<ul>
<li>Declutter your workspace, including your computer;</li>
<li>Identify the essential and say no to unnecessary activities;</li>
<li>Whatever you do, make it worthwhile. Including your time off.</li>
<li>Fill your life with joy and consciously choose what you want your career to consist of.</li>
<li>At the end of the workday, reflect on what you accomplished and consider what you could improve.</li>
</ul>

Minimalist principles to apply to work

<div>
On December 15, <a href="https://minimalismfilm.com/">Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things</a> debuted on Netflix. The film follows <a href="http://www.theminimalists.com/about/">The Minimalists</a> Joshua and Ryan on their 10-month book tour across the U.S. while interspersing interviews with other well-known thinkers in the simple living space.
The definition of minimalism I like is: "as simple as possible but no simpler." Minimalism is about getting rid of the superfluous.
This lifestyle of living with less has been catching on over the past several years. Many of us are searching for a way to slow down and be more deliberate. Westerners, and Americans in particular, are realizing that an abundance of material possessions doesn't lead to happiness. Our rampant consumerism has distorted our values and deteriorated our well-being.
Now that we're awake, we want to change. The internet is chock-full of tips for decluttering our homes, simplifying our wardrobes, and being more intentional about what we eat. But most of the advice about work resorts to suggesting we escape the system (i.e., quit that six figure job to write a book and start a podcast). There is a dearth of information about navigating the corporate world with this philosophy. 
Disengaging the system may not be the answer. In the film, Las Vegas resident Clyde Dinkins challenges Joshua and Ryan during a Q&amp;A session:
<blockquote>
You're dedicated. You're creative. You're innovative. You have a sincere desire for mankind -- the very people who the wolves of Wall Street fear. And to me, you're removing yourself from the war. If you're really talking about minimalism, the ultimate minimalist is a hermit, a recluse, or a monk -- and to me that's not gonna change the world.
</blockquote>
 <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fdrewhansen%2F2016%2F12%2F27%2Fminimalism-documentary-netflix-career-principles%2F&amp;text=Is%20it%20possible%20to%20stay%20in%20a%20corporate%20job%20and%20practice%20%23minimalist%20principles%3F%20via%20%40LearningDrew">Is it possible to stay in a corporate job and practice minimalist principles?</a> 
In <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=f9tiewAACAAJ&amp;dq=The+Simple+Guide+to+a+Minimalist+Life&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwistKC_4JTRAhUEjVQKHWfZBcMQ6AEIIzAA">The Simple Guide to a Minimalist Life</a>, Leo Babauta outlines five principles for decluttering one's life. I've expounded on each with ideas for incorporating them at the office.
1. Omit needless things. Start everyday with a <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/drewhansen/2012/10/31/a-guide-to-mindfulness-at-work/">mindfulness</a> practice, awakening your senses and emptying yourself of discursive thoughts. Invite colleagues to join you and set a time during the day to sit together in meditation.
Declutter your workspace, including your computer. Organize those files on your desktop into folders. Open fewer browser tabs at a time.
Allow unstructured time in your day. Schedule buffer time on your calendar. Plan for meetings to end five minutes before the next.
The desire to add more to your life dissipates when you can see what you already have.
2. Identify the essential. Simplify your schedule by saying no to unnecessary requests. Set and honor your boundaries. Have fewer meetings and more conversations.
Minimize the number of times you check <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/drewhansen/2012/12/15/stop-the-madness-a-call-to-reduce-email-overload/#297d5217649a">email</a> per day. Ask teammates to call or text you if something urgent comes up at night or over the weekend. Set an email auto-reply to remind them of your intention.
If you have a long commute, move closer to your office to reduce the time you spend on the road.
Learn what is important to you because it -- not what you're told to want -- will have the greatest impact on your career.
3. Make everything count. Before starting work, write down the three most important tasks to accomplish that day. Commit to completing them before you leave the office.
Use different spaces for different intentions. Don't eat lunch at your desk. Find quiet nooks to do work that requires uninterrupted thinking.
Take meaningful breaks to renew yourself. Walk deliberately from your desk to get water, coffee, a snack, etc. Find your most <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/drewhansen/2015/12/04/morning-routine-productivity-at-work/#163c8a5576f9">productive</a> rhythm.
Whatever you do, make it worthwhile.
4. Fill your life with joy. Connect with your colleagues. Set a reminder to pause once a day and spend a few minutes with a friend at work for the pure sake of socializing.
Indulge richer communication. Tell stories. Use pictures. Meet in person instead of Skype. Skype instead of call. Call instead of email.
Try different routes to your office or desk. Slip outside for a walk in nature. Wander through a park on your way back from lunch. Decorate the office with art.
Unplug on vacation. Be more productive when you return.
Consciously choose what you want your career to consist of.
5. Edit, edit. At the end of the workday, reflect on what you accomplished and consider what you could improve.
Close that period of the day with a ritual, signaling the transition away from work to a focus on your personal life.
Remember that incorporating these principles is a continual process of improvement.
Minimalism should enrich your life. <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fdrewhansen%2F2016%2F12%2F27%2Fminimalism-documentary-netflix-career-principles%2F&amp;text=Let%27s%20make%202017%20the%20year%20of%20simplifying%20your%20career%20without%20quitting%20your%20job.%20via%20%40LearningDrew%20%23minimalism">Let's make 2017 the year of simplifying your career without quitting your job.</a> 
</div>

On December 15, Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things debuted on Netflix. The film follows The Minimalists Joshua and Ryan on their 10-month book tour across the U.S. while interspersing interviews with other well-known thinkers in the simple living space. The definition of minimalism I like is: "as simple as possible but no simpler."

5 Minimalist Principles That Promise To Simplify Work And Prevent Burnout

Minimalist principles to apply to work

CURATED BY

Related collections

More like this