A lot of people are turning to 'extreme' minimalism, and there are some great content online. Here's a list of YouTubers I previously posted elsewhere, please add to it.
- 🇬🇧 Lost Yet Free - old series of videos about 'bum bag travel', thought-provoking but limited, definitely a gateway to zero bagging.
- 🇳🇱 Anja's Art World - Really interesting videos with nice music
- 🇯🇵 Aki (Samurai Matcha)- A minimalist who is a school teacher living in a small village in Japan
- 🇳🇬 Mayo Uruk - Inspiring vlogger living in a small village in Nigeria
- 🇯🇵One Minimal Life - London based vlogger, calming music, not very extreme but very inspiring
- 🇺🇸 Timothy Ward - American guy marching to his own beat, very engaging with viewers
- 🇷🇺 Victoria Terekhina - Started as a vlog about Minimalism, now more general but very interesting
- 🇰🇪 Simply Fatima Amiri- Kenyan rural minimalist, really interesting videos, different culture but many similarities, particularly in outlook
- 🇬🇧 Sage Life Minimalism - British lady that seems to be starting out on her extreme minimalism journey
- 🇺🇦 Victoria Vlasenko - Some nice videos, generally self-improvement based but some interesting thoughts on Minimalism
- 🇩🇪 Undine Almani - Long term minimalist from Germany, occasionally discusses Extreme Minimalism
- 🇺🇸 Rob Greenfield - Eco-conscious activist, has a few videos (mainly outside his channel, but linked) about his Extreme Minimalist, Homesteading lifestyle
- 🇺🇸 Crystalline - More a wellness channel but with some nice walkthroughs and extreme declutters
- 🌍Trying Hard Minimalist Extreme Minimalist, based in the UK, former hoarder. Really nice walk-throughs.
- 🇦🇺Shireen - Aussie extreme minimalist, focuses on simple living and finances.
- 🇺🇸 Minimally Michele - Online journal, focus is on wellness and living light.
- 🇵🇹 Lusa Silva - Interesting videos, zero-bag travelling extreme minimalist lady from Portugal.
My gut reaction is that I just don't see the benefit of extreme minimalism. For me, minimalism is a tool to live a more peaceful life. Extreme minimalism seems more like a challenge or discipline that would create stress. Is this the draw? To test yourself on how little you can do with? Having to be resourceful, ingenuitive and persevere through difficulty?
I'm genuinely asking, I'd love to hear from some folks who derive benefit or satisfaction from this. What draws you? What are you seeking?
I view ‘extreme’ Minimalism as branding or a deliberate way to differentiate what would have been just ‘minimalist lifestyle’ 10 or so years ago against what is a heavily commercialised trend now.
The benefits are basically what is normally espoused about a minimalist life: clarity, mindful living, better financial management, flow, agility, and peacefulness.
It is a mindset largely. I own more a backpacks worth of stuff, although what I own is valued, used, and maintainable.
To quote Francine Jay: