Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism Fumio Sasaki | Free Book Summary

Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism Fumio Sasaki

Most of the stuff we own is wearing us down. Time to say goodbye!

The art of throwing things away

While it may be difficult at first, it will become easier as you practice throwing things away.

Our belongings are similar to roommates, except that we pay their rent. 

Consider department stores to be your personal warehouses. There’s no reason to have 40 rolls of paper towels, 25 spare lightbulbs, and 60 extra food cans. It takes up valuable space and ties up your money in something you might never use.

Things we don’t know we don’t need

We frequently keep things around simply because they are there. But, if it vanished, would you replace it or be content without it?

Don’t be sentimental about things that were given to you or junk that is broken and needs to be repaired. Clear some space by throwing it away. It’s an illusion that we need everything we have.

Don’t get something just because it’s free

Our homes are not museums, and they do not require collections.

Don’t keep things just because they’re free. The low cost of something is not a sufficient reason to bring it into your home and life. Be intentional.

Things attract things

When you buy a cell phone, you are getting more than just the phone. You’ll need a charger, a case, screen protectors, earbuds, and a slew of other extras. When you start a sport, you will need sport-specific equipment, clothing, and shoes. Let’s not even get started on crafting.

Don’t wash dishes that aren’t even dirty yet

Don’t be concerned about things that haven’t yet occurred. It can be overwhelming, daunting, and depressing to consider doing an everyday task every day for the rest of your life. It’s much easier to think about and tackle if you take it one day at a time, or one dish at a time.

Gratitude

We can trigger sustainable stimulation through gratitude, which gives us more peace than buying something new or increasing our stockpile.

Don’t believe the billion dollar ad spending

Everyone began as a minimalist. Our worth is not the sum of our possessions. Possessions can only make us happy for a short time. Unnecessary material objects eat away at our time, energy, and freedom. Minimalists are beginning to recognize this.

Resist consumerism

We’ll spend less time being distracted by the media or advertisements if we practice minimalism because we’ll realize we already have everything we need. And when we’re feeling this way, it’s easy to dismiss what capitalism has to offer.

Using minimal energy

Your use of energy will decrease as you practice minimalism. It will come naturally, so you won’t have to make an effort to live sustainably. You’ll feel lighter and more in control of your life after downsizing your belongings and settling into a focused, simple lifestyle. Plus, you’ll be living in a way that’s better for the environment. And it feels fantastic!

Calculate your minimum living costs

The phrase “minimum living costs” refers to the amount of money you must have in order to survive. Everyone should at least once calculate their own budget by adding up their rent, groceries, utilities, communication costs, and other expenses.