Analog: is it Minimalism?

Being analog is just a name I gave to this way of life, some people may have been unknowingly been analog their whole life. 

It is not about shunning technology or modernisation, in fact, it embraces true innovation.

It is not being beggar-like frugal, but it is about having a happy wallet that sustains your hobbies and keeping yourself happy.

It is not only minimalism or de-cluttering, it is about not even wanting/having to buy things you will throw out later.

Why it isn't minimalism?

Analoging is a complete way of life, it just starts off in one wonderful session that kickstarts everything, packing parties is a good idea (quite honestly the best ones I've come across in a long time), but it doesn't do two things:

- it doesn't really stop you from buying unwanted things

- it doesn't convert you into a minimalist

Call it mimicry or adaptation, this is an embellishment of the way of life, we do not let others dictate how we live, neither do we want to be miserable while de-cluttering. 

Yes, it is good to have packing parties and all then blog to show others about it, but if you do not fully believe in the minimalist system in the first place, deep down, you are crying miserably as you rid of your favourite LV handbags or limited edition watches that you store in the safe. Probably two possible outcomes:

- you will go buy it back or something similar as you regret ridding it in the first place

- you become a full minimalist but the start is not ideal, it is like having stockholm syndrome to your new you. Or to sound worse, cutting off your arm and learn how to live 1 handed.

"People (not just kids) today glue themselves to their phones, taking away their phones permanently does nothing. I can spend days without wanting to look at my phone even though it is in my pocket, fully charged with internet data."

How to Start?

Although I say that being Analog is not something you can instantly kickstart or turn on like a switch, it still has to start some where.

Honestly, I would say that I don't even know as I cannot tell you how to live your life. You can start by wet shaving, but if you are in a situation whereby it is not convenient for you, either have better time management or don't do it than be miserable.

I'm not so sure about girls, but if you are a guy, seriously, go out get a proper mechanical watch (quartz is fine too if it is a good quartz piece). Stop buying overpriced stuff like Daniel Wellington or watches from any fashion brand.

It is better to believe it in your mind and let your body catch up to it than the other way round. You can do packing parties, take ideas from other minimalist websites but please treat it as means of complimenting your life than as a fall back plan to get rid of too much stuff you shouldn't have in the first place. 

"If you buy things you do not need, soon you will have to sell things you need."

- Warren Buffett

Where it isn't Minimalism?

This is a big part of being Analog that I love. Some of the things I do is also hobbies, for instance, wet shaving, fountain pens, and watches. Having one or two of it is bare minimum, having 3 or 4 is a small collection and with watches, sky's the limit. 

I feel minimalism is about having bare minimums, whereas being Analog embraces spending money on your own obsessions and hobbies but within reasonable limits of course. You can buy if it makes you happy and you can afford to throw it at $0. That is where I think each of us have to personally believe in this ideology before practising it. This is very much self-discretion, for instance, an Analog guy could have a shelf of whiskey, watches and still be an Analog-er. He gets by, no worries on his savings, he does not need to sell them to raise money for emergencies. That is a wonderful life to live. 

Also, a big part of being Analog is about being honest to yourself, no pretentious-ness, no wanderlust (in Helvetica fronts no less), no escapism, and manage your own expectations. If you love branded stuff, it is ok, but do not expect yourself to completely turn it off in a day, and throwing stuff away or fire-sales is not going to curb it either. you must come to a point where you have it but really do not feel the need to carry it anymore.

Price vs Value

In full disclosure, I own a LV wallet, because after searching around, I find LV to make incredibly durable wallets. mine looks like new after 5 years. I do not like buying a $20 wallet every time it spoils, being Analog also embraces quality. I think that as a guy, you have to have the taste to carry something of quality and class. being analog is most definitely not being a beggar. Also buy owning and using something for a long period of time shows that you can take care of things and is not fickle minded (I do not set my wallet on fire, but I do not baby it much either, I just don't sit on it).

In these days, sometimes good quality things comes with a certain price. For instance, 30 - 40 years back, no one gives two shits about a Rolex submariner. They may be expensive, but it is not as expensive as it is today with inflation factored in. (Inflation is about 4-5 % annually, and Rolex ups the prices at 7-10% annually, so in about 25 years, it is literally twice its 'expensive-ness'. 

"Price is what you pay, value is what you get. "

-Warren Buffett again

Everyone prices things differently, you should not let anyone price anything for you much less a retailer. If in your mind, an item priced at $100, never buy it for more than that, How close or lesser your price is to the item's value depends on individuals. 

As you imagine, I can go on forever, but this is so far I'll go for now...

(that's what she said!)

Have fun

Simple Tactic I Learnt

Last week was Chinese New Year in Singapore so I was quite busy packing up and stuff. On top of that, my family decided to throw out as much things as we can because we will be moving house in the next few months' time.

The thing about packing is, you scold yourself for being so wasteful and more often than not, the reasons not to throw away certain things is because of the price you paid for them or it's lifespan or usage hasn't been utilized completely.

I saw a TED talk about minimalists about two guys who live the minimalist lifestyle (check out their web), everything is about living a meaningful life. Being in Singapore and my general distaste for being pretentious as their entire website is almost in black and white, I do find the ideas they present to be useful most of the time. Their way of life is about important things only, de-clutter, being really rich.

The things they talk about can be embraced in other aspects of your life, such as work, relationships, etc. They provide actual activities to de-clutter or clear away the extra stuff which I think is good rather than being just idealistic and vague. It is not a "see the light" or "feel with your heart", rather it is more of a "try it!" and "see for yourself"

Within the TED talk, the speaker, Joshua, gave a simple method on transforming your life which I find to be extremely effective. *Disclaimer: the below described though is taught by them in the TED talk, but the actual described is how I did it, derived from their talk, How much I derive from their talk is up to you.

To clean out your room, you have to get rid of stuff, like I said earlier, you don't know which. Fret not, this method is to help you find out.

1) Apart from stuff you most certainly will use everyday, pack the rest into boxes, label it, and stack it up outside of your room.

2) Make sure the boxes are being labelled correctly and accurately.

3) Go on live your life as usual, when you find that you need something stowed in the boxes, you take them out, after using, put it back and stack that box under the other boxes. If you need that same item again, you ask yourself, is it important or are you too lazy to take it out and live your life without it.

4) In two weeks time, you should have certain things taken out completely and some still left in the box.

5) Put some of those expensive things or relatively unused items on sale on Carousell or wherever.

6) When it is 1 month since you first packed it into the boxes, those things not posted to sell online or unused can be thrown away completely.

7) When things posted online for a month or so and still no interest, you can throw it away or give to salvation army too.

Please do not recycle stuff into art project as it takes up space and wastes time.

Now CNY is over, you can just start this packing. The fact you need a massive spring cleaning is a sure enough sign that you have too many things.