Student life simplified

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Introduction

Out of the uniform and stepping into the world of new

experiences and exploration called college, is the most
astounding experience everyone waits for. In reality, it
ends up becoming a perplexing affair as one wants to be
accepted, gain popularity, stand out in the crowd;
ending up feeling overburdened.

How can a minimalistic approach and mind-set bring a

positive difference in a student’s life? 
Living intentionally – the core of minimalism

The idea of simple and intentional living does not equate to suffering or depriving yourself of
things. Minimalism doesn’t come with rules set in stone accompanied by a color palate. 
What it does urge you to do, is to live more intentionally.
What are things that you need and what are the things that society tells you should have?
If you won the lottery right now, would you continue to do what you’re currently doing or
make a change?

Minimalism is holding a mirror up to consumerist culture. It’s being mindful of what you
bring into your life and what you let stay in it. If you question yourself before buying, letting
go or doing anything in life and ask, “how will this decision serve me and my life’s
purpose?”

You’re living intentionally.

If you’re choosing your subjects or friends,

choose the options which will add value to your
life.

Don’t study something because your parents or

friends are saying you should.

If there are certain people, things or situations in

your life that are toxic and inhibit you from
being the best version of yourself, let them go
and fill your life with things and people that
make you happy.

If you need to buy something, think long term

and durable, not cheap; and help the
environment along the way if you can.

A few small steps towards being a more conscious person is a step in the right direction in
your minimalism journey.
Living life on your terms

Something that stuck by me was, if you can’t buy two of

something, you can’t afford it.

The perception that one is predominantly judged by what

they have and how they appear creates a sort of self-
induced pressure.

Which leads to a competitive mindset of owning the latest

gadgets, clothes, shoes and the list goes on.

Students who don't earn themselves become emotionally

hurt if they are unable to get what they want and a
harmful and hateful cycle gets created.

Gadgets like mobiles and laptops in good working

condition with all the required features for one's usage are
enough to get you through college and to keep you
socially connected.

It is a person's interactive skills, sense of humour,

camaraderie and an attitude of learning and evolving,
which puts them ahead of the competition in every aspect
and stage of life.

Don’t give into the pressure and live your life on your
terms, not on anybody else’s.

Increase your productivity

If you have a less cluttered and uncomplicated life, your productivity will increase as well.
How much time are you spending on stuff that you don’t really care about?
Are you spending hours scrolling through your Instagram explore feed when you could be
watching a movie or listening to music instead?
You don’t always have to be productive, free time is free time but will watching Inception for
the 10th time give you more happiness than looking at other people’s lives?

If you don’t spend hours on things you don’t gain anything from, you’ll realize that you, who
always complains of having no time to even relax for two minutes, suddenly have time to
catch up on your hobbies and everything that makes you happy.

If you have less stuff and everything you do own has its own space then, cleaning takes a lot
less time.

If you spend a lot of time on choosing your outfits and accessories, having a capsule
wardrobe might be a good option for you to consider.
Capsule wardrobe

A capsule wardrobe is a well curated closet of things that fit your lifestyle, and everything
goes with everything else. It’s optimizing your quantity and going for quality.
Less is more and that means, no more meltdowns over what you’re going to wear.

If you could figure out

what suits you and
your body type, would
you keep buying
trendy clothes as
compared to stuff that
looks good on you?

There are several

ways to create a
capsule wardrobe
from deciding how
many items you want
to have beforehand, to
having items per
season.

I suggest that you start with figuring out what suits you and try to buy things that will go with
other items in your closet, giving you more outfit options with only a few items.

Financial benefits
Practicing minimalism helps in spending only on things you need and make you happy.
It also teaches you how to budget and set financial goals based on your priorities.

If you get pocket money and are on a tight budget or even if you have an abundance and want
to become a more responsible individual; minimalism helps you in spending less and saving
more. You’re also less likely to impulse shop and then feel guilty afterwards.

Your saved-up money can also go towards things that you will truly feel happy about like
going to watch a movie with friends or towards buying something you truly wanted and will
add value to your life.

You might say, “why is she talking about buying stuff when I don’t even have money to
burn?” Tell me, have you ever been to Sarojini market in Delhi or Collaba in Mumbai?
You buy stuff that will last you four washes because it’s cheap.
If I needed to buy a jacket, I’d rather save a little money, it doesn’t have to be expensive but,
I’ll buy something that’s of good quality.

We’re not looking for labels, we’re looking for quality and how much value it brings into our
life while decreasing the amount of waste we create.
Eco-minimalism as a student

Stationery and supplies

Pens, notebooks and highlighters, just to name a few, not only take up a lot of space but also
contribute to a lot of plastic and waste accumulation.

A few alternatives to the basic supplies we use are -

Fountain pens are more

environmentally friendly
as they have a metal body
and can be refilled with ink
that comes in a glass
bottle.
These pens can be reused
for a very long time and
don’t need to be replaced
every few weeks like
plastic gel or ballpoint
pens.

If you need to purchase

books for your course, opt
for secondhand or digital
versions. If these options
are not available to you,
you can check your library.

Libraries usually have several copies that you can use for the semester. In case there is no
other way and you need to purchase a book then think of reselling it after you’re done with it
or handing it down to someone else. We need to use our existing resources as much as we can
and try not to bring more items into circulation.

We usually end up throwing away our notebooks half used. If you are someone who likes to
take notes by hand then try to be more mindful of not throwing away half used notebooks and
recycle the used ones properly.

Instead of using plastic water bottles that aren’t good for you or the environment, buy one
metal bottle which will last you a long time and can be used not only for water but other
beverages as well.

If you carry your lunch with you or need storage containers for your college dorm, invest in
stainless steel boxes. They will not only last you a long time but are also safer for you and
better for the environment.
Digitize

If possible, you can try to digitize your notes, books and assignments as much as you can.
You only change your electronic devices like your laptops or tablets every few years and if
you recycle your electronic waste properly, digitization is a better alternative to using lots of
paper and other office supplies.

A few of my personal favorites are –

Evernote comes in handy if you quickly want to

jot down your thoughts or ideas.

Todoist is a great way to make lists and set

reminders.

Calendars are a very useful tool to organize

your day and activities. My preferred method is
calendar blocking.

Embracing the concept of minimalism lays the foundation of a simpler and

uncomplicated path in life contributing to a meaningful existence and successful
life from the perspective of an individual, society and as well as nature.