My 13 Minimalist Essentials For a Simple Life in 2023

1. Mini broom and mini dust pan

I wake up on my GOKUMIN mattress and get out of my sleeping bag. Usually, I wake up at 05:00, but honestly, nowadays I wake up late because the mornings have become dark and cold here. First thing after I wake up, I start cleaning.

I mainly use a small mop from Muji, but recently I have started to use this small mini broom and dustpan. These make it easy to remove dirt from the corners of my room. They are also small and cute, so I love using them.

2. Uniqlo HeatTech

The next step is changing. Because of the cold weather, Uniqlo HeatTech is a must-have item in my village. It is super thin and you can layer it under almost anything. I always wear it under my kimono. I also wear it every day in winter in Europe.

3. Montbell down jacket

As the weather started to get colder, I realized that I needed a warm jacket that could last me a long time. I have been using a Montbell Down jacket a lot during this season.

Montbell is one of the famous outdoor brands in Japan. When I went to Switzerland, I found a Montbell store there as well. The functions of this jacket are amazing. In addition, it is waterproof and keeps me very warm on the coldest days.

4. Blender

Let’s go to the kitchen. My blender is the item that I use to make my smoothies and it saves me time every morning.

Nowadays, I add bananas, apples, dates, eggs, and Koso which is my favorite probiotic drink. This helps me make nutritious and delicious smoothies.

5. Matcha set

I have an assortment of matcha utensils that I have been using to make matcha at home. If you want to drink matcha every day, I would recommend a simple routine.

This is a simpler version of chanoyu (tea ceremony) that I have been practicing. Not only does it help me make delicious matcha, but also calms my mind, and makes me appreciate my life and feel fulfilled.

6. Earphones

When I go out, I use my wireless earphones to listen to books using Audible. I can listen to anything I want while I am working on other tasks. Right now, I am listening to Four Thousand Weeks.

7. Tatami floor mats

After my walk, I do some of my workouts on the tatami floor mats in my room. I used to use a yoga mat, but I found that tatami floors were thicker and softer than the yoga mat I used to use.

8. Carry-on bag

I just bought it for my trip to Europe and I am sure this is going to be an essential item for me this year, as I am planning to travel a lot and see many countries. I love this bag because it is so compact that I can bring it on an airplane, go up the stairs with it and travel anywhere.

9. Anker PowerPort III

I also bought this for my trip. What I love about this product is that you can charge your laptop, phone, and other things only with this small port. I do not need to bring any other port on the trip, which makes my trip so minimal.

10. Moku towel

After my workout, I take a shower. When drying my body, I always use a Moku towel. It is a small towel made in Imabari, a place that is known for its production of towels.

Moku towels are great at absorbing a lot of water, and they are not bulky at all, so you do not need much space to put them away. I also love their design: mine have camping and Onsen (hot spring) designs.

11. FM Radio Transmitter

I work as a YouTuber and a video editor in the morning and go to work as a teacher in the evening. I did not use any radio transmitter in the past, but recently my friend gave me this and it was a game changer.

When I wanted to listen to audiobooks or music in a car, I used to put my iPhone into my cup holder for a speaker-like effect. Believe it or not, it was okay, but sometimes I could not hear the sound because of the loudness of the car.

Now I can listen to any audiobooks or music more clearly on my way to and from work, thanks to my radio transmitter.

12. Furoshiki

After school, I went shopping at the local grocery store. I use furoshiki as a shopping bag. Furoshiki is a traditional Japanese cotton cloth, usually used for wrapping and shopping. On my trip to Europe, I put my laundry in it.

There are many different ways to tie it. After using it, I can fold it and put it away into my bag - it is very compact, too. Anyway, the food is ready. Today, I ate gyoza, simmered daikon radish, and onigiri.

13. Sarashi cloth

When I clean up, I always use a sarashi cloth. Japanese houses used to always have sarashi cloth in the kitchen. It is a long cloth and you can tear pieces off by hand. It is water absorbent, so you can use it like a paper towel, a dishtowel, or as a strainer. The thinness makes it easy to dry.

After that, I do my evening routine. It is very cold nowadays, so I put heating pads into my sleeping bag. Around 9:30, I get into bed and read a book until I start to get sleepy.

Minimalist essentials

I have introduced my recent 13 essential minimalist items in 2023. You are very welcome to try incorporating any of these items into your life. What items help you on your minimalist journey? Share in the comments!