We all reach that point during the semester when it feels like our heads just won’t stop spinning. Stressed, overwhelmed and panicked – there’s too much on our minds for us to get anything done.

Last year I stumbled across the concept of minimalism, which not only helped me achieve distinctions across all of the subjects that I thought I was going to fail, but also resulted in me having a heap of extra time for the things and people I love.

That’s right, stress-free uni and more free time. Read on to find out how having less in your life can actually help you get more done.

#1 Get Real With Your Priorities

Make a list of the five most important things in your life. Then, make a list of the five things that you spend most of your time doing. Chances are, these lists look almost nothing alike.

Why do you spend each afternoon absorbed in Instagram and ignoring your family who you claim are so important to you? Why are you watching hours of YouTube when you say you’d love to paint but don’t have the time? Why are you at parties every second night when you want to ace your exams so that you can get into medicine?

Get your priorities in check and live accordingly.

#2 Ditch Technology And Live Deliberately

Let’s talk about unnecessary screen time. If you spend just two hours a day on your phone, that’s a month each year – 24 hours every 30 days – that you’ve spent living through a screen. Like, woah!

I noticed that my phone was distracting me from doing the things that I truly enjoyed. So, I eliminated social media and boy, all of sudden I was seeing more of my friends for lunch dates, I would have days dedicated to playing board games with my boyfriend, I was watching amazing documentaries instead of meaningless YouTube videos, I was studying like Hermione Granger and acing my exams, and I even planned and booked a Europe trip.

Take charge of your time and your life – don’t waste it on a glass screen.

#3 Eliminate Unnecessary Possessions

You know that feeling of bliss when you’re travelling, camping or staying in a hotel, and you only have those few possessions with you that you actually need? Turns out, if you clean out your house/apartment/bedroom of all the meaningless junk that you’ve been hoarding, you can actually have that same blissful sensation in your own home.

Minimalism isn’t about owning nothing; it’s about only owning items that add value to your life. Sort through your belongings and donate, sell or bin the stuff that you never touch. Do you really need that purple shirt that you’ve kept at the back of your closet for three years?

#4 Eliminate Unnecessary People

Minimalism doesn’t only concern material possessions; it’s about clearing your life of all toxic things. Edit out the relationships that don’t make you feel good about yourself. There’s no rule that says you have to split your time between fifty different people because it’s important to be social. Sure, put yourself out there and meet interesting people, but don’t waste your time on phoney friendships.

By eliminating all the superfluous things in your life, you’ll have ample time for the things that truly deserve your time. Give minimalism a go, and soon enough you’ll notice university get easier, stress disappear and free time pile up.

On that note, I’ll leave you with a quote from the Minimalism documentary on Netflix: “Love people. Use things. The opposite never works.”

Claudia Cait is a creative writer who is currently studying at the University of Queensland. She is an undefeated Catan champion, as much as it pains her fiancé to admit. She’s often seen with a bonsoy chai latte or excitedly planning her next trip to Europe. After graduating with her Masters in Writing, Editing and Publishing, Claudia hopes to work in book editing for publishing companies and to further pursue her love for writing.