Minimalism has been my way of life, involving quitting my job with less than $3000 in my bank account, embarking on the “challenge of reducing possessions to fewer than 100 items,” turning off my cellphone, booking a one-way ticket to Europe, and living self-sufficiently in the mountains of Spain, exchanging necessities for volunteer work.
What did it require? Unraveling much of what I had been taught about pursuing the American Dream.
When I first set foot in Spain in February 2015, I volunteered for five hours a day at an animal shelter in exchange for three meals a day.
And a free room with wifi.
My daily routine included:
8:00 am – Feeding the dogs
8:15 am – Breakfast
9:00 am – Cleaning the apartment or the first dog walk
10:00 am – Apartment rearrangement and cleaning or second dog walk
11:00 am – Scooping poop or heading out for the third walk
12:00 pm – Fourth walk
1:00 pm – Lunch
1:30 pm to 5:00 pm – Free time
5:00 pm – Feeding the donkeys
5:30 pm – Feeding all the dogs
6:15 pm – Dinner preparation
7:30 pm – Dinner
Living deep in the forest where the dogs roamed freely, playing in streams, and chasing sticks, it felt like living the life of a 12-year-old. Friends suggested keeping a detailed diary of my experiences, but I wanted nothing more than to live “as is” without documenting anything further.
For two months, I barely interacted with humans, spending my days alongside animals and nature. It was a fantastic detox for someone accustomed to life in New York.
After the animal sanctuary, I spent several months working five hours a day on an organic farm in the mountains of Asturias.
Given a bare piece of land, by the time I left, it had turned into an impressive garden with 13 types of vegetables planted.
I spread manure, tilled soil, planted seeds, weeded. Besides the cultivated vegetables (tomatoes, strawberries, potatoes, onions, bell peppers, cucumbers, butternut squash, pumpkins, zucchinis, lettuce, escarole, cauliflower, cabbage), there were pear, apple, cherry, walnut, hazelnut, and fig trees, so we mainly ate from the garden, hardly buying anything.
There was no waste on the farm. Papers were burned nightly, organic waste turned into compost, and plastics or glass were reused or recycled. I never saw a trash bag on their property (laughs). We also harvested raw honey.
Located halfway up a mountain, the farm allowed daily hikes with the dogs to famous trails like Camino Real, Picos de Europa, and Aneto Trail.
I also had time to train for the Lagos de Covadonga Extreme Marathon and placed 15th in the women’s category.
Later, I spent two weeks at a meditation center in Malaga, southern Spain.
My daily schedule involved cleaning rooms as guests checked out.
8-9 am – Breakfast
9 am to 12:30 pm – Work
12:30 pm to 1 pm – Break
1-2 pm – Work
2 pm – Lunch
3-7 pm – Free time
7-9 pm – Dinner (flexible)
I was also invited to daily meditation services.
I had access to a well-stocked library.
In September, I was at the beach in Lagos, Portugal.
At a yoga retreat where I volunteered, I enjoyed beautiful yoga facilities.
Library, pool, jacuzzi, hot tub.
And by the end of December this year, I’ll spend Christmas in northern Spain and then two weeks cat-sitting on a beach in Marbella to ring in the new year.
For me, minimalism isn’t just about not buying unnecessary things but also eliminating what no longer serves me. It was a lifestyle tailored to working.
Letting go of most of my possessions became the key to unlocking new freedoms, but the key was to release them without selling.
Minimalism isn’t for everyone, but once you taste it, it’s hard to go back.
Becoming a minimalist allowed me to participate in adventures I had only dreamed of. Experiencing a stress-free life in a natural community, I doubt I’ll ever return to the rat race.
And if the need to work arises again, it’ll be solely to earn enough money to continue these adventures. Having spent only about $600 in the past 8 months, I think I can manage for a while with my modest $3000 savings.
I hope this is helpful.
