Banting doctors choose minimalist life in 45-sq foot room

BANTING: Despite living in a 45-square-foot space and owning only seven pieces of clothing, a doctor and her husband say they now feel more at peace and content with their lives.

Dr Amirah Alieya Mohammad, 36, and her husband, Dr Muhammad Aiman Salahuddin, 38, have chosen to live a more minimalist lifestyle compared to before.

Dr Amirah said the idea of adopting a “frugal minimalist” lifestyle first began during her school days.

“At the time, I lacked confidence and wanted to prove to others that I was a ‘successful’ person.

“Because of that, I started buying expensive clothes and luxury bags.

“But even then, I didn’t feel happy, and my mental health was in a terrible state,” she said when contacted.

She said she began searching for a solution to her struggles until she came across the concept of minimalism in 2017 — a philosophy she has practised ever since.

Earlier this year, Dr Amirah and her husband decided to move into a single room at her clinic.

“Before this, we rented a small studio apartment. Then, we decided to downsize even further,” she said.

Dr Amirah said one of the biggest challenges she faced when transitioning to this lifestyle was the fear of being left behind by the latest trends.

“I’ve let go of branded handbags, a large apartment, and all my expensive things.

“However, I’ve stayed true to my belief that living minimally gives me a sense of peace and that’s what keeps me going,” she said.

She added that many aspects of her life have since turned minimalist.

“Besides owning only seven pieces of clothing, I’ve limited myself to just one pair of each type of footwear.

“As for gadgets, I only use one tablet for watching movies, reading books, and doing online work and I no longer use physical notebooks,” she said.

Dr Amirah shared that one tip for starting a minimalist lifestyle is to begin small — by getting rid of unused clothes, followed by headscarves, and then shoes.

“Once you get used to letting go of things you no longer use, it becomes a natural part of your life.

“It’s also important to have the right intention when decluttering, so you don’t stop halfway,” she said.

Dr Amirah said happiness in life does not require luxury.

“As for my daily routine, I usually start work early since my clinic operates 24 hours.

“After work, I cook simple meals like fried rice or spaghetti in the clinic pantry.

“We usually rewear the same clothes twice a week since we don’t have many, and we send them to a nearby laundromat,” she said.

She added that the main reason she and her husband embraced minimalism was for the sake of their mental and emotional wellbeing rather than financial reasons.

“Living minimally makes me feel calmer, and I can treat my patients better without feeling burdened by other worries.

“I also serve my patients more cheerfully, and our business runs more smoothly,” she said.

She said adopting a minimalist lifestyle has also improved their finances, allowing them to build emergency savings, set aside money, and make small investments.

“My husband has actually been a minimalist since his bachelor days.

“So when we decided to live this way, it didn’t feel foreign to either of us.

“We continue to improve our lives together, especially in terms of financial management,” she said.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

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