diff --git a/nvim/.config/nvim/lua/plugins/core.lua b/nvim/.config/nvim/lua/plugins/core.lua
index d267be6..a0e1fbf 100644
--- a/nvim/.config/nvim/lua/plugins/core.lua
+++ b/nvim/.config/nvim/lua/plugins/core.lua
@@ -92,8 +92,8 @@ return {
 	-- collection of plugins
 	{
 		"echasnovski/mini.nvim",
-		version = "*",
-		dependencies = { "rktjmp/fwatch.nvim" },
+		dependencies = { "rktjmp/fwatch.nvim" }, -- for colorscheme updating
+		event = "VimEnter", -- need to load pretty soon for Starter screen
 		config = function()
 			-- automatic callback to invoke 'mini.base16' when colorscheme file is changed
 			local colorsfile = vim.fn.stdpath("state") .. "/colorscheme.lua"
@@ -112,62 +112,7 @@ return {
 				end),
 			})
 
-			require("mini.ai").setup()
-			-- Align tables and other alignable things
-			require("mini.align").setup({})
-
-			require("mini.bracketed").setup({
-				{
-					buffer = { suffix = "b", options = {} },
-					comment = { suffix = "k", options = {} },
-					conflict = { suffix = "" }, -- disable to use git-conflict instead
-					diagnostic = { suffix = "d", options = {} },
-					file = { suffix = "", options = {} },
-					indent = { suffix = "" }, -- disable since we use indentscope above
-					jump = { suffix = "j", options = {} },
-					location = { suffix = "l", options = {} },
-					oldfile = { suffix = "o", options = {} },
-					quickfix = { suffix = "q", options = {} },
-					treesitter = { suffix = "t", options = {} },
-					undo = { suffix = "" }, -- disable since I don't need it
-					window = { suffix = "w", options = {} },
-					yank = { suffix = "y", options = {} },
-				},
-			})
-			require("mini.comment").setup({
-				hooks = {
-					pre = function()
-						-- use treesitter commentstring functionality if it's installed
-						if require("core.util").is_available("ts_context_commentstring") then
-							require("ts_context_commentstring.internal").update_commentstring()
-						end
-					end,
-				},
-			})
-
-			require("mini.cursorword").setup({ delay = 500 })
-			vim.api.nvim_set_hl(0, "MiniCursorword", { bold = true, underline = false })
-			vim.api.nvim_set_hl(0, "MiniCursorwordCurrent", { bold = true, underline = false })
-
-			require("mini.files").setup()
-			vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd("User", {
-				pattern = "MiniFilesWindowUpdate",
-				callback = function(args)
-					vim.wo[args.data.win_id].number = true
-				end,
-			})
-
-			require("mini.fuzzy").setup()
-			require("mini.indentscope").setup({
-				symbol = "│",
-				draw = { animation = require("mini.indentscope").gen_animation.none() },
-				options = { indent_at_cursor = false },
-			})
-			require("mini.map").setup()
-			require("mini.move").setup()
-			require("mini.operators").setup()
-			require("mini.pairs").setup()
-			require("mini.trailspace").setup()
+			-- this should be loaded as soon as the plugin is loaded
 			local starter = require("mini.starter")
 			starter.setup({
 				evaluate_single = true,
@@ -190,8 +135,69 @@ return {
 					starter.gen_hook.aligning("center", "center"),
 				},
 			})
+			-- manually create lazy loading scenarios
+			vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd({ "InsertEnter", "CursorHold" }, {
+				once = true,
+				callback = function()
+					require("mini.ai").setup()
+					-- Align tables and other alignable things
+					require("mini.align").setup({})
+
+					require("mini.bracketed").setup({
+						{
+							buffer = { suffix = "b", options = {} },
+							comment = { suffix = "k", options = {} },
+							conflict = { suffix = "" }, -- disable to use git-conflict instead
+							diagnostic = { suffix = "d", options = {} },
+							file = { suffix = "", options = {} },
+							indent = { suffix = "" }, -- disable since we use indentscope above
+							jump = { suffix = "j", options = {} },
+							location = { suffix = "l", options = {} },
+							oldfile = { suffix = "o", options = {} }, -- FIXME: overwritten by wrapping defaults currently
+							quickfix = { suffix = "q", options = {} },
+							treesitter = { suffix = "t", options = {} },
+							undo = { suffix = "" }, -- disable since I don't need it
+							window = { suffix = "w", options = {} },
+							yank = { suffix = "y", options = {} },
+						},
+					})
+					require("mini.comment").setup({
+						hooks = {
+							pre = function()
+								-- use treesitter commentstring functionality if it's installed
+								if require("core.util").is_available("ts_context_commentstring") then
+									require("ts_context_commentstring.internal").update_commentstring()
+								end
+							end,
+						},
+					})
+
+					require("mini.cursorword").setup({ delay = 500 })
+					vim.api.nvim_set_hl(0, "MiniCursorword", { bold = true, underline = false })
+					vim.api.nvim_set_hl(0, "MiniCursorwordCurrent", { bold = true, underline = false })
+
+					require("mini.files").setup()
+					vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd("User", {
+						pattern = "MiniFilesWindowUpdate",
+						callback = function(args)
+							vim.wo[args.data.win_id].number = true
+						end,
+					})
+
+					require("mini.fuzzy").setup()
+					require("mini.indentscope").setup({
+						symbol = "│",
+						draw = { animation = require("mini.indentscope").gen_animation.none() },
+						options = { indent_at_cursor = false },
+					})
+					require("mini.map").setup()
+					require("mini.move").setup()
+					require("mini.operators").setup()
+					require("mini.pairs").setup()
+					require("mini.trailspace").setup()
+				end,
+			})
 		end,
-		event = "VimEnter", -- need to load pretty soon for Starter screen
 		keys = {
 			{
 				"<leader>sm",