Today, September 23, is the First Annual International Minimalist Day.
Yes, that’s all it takes. (Although at the bottom of this article I will share with you how to make your holiday “official.”)
Today is a day to reflect on life and get back to basics. To embrace social and personal change and live a little more simply. Maybe you won’t become a minimalist for life, but today you can experience the joy of a minimalist lifestyle.
You can participate in the First Annual International Minimalist Day by posting to your blog today to announce to the world how you celebrate minimalism.
Alternately, post tomorrow or in the coming week and tell us exactly how you celebrated International Minimalist Day. It’s all good.
To make it easy, just link back to this article to give your readers the gift of minimalism. Feel free to use the 125×125 International Minimalist Day button created by Ashley from AdoptedKorean.com on your blog if you’d like.
If you don’t have a blog, leave a comment on this article letting me know what you did or will do for International Minimalist Day. :)
If you need some help …
47 Ways You Can Celebrate International Minimalist Day
Choose just one. A minimalist lifestyle is about simplicity and should be stress-less.
- Get rid of something that you think has sentimental value, but is really dragging you down. It could be something from an ex, or it could be something from a time in your life that wasn’t very positive. We all keep these things far longer than we should. Today is your day to get rid of it and never look back.
- Cook a simple meal. 4 ingredients or less. Idea: cook rice/beans and then add in fresh avocado and tomato. I probably eat this 5 times/week and, depending on the beans and rice used, it can take as little as 20 minutes to prepare in just 1 pot. Minimal cleanup and tasty minimal meal! Bonus: beans + rice = complete protein. (all essential amino acids)
- Cancel all your plans and spend the night in quietly reflecting.
- Call up an old friend just to say “hi.”
- Go for a walk with no destination and no time limit.
- Throw away/donate/sell everything in 1 drawer or 1 room. I recommend 1 room, but sometimes you gotta start smaller. ;)
- Donate your favorite shirt to charity or to someone on the street. Among other things, minimalism is about detachment, and donating something you love to someone who might not have much is a wonderful way to practice that.
- Send someone a 5 sentence e-mail letting them know you appreciate them or their work.
- Turn off your computer. Turn off your cell phone. Throw your TV out the window. And just be.
- Fine, don’t throw your TV out the window, list it on Craigslist.
- Write down something you love about yourself.
- Write down something you love about someone else. Optional, but extraordinary: let them know.
- Cancel a credit card.
- Don’t spend any money today. On anything.
- Do nothing.
- Listen to the first album (vinyl/cassette/CD) you ever bought. (You can see mine on the About Me page.)
- Then trash or donate it.
- You know those 7 pairs of shoes in your closet? Get rid of all but 3. Casual, athletic, dress.
- Go car free or car lite.
- Smile until your face muscles begin to twitch.
- Clean out your refrigerator. You’ve probably got a lot of stuff in there that’s either old or, in the case of condiments, maybe you don’t like, but you’re keeping around just because.
- Disassociate with a toxic “friend.”
- Ride your bike to work. Bonus: jump a curb or two so you feel the joy of your youth again.
- Try something outside of your comfort zone. Ideas: say hello to 10 random strangers, give free hugs, or sing at karaoke.
- You know that girl/guy you’re interested in? Give them a simple, clear message: “I think you’re special and I’d like to get to know you better. Let’s go out.”
- Relax.
- When you drink your coffee or tea today sip it slowly. Imagine the wondrous process of bean or leaf –> cup.
- Digitize a photo album and recycle your physical version.
- Breathe.
- Go to the library and read your favorite children’s book. I’m having trouble choosing mine right now, but I think I would go with Where The Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. Danny and the Dinosaur was also a masterpiece when I was 5.
- Say “yes” more. Especially when your gut reaction is to say no. You’ll open up a world of opportunities.
- Say “no” more. Sometimes we give too much of ourselves. It’s OK to be selfish with your time if you’d like.
- Focus.
- Stop using shampoo. It’s not necessary and is probably damaging your head.
- Help someone. Either officially by volunteering or “unofficially” by simply helping someone. :)
- Eat vegan today. It’s good for your health, it’s good for the planet, it’s good for animals, and it’s good for the soul.
- Spend the day alone. (Re)discover your friendship with yourself.
- You know how when you’re driving and you get stuck in traffic and you get upset? Smile instead. Turn up the radio and sing. Everything will be okay.
- You know that kitchen appliance you bought and thought you’d use all the time? Waffle maker, tortilla maker, blender, etc. Give it away. (Replace kitchen appliance with: instrument, book, gadget, anything.)
- Cancel your gym membership and get back to basics. Bicycling, running, swimming, body-weight exercises.
- Slow down.
- Plan a carry-on only vacation. If I can live for over a year with 3 T-shirts, you can live for a week with the same. :)
- Hand wash your clothes.
- Do something important.
- You know all that stress in your life? Release it.
- Paint, draw, express yourself in a way you’re not used to expressing yourself.
- Live.
How will I celebrate International Minimalist Day? By spreading the word about minimalism, of course. :)
How To Make A Holiday “Official”
As promised, how do you make your holiday “official”? There’s a book called Chase’s Calendar of Events published by McGraw-Hill that is distributed to libraries and schools. Contact them to get your holiday listed and you’re golden. :)
We Need Your Help
Minimalism is still a small, but growing, movement. We need your help to expose the masses to the joy of minimalism.
You can help by writing about this movement on your blog and clicking on the Tweet and Facebook Like buttons below…