with the moving section. My goal since starting minimalism has been that everything I own could be packed in 1 day and fit into 1 transporter at once (except a car if I own one). As someone who moved 14 times since 2008 it has really changed my life for the better.
It is so good that you have learned these lessons while you are young. I wish I would have started minimalism in my 20's, but better late than never! My husband and I are in our mid 40's trying to simplify so we can move overseas. There is a lot to sort through after 24 years of marriage!
I'm exploring minimalism fully at this moment in my life, and it's been a complete game changer! It's brought me more energy and peace of mind than ever before. Thank you Aki, you're such an inspiration! 💗
I am sorta a minimalist, not fully, i enjoy certain things especially plants i want to fill my home to the brim with plants and its hard being a minimalist if you have many pets ans they need stuff but i like my kitchen gadgets too. but with everything else i started to let go. i come from a family who has always struggled our entire lives, so holding n to things "just in case" is a huge mentality here because you never know when you need it. but that is stress and i can live a life where i dont need it anymore so i started to let go, despite everyone saying im crazy, i got rid of 50% of my stuff and my goal is to get rid of a total of 80-90% of my things, i am already a lot less depressed and i feel more at peace, your videos help me in this journey too.
Minimalism is different for everyone. I have four cats and even if I reduce my own stuff, I would never reduce the stuff of my cats. I think at one point they have more than me. I think that minimalism is more a mindset than decluttering your home. It's just about freeing you from stuff and go on with less
I also come from a poor family. We were careful with things and held on to them because there was no money to replace them. I find myself doing the same thing, even though I can now afford to replace something if I really need it. The "just in case" mentality never goes away . . . it was how my family survived.
@@jeanetteh.9240Do you struggle to let things go? or do you struggle to not buy something useful because of that mentality? i do with candles, as they can be used for cooking small soups or light or just heat. just one example of many, im glad youre doing better, i am also doing better because my family is helping me out.
@@AutumnVulpes369 I have trouble letting go of things that might be useful in the future. Oftentimes those things do prove to be useful eventually, but there are still many things I just need to get rid of. I'm glad your family is helping you.
Aki, i as always, think your videos are great! I could watch them every day. I do not live as a minimalist at all, but since started to watch your channel about a year ago, i have gotten rid of SO many stuff i dont use, together with getting rid of old clothes, everytime i buy something new. Something i also want to ask, even though i have asked before is; Would u ever do a video on how you use Buddhism (and maybe also Confucianism) in your every day life and together with your family and friends. I know you talk about the daily gratitude and how you bless and thank your food and water etc. But if u wanted to do something more in depth, that would be awesome! One last thing... I am very much into Japanese culture (I am european). Both the people, history, philosophy and just the country in general is something i find to be truly amazing and inspiring. I have also taken a big interest in the legendary samurai "Miyamoto Musashi" - I imagine he might be someone you don't agree with on many points, since he lived a brutal and fierce life. But i would love to know your take, on Japanese legends and that side of the spectrum aswell. Because even though he was a brute force warrior who killed people. He was also a buddhist, a teacher and philosopher. Keep it up! Your channel is amazing!
Thank you very much for your awesome videos. Last night I was chatting with a soul sister. She is trying to minimize her belongings. I remembered that some of your videos discuss this. I'm sharing this 1 with her & probably a few others. This 1 will definitely fit her perfectly. I too am trying to minimize my belongings. I've adopted some of your other lifestyle changes & my life is definitely improving. Thanks a lot.
Thank you very much Sir for your videos. I am nocturnal & I have a lot of stuff. These habits are difficult to change but you have inspired me to go for it. I'm going to set alarms to remind me to go to sleep & wake up earlier. I am going to take a box & every day put at least 1 item in it to be donated to Goodwill. Please have a lovely day.
Our family really wants to move to Japan and I’d love to encourage young people who live in Tokyo to move back out into the country and start families, live a simple, yet fulfilling life 🙏🏼 We have 5 children and life can be so simple and beautiful if you can get yourself off of the hamster wheel of “normal” high stress careers and city life 💗
Wow, this video felt a bit like a direct response to my comment on your last video :) I really appreciate the mind-set of being aware of what you need, but I would like to add that this sometimes means that you have to get new posessions as well. I used to stick to the minimal thing in an unhealthy way, thinking: less posessions = less stress. But that actually limited my choices, because I didn't want to increase the number of things I owned. Now I have bought new kitchen gadgets and lots of other stuff I once considered unnecessary... and they make me so happy and probably even improve my health... (but thanks to the lessons I've learned about minimalism I won't hesitate to give them away when the time has come)... sooo... I wouldn't cling too much to the reducing thing, it's probably more about becoming aware of your needs and that can be achieved in many ways.
I've been watching your videos for a couple of weeks now and they have definitely inspired me to declutter. I still have far more items than you do, but it's a journey, right? I just put up my first decluttering video today! Thank you for all of the motivation!
I didn't know some of those concepts until I made them, empirically. I made a journey for one year and I sold all my things. Only I kept 2 boxes and 1 suitcase. And now (I've come back to my city) I don't want to have more belongings that I really need. Because when I was traveling I felt that I didn't need to be worried about stuffs (pay bills of things that I really didn't need, or fix some thing that it was not necessary). Now I live simple, and I feel really good with this. But the point is that I never listened this concept that you explain before this moment and I feel that is really true! And in those months again in my city (empirically again), I've been reducing my social network because the social life didn't allow me develop my dreams. And I'm focused in my dreams, so, with your explanation I understand better what is happening into myself. Thank you so much! I really appreciated that RU-vid recommended me your video! ❤ It was not casual! 🙏🏽
Wow, thank you so much for sharing your experience and your wisdom! This video is truly inspiring for me and shows me a way forward in my life- right now!
👍🙏 Thank you! I am in a process of letting go of my belongings and implementing habits for lifestyle which I love to live. You videos are helpful and inspiring!
This is another inspirational video. I truly enjoy your channel! Your transparency with mistakes of the past and your humility with your successes make you “approachable.” You inspire by showing where you came from and how you got to this point. Thank you for keeping it real. You’re an effective teacher. I look forward to your next video!
As somebody who is living their early 20s now. The stress is real. I’m not only trying to pay off my college tuition with my earnings, but also have been spending many hours or days deep cleaning my room. I still have more stuff I can’t deside if I want to get rid of because I’m a an avid reader of manga, light novels and figurines. I also want to be an artist and writer to make write stories and draw to sell. In terms of books, I have started to use libby(online library system to borrow books and audiobooks instead of buying. Anyways, I have felt the anxiety from overconsumption or overeating junk foods.
Thank you for the inspiring and thoughtful content. I like your presentation style and positivity. I started drinking matcha thanks to your advice and I really enjoy it. Many thanks
So true. Thanks for all your tips. I entertain people in my channel with weekly tarot readings. I love to do Tarot cards. I enjoy you sharing your fun lifestyle.
I'm very grateful for your videos , you constantly inspire me to minimise my possesions to what's useful and important for me. You lifestyle and mindset advice also inspires me and comforts me. Thank you , I'm sending good energy and light your way ✨
thank you Aki for this fun video. It was a little hard to hear you, from the music. I think it is okay without music. I enjoy hearing you talk, so music isn't needed for me. Best wishes!
Thank you Aki, it seems that each new video reveals more about yourself, which is inspiring to me. Two of the best decisions I ever made was to get rid of my car. It is amazing how much money you can save by getting rid of it. Second, I decided to live in a 420 square foot (39 square meter) apartment which helped me get rid of even more stuff. Inspired by Aki, I plan to continue reducing more of my stuff.
Just a quick note that I really enjoy your quality content. It's inspiring and encourages me to continue on my minimalism journey as well. Much gratitude 🙏
Love this video. Could you make this in Japanese too? Want to show it to my Japanese husband as he likes to keep a lot of his tech gadgets and can't bear to recycle them :P
Is that a clasp for your robe or a necklace underneath? If a clasp, what kind and where did you get it! I need a good clasp. Also, I am interested in minimalism. Just INTERESTED! 😏I have a hobby(well…actually SEVERAL hobbies!)that is NOT conducive to minimalism. However, I HAVE managed to design my small room with LOTS of storage and have made it extremely useful/useable. I like your channel. I am very interested in Japan and the Japanese lifestyle and culture.
I truly love your videos. You're bringing problems of stress and clutter always to a point and help to motivate myself to change. Thank you very much. 😊
Unless necessary I don’t see the point in becoming a extreme minimalist and get stripped of our “identity”, I follow principles of minimalism but I don’t consider myself one especially the type that got popular on RU-vid and the minimalists (podcasters) preach meanwhile they have a house full of stuff and a anexe house full of nothing 😂
Your channel is amazing! I really appreciate how you show the japanese culture as well through your content. I'm trying to find minimalist channels from different countries, if anyone has any recommendations, please share it with me
I'd suggest decluttering your setup: e.g. hide the cables, get rid of the plants and the lamp. Monitor light bar can be more versatile. Actually, I don't know what you are aiming for. In my ideal, there are only meaningful things and to me those plants or store bought vases are meaningless. I also find yellow light loathsome, preferring more white sun-like light.
😢getting there but papers still freak me out...in the old days I think it was called 'Registry' documents that "could" need looking up ten (or even more!!) years later.
My wife and i admire the Progression you went through. Where did your motivation came from when you were at your personal rock bottom to change for the better? Greetings from Germany!
Hi Aki-san! Aww, I wish you would be here right now to help me minimize my massive clutter…would really love to have fun with you decluttering my place, yeah! 😊
It's difficult for me to tell how much minimalism changed my life, and how much of it was trauma and the subsequent healing of trauma (my trauma happened not long after I started my minimalism journey). I think the two are related, via sensitivity: I was a sensitive person who wanted to tread lightly on the Earth and also be free of the anxiety of having too much stuff, so I was drawn to minimalism. And I was a sensitive person who cared how I affected others, so I was deeply affected by my trauma.
I have been watching your videos and you really inspire me thank you so much my room is now completely empty and I have only a few clothes keep up the great content