What is Minimalism?

In my previous post I discussed how I came across the term of Minimalism and how it affected my lifestyle in a positive way. Today, I want to discuss in a more personal level what Minimalism means to me.

So what is Minimalism? I think that there is a lot of confusion around this term. Many minimalists will have different opinions depending on what Minimalism means to them. Some will see it as a way of art, others will say that it is having a minimum amount of things. From what I have read online and to my understanding, originally Minimalism was/is a style, a way of expressing yourself artistically. Now Minimalism has also become a way of life.

As I mentioned in the previous post, I felt overwhelmed by the amount of stuff I had in my closet and it felt like it was necessary to get rid of a few things, so I went ahead and donated what I didn't need. I am not saying that to be a minimalist you need to get rid of things, that is why I said I wanted to discuss it in a more personal level. To me, Minimalism, viewed as a way of life, leads to the simplification of everyday tasks. It helps the individual to have a clearer vision of what is really important. I'm using Minimalism as a way to live simply and in the best way possible. By doing so, not only do I feel happier, but also the amount of time I spend in tasks, like finding what to wear, is less. What does this mean to me? It means that I can use the extra time to focus on other things.

Once I started to apply the concept to my closet, I realized that it could also be applied to other areas of my life and my space in general. Becoming a minimalist takes time, it is not a one day process. I have a lot more to cover in this journey and I will gladly share it in case any of you is interested.

I would like to know what Minimalism means to you, feel free to leave your view on the topic : )

How I Discovered Minimalism

Around spring time each year I get excited about the idea of taking my winter clothes out and putting my spring clothes in, but this year I wanted more. I wasn't happy about what I owned and I was struggling to find what to wear each day, even when my closet was full of clothes. I knew I wanted to do a mayor clear out and I wanted a more practical wardrobe. I was tired of opening the closet door and feeling overwhelmed by how full it was. In other words, I wanted to be able to pick what to wear quickly, feel comfortable in what I wore and only have items that I knew I would wear.  That's when I started going to YouTube for help. I watched a video on how to start a "capsule wardrobe" that Anna from "Viviana Does Makeup" had posted. I thought that it was a good starting point but at the same time that led me to the discovery of a whole new concept: Minimalism. 

After watching Anna's video, I started searching for more on the same topic to get more ideas. Then one day I came across a video about Minimalism. I was very intrigued by it, so I started watching more and more videos about it. I discovered "The Minimalists" and since then, I have changed my view about Consumerism. I also noticed that I had way to much stuff and I figured that, not only was I overwhelmed by my closet, but also about other things I had. I started realizing that my makeup collection was not realistic (I had way more than I needed), I had lots of accumulated paperwork, and in general a lot of stuff that was unnecessary to have.

In April 2016 I decided that I wanted to be a Minimalist because it made sense to me. That's when I combined the capsule wardrobe idea with Minimalism and that was my first step into a more simplified way of life (I feel so much better now). I'm planning to write more posts about my personal process of de-cluttering my space so maybe someone else can benefit from it the same way I have benefited from information online. Make sure you check my blog soon if you want to find out more. I do not post that often because of my busy lifestyle but I'm trying to be more consistent and post at least once a month. Thanks for reading :)

Here are some links you might find useful:

Minimalism
The Minimalists Website
The Minimalists - TEDx Talks
How To Make a Capsule Wardrobe

PS: Exciting life changes happening soon ;)

Tips for Managing Time

Nowadays it seems like time is something that everyone is lacking of, but there are ways to manage time more efficiently.

Wake Up Early

The day has only 24 hours and if you wake up late, you won't be able to accomplish as much as you would if you wake up early. Simple right? Not all the time, I know, but sometimes it has to be done.

Prioritize 

Determine what needs to be done right away and what can wait until later. Sometimes we tend to put off things that are complicated or boring, but if such things have more priority than others they need to be done! No need to wait! It will only cause you stress later.

Learn to Say NO

Learn that you can't be a superwoman or superman all the time. Sometimes you need to simply say NO. Say no to things that can interfere with reaching your own goals.

Have Clear Goals

Have clear and realistic goals. Write them down and put them on a place where you can see them at least once a day. If you do not have access to your goals, you might tend to forget some of them. Also it is very important that you check them everyday and ask yourself if you are taking any steps towards accomplishing such goals.

Keep Track of Activities or Things You Need to Accomplish

I love to do lists! I use a combination of old fashioned pen and paper but sometimes I prefer using my phone or table to stay organized. There are many applications available that can help you stay on top of your game. Do your homework and research! Also use calendars, they are very helpful!

I hope these tips help you at some point in your life. Thanks for reading this very informal post ;)

Ipsy - February Glam Bag

It is a new month and a new Ipsy bag has arrived at my door step. This time I was surprised and so happy with the products inside the bag, because some brands I already know and some of them I have been wanting to try! It is nice to give myself a little treat each month :)

5 Minute Breakfast

After working all week, on Saturdays I just can't be bothered to be in the kitchen but here is an easy 5 minute breakfast idea for you!

You will need:

1/2 a ripe avocado
1 egg
A slice of bread
Some lemon or lime
Salt and pepper to taste
Some olive oil.

Preparation

Toast your bread and while that is happening, cut your avocado in slices. Once the bread is toasted, place the avocado on top of it and add some salt, paper, and lemon. Heat up some oil on a pan and fry your egg. You can place your egg on top of the avocado if you prefer. Add some lemon, salt and pepper and enjoy! Easy right?

Ipsy - January Glam Bag

This is what I got from Ipsy for the month of January! I already started using the lip balm and the eye cream. If any of the products make into my favorites list, I will post a review!

The Purple Smoothie Recipe

I strive to come up with new recipes for smoothies whenever I have the time and today's recipe is:

3 Tablespoons of whole oats (soak them in half a cup of water for 10 minutes)
1 Tablespoon of chia seeds (soak in a little bit of water for 10 minutes)
1 Tablespoon of honey
1/2 A cup of unsweetened almond milk
5 Frozen strawberries
1/2 A cup of frozen blueberries
The juice of half a lime or lemon

To prepare you will need either a blender or a NutriBullet. Combine all the ingredients and blend for about a minute. Since I used frozen strawberries and blueberries there is no need for ice. If you don't have almond milk, you can use regular milk. It is about being creative. You can use just strawberries if you don't have blueberries, and the chia seeds is optional. The texture and taste might be different but you would still have a healthy nutritious smoothie.