How to Practice Minimalism in Dubai

When you’re visiting Dubai or probably live in the city, then you know that this metropolitan city has a vibe of going big or go home; with the countless shopping centres, tourist spots, and floral and garden cafes, it can be challenging not to go on a shopping spree and indulge. However, if you’re planning on becoming a minimalist, Marie Kondo-esque interior design style, then you can do so with these tips.

1. Decide on what type of minimalist you want to be

Let’s start off by defining minimalism and what it isn’t. If you are unfamiliar with the term “minimalist,” you may immediately picture a stark white home with minimal wooden furnishings. So, what if I told you that there are such people, but they represent an extreme? Think of Kim Kardashian’s super minimalist home.

A less extreme kind of minimalism could just consist of going through your belongings and deciding that you don’t need half of them. It’s not so much about getting rid of things as it is about being conscious of your possessions and choosing to surround yourself solely with things you truly value. 

What does a simpler house and lifestyle mean to you? Is it to own nothing more than the absolute essentials? Is it to get rid of everything in a room that you haven’t used in months? Is it to become content with fewer material possessions or to refrain from unnecessary spending? Everyone can have their own idea of what constitutes a simple, stress-free lifestyle; therefore, there is no one “correct” approach to practicing minimalism.

Put forth the time to formulate your own personal definition. Not sure how to begin excluding things from your life that you know you do not want. Keep in mind the things you truly desire, such as what gives you energy and what you’re truly enthusiastic about, and then start getting rid of the obstacles (both real and imagined) that are keeping you from pursuing these things.

2. Don’t rush yourself in sorting your things

You might be surprised at how long it takes to sort through all of your stuff. Turn it into a never-ending task. Please keep any products over which you are unsure for the time being; you can make a final decision after giving it some thought over the course of a few weeks or months. It could take you a whole year to explore the entire home.

If you love something, it doesn’t matter if you ever use it. In other words, hold on to it! To this point, you were the one holding it. You could even relocate it to a more convenient and accessible location. Alternately, if you’d rather just keep it for sentimental reasons, that’s fine too. In any case, you shouldn’t feel bad about holding on to something special.

It’s possible that your opinion will alter after a second or third round of purging, but for the time being, you should hold on to the item in question.

3. The key is to learn to embrace less is more

You might not be ready to take the basic plunge if you have been spoiled with creature amenities for an extended period. Consider experimenting with and testing your non-negotiables in which you gradually eliminate comforts and pleasures (even as simple as pricy coffees or monthly beauty spas) to see which ones can be given up without a significant impact on your quality of life.

4. Always ask yourself if you really need an item when buying

Think carefully about your purchase before you put it on your credit card. And keep questioning your own mind. It’s easy to rationalize impulse buys when you’re in the moment, but as the question sinks in, you may realize that you don’t actually need that much.

When you begin to declutter your home, you quickly realize that whatever new you acquire will require a place to call its own. Planning ahead for a purchase’s eventual location in your home can result in significant cost savings.

Perhaps you’ll realize you don’t need to acquire the new thing after all, or that you need to get rid of something to make room for it. It’s good for the environment if people buy less since it means they’ll have less trash to dispose of in the future.

5. Practice reusing or becoming sustainable

Learning to be a good re-user is an excellent habit to cultivate when investigating routes to a simpler lifestyle. Be resourceful and keep the packing to use later. Acquire the skill of mending rather than replacing. Repurpose your old clothes by cutting up the fabric into small pieces. Don’t rush out to replace anything if you can think of a way to put it to good use until you’ve exhausted your options.

6. Invest in things you know you’ll use

Money is hard to earn as OFWs. We all know it too well; therefore, we must put our money to good use, especially investments. If you must (or choose to) make a new purchase, put that extra cash toward things of excellent quality and personal significance. Keep in mind that it could be preferable to have a bare home full of dreamy ideas you enjoy rather than a home full of items you merely tolerate. Keep in mind, too, that what constitutes “minimum” is, once more, a term of your own invention.

7. Enjoy the process of decluttering and becoming a minimalist

Attempting to cut things down to their barest essentials is a thrilling challenge. In addition to helping you save money and time, decluttering also frees up space and encourages you to make use of the things you already own. If it becomes too much to handle or if it causes friction between you and your partner, tone it down a bit. None of us can make you live by a set of rigid minimalist principles; this is your life.

Understanding that you can get by with much fewer material possessions is a vital part of this process. Not letting what you have collected dust in the garage should be one of those things. Have a good time, and appreciate the independence that comes from needing less.