Minimalism: Rid Yourself of Excess

Every morning I wake up and try to plan my day. Work, working out, running, audio editing, video editing, song composing, writing. Then the day actually begins — daily responsibilities, decision-making, research, personal development, and a whole lot of excess.

Scrolling. Television. Daydreaming. Negative thinking. That's the excess. I've made strides shaking it off, but it's a daily fight.

Excess adds no value

Excess can be too much, too soon — like three straight hours on the couch in front of the TV.

Two weeks ago I checked my TikTok usage. It read 4 hours. I told myself never again. Now I'm cutting back daily, aiming to stay under 3 hours. Eventually under one. Eventually under an hour a week.

Until then, I'm losing time, opportunity, and potential.

Unless you pause to see where your time actually goes, one day you'll look back and wonder where all of it went.

Where the time actually goes

How much energy do you spend on these?

• Minutes on social media that quietly turn into hours
• Talking about people you don't know
• Talking about people you do know, on topics that have nothing to do with you
• Gossiping
• Thinking negatively about yourself, other people, life
• Worrying
• Being indecisive
• Soda, sports drinks, and juices loaded with sugar and preservatives
• Drinking alcohol regularly
• Smoking regularly
• Fast food, canned goods, anything loaded with preservatives
• Working in spaces that undervalue you

That's a list of wasted time, nutrients, money, energy, and focus. How can life improve if you're not focused on your mental, physical, or spiritual health?

What minimalism actually looks like for me

I'm a minimalist in most parts of life — always trying to simplify, and make choices that are efficient, beneficial, healthier.

• I drink my 2-ingredient DIY water detox daily, aiming for at least a gallon
• I cook fresh meals at home as often as I can — a 10-minute meal or a 4-hour crockpot, doesn't matter
• I mind my business unless I have a new perspective worth sharing
• I intermittently fast — working from home means I don't need much energy mid-day
• My workouts are non-stop and rhythmic
• I'm gradually minimizing my carbon footprint and how much waste I produce

Minimalism feels natural once you accept your social responsibility.

It doesn't mean perfection. Some days I get pulled into social media, or the PS5 eats a few hours. Some days I want the double cheeseburger, the ribs, the soda, the ice cream — and I have them. Minimalism isn't zero indulgence. It's consuming less — less dining out, less delivery, less screen time that isn't actually enriching anything.

Convenience is the enemy

It's easy to give in to what's in front of you — what's cheap, what's rewarding right now. But minimalism is about long-term value. Removing excess means reevaluating your time so it's worth more.

Laziness is convenience dressed up as comfort. It's self-dishonoring, especially when life is offering you better options.

If you're too tired to cook — find healthy meals under 15 minutes.

If work is exhausting but you feel time-pressed — try a 15-minute morning workout. You'll be sore the first two weeks. After that your body adapts, and work gets easier. You'll also have more energy to actually enjoy your life before and after the job.

If you work remote or contract — keep looking at new roles, even when you're not job hunting. It tells you how the market is moving and what skills you should be building — instead of resting on what's comfortable right now.

Filter your social media — what do you actually care about? Let that lead. Unfollow, mute, block. That's life.

Your choices should run on health, happiness, and growth. Minimalism is the now.

Cut it. Cut it.

What's excessive in your life? How do you get rid of it? Once it's gone, what replaces it?

Answer those three questions. Then slowly start swapping out the habits and consumption that don't actually benefit you.

Everything outside of you is excess — and that's a lot to be up against. So focus on the now, and make choices for tomorrow. If you can't let go of the past, you end up living in regret and guilt instead.

Feel empowered to cut out what isn't needed. When you do, the world feels closer.

Your future self says thank you.