6 Minimalistic Purchases That Bought Me A Little Bit of Happiness

How to turn your possessions into a source of joy instead of misery.

I used to buy anything I could afford to try and fill my inner void — without success.

It wasn’t until I packed my most valuable items into a backpack to move to Portugal that I started to recognize the things that bring me long-term happiness — and not just instant gratification.

What are these things? The ones that support my most basic needs — sleep, work, relationships, exercise. Their payoff is invaluable because I enjoy using them every day. I call these things minimalistic purchases.

Here are six of them.

A Good Pillow

I’m not on one of these people who carry their cuddle-pillow with them everywhere they go.

But I didn’t know what I was missing out on until I invested $60 in a good pillow. After one night, I realized my former pillow was like an old, ragged sponge. The new pillow, in contrast, felt like my skull was floating on cloud nine held up by angels.

Because my backpack didn’t have enough space, I couldn’t take that magical pillow with me. But when I recently visited home and laid down on it, I truly realized the importance of a high-quality pillow. It’s such bliss to lay in a bed that sets you up for a good night’s rest. Heck, these pillow-carrying fanatics were onto something.

A Yoga Mat

When I moved to Portugal, I also didn’t have enough space (and shoulder strength) to cram my yoga mat in there. Disheartened, I left it at home. Sure, there are travel mats. But they’re about as comfortable as if you were to replace your mattress with a wooden board.

One month in, I noticed an extreme craving for yoga. So, despite my aversion to buying things I already own, I couldn’t resist — I invested in another mat.

I never regretted it.

Having a yoga mat has helped me build a habit of practicing yoga every morning, and it has become one of my favorite parts of the day. My breath deepens, my muscles stretch, and my awareness sharpens.

Of course, it doesn’t have to be yoga for you. Anything that minimizes the friction to get in some light exercise will do the job — dumbells, boxes, kettlebells, rubber bands — whatever’s your jam.

Light-Blocking Curtains

One year ago — before Portugal — I moved to a new city in the middle of the pandemic (yes, I move a lot). It was a beautiful room located in the city center: high ceilings, lots of space, huge windows. There was just one problem. Street lights flooded through these humungous windows at night. And there were no shudders.

Consequently, my first purchase was light-blocking curtains. And honestly? The whole year I lived in that room, the curtains were my highlight.

I might be emotionally biased because two people (strangers at the time) helped me hang these curtains and we became best friends. But I genuinely think curtains have a higher purpose than blocking light.

They’re magical.

Just imagine the way they hurl around when the windows are open — dramatically sweeping as if they were dancing. Or the feeling of sunlight streaming into your face when you open them first thing in the morning. Or the manner they hang from the ceiling like a stoic weathering the storm.

Catalyzing friendships, looking sexy, blocking light — is there anything curtains can’t do?

An E-Reader

I love physical books. And it’s out of the question that an e-reader can’t replace their magic — the woody, chocolate-like smell; the sound when you flip the page; or the sensation as you brush your hand over the cover.

But it’s not an either-or situation.

Thanks to my e-reader, I read more than ever. I can compensate for my bad eyesight with a larger text size, access any book immediately, and save notes to export them on my laptop. Also, there’s never the struggle to cramp yourself up to catch some good light when you read before bed. And, of course, you can’t carry hundreds of books with you when you travel around the world.

Physical books will always hold a special place in my heart. In fact, having an e-reader makes me appreciate them even more. But one thing is for sure: An e-reader is one of the best minimalistic purchases for every avid reader.

Noise-Canceling Headphones

I love to work on the go — coffee shops, trains, bars, you name it.

And sometimes, background noises such as the soft chatters in a cafe or rail wheels grinding against the track can be soothing. But most of the time, this is a romanticized reality. Here is a person audibly complaining their foamed milk isn’t fluffy enough. There is a group of drunk people screaming through the whole carriage.

Deep work is tough under these conditions.

But noise-canceling headphones are my remedy. I plug them in, put on a focus playlist (either lo-fi, modern classic, or jazz), and disappear into the Zone. I can blend out any remaining noises and fully immerse myself in work.

And, of course, as a music aficionado, it’s nice to have a pair of proper headphones to enjoy your favorite tunes.

Universal Shoes

Fast fashion is one of the biggest global problems of our time. That’s particularly true for shoes. Why? Because shoes are practically impossible to recycle. After you’ve worn them, it’s unlikely they’ll get a second life, even if they’re in an exceptionally well condition. They might find a buyer in a second-hand store, but most of the stock is shipped around the globe before it’s dumped on a humungous pile of trash.

Luckily, I found a pair of shoes that serves as my running shoes and everyday shoes. I can even wear them to semi-formal occasions because they’re all black. This makes it incredibly easy to travel around light-weight while saving extra pairs of shoes.

One high-quality, multi-functional item beats three cheap, specialized purchases.

Don’t Let the Things You Own End up Owning You

In the age of hyper-capitalism, it’s harder than ever to buy the things we actually need. We are bombarded to death with cheap offers, over-promising marketing schemes, and wild sales tactics. As a result, we buy things we don’t need to impress people we don’t like.

In all this hustle-bustle, it’s tough to find meaningful purchases. These were only six of my personal choices, but I encourage you to find your own. “Don’t let the things you own end up owning you” as Chuck Palahniuk writes in Fight Club. Identify the things in your life that contribute to your well-being every single day.

Take control of your possessions. And you’ll see that they can spark a little bit of happiness.

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