# How Japanese Minimalism Changed My Life: 5 Principles to Declutter Your Life

![rw-book-cover](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Sa7cgPILItQ/maxresdefault.jpg)

## Metadata
- Author: [[Zach Highley]]
- Full Title: How Japanese Minimalism Changed My Life: 5 Principles to Declutter Your Life
- Category: #articles
- Document Tags: [[productivity]] 
- URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa7cgPILItQ
- Archive: https://web-archive.alecodes.page/bookmarks?bf=1&search=&title=How%20Japanese%20Minimalism%20Changed%20My%20Life%3A%205%20Principles%20to%20Declutter%20Your%20Life

> [!note]
> **Background:** I will soon be moving out of my parents' house and into a small apartment to live independently. I want to use this transition as an opportunity to embrace a minimalist lifestyle.
> ---
> ### Top 3 Most Important Takeaways:
> 🗑️ **Create Space by Decluttering** 
> Start by evaluating your physical possessions and ask yourself if each item brings you joy. Embrace the concept of having ample physical space around you, and organize your belongings purposefully. Assign a designated place for every item to prevent clutter from accumulating again.
> 🧘 **Eliminate Choices to Free Up Mental Space** 
> Reduce decision fatigue by minimizing choices in your daily life, such as wearing the same outfit or eating the same meals. Simplifying these decisions will free up mental space and time, allowing you to focus on what truly matters.
> 🌿 **Embrace Imperfection and Transience** 
> Adopt the principle of Wabi-sabi, which encourages finding beauty in imperfection. Understand that nothing is perfect and that everything is transient. This mindset will help you appreciate the simplicity and clarity that comes with minimalism.
> [!tldr]
> When there is too much clutter, you can't think. When you can't think, you can't create. When you can't create, your world slows down. What if we only filled our lives with things that had real value and removed everything else.

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Who am I:

My name is Zach. I’m a Resident Physician in Boston. I make videos about medical school, studying, and growth. I love trying new things and often mess up. However, every time I screw up, I usually learn something. Whatever I learn, I post it either on YouTube or on my website 🌐  (https://zhighley.com/​​).

I write a weekly newsletter 💌 (https://zhighley.com/newsletter/​​) linking the best things I read, watched, and listened to that week. Join the 4,000+ that read it every other Sunday...

## Highlights
When there's too much stuff around us, our minds can't think straight. When your mind can't think straight, you can't create. When you can't create, when you can't contribute to the world, the world slows down a little bit. [View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01j7105sy62k477j7we49j3vng))

tip number one is create space. [View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01j710802fzkm0xb0jfvpe6zj0))

Marie Kondo says, "When people revert to clutter no matter how much they tidy, it is not their room or their belongings, but their way of thinking that is at fault." [View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01j71087j6npx5etywvmh93dq4))

Tip number two is embrace space. Embrace this newfound clearness you have. [View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01j71097tmgwwthqw40kqjm70e))

Seneca says, "It's not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more who is poor." [View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01j710ans5zjy9p4e10chdkk7b))

Tip number three is to be purposeful with your space fillers. [View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01j710eehmhsxrv02rbrkfxzp3))

"The reason every item must have a designated place is because the existence of an item without a home multiplies the chances that your space will become cluttered again. [View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01j710fafawb9z9265r7r036pv))

Tip number four is to eliminate choices. [View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01j710k01a20dk494w8yf8vq3w))

When you eliminate decisions, you create more time. Confucius said that, "Life is really simple. We insist on making it complicated." [View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01j710mjajf9x11sk2gy3h4tbm))

Eliminate decision fatigue, eliminate choices, free up mental space, free up time to focus on things that have a real impact. [View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01j710nn39sxpz7md9mhd4cx3q))

this comes to the important principle of Japanese minimalism of Wabi-sabi or kinda loving imperfection. [View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01j710xzs42s3dj7czt7py85qc))

Tip number six is to think beyond stuff. [View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01j710zgdawxb9bzxj4w5g67p8))

Create space by decluttering your physical possessions.
Does this item give me joy? Embrace space by having as much physical space around you wherever you live. Organize all the things in your life purposely. What is this drawer for? What is this cabinet for? Eliminate choices. Maybe you wear the same outfit every day maybe you eat the same breakfast every day. Maybe you only drink water. Next, everything is transient. Nothing is perfect, and that's okay. And finally, can we apply the idea of simple living to not only our stuff, but our thoughts and our actions. [View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01j7117z1262k0pwpp24knqea4))

