Minimalist living philosophy in the modern era

Chapter 9: A Simplified Routine

Emily's alarm went off at 6:00 a.m., its gentle chime filling the room with a sound that once used to annoy her but now seemed to signal a new beginning. She stretched in her bed, feeling the softness of her sheets and the coolness of the morning air against her skin. Her bedroom was different now—gone were the piles of clothes draped over chairs and the clutter of books and trinkets on her nightstand. The room was sparse, holding only the essentials: a bed, a dresser, and a small plant on the windowsill that caught the morning light.

As she rose to her feet, Emily glanced at her phone, which was now neatly placed on a small wooden shelf by the door. She had started charging it outside her bedroom to avoid the temptation of scrolling through social media late into the night. Her mornings used to start with a rush, her phone guiding her every move with notifications and reminders. Now, they began with silence and a few deep breaths, allowing her to ease into the day.

Walking over to the window, she pulled back the curtain and gazed out at the city. The streets were quiet, the usual morning rush yet to begin. She closed her eyes, savoring the stillness, and began a simple stretching routine she had learned from a YouTube video.

These few moments of movement were something new in her life, an intentional practice she had incorporated into her mornings. Emily found that starting the day with some light stretching helped her feel more awake and connected to her body, shaking off the last vestiges of sleep.

After a few minutes, she headed to the bathroom to wash her face. The bathroom had undergone its own transformation in recent weeks; the once overflowing cabinets were now neatly organized, holding only the essentials. She had donated or discarded the dozens of half-used bottles of shampoo, face creams, and makeup she had accumulated over the years. Now, her skincare routine was simple: a gentle cleanser, a moisturizer, and a swipe of lip balm.

Gone were the days when she would spend over an hour getting ready, carefully applying layers of makeup and styling her hair. Emily now embraced a more natural look, finding that she preferred how she felt without all the fuss. The simplicity of her new routine gave her a sense of freedom and confidence that she hadn't experienced before.

Breakfast Made Simple

Emily made her way to the kitchen, where she had already set out her ingredients for breakfast. She had learned that having a streamlined morning routine involved preparing the night before, setting herself up for a calm and collected start to the day. On the counter sat a small bowl of oats, a banana, and a jar of almond butter—her go-to breakfast for the past few weeks.

She filled a pot with water, set it on the stove, and turned on the heat. While the water boiled, she sliced the banana and laid the pieces neatly in a bowl. Emily found a strange satisfaction in the simplicity of these tasks, a kind of mindfulness she hadn't realized was possible in the mundane act of making breakfast. She watched as the oats began to bubble, the steam rising from the pot, and felt a quiet sense of accomplishment in these small, intentional actions.

Pouring the oats into the bowl, she topped them with banana slices and a spoonful of almond butter. The meal was simple, yet nourishing, providing her with the energy she needed to start her day. She sat down at the small kitchen table and took a moment to appreciate the food in front of her, a habit she had adopted from a book on mindful eating that Aaron had recommended.

As she ate, Emily reflected on how different her mornings had become. Not too long ago, her breakfast routine involved grabbing a hastily prepared coffee and a sugary pastry from the cafe down the street, consuming them on the run as she rushed to work. Now, she took her time, savoring each bite and enjoying the solitude of her morning ritual. It was a small change, but it made a significant impact on her day, setting a tone of calm and intention that she carried with her.