It has been interesting watching Ross develop his minimalist self over the past year – living with him for a few stints in St Kilda certainly gave me an inside perspective. Now that I’m going to London for three weeks, I am going to give the minimalist lifestyle a bash.

I have have challenged myself to only take carry on luggage with me for the trip. Because I’m a nascent minimilist, I’m going to walk you through how I’m going to tackle this.

Light mind, light pack

Certainly, one of the most important things when going away is to actually go away – make sure you can leave work at work and be in the moments you will find yourself in.

I’ve started following the GTD philosophy these last few months, and now know that I can leave life for a few weeks without missing key things that need to be done. My girlfriend Rose, who has a busier job than I do, has also started using GTD and whilst she may need to check in on some important projects whilst gone she can also come to our holiday fully in the moment. That’s important, because it means I can leave my laptop behind to buy me prescious space in my Crumpler Mahoubar messenger backpack.

Don’t be naked

Realise the truth that you actually don’t wear that many clothes in real life. Maybe a t-shirt or fresh shirt each day, a pair of jeans here and there and one pair of shoes. You have a wardrobe to dress that up a little bit, and to be prepared for an ‘occasion’ when that happens…but that’s it. You don’t actually NEED it when travelling. You’re not packing a portion of your wardrobe – you are packing clothes to keep you from being naked. Don’t try to pack a ‘mini-wardrobe’ – just take the basics.

Having said that I have one ‘occasion’ I’ll need to be pimping for – Rose’s parents 40th aniversary. I’ll be on show, so I need to look the goods and will be taking a few items to dress up my shirt/jeans combo. Perhaps that is good advice – take one outfit in your luggage you would be happy to present to your new girls parents and JUST pack that. Then think about what else you might need to not be naked, and you have got yourself a packed bag!

Take only the best, not just ‘less’

From what I can glean from other minimilists, the key is not reducing stuff meaninglessly but only owning great stuff you really use. In that vein, I will be taking my three pairs of Exofficio underware, 3 threadless t-shirts and one shirt for the ‘occasion’.

I will also be taking my Cambodian kromar (to dress up an outfit whilst out during the day) and a pair of ankle-boots that double as comfy getting around shoes, as well as some ‘smooth’ shoes suitable for any occasion. I am a sock fiend so I will be packing 5-6 pairs of ‘indy like’ socks as my minimalist treat.

That’s it! I fly out on Saturday afternoon from sunny Melbourne and head off for London.

What would you pack if you were me?

Related posts:

1. Getting Things Done by getting them off your mind
2. Traveling lightly across the world with 35 things
3. Be yourself, even when it is just yourself

Getting Things Done is the popular productivity system developed by David Allen over 30 years of coaching Fortune 1000 executives. The result is an incredibly thorough and enlightened set of ideas about how people organise themselves, how to implement lasting habits, and most importantly – how to get to that place where you are ready for anything.

Remember that the key to Getting Things Done is not actually getting a lot of things done, it is about clearing your head and having all of your commitments in a trusted system so that you can focus and be mindful with whatever is happening right now.

This isn’t about being lazy or not having anything to do, in fact quite the opposite:

The “ready state” of the martial artist is not a passive, reactive or finite one. It is a totally dynamic, alive, creative, and expansive. But it’s not free. It is enabled by increasingly refined training and experience with work and life.

The GTD system

The minimal version of GTD is “Focus on positive outcomes and continually take the next action on the most important thing.”

The baseline version is “Get everything out of your head. Make decisions about actions required on stuff when it shows up—not when it blows up. Organize reminders of your projects and the next actions on them in appropriate categories. Keep your system current, complete, and reviewed sufficiently to trust your intuitive choices about what you’re doing (and not doing) at any time.”

Now let’s break that down into meaningful pieces:

COLLECT

Get yourself a pen and some paper and take 5 minutes to write down everything on your mind that you have to do. This could be something small like returning an email or something big like starting a business. Don’t try to do anything or filter anything – just write it all down. Your list will probably end up being anything from 50 to 200 things long.

PROCESS

This is where you will clarify each thing on the list. Start at the top and for each item ask yourself “Is there a next action?” If not, throw it out. If there is then you are either going to do it now (if it takes less than two minutes), Next (within the next few months) or Someday (who knows when, but you want to do it). If the action relates to a particular time then it belongs on your Calendar. If it will take more than one action to complete then add it to your Projects list.

ORGANISE

Group all of the things into their lists and give them context. You might tag with contexts like “phone calls”, “in the office”, or by areas of focus like “health”, “social”, “career”. The idea here is to make it easy to find the relevant list of things depending on your current state.

REVIEW

You will review all of your lists whenever your mind isn’t okay with everything. Now and Calendar a few times per day, Next and Projects every day or two, Someday every few months. Keep your system current, complete, and reviewed sufficiently to trust your intuitive choices about what you’re doing (and not doing) at any time.

DO

You now have an epic list of all the things you want to do, organised and reviewed. You are ready to make the Next Action that makes the most sense – based on your current location, available time, energy and priorities. If not, then there is a leak somewhere in your system and you need to fix that.

That’s it! Now here are some of the distinctions I have found particularly useful:

The Tools

The original book was written in the time of paper filing cabinets, so if you read it you will learn about old gems like the ‘tickler file’ and more. These days there are hundreds of computer and mobile applications that will try to help you – but the reality is that you will need to figure out what works for you. At first I recommend using a paper notebook so that you don’t get distracted by the flashing shiny bits of a new toy. The GTD principles apply to whatever medium you choose. I would recommend that you use something that is with you all of the time so that you have a single source of truth. It needs to be a trusted system or none of this will work because you will keep things in your head.

Next Actions

If you are going to use just one aspect then it should be the concept of the Next Action, because that is really what separates GTD from the common todo list. David describes next actions as changes that you want to make on the world, or, “the next physical, visible activity that needs to be engaged in, in order to move the current reality toward completion.”

Either you need new tires or you don’t. At some point, the tire thing crosses a very distinct line. Before then, not needed. After then, needed. Once they’re needed, there are no ABC categories for tires. They also don’t quite fit into the “quadrant” matrix. Either they are a project to be done as soon as we can or they are not. Period.

When you break it down to this level it becomes very black and white, so the way you write them is very important. It should be a statement that you can tick off as being complete. As Merlin Mann describes – things like “get new work”, “lose weight” and “buy christmas presents” can’t really be “done” because they are each a complex multi-action Project. Converting these to next actions would make them look more like this:

• Find old resume in filing cabinet
• Call gym to see when membership expires
• Start a running list of everyone I need to buy Christmas gifts for

Now those are things you can tick off as being complete. They are your next actions.

The Horizons

If you are worried or stressed and don’t know why, look to the horizon. Start at the next action list and zoom out until you have clarity. Do this as often as you feel you need to, and at least weekly. This is a really powerful aspect because it is so natural. When you zoom out you are going to go from your daily actions to your weekly projects that stem from your current areas of responsibility which flow from the yearly goals that match your career, lifestyle and purpose. Wherever you get stuck you need to zoom in and figure it out.

Clarity of your big rocks while knowing the next actions will give you the awareness you need to change the world today.

Get started now, and ask yourself: What’s on your mind?

__

Also see:

GTD notes from the collective through Kindle Highlights

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (2002)

Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Work and Life (2004)

Making It All Work: Winning at the Game of Work and the Business of Life (2009)

David Allen Authors@Google Talk

Merlin Mann interviews David Allen

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While attending Wisdom2.0 where we explored the nexus of wisdom and technology, I learned that something as simple as taking a mindful deep breath is considered a form of meditation. I had never thought of it like that before, but sometimes taking a moment to breath deeply is all you need to shift into a more mindful, alert, ‘ready’ state.

Jan Stewart made the observation that I actually take a breath each time I’m waiting for something to load on my iPhone, which happened a lot while hunting for patches of open wifi across San Francisco! I have noticed that I do the same when I am waiting for almost anything, whether that is for a web connection or standing in line at a cafe.

Be aware and notice that this mindful opportunity happens many times each day!

Take a breath next time you find yourself waiting.

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2. Invisible Infrastructure, by Brand
3. Bifi = bicycle + free wifi

These are the 35 things I take with me when I travel. This collection has been through a number of iterations now and includes stops in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Bangkok, Phi Phi island, Los Angeles, Austin, San Francisco, Whistler and Vancouver. These aren’t extreme climates and I prefer hot to cold, so the gear list is made to match that preference.

THE BAG

It all begins with the olive Mahoubar messenger backpack from Crumpler – a Melbourne based company. The bag is strong and comfortable with two strong adjustable shoulder straps and an optional waist strap, and surprisingly it somehow doesn’t flop over even when it is filled. It’s not waterproof but the design of the main top flap means you will need quite a bit of rain before your stuff starts to get wet.

The bottomless main cargo compartment holds most things (clothes, laptop, etc), then there are two overlapping zipped front panels for accessories and toiletries, a waterproof zipped inner pocket as well as a velcro inner pocket and two waterbottle pockets on the side. It is hugely expandable to suit the amount of gear you have.

Filled to less than 7kg to match the carry-on limit for flying (plus laptop), the only area this bag lacks in is security. You can’t lock it up – not that most travel locks are actually that secure anyway. I only leave the bag in places I consider safe, and it is small enough that if I don’t have somewhere to leave it I can take it with me anywhere without being awkward. When I’m on the bus or train I keep it at my feet. Simple.

WORKING GEAR

The 13″ Macbook Pro with Haul sleeve and power cable is essential for blogging, staying connected to the world, storing photos, watching movies and tv. I want to be able to travel sustainably and that means being able to work from anywhere. I upgraded the storage to 500gb, and on battery it lasts around 6hrs, though the newer models do 10hrs. I still lug around the display output converter sometimes for giving presentations on VGA projectors. Now I also have an iPad, though I’m hoping to transition to away from the laptop soon – there are only a few things I still need the macbook for at the moment, but I should have solutions to them soon.

The iPhone and charger form the mobile command centre. The iPhone does a whole bunch of things – I use it as my main camera (though I am tempted by the micro four thirds models that are the same quality as your full SLR but at a fraction of the size..), calculator, maps, alarm clock, iPod for music, calendar, skype to call anywhere, twitter, foursquare, facebook, and notes for action lists.

I pair these two with an old school notepad and pens, because paper still rocks.

ACCESSORIES

Kyono make the incredibly minimal Slimmy wallet that holds cash, two credit cards and a photo ID. I have a special edition one that has a slick red inner lining and came with a extensible pen. This goes with the Passport for travel and for photo ID abroad.

Shure SE210 sound isolating earphones. There are lots of fancy noise cancelling headphones out there but these are the most practical while sounding awesome – and they also double as standard ear plugs to reduce noise while you’re not playing any music.

Fenix LD10 R4 flashlight with a white diffuser tip. The little LED keyring lights you can get are probably good enough if you just want it for security or when the power goes out, but I like having this much more serious torch because it is super bright and with the diffuser doubles as a lamp if you want to read or do things at night. It uses a single AA battery that will last 34 hours at 9 lumens or 1.5 hours at 132 lumens (it’s bloody bright, okay?)

The black Kiva keychain expandable duffel bag packs up to be super tiny, and is good for use on day trips to carry a laptop, jacket, books, towel, water bottle etc.

I always carry a double power adapter in case I need to share a laptop power point with somebody, and internationally it pairs nicely with a power type converter.

CLOTHING

I picked up a black “Original” Marmot DriClime Windshirt jacket before heading to Whistler – I knew I’d be pushing it for the conditions, but it performed amazingly. It is incredibly warm, blocks the wind really well and is water repellent. At Whistler while we were skiing towards the bottom of the mountain it started raining for a while and it did well but I wasn’t going to want to be out there for too much longer – but rain anywhere is usually intermittent. Yes you will have a few days where it might pour rain all day, but usually if you wait an hour or two it will pass. Take the time to chill out a bit inside before you keep moving :) There are bigger and bulkier jackets out there if you need more, but for the minimalist nomad this is perfect.

I take 5 tshirts, a balance between cotton and wool. Wool is moisture wicking which is nicer in hot climates, it dries really quickly, is breathable, and can hold 1/3 of its weight in water before it feels wet. Most wool products also have an anti-microbial lining that makes them odour resistant. I have a black Icebreaker Superfine Ultralite 150 tee, and a jet Icebreaker Beast Apollo top – also good to layer up if it gets chilly. Then I have a couple of cotton tees because they are more comfortable especially in mild climates, even if they don’t have the other benefits that wool provides.

The ExOfficio Men’s Boxers are winners – more expensive than most but super comfortable and again with all the benefits of wool. Their tagline is “17 countries. 6 weeks. And one pair of underwear” but that’s kinda creepy, so I bring 3.

The same goes for socks – they will cost more but it’s worth it for the functional fibres. I have a few pairs of black Icebreaker Hike Lite Mini Socks and one set of gray Smartwool Men’s Adrenaline Light Micro Sports Socks.

Many travel sites are going to suggest not bringing jeans because they are relatively heavy, bulky and are slow to dry – but they are comfortable and look good so they are actually quite functional. Nobody wants to wear synthetics all day so I have some JAG jeans. As an alternative I have some REI pants, and of course some blue RipCurl boardies for swimming.

The ‘barefoot’ trend of natural footwear is growing, and Terra Plana are an innovative and forward thinking company who have been producing their barefoot line in an eco-friendly fashion since 2004. I have the black Vivo Barefoot ‘Dharma’ set. Similar in philosophy to the more popular Vibram Five Fingers shoes – the Vivo’s don’t smell (ask anyone with Vibrams..) and they actually look like normal shoes so you won’t get odd looks as you walk down the street! Essentially they are a 3mm thick puncture-resistant sole that leads you to walk as nature intended. Barefoot shoes and running barefoot take a bit of getting used to, and it’s one thing to think about your form as you exercise each day but if you wear these all day you will have to re-learn how to walk everywhere. Most shoes have super padded heels so you tend to sub-consiously mash your heel into the ground with each step – however with barefoot shoes you won’t be doing that for long because it will hurt! Once you adjust your walking style they are the most comfortable things in the world :)

CLEANLINESS

There no surprises in the usual toiletries collection, other than the super concentrated lavender Dr Bronner Organic Castile Soap that can be used as soap, shampoo and to wash clothes (with the travel clothes line). Some say it can also replace toothpaste but I’m not tempted to try it! All of these are stored in a sealed plastic bag with bottles less than 100ml – you need to do this for airport security but also it will save you from any unfortunate leaks.

I carry a micro-fibre travel towel. These things hold many times their weight in water, are fast-drying, and roll up to be very small. They aren’t going to match the comfort level of your typical large cotton towel, that’s for sure, but they are very practical when you are moving around a lot. If you find yourself missing the big cotton towel the solution is simple – check into a nice hotel for a night.

SLEEPING

Oh, and did I mention that I carry a bed with me? The LuxuryLite Ultralite Cot is a full sized camping stretcher, for couchsurfing without the couch. Many friends doubted the comfort and general awesomeness, until they slept on it. You could say this isn’t an essential item but a good nights sleep while traveling is priceless. Paired with a luxurious Kangaroo coloured Sea To Summit 100% Premium Silk Sleeping Bag Liner that gives a little bit of warmth and has a pillow section that can be filled for padding. You don’t need a sleeping bag, those things are huge. You will be sleeping somewhere warm and if it gets cool then borrow a blanket or wear a few layers. It weighs less than a kilogram (so it easily meets the carry-on limits) and you don’t need all the poles so you can leave some of them at home.

Have a look at the video below to see how the stretcher works:

World Nomads travel insurance is awesome and easy. I don’t pay the extra for laptop and iPhone because I don’t feel the risk justifies it. With that in mind the most important stuff is not the hardware but the files on them, so I use Dropbox to sync everything and pair that with a full hard drive backup to a WD 500gb My Passport drive using Superduper every few weeks.

For water I buy a plastic water bottle at a shop occasionally and then refill it often.

Where does all this stuff come from? Aside from the internet of stuff, where you can find anything if you are willing to pay for shipping, your best option is to go for a hiking store. The typical big box outdoor adventure outlets may have cheaper gear but most of the time it is going to be large and unwieldy. Backpacking Light in Somerset Pl in Melbourne is awesome. Remember that you don’t have to bring everything with you – if there are humans wherever you are going then you will be able to buy anything you need.

Waiting at a baggage carousel to pick up bags that need to be schlepped straight to the hotel is a figment of the past. There is nothing like the feeling of landing somewhere with just a carry-on backpack, striding towards the fresh air of the exit and ready to seize the day.

Are you traveling nomadically?

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these five blogs from four bloggers have been writing some really amazing posts recently. you should take a look, then i certainly recommend subscribing to them.

colin wright from exilelifestyle
colin is a designer from la who moves country every four months to wherever his blog readers vote for him to go.

• i’m a man of many experiments
• how to throw a breakup party
• on failing gracefully

his book is networking awesomely.

ev bogue from farbeyondthestars
ev lives with less than 50 things and works from anywhere in the world

• 8 ways to focus on minimalist income
• how to find your minimalist edge
• the indispensable guide to timejacking your way to success

his ebook is the art of being minimalist.

tammy strobel from rowdykittens
tammy lives car-free and is a tiny house enthusiast

• 8 simple tips to overcome loneliness
• how to change the world by rethinking your perspective
• how to pursue the reality you imagine yourself living

her ebook is simply car-free.

leo babauta from zenhabits
leo is very well known for his zenhabits blog, one of the originals in the simplicity space

• 20 things i wish i had known when starting out in life
• 10 benefits of rising early, and how to do it
• my story

his ebook is the simple guide to a minimalist life.

leo also writes mnmlist
the most minimal blog of them all!

• the only thing you can change
• break free from goals
• the joy of walking

Related posts:

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Colin has a heap of experience in business networking and today is releasing an ebook on the topic, titled Networking Awesomely. He asked me (and 20 others) to write a piece on how I network for the book. It is a huge read at 251 pages but made up of small parts so it is easy to flick through to pick out the pieces from individuals you might recognise or particular topics.

At $20 it is a steal for the amount of insights that are included. You can find out more and buy Networking Awesomely at Exile Lifestyle.

You can also follow us all with the Networking Awesomely list on Twitter.

Along the networking awesomely theme, I recently posted some notes from my time at SXSW, and this weekend I will post my contribution to the book. If you can’t wait, grab the book now.

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More important than the session topics is the people doing them:

• You should think of an event like a magnet for good people. You can meet most of the important people in an industry in a single day. In a single day you can catch up with people it would usually take weeks or months to organise.
• The content is already online or in a book. Go to the event to hear the subtleties of how it is presented, and to see who else is attracted to the area.
• If you want to actually meet a speaker, talk to them 20 minutes before their session – because you know they will be swamped afterwards.
• Particularly if it is a large event, don’t schedule something into every block. Pick the two or three people whose talks you want to see that day, then fill the rest with the most interesting nearby room you can find. You don’t want to be running around all day missing things, so don’t set yourself up for it.
• Keep a list of the ad hoc meetups and parties that happen outside the official schedule. You might even run one yourself – it is a good excuse to get some interesting people together for a simple drink or meal.
• Know why you are there. Is it to meet somebody? To get the word out about something you are doing? To have a fun few days? Whatever it is, keep this in mind each morning as you start the day.

What is your personal strategy at conferences?

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Working without a clock has been great because I can lose track of time and get into the flow of whatever I am working on. If I feel like I need a break, I have a break. If I’m hungry, I go eat. If everything is good though I’ll keep working through and it has been much more productive.

Taking this one step further though I follow Amit’s tips on how to remove everything else from the menu bar. Right now I have the spotlight search (because I use this heaps) and the airport wifi so I can see what’s happening with the wifi (I move around a lot). The battery display is also hidden – I can always check using the buttons on the left side of the laptop anyway, and it will pop up an alert when I pass the 20% charge mark.

If you are interested in focus I would suggest trying this minimal menu bar sometime :)

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Having spent the last few months living in Fitzroy I have certainly scoped it out and thought I should share some of the highlights. The hyperlocal web market in Australia is still very young – but every Fitzroy local should definitely be subscribed to Fitzroyalty (I suggest doing it with FeedMyInbox to get a managable daily email update) to keep in touch with the best local reporting.

Another good avenue to explore what is happening is a tailored Twitter search on the area – again using FeedMyInbox is a good way to subscribe to daily updates.

Where are the hotspots? Here we go:

Min Lokal

Two communal dining tables and a menu that reflects their sister cafe, New York Tomato. The specials are usually awesome, and the sandwiches make a good lunch. The coffee here is the best in Fitzroy, by a huge margin. It’s on George St so you lose the masses of tourists from Smith St and Brunswick St – since I was living 2 minutes away this place quickly became My Local.

Browse Min Lokal on Yabble – Share your review of Min Lokal on Yabble

Newtown S.C.

Another very intimate space that is great to catch up with people, the Newtown social club lives up to its name with a very regular set of customers. I have only been here for breakfasts but they were all amazing – from the muesli and fresh fruit to the special baked eggs. The coffee is outstanding and the aromas are amazing.

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Little Creatures

The Dining Hall is a sight to behold. The open kitchen up the back delivers a good array of snacks or more thorough meals depending on the hour, and the bar that lines the left side of the hall has as much beer as you need to quench your thirst. If you’re new to Little Creatures ask for the “pony round” where you get a pony of each of the 6 drinks they brew – it’s a good way to get started and then you can order something larger of the winner. Great place for a warm afternoon session, and it gets really busy at night.

Browse Little Creatures Dining Hall on Yabble - Share your review of Little Creatures Dining Hall on Yabble

Lamb on Brunswick Street

There’s quite a selection of souvlaki shops on Brunswick St but this one comes out on top. $2.50 pizza slices are great, and they’re by far the most welcoming slices that you’ll see in the windows. The souvlaki’s are great too – traditional but awesome. This is where you go for your lamb after a few beers down the street!

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Houndstooth

Long communal tables as standard in Fitzroy. Houndstooth has a great simple menu on the wall – you pay for one, two or three meals and then select from the chalkboard. The Kangaroo fillet was excellent with a rather unique beetroot side. The tiramisu dessert is also a spectacular way to end the meal. It’s a warm atmosphere with a good selection of beer, a good place to meet with friends during the week.

Browse Houndstooth on Yabble - Share your review of Houndstooth on Yabble

Retro Cafe

The bright yellow restaurant and bar down the end of the Brunswick St strip, Retro is good for a fast but decent meal. They often have a $13 beer and pizza deal which is obviously a winner.

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Dr Folicles

No appointments, beer on arrival, loud vinyl and a $27.50 cut. Do yourself a favour and see the good Doctor when the hair gets out of control!

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Gus at Haul

If you continue down the road into North Fitzroy be sure to stop in and say hi to @GusTheBoxer. He guards the haul shop, where you can find some awesome MacBook Pro laptop sleeves – I picked up a Coca Cola cover for my new 13″ and it’s awesome. The products are all made of recycled billboards, number plates, and other cool materials. Gus will help you find something awesome.

Browse haul on Yabble - Share your review of haul on Yabble

Please share your thoughts on each place and if I have missed anything in the area let me know!

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3. Bifi = bicycle + free wifi

The structure:

Generally the structure is that you come in on the first day, there is a bunch of talks in the morning that are supposed to be inspirational and educational so you can learn how to get at the data. Then around lunch time on the first day you start the 24 hours of hacking and you hack right the way through the night, right the way through bacon sandwiches in the morning and right through to 1-2pm on the second day – and then you present your ideas to your peers. You get feedback from your peers and then hopefully there are some prizes. It is as simple as that, so anyone can organise one.

The tips:

Try and help developers not have to worry about anything other than the coding, and give then a little bit of distraction (like laser skirmish!) Make sure people are well fed. Make sure there is enough food and enough beer. What you are trying to do is take away that base level of distraction – food, shelter, warmth, and let developers operate around a slightly higher plane.

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