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I remembered when Hujan Tanda Tanya has Guide post about recommended books on their Instagram when I was in a bookstore and I don't know what to buy. Goodbye, Things by Fumio Sasaki is the book that .... I never done any of what Sasaki writes, until my first year student started, living alone in a dormitory. I started to declutter my room, my wardrobe, and my life, live with less things.
First Year
During my first year, I focused on decluttering my physical space. I donated or sold items that I no longer needed or used, such as clothes, books, and electronics. I also implemented a "one in, one out" rule to prevent new clutter from accumulating. This helped me create a more organized and peaceful living environment, which in turn improved my mental clarity and overall well-being.
Third year
During my third year, I continued to refine my approach to digital minimalism. I deleted social media apps as many as possible. Currently, I only have WhatsApp installed on my phone as a social media. I also change my YouTube app to NewPipe from my phone. Honestly, short form video is not my thing. I remembered my foundation engineering professor once said, "Student's mind nowadays is felt like a chaotic. They tend to percieve so much information at a short given time. So, quick. Never want to go in-depth." Well, can't argue.
I remembered my foundation engineering professor once said, "Student's mind nowadays is felt like a chaotic. They tend to percieve so much information at a short given time. So, quick. Never want to go in-depth."
In the upcoming sections, I will discuss the challenges I faced during my third year, the strategies I employed to overcome them, and my plans for further integrating minimalism into my life as a student.
My phone
I'm using 10 year-old phone—yeah it's one decade phone, Galaxy J5, 2GB RAM, pretty much it. This is my 4th year living with WhatsApp only installed and some bloatware. The reason is I just want a phone. I don't need bigger battery for doomscrolling. I don't need a better camera for taking a picture of my food. I don't need a better processor for playing games. I don't need a better screen for watching movies. I don't need a better storage for saving memes. I don't want to be a slave of my phone. I want to be the master of my phone. I want to use my phone, not my phone use me. I want to be the one who control my phone, not my phone control me. I want to be the one who decide what I want to do with my phone, not my phone decide what I should do with it. I want to be the one who decide when I want to use my phone, not my phone decide when I should use it. I want to be the one who decide how I want to use my phone, not my phone decide how I should use it. I want to be the one who decide where I want to use my phone, not my phone decide where I should use it. I want to be the one who decide why I want to use my phone, not my phone decide why I should use it. I want to be the one who decide who I want to use my phone, not my phone decide who should use it. I want to be the one who decide what I want to do with my phone, not my phone decide what I should do with it. I want to be the one who control my phone, not my phone control me. I want to use my phone, not my phone use me. I want to be the master of my phone. I just need a phone.
Earlier these years, I used to install Instagram, Twitter, Youtube, and other social media apps. I found that these apps were a major source of distraction and anxiety for me. I also found that I was spending too much time mindlessly scrolling through my feeds and comparing myself to others. By deleting these apps, I was able to reduce my screen time and engaged on more meaningful activities, reading, writing, and code.
Finance
This is my second year investing my money on stocks instead, currently only on s&p 500. I also have a small amount of money in my savings account for emergencies. I have found that investing in stocks has helped me grow my wealth over time and achieve my financial goals. Everytime I have the urge to buy something that I want, I always think about it twice. I always ask myself, "Do I really need this? Will this bring me long-term happiness?" Where at the end of the day, I always end up not buying it. This mindset never came to me before I start trying an investment in stocks.
I remembered the first time a video from Raditya Dika talking about money. His video introduce me to another money experts people. What a great opprtunity to find such a video. He is also a minimalist, I never expect this from him.
All of these 4 years is worth doing. I don't know what other people buy or have, where do they going on vacation, what they have achieve, this lead myself spending less money, always feel content with what I have, more mindful of my spending habits and prioritize experiences over material possessions. I no longer feel the need to constantly buy new things to feel happy or fulfilled, and I have learned to appreciate the simple things in life. I also found that minimalism has helped me save money and reduce my financial stress, which has allowed me to focus on my studies and personal growth.
Outfits
Being minimalist means that I only own few clothes which also means that I'm going to use the same clothes everyday, I mean, same but different. That also means that you just invent your own uniform. Sasaki also had Job's quotes about his turtleneck. I also felt like being recognized easily by my friends, like iPhone with its design. I know, it's boring, but I understand why Apple doing this. Well played.
Attention to Details
I always value someone that focus on doing a few things with great care and much efforts put into remarkably results. It is about paying attention to the details and ensuring that everything is done with the utmost care and precision. Quality over quantity. I know that this one sounds idealist, but this is what sets me apart from others and allows me to stand out in a crowded world (in positive way).