How to be a Minimalist in College

When it comes to living in a dorm, the environment you create for yourself is crucial. Your dorm is not only your bedroom; it is also your study space, your kitchen, your living room – it is your entire living space in one tiny room. And on top of that, you share that tiny space with another person. The space you live in easily determines the state of mind that you live in. If you have a lot going on in your living area, it adds to the stress and clutter already taking over your mind. It’s important to live minimally so you can chip away at that block. Here are some tips on how to be a minimalist in college:

Minimize wardrobe – before you pack your clothes for your big move – go through every article of clothing and decide its fate. I’m telling you now; you’ll probably only wear the same 10 outfits the entire semester. You’ve got too much on your mind to put too much thought into what goes on your body. Pick your favorite outfits, pick the most versatile pieces, and bring those with you. Staples are your friends. Neutrals go a long way. Start your minimalist lifestyle journey by minimizing your closet down to the basics and essentials.

Don’t bring everything with you – You will definitely not need everything that you have at home. Plus, it’s a fun opportunity to start fresh! Pack light and figure out what you need on campus as the need arises. I arrived on campus with 2 bags and 3 small boxes and I got the rest when I saw what I could keep in my room.

Buy supplies only when you need them – I promise, you do not need 3 notebooks, 20 colored pencils, or 90% of the things that you think you need. Supplies are cheap, you can get them whenever you need them (or borrow from a friend who didn’t see this). Supplies will collect quickly and take up lots of unnecessary space.

Only buy textbooks that you can’t get by without – Don’t buy textbooks before your first day of class. Also, as a general tip: don’t buy textbooks from the bookstore – major rip off. Buy from other students who will sell for cheap just to get rid of everything. The professor will tell you which books you really need to buy and if you have to have a physical copy. Textbooks are bulky, and you will have many for all your different classes. Save yourself some money and storage space with this tip.

Decorate tastefully – Decorating is the most exciting part about dorming. Believe me, I know. Check my Pinterest if you don’t believe me. But you don’t need to go overboard with it. Don’t bring your collections of random trinkets. Decorate minimally to reduce clutter. What may look fine in your room at home, will become overwhelming in your tiny room that you share with your roommate (who is also bring their own stuff and decorations). It’s always good to talk to your roommate before arriving to school so you know who is bringing what. Don’t need any doubles.

Deep clean every week – stay on top of your chores! Chores can be neglected so easily and will come back to haunt you. I like to have a mental checklist of all the things that I need to do daily, weekly, monthly. Don’t let your dishes buildup (made that mistake many a times). Do your laundry before you run out of underwear. No one is perfect, and you will let things sit in the same spot for an entire week. Set aside a specific time in the week to deep clean and tidy up.

Declutter several times a semester – It’s amazing how much crap we acquire in such short time. To keep things minimized down to the essentials, a few times throughout the semester, go through your entire room and get rid of everything you don’t need. I say do this several times a semester because you will change your mind about that shirt you decided to hold onto. Deep down, you always knew you weren’t going to wear it again.

Save money – don’t go shopping that often. You really don’t need to. And if you do need some retail therapy, go thrifting! It’s fun, it’s trendy, it’s cheap, it’s good for the environment.

Being a minimalist is beneficial to your health, your productivity, your life, and the environment. It is possible and easy even in college. Safe travels and have a great semester!