Minimalism and Mental Health (updated)

If I'm being honest, I think the biggest contributor to feeling productive as an introvert is having creative outlets; mine just happens to be more digital instead of something that's more traditional, like sewing, painting or making DIYs.

I've struggled with depression for quite a while last year, but I will say that compared to then, I feel like those moments of emptiness or no motivation have been reduced by half not just because of minimalism, but also because of certain habits I've implemented. It's still not easy though, feeling motivated enough to do certain things.



Adopting a more "minimalist" mindset is honestly something I've struggled with off and on this year, and because of that, there have been a couple instances where I started to feel depressed or discouraged. One has to have enough mental strength or courage to say, "this feeling or situation is not serving me" and just let it go. Some things in life may or may not be worth your energy, and while our emotions are temporary, the willingness to let go and move forward doesn't always stick with us.

Depression takes time. Anxiety takes time as well. It doesn't always to work to just say "you need to relax" or "you need to stop doing ___". I remember how difficult it was for me to get out of my depressive state in past years, and my coping mechanisms weren't the best back then either. Overeating (or not having a schedule for each meal), binge watching without breaks and staying up until 2 in the morning isn't healthy, and eventually, I realized that I needed for something to change. That tipping point however didn't seem to hit me until I was in my mid 20's.

None of us are perfect, and perfection is not obtainable. Yes, it's okay to have bad days, but what's not okay is having a bad attitude towards other people. It's okay if you don't feel good about yourself, and it's okay if you're not happy 24/7. Everyone's lives are different and the experiences we've faced are different, but what we should remember is that we're all human and we all experience the same feelings/emotions. Had I known these things 5 or 10 years ago, I probably would have tried a little harder to work on myself instead of worrying about other things I had little to no knowledge on.

Collective Review: Ethical/Sustainable Fashion Brands

Organic Basics- This is the first brand that I ever purchased something from, and because I was in need of a new bralette at the time, I chose one in a cloudy blue color (link:
https://us.organicbasics.com/products/womens-tencel-soft-touch-lite-bralette?variant=20532522745967). I honestly have been loving this bralette ever since I bought it as it's super comfy! If there's anything I'd suggest however, it's to start with a neutral color that'll go seamlessly with whatever you're wearing- and I'm speaking from experience with that little mistake. So other than that, I can't say I've had any complaints.

Ana Luisa- The necklace I chose from this website is the Sunny pendant necklace (link:
https://www.analuisa.com/collections/necklaces/products/gold-flower-coin-necklace-sunny), and I really love how versatile it is- plus the gold that's in the jewelry is all sustainably made and the prices are fair. So if you're looking for timeless pieces to keep in your wardrobe forever, I'd definitely recommend this website.

Angela Roi- So in all honestly, this is the first vegan/ethical brand that I had my eye on for something that would feel luxurious, but also durable and practical. I know that some would likely go for Louis Vuitton, Kate Spade or Michael Kors for their first designer purchase, but for me at least, I wanted something that was different and unique for my lifestyle. Having said that, I ended up buying the Zuri Card Pouch, and while the exact color I bought isn't in stock at the moment, they still have other options up on their website (link: https://www.angelaroi.com/products/zuri-card-pouch-signet-cloud). I think what I love most about the wallet is its functionality as well as the minimal design.

I hope that these reviews are helpful to you if you have any interest in these brands. I hope to branch out a little more in the future to see what else is out there, and in all honesty, I haven't regretted any of these purchases so far even though they are a little more pricey. Quality pays, but if you're looking to find options that are more sustainable and long-lasting (as well as not killing the environment), then I'll support that!

The KonMari Method vs. Minimalism: Clothing and Personal Style

Understanding the KonMari method can be difficult at first, but once you put it into practice, it makes a lot of sense. Marie explains that the best way to declutter/tidy up is to do it by category instead of room or space. There are four different categories in each person’s home, but for this particular post, I’ll be focusing on clothing.

Taking everything out at once (within each category of items) can lead to overwhelm; I remember experiencing that feeling when I first went through my own closet. A lot of what I had was bright, colorful and trendy as I was experimenting with different styles in clothing, and for a while, I did hang onto some of that because I wanted to keep wearing it and have fun with color. However, what minimalism and capsule dressing has taught me is that versatility, function and comfort is more important than passing trends or trying to keep up all the time.

Now I will say that when it comes to folding clothes, I use Marie's folding system on only my sweaters. For my t-shirts, I prefer to roll them after folding it into thirds from the back. I've tried a couple other systems for my jeans and pants (which includes a filing system similar to what Marie talks about), but what I've found is easiest is to just fold it into fourths, and then stack them up inside the drawer. So no matter how you fold your clothes, I'd say just do what works for you.

So while creating a capsule wardrobe may not be for everyone, I do believe that those who do follow and implement that system can be an example for how we care for our clothes as well just being more aware of our spending habits. If you’re someone who enjoys fashion and has a large collection of clothes, shoes or accessories, I would suggest that you examine the amount of stuff you have in this one category seasonally. This is probably common sense to some people already because as the seasons change, we have this urge to discard what no longer sparks joy or what doesn’t fit, but here are a couple more questions to consider:
1. Does this reflect my current lifestyle?
2. Can I find more than one outfit within this one piece of clothing?
3. Do I feel comfortable in this?

Now as much as I enjoy style over fashion, I do feel like it’s easy to get stuck in this consumerist or materialist-driven mindset where we think our clothes should be a statement of who we are as a person in society. And while I myself do like the more expressive and artistic perspective of fashion as well, one has to remember that our lives mean so much more than material possessions. There’s a difference between personal style and high street fashion, and the same can be said for trends and comfortable, everyday clothes we wear. The thing with the fashion industry is that while it is a very creative-driven process (and I do respect that greatly), it’s also a very polluting industry. Retailers and companies that sell high quality clothes will last longer as opposed to more common retail chains like Forever 21 or Charlotte Russe. But even with that in mind, there is a responsibility on us (the public) as well when it comes to how we care for our clothes as well as our spending habits in general.

So overall, I think that the KonMari method works for someone who just needs help in getting started with the decluttering process, and I do think there is an overlap with minimalism to some degree. I personally drift into the more minimalist mindset as opposed to what Marie Kondo suggests, but I wouldn't say there’s anything wrong with that.

Anime Review: Hunter X Hunter

When I say that a lot happens in this anime, I’m not kidding. To put it simply, this one is about a boy named Gon Freecss. He goes on a series of adventures that help to establish himself as a Hunter, but at the same time, he’s also searching for his father. There are at least 6 or 7 different arcs that make up this entire series, but I’ll be treading lightly in order to avoid spoilers.

Along the way with this journey that Gon is on, he runs into a lot of different people with very unique stories and personalities. He makes a few friends, goes up against an army of ants, gets caught up with a gang of bandits, plays a video game made just for elite Hunters, and much more.

Just like Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, this anime’s art style seems to be simple and clean cut. Of course, the explosive bursts of color and animation whenever Gon or his friends are challenged to a duel or fight of some sort makes for some added excitement. I think what I love most about this art style is that nothing is too ritzy or over-the-top for the most part.

Gon’s circle of friends remains small throughout the series, but he does meet other people that he deems trustworthy as well (you’ll learn who those people are as you continue watching). Killua Zoldyck stays with him the majority of the time, while Kurapika and Leorio eventually drift off into their own individual worlds after the first arc, but this makes for more endearing moments later on in the anime when they see each other again.

Another thing I especially love about Hunter X Hunter in particular is how it focuses not just on Gon, but also on other characters as the anime progresses. Because Killua is the one friend who stays from start to finish, his character is highlighted some and evolves greatly, which is a nice complement to the rest of the anime’s characters and story. This can also be said in the ant arc when Gon teams up with a bigger crew.

I personally believe that this anime brings out a message that we all need to hear sometimes, which is about enjoying the journey we’re on and embracing the challenges or adventures that come with it. It also focuses on the idea of companionship and how having a friend by your side can help you feel less alone along the way. When you see how well that message plays out in Hunter X Hunter, it really makes you feel like you’re there with Gon and Killua as well, and you get to see and experience everything that they’re going through. Overall, I’d say that this anime brings out a certain lightheartedness and purity that seems to be missing in the outside world sometimes, so for that, I’d rate this one 4 stars out of 5.

Tidying Up with Marie Kondo: My Analysis and Personal Journey

A couple weeks ago, I decided to watch this show that's on Netflix, and so far, I'd say it's a good show. Marie Kondo's infamous book "The Magic of Tidying Up" definitely gives good guidelines that you see in practice with the different people that she helps out. 

When I first started my own decluttering journey, I used a combination of the KonMari method as well as the minimalist approach. It took me some time to declutter, but what I struggled the most with is visualizing the end goal. I feel like social media and YouTube has been helpful since I'm more of an audio/visual learner rather than reading the material myself, so after watching different videos of other people's thoughts and reviews, I started with my closet as Marie suggests. 

So since I did rely on other people's reviews instead of reading the book myself, I also had allowed myself to be exposed to other people's environments and what that looked like, which was a setback of struggle when I think about it now. Had I read the book for myself and not look into other people's examples so much, I probably would have had a clearer vision for what I wanted my space to look like in the end. However, with the combination of the two philosophies (KonMari and minimalism), I was able to see what sparked joy as well as what wasn't adding value to my life. My first initial purge was done last year when I got home from job training school. 

So after I purged my closet, I went into other hidden clutter catchers in my bedroom. This included my desk, my bookshelf and other furniture that I had kept at the time (a storage bench, ottoman, night stand and other miscellaneous items). Turns out I didn't need that extra ottoman; I just needed to declutter more of my stuff. This was also the case with everything I've collected in my bathroom. At one point, I had a big collection of travel size items that was organized as well as my body care products, but half of what I saved wasn't being used. So after I had purged all of that, I found that there were certain products that weren't necessary for my daily routine, so that helped me to see what I needed to stop buying. 

When I finally started working on my sentimental items, I felt confident enough to get rid of whatever wasn't valuable to me, but of course, it took some time for me to consolidate and pair down. For a while, I had been slowly collecting different room decor items that were sentimental at the time, but once I took the time to really examine this one category of stuff, I realized that most of what I was holding onto was more out of guilt than it was out of sentiment. Dealing with that feeling wasn't easy, but what I've learned is that the relationships we have with friends or family should be more about the experiences and memories we've shared together than it should be about material items. 

Seeing other people go through this process on this show has helped me to see that I'm in a better place now than I was a year or two ago. The experiences that I've been through personally were mostly positive, and even if I struggled a lot in my 20's, at least I can say I stuck through to the end, even if it was difficult. Life isn't easy for anybody, but when we come home at the end of a long day, we shouldn't have to feel stressed or burdened by the amount of stuff we have. Our homes should be this oasis that allows us to feel relaxed and at peace, so I hope that my story helps encourage you to take that first step if you haven't already.