This Popular Lifestyle Trend Is Quintessential To Full-Time RV Life For Good Reason

If you've ever dreamed of selling everything you own, leaving society behind, and hitting the road you're certainly not alone. Sometimes, it feels as though we live in an era where capitalism is king, and that our value as humans mostly lies in our willingness to consume. We're made to feel like we'll be happier if we have the newest tech gadget, the newest trendy item of clothing, or the newest makeup product that will somehow magically make us look like a supermodel and cause us to age backwards. Most of us have probably considered that material belongings can't actually make us happier. Owning more things will never feed our souls — the only thing it does feed is the pockets of rich people. In the age of consumerism, it's no wonder that van life is beginning to gain popularity.

In 2022, it was estimated that there were over 3 million full-time van lifers in the United States. That's more than the amount of people who live in the city of Chicago — the third most populated city in the country. Van life is also popular in Europe where some countries have laws that protect citizens' "Right to Roam" and allow wild camping excursions. It's also regarded as the best way to explore New Zealand. Social media sites are full of people sharing their van life stories, and r/VanLife on Reddit has over 280,000 members. Besides living full time in a recreational vehicle, there's one thing that almost all van lifers have in common — a minimalist lifestyle. If you're dreaming of moving in to a van or RV, it's important to consider whether or not minimalism is right for you. 

Minimalism isn't just popular amongst van lifers and digital nomads. The lifestyle has been on the rise around the world over the past decade, as more people long to leave the rat race behind. Minimalism is like a breath of fresh air in a time when we're taught to believe that our self worth is tied to how much we own. To put it simply, minimalism is simply owning fewer possessions. "Less is more" is a core concept of the philosophy. It involves prioritizing what brings us joy, and getting rid of anything that distracts us from that. It prioritizes time, experiences, and relationships over material things.

 In 2010, two lifelong friends, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, began to promote the idea on their website. They both had high stress jobs and realized that a minimalist lifestyle could be their escape. They became known as The Minimalists, and got rid of almost everything they owned. They promoted the lifestyle on their blog and eventually made a Netflix documentary. They reached over 20 million people with their message and helped make the minimalist lifestyle trendy.

Marie Kondo, a Japanese author, further popularized the idea of downsizing with her KonMari method. It involves going through your belongings one at a time and donating or throwing away anything that doesn't "spark joy." These modern minimalists popularized the concept in households around the world, but minimalism has been around for a while. The word began gaining traction in the 1960s and was popular amongst artists, musicians, writers, and other creatives. Hundreds of years before that, it was an aspect of a philosophy called stoicism. Clearly, people have been finding peace through owning less for a very long time.

For people who live in recreational vehicles, minimalism is more than a trend — it's a necessity. There's simply no room for tons of stuff when everything has to fit in a tiny RV or van. Van lifers can only keep the essentials. You may choose to hold on to a few sentimental belongings to make your little RV feel more like a home. If you're someone who loves fashion, you may try to create built-in storage to hold on to your favorite outfits. It's all about finding what works for you. 

If the thought of getting rid of belongings you've collected or inherited doesn't feel great, take it slow. Van life isn't for everyone, and neither is minimalism — and that's okay. Some van lifers choose to put their stuff in storage until they choose to settle down at a later date. The process isn't easy or fast. Downsizing from a home to a van takes serious effort, and it will take time.

"My family had been in America for 100 years and collected a LOT of stuff to be sure. So, two good sized houses took us 2 years to empty out before we sold them. We bought a van just for that reason because we made countless trips to various charities, set up tables at local flea markets on the weekends for some stuff," wrote Reddit user VictorHexMachine. "In the end, we had a good pile of money and a small storage unit with stuff we wanted to keep for a small house when we decided to stop traveling. It took a lot of effort, busy every day, but it was fun, freeing and $$$," he added.

"The Minimalists: Less is Now" is a documentary on Netflix that can help inspire you and teach you more about the lifestyle. When you feel ready to begin, you can read Marie Kondo's book, "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing." Downsizing is a process and you should be intentional about it.

Another way to start (and to make sure you like minimalism) is to pack a backpack or suitcase and live out of it for a few weeks. Set the intention that you won't use anything outside of your backpack, and see how long you're able to go. Begin curating a minimalist travel capsule wardrobe with plenty of pieces you can mix and match. You may choose a neutral color palette so that your clothing can work well together, and pack plenty of layering pieces. Remember that you'll need options for a variety of climates if you plan on moving around a lot or traveling through different seasons. Next, think about your cooking essentials because you'll need to eat throughout your van life journey. Everything should have a place that it can be safely stored, otherwise your van will become a mess every time you drive.

Begin to slowly separate your belongings. Try to sell things first. Facebook Marketplace and eBay are great options for selling used belongings online. You could also host a yard sale. Offering up things to friends and family for free is another awesome way to downsize. Try to donate whatever is left over and keep as much out of the landfill as possible.