Black Minimalists: Nikki Terry
Black Minimalists: Nikki Terry
When and why did you start your minimalist journey?
I was born a minimalist. I also copied my Dad. His style: dress pants, white cotton V-neck t- shirt and thong toe sandals. Aside from a suit for church, this was his every day swag. I remember thinking how simple and sexy it all was. No, actually I thought it was all beautiful.
Being a minimalist is how I see things. It's a need to have a clutter-free mind. I’m a minimalist so I can understand the important things in my life. I come from a complicated childhood and often, things felt confusing and problematic. Moving out on my own, I had a difficult time navigating what my thoughts were, how to value my own time, or how to enjoy things without wavering back and forth between ‘not sure’ or ‘maybe so’. I suppose the minimalist GODS were waiting for me because moving into my first apartment, minimalism found me in the most organic way. I immediately and instinctively felt a need to have one of everything. Aside from my bed, I had one dinner tray, a small stereo, one chair, one set of flatware, and a few plates. I did have lots of bath towels ranging in hues of gray. My friends found it weird, but I thought my choices made my place ready for Elle Decor. Being a minimalist brought a lot of calm to a world that felt overwhelming.
What lessons have you learned since going minimalist?
I have learned people think in order to be a minimalist, you have to have money or be of a certain class. NOT TRUE.
I am a minimalist to the core. I don’t have a lot of money and I definitely did not come from a middle class nor upper middle class family. I believe in monochromatic interior space. I have a particular eye for clothing. I keep the interior of my car clean and free of almost everything outside of the panel board. I have a certain aesthetic that I enjoy when I dress. None of this makes me someone with money. Minimalism for me is all about emotional and mental space. These things make me happy, and calm. It creates a space for me to understand the value of who I am. Being a minimalist has nothing to do with class but has everything to do with those moments in life where there are no blinders, no noise, nor clutter.
What are your goals in living simply?
I'm an artist. My job is to recreate how I see the world. There are aspects of life that are beautiful and quiet, pretty and empty, or dark and loud. Being a minimalist helps me to see and understand these human qualities. I approach the canvas slowly and paint what I see.
Has minimalism impacted other areas of your life?
I thought to mention how minimalism has impacted my life as an artist, but then I decided to talk about the strongest impact minimalism has made on my life. How I choose my friends. I’m not saying that my friends have to be minimalist but I try to have relationships that are deliberate and without competition.
What if any surprises or challenges have you encountered?
The biggest challenge encountered as a minimalist was finding a partner who also believed in minimalism or at least understood it. Some women I have dated referred to me as ‘cheap’. Even friends called me ‘cheap’. I never saw it that way. I think of myself as fiscally savvy (smile). But seriously, I never saw myself as cheap but just a strong pull to stay true to what I enjoy. Now, my Partner, she is a minimalist too. It’s wonderful! She is just as committed to a minimalist lifestyle as me. Decorating our place is easy and fun. We enjoy monochromatic palettes and gosh, it's great having a partner who is okay with not having a television.
What mindset changes have you experienced?
Accepting some people can’t understand minimalism. They don’t get it. I don’t fuss about it. I just do my thing.
What advice do you have for someone interested in simplifying her life?
My advice is simple, go for it. If it feels right, enjoy it. If you don’t want to buy a television, don’t. If you don’t want three sets of flatware, have only one. If you want all the hangers in your closet to be chrome, have them and let them face the same direction. Whatever or however you want to simplify your life, go for it and never second guess that desire.
Where can we learn more about you?
www.orangecustard.com and www.nikkiterry.com
Anything you would like to add?
Being a minimalist does not involve snobbery. It simply involves the joys of having as close to a clutter free life as possible.
Learn more about Black Minimalism.
The Lazy Minimalist
Lazy people get a bad rap because laziness is often associated with being irresponsible and unmotivated.
I disagree that laziness is a bad thing.
When used correctly, it can actually save you time, money, and energy, which makes it minimalist too.
I identify as a lazy minimalist and have put together some tips from my experiences to help you embrace the lazy minimalist within you.
- Communicate directly. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Beating around the bush leads to confusion. I don't like small talk.
- Have a limited wardrobe. You can easily decide what you want to wear and repeat outfits often. I sometimes wear outfits for two days in a row. The second part may not be for everyone, but I find it easier for me and my schedule.
- Cook the same meals often and eat leftovers for a few days. You cut down on the frequency of grocery shopping and cooking. It also leads to less food wasted.
- Create a flexible work schedule. Whether you work from home, telework, or some other alternative, work as many or as few hours as you need to get the job done. Working from home allows you to forego the business casual attire, pointless meetings, and commuting.
- Make short to-do lists. Focus on the most important things for that day. Decide which part of the day you prefer to get things done. Forget about all those non-essential tasks that can wait. It's not about the amount of things you complete, but the importance of the things completed.
- Get rid of (more) stuff. Less stuff to clean, store, organize, and look at.
- Simplify your personal maintenance. This will largely depend on your style and comfort level with your hygiene, but it's worth a try. Cut your hair or get an easily maintainable style. Shower every other day and take more bird baths. You will use less products and water. Wear less makeup and embrace the natural look. Consider piercings and tattoos as one-time, permanent style upgrades.
I believe a lot of the “extra” stuff we do in life is because we want others to think a certain way of us. Laziness can help you view your life as a cost/benefit analysis. You can obtain the maximum benefit with the least effort.
It's not just being lazy or minimalist, but smart.
Talking About Your Minimalist Lifestyle
How do I talk about my minimalist lifestyle to my friends and family?
This is a question I see frequently in minimalist forums. When choosing not to conform to a consumerist and materialist mindset, it can be hard to explain to the people in your life that you want to make a change and that you're not selling all your stuff because you're broke.
If you live with others, having a conversation with the people in your household is required. You can’t go tossing people’s things without talking to them.
Last time we talked about the fear of letting go and your household members will share those same fears.
Talking to the people who live in your house:
- Call a house meeting.
- Propose the idea or let them know what you've been up to.
- Explain your why.
- Explain how it benefits everyone.
- Promise that you will consult them when you want to toss something of theirs. Some people may get rid of their family’s stuff and they never miss it, but I think it’s a common courtesy to let them know if they are old enough to understand what is happening.
- Get your household on board (if you can) and involve them in the decluttering process.
- Be prepared for them to resist the idea, sabotage your efforts, or ignore you all together. Return to numbers #3 and #4.
- Be consistent in your efforts and set the example for your household to follow.
Talking to people who don’t live in your house:
- First, if they don’t live in your home, it’s really none of their business, but you may want to share what you’re doing or they might ask questions.
- Do number #3 from above.
- Talk to them about giving gifts and other things to you and your family.
- If they resist, ask them to respect your choice and remind them that it’s your business what you do. If they continue to give you stuff, politely, but firmly decline, return, or donate it.
- If you don’t tell them about your lifestyle change and decluttering, don’t be annoyed when they give you stuff, but take the opportunity to educate them.
Communication is one of the most important aspects of your relationships and if you want to be successful on your minimalist journey you need to be clear with others about what you're trying to achieve.
See five more things you should know before starting your journey.
Minimalism, Decluttering and Simple Living
My (short) minimalism story.
When I started decluttering and adopting a minimalist lifestyle, I had no idea that's what I was doing. I didn’t even know there was a name for it.
All I knew was I didn’t feel great about my life. The first thing that came to my mind was to get rid of stuff I didn’t need or want.
I started decluttering. I was subletting an apartment at the time. I decided not to look for a new one. I moved back to my mom’s place.
Three months later, I quit my job as an academic advisor. I found a part-time job within a month. I then planned a trip to Mexico to clear my head.
The most important thing that came out of my simplifications is I decided to embrace my goal of coaching and helping others create the lives they want.
It’s been a great journey, but it might not have been possible if I didn’t start decluttering and changing the way I looked at my world.
What is possible when you make the shift to a simpler way of living?
It all starts with you and what you want or don't want, in my particular case.
You realize your current way of being isn't enough to take you to the next level of your life. Wanting more starts with less.
You can achieve anything you want by getting rid of the things that are not helping you achieve your goals. Minimalism can help you meet and exceed your dreams and goals.
Semantics
That other thing I want to discuss with you is words. I have used the terms and phrases you may be familiar with: minimalism, decluttering, minimalist lifestyle, and living simply, but what do they mean and how do they relate to one another.
Minimalism: Whether you’re talking about art, music or design, it all boils down to one thing: simplicity. Getting to the essence or heart of something, the necessity of it.
A minimalist lifestyle is crafting a simple life by focusing in on and paring down each area of your life and making a commitment to minimalism.
Declutter: The act of getting rid of stuff, physical or otherwise. You can declutter without being a minimalist. Decluttering and minimalism are not synonymous.
Anyone can declutter their things, but being a minimalist signifies a commitment to simplifying and changing all aspects of your life for the long-term.
Simple living: There is no difference between this and minimalism. You can call it whatever you want. The key is you are living with less, doing and being more.
I don't want you to get caught up on the words. When starting on your journey, you don't have to call it anything. Just start.