A Day in the Life of a Minimalist

Summary

Matt Davella, a minimalist, shares his daily routine in this engaging video. He wakes up naturally at 6 a.m., avoids unnecessary possessions, and uses multi-functional items. Matt's day includes efficient work as an independent filmmaker, editing, and staying fit with daily gym visits. He emphasizes intentionality in social media use and preparation for the next day to maintain focus and motivation. The video offers a glimpse into the minimalist lifestyle, highlighting efficiency and value in every aspect of life.

Takeaways

• 🕗 Matt wakes up at 6:00 a.m. daily without an alarm clock, emphasizing a disciplined routine.
• 🧘 Matt's minimalist lifestyle is focused on efficiency, optimization, and multi-functionality, avoiding waste.
• 🗑️ He doesn't own a garbage bin, reflecting his commitment to minimalism and not discarding unnecessary items.
• 🥣 His cereal bowl also serves as a coffee cup, showing the multi-functionality of items in his life.
• 🚮 Matt has eliminated items that don't add value to his life, including those that once brought him joy.
• 👕 He wears the same outfit daily—a charcoal t-shirt and black jeans—demonstrating consistency in his personal style.
• ☕ Matt enjoys making pour-over coffee, a detail that plays into the minimalist stereotype.
• 🎥 As an independent filmmaker, Matt spends half his day editing, showing his love for the entire creative process.
• 💪 He has a consistent gym routine, which helps him manage stress and maintain energy levels.
• 🍝 Matt prepares simple lunches and emphasizes the benefits of working from home, including healthier eating habits.
• 📅 Before bed, Matt reviews his calendar and to-do list to prepare for the next day, highlighting the importance of planning in his routine.
• 🌐 Matt promotes his Patreon account as a way to support his ad-free YouTube channel and offers exclusive content for patrons.

Q & A

What time does Matt typically wake up in the morning?

Matt usually wakes up between 6:00 or 6:30 A.M., depending on how many times he hits the snooze button.

What is Matt's approach to personal belongings and waste management?

Matt follows a minimalist lifestyle, which is reflected in his lack of a garbage bin and his practice of not keeping items that do not add value to his life.

How does Matt's minimalist lifestyle affect his morning routine?

Matt's minimalist lifestyle simplifies his morning routine, as he doesn't waste time deciding what to wear and has a streamlined process for making coffee.

What does Matt wear almost every day according to the script?

Matt wears a charcoal t-shirt and a black pair of jeans almost every day, with a stack of the same t-shirts.

How does Matt's minimalist lifestyle influence his work as an independent filmmaker?

Matt spends about fifty percent of his time at his desk editing projects, showing his love for tackling every part of the filmmaking process.

What does Matt do to maintain a healthy lifestyle?

Matt goes to the gym consistently, having built the habit during college, which helps him to manage stress and maintain energy throughout the day.

How does Matt's minimalist lifestyle relate to his approach to food?

Matt keeps his lunches simple, making enough for multiple days to avoid waste, and he appreciates the benefits of having access to his kitchen while working from home.

What is the role of Matt's Patreon account in supporting his YouTube channel?

Matt's Patreon account allows him to keep his YouTube channel 100% advertisement-free by providing an alternative source of income through exclusive content.

How does Matt's minimalist lifestyle impact his social media usage?

Matt is intentional with his social media usage to avoid distractions from his work, which aligns with his minimalist approach to life.

What is Matt's evening routine before going to bed?

Matt checks his calendar and to-do list to prepare for the following day, which helps him wake up early and stay motivated.

How does Matt's minimalist lifestyle contribute to his overall efficiency and productivity?

Matt's minimalist lifestyle contributes to his efficiency and productivity by reducing unnecessary distractions and focusing on activities that add value to his life.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Morning Routine and Minimalism

Matt, a minimalist, shares his daily routine beginning with waking up naturally at 6:00 a.m. without an alarm clock. He emphasizes efficiency and multi-functionality in his lifestyle, avoiding waste to the extent that he doesn't even own a garbage bin. Matt's minimalist approach extends to using a cereal bowl as a coffee cup, and he has eliminated items that don't add value to his life, including things that once brought him joy. He also humorously addresses stereotypes about minimalists and their coffee habits, and promotes his Patreon account, which supports his ad-free YouTube channel and offers exclusive content about his creative process and business advice.

05:04

🏋️‍♂️ Work, Fitness, and Personal Life

Matt continues his day with work as an independent filmmaker, spending about half of his day at his desk editing. He enjoys the challenges of editing and storytelling, which he finds fulfilling despite the common perception that not all filmmakers enjoy this aspect of their work. After a simple lunch, Matt heads to the gym, a routine he has maintained for about ten years, finding it a great way to relieve stress and maintain energy. Upon returning home, he might continue work-related tasks such as scheduling podcast guests or filming videos. He also touches on the importance of maintaining a work-life balance, especially with his partner Natalie, and how being intentional with his time helps him focus on what's important. Matt concludes his day by preparing for the next, ensuring he can wake up early and stay motivated.

Keywords

💡Minimalist

A minimalist is someone who embraces simplicity and the intentional use of objects, focusing on the essential elements of life. In the video, Matt identifies as a minimalist, emphasizing efficiency and multi-functionality in his lifestyle. His minimalism is reflected in his daily routine and possessions, such as using a cereal bowl as a coffee cup, which exemplifies his commitment to not owning items that do not add value to his life.

💡Efficiency

Efficiency refers to the ability to do or accomplish something without wasting materials, time, or energy. In Matt's minimalist lifestyle, efficiency is a core principle, as seen in his daily routine, which is designed to maximize productivity. For example, he wakes up at the same time every day without an alarm clock and has a streamlined morning routine that includes making coffee, which he also discusses in the context of his Patreon account.

💡Multi-functionality

Multi-functionality is the ability of an object or process to serve multiple purposes. Matt's minimalist approach values items that can be used in more than one way, as demonstrated by his use of a cereal bowl as a coffee cup. This concept is central to his lifestyle, as it reduces waste and clutter, aligning with the minimalist philosophy of owning fewer, more versatile items.

💡Intentionality

Intentionality is the quality of being deliberate and purposeful in one's actions. Matt's life as a minimalist is characterized by intentionality, as he carefully considers the value and necessity of each item and activity in his life. This is evident in his decision to wear the same outfit every day, which saves time and mental energy, and his focused use of social media to avoid distractions.

💡Patreon

Patreon is a membership platform that allows creators to receive financial support from their audience in exchange for exclusive content and benefits. Matt mentions his Patreon account as a way to support his ad-free YouTube channel, offering exclusive videos about his creative process and business advice. This platform is integral to his financial independence and content creation strategy.

💡Independent Filmmaker

An independent filmmaker is a person who creates films outside of the major studio system, often funding and producing their work independently. Matt identifies as an independent filmmaker, spending a significant portion of his day editing projects at his desk. His passion for the entire filmmaking process, including editing, is evident, and it is a key aspect of his professional identity and daily routine.

💡Routine

A routine refers to a sequence of actions regularly followed; a fixed program. Matt's daily routine is a central theme in the video, showcasing the consistency and predictability that极简ism brings to his life. His morning routine, work schedule, gym visits, and evening wind-down are all part of a deliberate routine designed to optimize his time and energy.

💡Gym

The gym is a place where people exercise using equipment and machines. Matt's commitment to going to the gym consistently for the past ten years is highlighted in the video, emphasizing the importance of physical health and mental well-being in his minimalist lifestyle. His gym routine serves as a grounding habit that helps him manage stress and maintain energy levels.

💡Adaptability

Adaptability is the ability to adjust to new conditions or circumstances. Matt discusses the need for adaptability in maintaining a minimalist lifestyle, as life changes require reevaluating what is essential. His approach to minimalism is not static but rather evolves with his life, demonstrating the flexibility required to sustain a minimalist ethos.

💡Social Media

Social media refers to websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or participate in social networking. Matt mentions being intentional with his use of social media to avoid distractions from his work. This highlights his strategy to manage digital consumption in a way that supports his productivity and aligns with his minimalist values.

💡Calendar

A calendar is a system of time measurement, or a tool used to organize and plan events and tasks. Matt uses a calendar to prepare for the following day, which is part of his evening routine. This practice reflects his commitment to organization and forward planning, key components of his minimalist approach to life and work.

Highlights

Matt wakes up at 6:00 a.m. without an alarm clock due to his self-training.

Matt lives a minimalist lifestyle focused on efficiency, optimization, and multi-functionality.

He doesn't own a garbage bin because he doesn't have anything to throw away.

Matt uses a cereal bowl as a coffee cup, emphasizing the multi-functionality of his possessions.

He has eliminated items that do not add value to his life, including things that bring joy.

Matt's day starts between 6:00 and 6:30 A.M., sometimes using a snooze button.

He maintains daily hygiene habits despite his minimalist lifestyle.

Matt wears the same outfit every day, a charcoal t-shirt and black jeans.

He enjoys making pour-over coffee and discusses his Patreon account.

Matt's Patreon supports his ad-free YouTube channel with exclusive content.

As an independent filmmaker, Matt spends half his day editing at his desk.

He finds editing challenging and enjoys the storytelling aspect of it.

Matt prepares simple lunches to save time and money, promoting a healthier diet.

He has been consistently going to the gym for about ten years.

Matt believes working out helps him manage stress and boosts his energy.

After the gym, Matt makes a protein shake and a second cup of coffee before returning to work.

He sometimes calls his family on the East Coast to discuss video ideas.

Matt's minimalist lifestyle involves intentional use of social media to avoid distractions.

He doesn't spend time on activities that aren't important to him.

Matt prepares for the next day by reviewing his calendar and to-do list before bed.

He invites viewers to support his YouTube channel on Patreon for more content.

Transcripts

It's 6:00 a.m.

I've trained myself to wake up at the same time every day, so I have no need for an alarm clock.

My name is Matt, and this is a day in the life of a minimalist.

My life is about efficiency,

optimization,

multi-functionality.

Nothing goes to waste.

You may notice that I don't have a garbage bin,

that's because I don't have anything to throw away.

This may look like just a normal cereal bowl to the non-minimalist,

but to a minimalist, it's also a coffee cup.

If it does not add value to my life I get rid of it

Some have asked me, "what about things that bring you joy?"

I got rid of that as well.

This isn't what my day actually *laughs* looks like. I'm not that much of an asshole~

You guys want to see what an actual day in the life of a minimalist is like?

Well, I'll show you mine.

I usually wake up between 6:00 or 6:30 A.M.

Depending on how many times I hit the snooze button

Apart from what you may have heard about minimalists. I do have a toothbrush and I shower daily.

True to the stereotype, I actually do wear the same thing pretty much every day.

A charcoal t-shirt, and a black pair of jeans

I have a stack of the same t-shirt.

You know what they say about minimalist and pour over coffee,

"they're really annoying and they don't stop talking about it."

Now as I make this hipster cup of coffee, I'd love to talk for just a moment about my Patreon account.

I've been making some pretty cool videos there, that I don't release anywhere else

Like videos about how I make my videos.

Including a breakdown of the one you're watching right now.

I talk about my process,

how I come up with ideas,

tips for growing an audience, and advice on how to build a successful business.

My Patreon account is one of the ways that I'm able to keep this YouTube channel 100% advertisement free.

You can check it out at patreon.com/mattdavella. . . There's a link in the description

Oh look at that, coffee's done~

I usually get in about an hour of work before Natalie starts stirring in bed, at which point I'll take a little break

You want to talk?

Natalie: Noooope! [Narration] And chat for a little bit before she gets ready for work

Then I get back to work.

As an independent filmmaker. I spent about fifty percent of my time right here at this desk

editing

projects. When I first started out I worked with only clients so clients would pay me to make

weddings, Bar Mitzvahs,

eventually, I

graduated to working with startups and tech companies but to

To this day, even now that I'm working only on original projects like my podcast YouTube videos and your films

Much of my time is spent

editing now

I know not every filmmaker loves editing and that's why there's people that exclusively just edit and there's people who exclusively

Just direct but I love something about tackling every part of the process and to me editing poses so many challenges...

To tell a story through editing requires a certain kind of mindset and a certain kind of

independence that I really enjoy so I'll usually put in about two to three hours of editing in the morning and

At which point around eleven o'clock

I'll get some food which

Actually that's right now

I like to keep my lunches pretty simple

I'll typically make two or three times as much as I need and save the rest for the next couple days

One of the biggest benefits of working from home is the access to my kitchen

I find I spend less money eating out and I eat much healthier than when I had an office space

After lunch, I'll get changed and make my way to the gym

So I've been going to the gym pretty consistently for probably the past

Ten years now

I started really

building the habit of working out and going to the gym everyday at least five days a week during college and

There have been times when

my routine falls off and I get sick or I'm traveling and I don't have time to fit in a workout but

I've always been able to pick it back up. It's just been one of those things that

helps to ground me, especially

being a freelancer and

running my own business; It can be very stressful and I find that it's a really

great way to just blow off some steam but also to feel better. So I have more energy throughout the day.

When I get home from the gym, I'll make a protein shake [is it weird to shake it like this?]

make a second cup of coffee and

Then I'm back to work. If I'm not editing

I might be scheduling future podcast guests recording episodes or filming videos since most of my family is on the East Coast

Sometimes I'll make a call home. Right now

I'm explaining a video idea to my mom and she doesn't get it. "No just hustle in general"

"No, that's that's you're thinking of Hustler"

When Nat comes home from work, I usually shut down my work for the day as well, if it wasn't for Natatile I'd probably keep working

Nat, can you give me your best Italian accent?

Ah, this weekend we went down to Olive Garden, and they had a fantastic dish called the "Carbonara á Natatile" And I was like EH!

Umm, I don't know. *laughs*

That was really good.

I don't know if my day looks very different from someone who isn't a minimalist

if anything it comes down to the things I don't do.

I don't waste a lot of time thinking about what I'm gonna wear in the morning. I'm intentional with how I use social media,

so I don't get easily distracted from my work.

It takes a lot of intention upfront as well as the ability to adapt as my life changes

But I don't spend any unnecessary time chasing things that aren't important to me

Before bed I'll take a look at my calendar, to-do list, and prepare for the following day

It helps me to wake up early and motivate it to get to work

Then it's lights off

Thank you so much for watching this video. I hope you enjoyed it

You can support this ad for YouTube channel on Patreon go to patreon.com/Mattdavella

To get more videos on lifestyle design business, film-making, and creativity. Thanks so much for watching