When you look back at your college experience, you’ll remember a few things. The lifelong friendships you made, the lasting memories and the personal growth. But, you’ll also remember studying until 3 am, living in a dorm room the size of a closet and being so broke that ordering a pizza feels like the most luxurious dinner in the world. Embracing minimalism in college will help you manage your stress, maximize small space living and be frugal with your spending.
In this post, we’ll go through the benefits of being a minimalist student as well as some simple ways to prepare for minimalist college living and practice minimalism in college.
Let’s get into it!
What is Minimalist Living in College?
The minimalist lifestyle is the practice of owning less (and accumulating less) in an effort to live a more simple and sustainable life.
Being a minimalist in college means embracing these principles in all aspects of college living. From the way you decorate your dorm room to the way you study and spend your weekends off.
Benefits of Being a Minimalist in College
Why might you want to become a minimalist in college? Here are some benefits to being a college minimalist!
✓ Improve focus
College isn’t just about going to football games and frat parties. You’ll also be studying. A lot.
Embracing minimalism will help improve your focus and make those long nights studying a little bit easier.
By owning less, you won’t have as much “visual noise” in your space. Visual noise is defined as the amount of stimulation your eyes can process at one time. If your dorm room is cluttered with stuff, you are dealing with a lot more visual noise than someone who has a simple and minimal space.
Visual noise is damaging to our brains and can make it much harder to focus. Removing the distractions in your living space will reduce the amount of visual noise your brain needs to process so that you can focus on studying for that big test.
✓ Save space
Owning less won’t just help you focus, it’ll also save you tons of space.
According to StudentRoomStay, dorm rooms average around 12 by 19 feet which is approximately 228 square feet of actual living space. That’s not much, just about the size of a one-car garage.
Embracing a minimal dorm room will help you cut the clutter so that you have more space to move around.
✓ Save money
Embracing minimalism in college will help you save so much money as well!
By buying less stuff, you’ll have more money to spend on experiences. You won’t have to say no to that weekend trip or party.
✓ Work less
By spending less money, you’ll also spend less time working!
Having a job in college can be very stressful, especially if you’re working full time to support a spending habit.
By cutting your spending, you’ll afford to work less so you can spend that time studying (or doing literally anything else).
✓ move easier
Most college students move every year. That’s four moves in just four years!
Simplifying saves time and prevents stress when packing your things. The process of packing and unpacking will be so much quicker and less stressful if you own less. You’ll be grateful that you’re a minimalist when you’re packing all your things up in boxes for the third or fourth time.
✓ more energy
The concept of “decision making fatigue” effects so many people, especially college kids.
Decision making fatigue is the idea that the more decisions you make, the worse your ability to make decisions becomes. Making decisions can be overwhelming and energy draining. By limiting the amount of decisions you make, you experience less fatigue.
You may be thinking, how does decision making fatigue play into minimalism? Well, the more stuff you own the more decisions you’ll need to make.
For instance, if you own a lot of clothing, deciding what to wear will be much more challenging than if you only own a few outfits.
A prominent example of this is Barack Obama’s presidential outfits. According to The Decision Lab, Obama claims to have worn the same colored suits every day to limit the number of decisions he had to make.
How to Prepare for Minimalist College Living
Let’s say you’re sold on the idea of becoming a minimalist in college.
Here are 8 ways to prepare for minimalist college living!
1. Leave a Lot at Home
Moving away for college is such a great time to practice minimalism. You can leave a lot of your things at home and see how little you can live with. If you decide you need any of the things you left behind, you can always recover them on a trip back home for the holidays. Or, you may realize that you don’t need any of the things you left at home.
When you graduate and get your own place, ditch the stuff that you left at your parent’s home. If you didn’t need it in college, you won’t need it after graduation!
2. Coordinate With Roommates
Before you go back to school shopping, talk to your roommates about having communal items that everyone can share.
If they already own a coffee maker but you don’t, ask if you can borrow theres instead of purchasing your own.
Doing so will help you save money and space! Just remember to treat your roommate’s things with respect. Always wash and put them back once you’re done using them.
3. Avoid Single Use Appliances
When deciding what to take with you and what to leave at home, avoid bringing single use appliances.
When it comes to owning kitchen appliances as a minimalist, only keep one’s around if they serve at least a dual purpose. Avoid appliances that have unnecessary attachments or won’t get used weekly.
Not sure which appliances to leave behind? Click here to learn about 7 kitchen appliances you don’t need as a minimalist!
4. Don’t Purchase Cheap Dorm Furniture
As tempting as it may be to buy new, trendy furniture for your dorm, don’t do it!
I spent so much money on furniture in college because I was prioritizing style over quality. None of my cute furniture lasted through the year.
This is because cheap ‘wooden’ furniture is made from particle board, which is essentially sawdust, wood chips and shavings that are pressed and glued together. It’s not durable and will fall apart no matter how well you take care of it.
Instead of buying cheap furniture, borrow furniture from home if you can. If you can’t, go to thrift stores to purchase your furniture instead. You’ll end up with higher quality pieces that are priced way lower than what they’re worth!
5. Simplify Your Wardrobe
Simplifying your wardrobe is such an important aspect to preparing for minimalist college living. If you’ve already gone on your college visits you’d know that dorm room closets are tiny. To avoid feeling overwhelmed every time you get ready, only bring the essentials with you.
Need some help picking out these essentials? I’ve written several articles about building a minimalist wardrobe on my blog. Click here to learn how to build an extreme minimalist wardrobe and here for some extreme minimalist wardrobe dos and don’ts!
6. Avoid Taking Classes That Require Supplies
When you’re deciding which classes to take, avoid ones that require a lot of supplies.
If you sign up for an art class such as ceramics or painting, you’ll be require to purchase some pretty expensive materials. Unless you’re passionate about art, sign up for a different elective instead!
Below are the best college electives that don’t require lot of supplies!
- Creative Writing
- Acting
- Graphic Design
- Psychology
- Dance
7. Find a Minimalist Job
Minimalism isn’t just about owning less. It’s also about making choices that align with minimalist values. Having a job that aligns with these values will bring authenticity to your life.
If you value minimalism and simple living, you’ll want to find a job that is flexible and provides a healthy work life balance.
Below is a list of the best jobs for college minimalists!
If you’re creative
- Copywriter
- Blogger
- Graphic Designer
- Tattoo Artist
- Photographer
If you like TECHNOLOGY
- Software Developer
if you’re a people person
- Server / Bartender
- Virtual Assistant
- Baby Sitter / Nanny
if you like being outside
- Farmhand
- Dog Walker
- Camp Counselor
- Lifeguard
Need some tips for finding the perfect job as a minimalist? Click here!
8. Find Hobbies That Don’t Require Lots of Equipment
You won’t have tons of free time in college, but you will have some.
Learning how to enjoy hobbies that don’t require lots of equipment will save you so much money and space in your dorm room.
Below is a list of the best hobbies that don’t involve owning lots of gear!
If you like being Active
- Swimming
- Running
- Hiking
- Roller Skating
- Yoga
- Weightlifting
- Bouldering
if you’re creative
- Needlepoint
- Nail Art
- Music
- Drawing
- Crochet
- Programming
if you’re outdoorsy
- Mushroom Foraging
- Trail Running
- Volunteering at the Zoo
- Geocaching
- Digging for Crystals
If none of these hobbies interest you, know that you can apply a minimalist mindset to any hobby.
Click here to learn how to balance minimalism and hobbies.
Now that you know how to prepare for minimalist college living, here are some ways to practice minimalism in college!
10 Ways to Practice Minimalism in College
1. Realize That It’s OK to Borrow Things
If you’re moving into a college dorm, you’re probably moving out of your family home for the first time ever.
Don’t expect to have everything you need right off the bat. And as a minimalist, you won’t want to own a bunch of stuff anyway. That’s why it’s important to get comfortable with borrowing things from classmates, friends and roommates and also sharing your things with others.
Before buying a new dress to wear to your school’s formal, ask a friend if they have one you can wear for the night! This applies to all things. Realize that it’s ok to borrow things you may need and don’t already own.
2. Find Free Things to Do on Campus
It’s Friday night and you and your friends want to let off some steam after taking that big exam. Instead of going to a concert or out to the bars, see if there’s anything free you can do around campus.
Most University campuses host free film nights, game nights, fun runs, shows and more! These events are free and a great way to meet new people.
If your school doesn’t host free events, take matters into your own hands.
Get your roommates, dorm floor mates, classmates and friends together for a fun night in! Coordinate a pizza night, potluck, karaoke night or paint night. It’ll be much cheaper than going out and probably way more fun too.
3. Don’t Accept Free Stuff on Campus
Most college campuses give away a lot of free stuff. T-shirts, koozies, pens, water bottles, the list goes on and on. Avoid accepting college ‘swag’ just because it’s free.
4. Host Clothing Swap Parties
As a minimalist, you may get tired of wearing the same thing every day.
The best way to get your hands on some new clothes is to host clothing swap parties with your friends.
Find some clothes in your closet that you’re not excited about wearing anymore and have your friends do the same. At your next get together, have everyone swap! It’s such a great way to get some fresh pieces in your closet and even try out a style you never would have.
5. Simplify Your Meals
Have you ever bought a bunch of ingredients for a single recipe just to never make that recipe again? Same!
I used to have so many random spices and pastes in my pantry that I had no use for in my day to day cooking.
To keep from accumulating ingredients that you won’t use regularly, keep your meals simple!
6. Embrace Small Space Living
Dorm rooms are small, about the size of a one-car garage. Even as a minimalist, living in such a small space can be challenging. That’s why it’s important to maximize the space you have so you can be as comfortable as possible.
Below are some tips for making everything you own fit into a small space!
- Utilize Under The Bed Storage
- Use Your Corners
- Keep Furniture at a Bare Minimum
- Utilize The Vertical Space
- Limit Room Decor to Rugs and Wall Art
Looking for more space saving tips?! I wrote an entire blog post about living comfortably in a small bedroom. Click here to read it!
7. Bike or Ride the Bus
Owning a car in college is super expensive! Not only will you have to pay for maintenance, gas and monthly car payments, but most universities charge for parking too. At my university, a parking spot cost nearly $500 a semester!
To avoid these expenses, bike or ride the bus instead. Large universities typically have a bus system that will get you from point A to point B. If your campus doesn’t, bike around instead!
8. Use Campus Resources and Services
Along with a bus system, most college campuses have other free resources too.
Check if your school has a recreation center, a student services office or a library. The more free resources you can take advantage of, the less you’ll have to own. You won’t need to purchase books if you can borrow them from the library or buy weights if there’s a gym on campus.
9. Digitize Your Books
Most classes you’ll take in college will require you to purchase a textbook or two. Opt for digital versions of your textbooks whenever you can.
Not only is the digital version a quarter of the price, but it will keep you from accumulating a bunch of books that you will only read once.
If there isn’t a digital version of a book you need, go ahead and purchase the hard copy but don’t hold onto it after you’ve finished your class.
Here are 12 ways to recycle your old textbooks.
10. Thrift for Themed Parties and Spirit Days
From 70’s themed frat parties to spirit days, you’ll find that there is always a reason to get dressed up in college.
As fun as dressing up can be, if you want to be a minimalist, you can’t buy new outfits you’ll only wear once. But missing an event just because you want to be a minimalist isn’t a good idea either. That’s why you should thrift your outfits for themed parties and spirit days instead of buying them new.
Thrifting is a fraction of the price and you don’t need to hold onto the outfit after you’ve worn it. Simply bring it back to the thrift store.
Final Thoughts
Moving away for college is such a great time to become a minimalist. Embracing minimalism in college will help you manage your stress levels, maximize the small space you’ll be living in and be frugal with your spending.
Thanks for reading and good luck!
Linda Sand says
Our best thrift store costume: a choir robe on which we sewed stars and planets cut from an old sheet. Ta da! A wizard!