Minimalism and Zero Waste Lifestyle

Minimalism and zero waste are two of the newest trends today. But, what does that even mean? Both of these have a variety of answers and versions of what being a minimalist and zero waste means. Is it even possible to be 100 % zero waste, especially in today’s society?

In the beginning of the year, I took the challenge of becoming a minimalist and zero waster. Mostly because going through my home and seeing how much stuff I have, and how much I actually use and need on a daily basis. I come to realize how much stuff I don’t need and how much waste I had accumulated. Seeing how much waste I produced each week for just being a single person is absurd. Looking back now I see how ridiculous it is knowing how much waste I was producing compared to the little to no waste I have now.

Since becoming a minimalist I have slowly starting to learn more things about myself. Especially when going through the stuff I have around my house and getting rid of things I don't use or need or even wear. Thinking of why I even have those objects anyways. Most of the stuff I have gotten rid of were mostly things I have worn once or not at all. So, that was a waste of money.

Being a minimalist takes time, and is a lifelong process of going through stuff and knowing its purpose and value. Over the past year I have gone through stuff and got rid of things I no longer have a use for. Mostly stuff that sits on the back of the shelf or closet. If it's just collect dust and just sitting, what is the purpose of even keeping it? Even going shopping for things, if it has no purpose then why even purchase it. Being a minimalist to me is having things around that are useful and bring purpose to life.

Minimalism is really learning and valuing yourself over materialistic things. Materialistic things are nice to have around yes. But, not at the expense of your bank account and having something to make yourself look cool. We spend so much time looking nice for people who don’t care. Buying things we don’t need and cant afford for the people who don’t like us. Instead of trying to find meaning in our own life and appeasing others.

Now I stop and think about if I really need something in my life. Like do I really need this? Do I have it just to have it? After doing this for a year I’ve come to value the things I have in my life because it’s meaningful, and everything has its purpose in life.

Before taking my minimalism challenge I always felt like my home and life was over cluttered with things I didn’t need or use. After I started decluttering both my home and life I saw how much stress was gone because I had essentially cleaned things up.

While doing the minimalism challenge, I picked up the zero waste challenge. Zero waste means not consuming unnecessary trash or recycling. Also, using things up before purchase more of it. Which includes not purchasing things that comes in packaging. (Example: Plastic bottles, bags, boxes, cans, ext). Instead going for things that don’t need packaging and shopping at bulk barns, and using reusable bags and containers in order to buy your foods and necessities. Finding ways to improve your carbon intake and outtake.

The whole purpose of zero waste is to reduce the trash that ends up in the waters and eco-system. Yes, you can’t undo what’s already been done but you can help improve the future. By reducing the amount of trash and recycling you produce. As well as switching to more eco-friendly options.

Being a minimalist and zero waste I found that they have a lot to do with each other because you're not buying something to have it. Just buying things when it’s in needed and realizing things you do need and getting it in a eco-friendly way. When I started minimalizing I realized how much plastic and garbage I have in general just laying around or what I use in my daily routine; like my shampoo and conditioner, realizing that it comes in plastic bottles. After using things like this up and switching to the eco alternative version which would be buying them in a bar form instead of a bottle. Just doing that alone makes a difference.

The thing I have realized in the year is that since I already own and bought the product, mines well just use it up first to finish it before going out and purchasing the more eco-friendly version of it. Also, learning that a lot of things I can just DYI it and make things at home out of ingredients I already have.

From a small age we are taught to reduce, reuse and recycle but how many of us actually reduced and reuse things in our life? Something as easy as why buy brand new jars from the store when you can just use the pickle jar, when it’s empty, and use it at the bulk barn to fill up on your pasta’s and other things you need.

Minimalism and zero waste even though it’s a lifelong process of figuring out what works best for you, has actually help me find out who I am. I get to see what I actually like and value between what I have and learn how to be creative with myself with DYI projects and learning what works and doesn’t work.

This life style actually helps me realize what I have and be grateful of what I have and accomplished in my life. With this I have realized that I don’t need materialistic objects to bring pleasure in life. Now that I’m not focused and fixed on materialistic things I get to focus on what is happening in the world and around me.

Minimalism and zero waste affects money because overtime of learning how to shop smart and shop for things out of need, and necessity. With minimalism and zero waste combined learning how much you really need to buy for the next week or two weeks really goes a long way. You learn how to not be wasteful. Learning how to reuse things for other projects to help reduce waste and it does saving more money that way.

Benefits of either of these is that I’m learning a lot about myself in this process and my habits. I’m more conscious of things I use, eat, and wear. Also, I have learned to be more creative with being able to reuse things. It’s also just being more conscious of what I am doing and how to do something.