7 Tips on How to Become More Ascetic

(Philosocom's Asceticism Directory)

For most people, asceticism is neither a desired state to be in nor an ideology to follow. However, with the rise of minimalism and with more and more people realizing that we do not need that much in order to live a satisfying life, it can be argued that there is, at least, a certain minority in the world who is both strong and willing enough to take on a more ascetic lifestyle, including myself.

As an ascetic, for example, my life would appear boring and gray to many, but as I too realized that not much was needed, I decided to live more ascetically indefinitely. Surely, one may miss many things that life has to offer, but when the minimum is prioritized over the unnecessary, the potential for regret may decrease over time.

Here is my guide to becoming as ascetic as realistically possible:

1. Think of a reason that will motivate you on your ascetic journey. The more you are convinced by this reason or by numerous other reasons, the more determined and motivated you will become. Having said that, reason can pretty much serve as a formidable opponent against regret in the future, should you look back and be unsatisfied.

   
   

2. Adopt a healthy diet, even if it means that your food is less flavorful. Eat as many vegetables as you can, so that your body does not become too consumed by potential obesity. It would be difficult for you to live an ascetic life if you were to eat candy, snacks, and junk food. Indeed, an ascetic lifestyle can extend your life expectancy due to health being an exalted value in the Art of Asceticism. Do not eat when you are satiated, and avoid alcohol, smoking, and other unhealthy consumptions as much as you can. Should you succumb to temptation, do not be sad about it and learn from it to do better. Avoiding such temptations will lead you to a life of greater freedom from consumerism, and help maintain the amount of money you have, as well.

   
   

3. Attempt to be as socially inactive as you can. This will help you become more disciplined. The more you are socially active, the more temptations you will need to overcome, making an ascetic lifestyle extremely difficult in a world of hedonism and unhealthy substances that make you feel joyful. Take note that this is for your consideration and that these are just tips. The point is that a rich social life could entail peer pressure, which could lead you to unhealthy dependences that contradict the health and serenity of the ascetic lifestyle.

   
   

4. Practice voluntary isolation. See how much you can be alone after you return from work or school. The more you practice this art, the more you will be able to endure temptations, and you will be more self-sufficient and autonomous, even if not completely. Solitude is a great way to discover yourself beyond the framework of your society and bring you closer to a state of self-actualization, where you are able to optimally satisfy yourself with your distinct talents and potentials. Additionally, it can greatly increase your independence from other people on various levels, most notably the social and the emotional, leading you to the ability of acquiring happiness and satisfaction by simply using your own company, without a greater need for others to do so for you and vice versa.

   
   

5. Dedicate your ascetic-based lifestyle to a goal. With lack of distractions, an ascetic lifestyle grants you much more free time to become far more proficient at something and more enhanced at whatever skill you wish to be enhanced in. Asceticism does not have to come from religious motives. These motives can be physical, intellectual, and much more. I am myself an atheist, and I still practice asceticism, so that I could have more free time to write and to live in my own Internal World. I can at least provide my own evidence, that asceticism helped me become a more productive writer, thanks to the absence of distractions and other disturbances that are included in a "fuller" life.

6. Live simply. You can even live in an apartment with minimal furniture. You can even sleep on the floor at night, and keep your house without pictures or unnecessary decorations. You don’t need Coca-Cola; you can do just fine with water, coffee, and tea.

You don’t need to have a luxurious lifestyle and career; sometimes even the simplest of jobs can ensure your financial stability with less stress than otherwise. You also don’t need television, thanks to the internet. The same is with the latest smartphones; my first one used to be from 2010, and I only discarded it in 2018.

Take note: Some may see it as a compromise, but it doesn't have to be one when you have a different set of priorities, such as the priority to save money while still getting what you desire. Intention indeed plays a role here. I discovered, for instance, that a small console of games from the 80s and 90s can still keep me entertained in the same way as the games I used to have on my now permanently broken PS4. Not much is needed, indeed.

7. Attempt as much as you can to avoid possible temptations that might unnecessarily hurt you in the long run. The more you can conquer your desires and restrain them under your sovereignty, the better ascetic you will become. In the end, your proficiency as an ascetic lies in your ability to deny following the tyranny of freedom-taking, money-wasting temptations, that cause more harm than good for yourself and, theoretically, for the world as well. Should we be moderate in our spending, both our hearts and wallets will be happier and have greater space for breathing.

Thank you for reading thus far. If you enjoyed my suggestions on this topic, please consider sharing this article.