This Is My Minimalism: Simpler, Not Smaller

Minimalism: Clearing the Way for Freedom

Let me tell you what minimalism is not. It doesn’t mean you’re frugal (though you might be). It doesn’t mean you don’t earn a lot of money. And it definitely doesn’t mean your life is stark or sterile.

Minimalism means stripping away the excess, physically, mentally, and emotionally, so that what remains is high-quality and high-value to you. Your home, habits, relationships, and routines are simplified down to what truly matters, so your energy and attention are no longer drained by things that don’t serve you.

This isn’t just about stuff. It’s about clarity.

Starting with Your Space

Whether you live in a sticks-and-bricks home or a Skoolie, the physical environment you create can reflect your values. When people toured my first bus at events, the most common comment was, “Where’s all your stuff?” or “It feels so spacious and calm in here.”

Even with three kids, I maintained a minimalist lifestyle. The white walls and clean surfaces were a byproduct of owning only what we truly needed and loved. After returning to a traditional house, I brought that same intentionality back with me, only allowing in what was useful, valuable, or deeply loved.

I don’t decorate for the sake of decorating. I don’t shop to fill space. I use heirlooms that hold meaning, not clutter. My home is minimalist not because it’s trendy, but because it’s peaceful.

Closets, Clothes, and Conscious Choices

Minimalism doesn’t mean owning only black or neutral clothes. It means owning what you love and actually wear. That meant recognizing I needed different clothes for different tasks, like professional wear, outdoor gear, and work clothes. What I realized is I didn’t need dozens in each category.

So I made a rule: I’d only buy something if I loved it enough that I’d pay double for it, not just because it was cheap or on sale. I only want things in my life that I’d be willing to pay anything for. That mindset keeps me from settling for a mediocre wardrobe, even if it means only having five pieces in my closet.

That’s when everything shifted. Each item had to earn its place in my closet and in my rig. If I didn’t love how I felt in it, gone. If it didn’t fit just right, gone.

The Weight of “Stuff”

Owning too much is like carrying extra weight on your body. Every item adds decision fatigue, clutter, and distraction. Imagine how much lighter you’d feel owning only one perfect mug. One favorite pen. One go-to chair. You’ll cherish those things more and lose less. Think about how rarely you misplace your one and only phone.

By owning less, everything becomes more valuable.

Food, Fridges & Freedom

I approach food the same way. I used to stock my fridge and pantry with random ingredients for recipes I’d try once and forget. Now I stock only what fits my body, my goals, and my lifestyle. Nothing in my fridge is for hypothetical visitors or backup meals I never eat.

Minimalism in the kitchen gives me freedom from decision fatigue and food waste. If I buy an ingredient, I plan to use it in multiple meals. If I don’t know what something in the fridge is doing there, it’s time to reevaluate.

Goals, Hobbies & Saying Yes with Intention

Minimalism applies to goals too. I pick one to focus on, with two or three backups for moments when I hit a wall. That way, I keep momentum without drowning in distractions or ideas.

I do the same with hobbies. I’ve scuba-dived for ten years. Now I’m in my Skoolie chapter. I don’t try to do everything at once, and I don’t plan to carry every identity with me forever. I stay open to evolving interests, but I keep them in seasons. One thing at a time.

That mindset also shapes how I work. I’ve become picky,  in a good way. If something doesn’t serve me or align with what I value, I say no. That clarity creates white space, room to breathe, think, and be.

You Can Start Small

People always tell me they love my freedom, but they could never do it. “I have too much stuff,” they say. Or, “I’d be bored.” But freedom isn’t boring. It’s liberating.

Letting go brings clarity. And clarity gives you back your life.

That’s minimalism. That’s freedom.