A Day in the Life of a Minimalist

My morning routine is pretty simple. I wake up at 5.35 a.m. This isn't because I am some crazy productivity expert, but just because I go to bed very early to try to wake up before my daughter Laura does.

The first 37 minutes of my day, I make zero decisions. Literally everything I do is just a routine, the same every single day, and I like it that way.

I shower, make coffee, read, all the standard YouTube morning routine videos with soft piano music. I get dressed,and, on brand, I pretty much just wear black every single day.

Not only is it one less decision to make, but it is the most practical color as you do not see the coffee stains on it.

Normally around 6 a.m., Laura wakes up. I play with her, make her breakfast and feed her. I do intermittent fasting, so I do not eat until about noon. This does not include black coffee, of course.

Since it is Friday, I am off to the gym. I normally work out two to three times a week, for 45 minutes at a time. I only do four to five exercises per workout, keeping it very simple.

Some people believe it necessary to spend two hours at the gym at a time, do crazy workouts, but I have found that consistency is key. I have been working out regularly for over 10 years now. After my workout, I always feel a little more energized and ready to take on the day.

When I get back, I generally spend some time with Laura before I go up and get to work. I may drink some more coffee, but I only drink decaf after 1 p.m., otherwise I get jittery and I cannot sleep.

As a full-time YouTuber, I normally try to do most of my focused work in the morning when I actually can think and have mental clarity.

If I make one video a week for my YouTube channel, it only takes me about five hours per week, and in the rest of the time I work on all kinds of new businesses and hobbies.

Normally, I will work for two to three hours in my office. I go into extreme focused work mode, shutting off my phone and putting it away, and I write, shoot, or edit.

Now it is time for breakfast, or maybe lunch. I generally have two meals a day, and this one is pretty big since it is the first meal of the day.

I normally have three eggs on either sourdough bread or sourdough bagels. Baking sourdough is so simple, and it is infinitely more delicious than most gluten-free breads. I also might have some fruit or a smoothie, sometimes leftovers depending on what I find in the fridge.

Since I cannot work in my office in the afternoon because Laura is sleeping there, I generally just chill out with my wife Meredith. I might play some video games or take a nap. I used to work constantly and feel like I had to be productive all of the time, and only recently have I realized that it is okay to chill a little bit.

Next, I am going on a phone call. I try to batch all my phone calls, text messages, emails, checking social media for the same time of the day, if not the same time and day of the week.

This way, I do not have to be constantly checking different things throughout the entire day, but instead I take a half hour block a couple times a day and just check things.

I normally work two to three more hours in the afternoon - either on my business, like answering emails, or shooting, or on my other projects.

Today, I need to declutter my closet, as I have not done it in a year. I did switch all my hangers around, so all the ones that are facing my direction I have not worn in the past like six months and anything facing the other direction I have worn.

I am making that my guide and I am going to get rid of a bunch of stuff. I like having those little tips and rules that make decision-making easier and minimize overthinking. If I have not worn an item for half a year, I will either donate it, sell it or throw it out without even thinking about it.

Another rule I definitely believe in is the 2-minute rule: if something takes 2 minutes or less to do, do it right away instead of procrastinating and letting it annoy you for a while.

Today, I am taking off the decorative doors from our dresser, because they are not practical and actively make our lives harder, even though they have a nice aesthetic. The 2-minute rule works for building habits, too: instead of avoiding small simple tasks like washing dishes or putting away your clothes, just do it and be done with it.

Normally, I will have a little bit more work to do or another project going on like remodeling a bedroom for Laura.

Around three or four o 'clock, I generally stop working for the day and just hang out with my family.

In the evening, I take a couple minutes to plan out my next day and lay out my clothes, so that I know exactly what I am doing the next day. My bedtime is usually around nine.

A day in the life of a minimalist

My life is extremely routine oriented and could be called boring, but I love it. Since I do not need to clock in, but rather just get a certain amount of stuff done, I feel much more motivated, and get so much more free time.

I definitely could work 40, 50, 60 hours a week, and I used to, but I do not need to do that in order to feel productive anymore. I love being content with what I have, not constantly trying to make the most money or do the biggest thing, but to actually slow down, enjoy my life and relax.

This is what a day in the life of a minimalist looks like. What is yours like? Leave a comment below!

Next, check out these Easy Frugal Hacks on How to Save Money on Your Food Bills.