The 37-year-old, who has been a minimalist for four years, co-founded the Minimalists Malaysia Facebook group in 2018 with two friends.

To date, there are over 4,000 members in the community who inspire and support one another in their journey towards the minimalist lifestyle.

Ong was initially influenced by web articles written by proponents of the approach such as Leo Babauta, Joshua Becker and Courtney Carver, as well as Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus of “The Minimalists”.

“They are all of different ages and backgrounds; it’s nice to see how minimalism can apply to anyone,” she tells FMT.

She also cites Fumio Sasaki’s bestseller “Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism” as her all-time favourite book on the topic.

Ong began decluttering while living in a rented property. “It was hassle-free moving into my new apartment – all my things could fit into my small Viva,” she recalls.

The sales executive also maintains a list of most of what she owns.

“If I buy something new, I have to sell or give something away. It’s a ‘one-in-one-out’ strategy,” she says, adding that this makes it easier for her to keep track of her possessions.

According to her, the numerous stores that sell cheap and “cute” items often cause people to buy things they don’t really need.

“After decluttering, I felt a lightness in my heart and mind, as though a burden had been lifted off me,” she says.

Cleaning her apartment has also been a lot easier now that she has fewer possessions.

Ong has since applied the principles of minimalism to other areas of her life.

“Minimalism doesn’t just concern things; it’s more of a lifestyle. You can apply it to your social media and other aspects of your day-to-day life,” she says, pointing out that consuming too much information online can affect one’s mental health.

As such, she tries her best to curate all aspects of her life. Besides periodically decluttering her photos – she has had to go through thousands of images accumulated over the years – she also makes sure she has zero emails in her inbox.

“Decluttering can be hard in the beginning but it gets easier with time,” she says.

Being an avid reader, Ong used to have hundreds of books. “I gave many away to a friend who manages a secondhand bookstore,” she says, adding that she currently has only one physical book.

These days, she borrows hard-copy books or opts for electronic ones. If she does buy, she makes sure to sell or give them away once she’s done reading.

Interestingly, she now reads more than she used to. “I love reading and I’m a writer, so I can understand the attachment to books, but I personally value the feeling of lightness more,” she says.

When she first started decluttering, Ong used to give away things on the “Beli Nothing Project” Facebook group, where people give away and borrow things for free.

“If you need the cash, by all means, sell your belongings, but if your goal is to declutter and lead an unencumbered life, it’s easier and faster to just give things away,” she says, adding that it’s especially satisfying to donate items to people who actually want them.

Admittedly, she faced a challenge when it came to getting rid of her old diaries and journals.

“Before discarding them, I went through each and every page and took pictures of what I liked.

“Reading about the past evokes memories. I prefer to let bygones be bygones and focus on the present instead,” she says.

As for sentimental items, Ong makes sure they fit into a shoebox.

For those who are keen to explore the minimalist lifestyle, Ong says to start slowly.

“Don’t do it all at once as it might get overwhelming. Start with your physical things.

“In time, once you get into the habit of decluttering and reap its benefits, you’ll naturally want to apply it into other areas of your life,” she says.

At the end of the day, it is important to know your real reasons for wanting to adopt the approach. For Ong, the minimalist lifestyle helps to keep her life on track.

“Some of my friends call me an extreme minimalist, but I don’t think I am. There are others who live from just a backpack. Now that’s extreme!” she laughs.

To find out more, check out the Minimalists Malaysia Facebook group.