There’s a quote that’s been floating around the Internet for years now. Every time it’s shared, it’s quickly reposted, re-shared, and liked over and over again. I’ve even posted it myself.

The viral quote is simple and goes like this:

“6 luxuries in life:

1. time
2. health
3. a quiet mind
4. slow mornings
5. meaningful work
6. a house full of love.”

It’s not hard to see why the quote resonates. It speaks of things universally understood to be important and meaningful, but not necessarily enjoyed by everyone.

If luxury is defined as “a condition of abundance or great ease and comfort,” these six things describe it well.

But there is something about that list I think about every time I see it. None of those six items are for sale. And they never have been.

And yet, we live in a world that tries to convince us the luxuries of life are something to be purchased.

It seems almost every day of our lives, we’re flooded with messages designed to sell us a counterfeit version of “luxury.” A nicer house, a newer phone, an extravagant vacation, a limited-edition sneaker, a fragrance that promises to make the opposite sex swoon.

The messaging is so good and so ubiquitous, the items they sell slowly, over time, become our definition of luxury. They’re shiny, exciting, gratifying (at least for a moment), and desired by so many, that they begin to feel like the greatest expression of a life of abundance.

But as we know from experience, that feeling is quick to fade—always leaving us wanting more.

And I don’t know about you, but if there is a version of luxury that doesn’t fade, that is what I would like to devote my life pursuing! Based on the viral nature of the list above, I am confident I’m not alone.

Of course, one of the reasons a counterfeit version of luxury is purchased by so many is because it appears easier to attain than the truer, longer-lasting luxury.

These luxuries—quiet minds, slow mornings, meaningful work—are not easy to find. They require time, attention, self-examination. They require intention, hard decisions, and sometimes even hard conversations. They also require us to live differently than the culture around us.

It’s easy to fill a shopping cart. It’s harder to ask: What do I really want from this one life I’ve been given? And what changes do I need to make to discover it?

The world offers us counterfeits because they’re easier to manufacture, easier to market and sell, easier to accept, and easier to profit from.

A scented candle in a jar is easier than fostering peace in a chaotic household. A perfectly staged brunch is easier than carving out an hour of meaningful connection. A bigger paycheck is easier than the hard work of finding work that matters. And it is easier to buy a trip to Disneyland than it is to build a life of habits that supports long-lasting health.

Still, while these deeper luxuries may not be easy to attain, they are not entirely outside our reach either.

Time, health, a quiet mind, slow mornings, meaningful work, and a home full of love—these things may not be guaranteed, and they may not come quickly. But they are not as far outside our control as we sometimes assume.

And just like everything else, the first step to making these truths a reality is believing they are possible:

We gain more time by choosing what matters and letting go of what doesn’t.

We protect our health with small, consistent steps in the right direction.

We quiet our minds by limiting noise, both external and internal.

We enjoy slower mornings when we stop overpacking our days (and maybe waking up a bit earlier).

We move toward meaningful work by paying attention to our gifts and values and appreciating the value of it.

We foster love in our homes not with perfection, but with presence.

Of course, not every life circumstance is within our control. Life brings hardship, and some seasons are harder than others. But more often than we realize, our lives reflect the things we choose to pursue. And while we can’t control everything that happens to us, we can always control how we respond.

So let’s choose well.

Let’s define luxury differently than the world around us. Let’s stop chasing what’s temporary and start pursuing what lasts. Let’s live a life rich in meaning, not rich in things.

Because the greatest luxuries in life cannot be bought at a store. But they can be built. One thoughtful, intentional decision at a time.

The post The Greatest Luxuries in Life Can’t Be Bought at a Store appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

View the full article

We live in a world filled with empty consumeristic promises.

• To get the girl, buy this cologne.
• To be the life of the party, get this television.
• To impress your friends, buy this watch.
• To turn heads, drive this car.
• To raise a better family, buy this bigger house.

These promises bombard our senses incessantly—even within the comforts of our home. And more than we realize, these messages begin to shape our conscious and subconscious thoughts.

As a result, too often, we buy stuff we don’t need. Our closets become crowded, our drawers overfill, our garages can’t fit our cars, and our homes fill with countless products we thought were a good idea at the time; but in reality, rarely get used.

Our lives soon become buried under everything we own.

To counter these empty promises, I want to offer a simple, life-transforming question—five simple words to ask before making any purchase.

The question is this: But what if I don’t?

Whenever you feel the pull of consumerism, simply ask yourself the shortened version of this thought, “What might I be able to do if I didn’t make this purchase?”

Every purchase contains an opportunity cost. The question, “But what if I don’t?”, forces us to recognize and articulate it.

For example:

If you don’t buy that large screen television, how much debt could you pay off?

If you don’t buy the bigger house, how much more money would you have to travel?

If you don’t go clothes-shopping today, how could you build up an emergency fund?

If you don’t make this purchase on Amazon, what good could you accomplish in the world with the money instead?

You know what you’ve been promised if you buy… but what if you don’t? How would your life improve if you said ‘no?’

With every purchase we make, we sacrifice a small amount of freedom. This one, simple question helps us recognize exactly what it is.

The post One Question to Ask Before Any Purchase appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

View the full article

I come from a big family—five sisters and me—filling every corner of our modest home in Northeast Ohio with laughter, noise, and life. There was never a dull moment.

My dad’s side looked a little different. He was the only son of Joseph and Teresa, raised alongside two sisters who never had children of their own. But what they may have lacked in children, they made up for in presence.

Aunt Marilyn and Aunt Liz were constants in our lives. They attended every holiday, came to many sporting events, and had a saved seat at our six graduations. They took turns investing in us—quietly and consistently.

Even when I left home for college and eventually moved out of state, the rhythm of connection continued. Birthday cards arrived on time. Calls were never forgotten. Milestone moments always brought a message or a visit. Their love was steady—minimal in flash, but immense in weight.

Maybe that’s why I’ve always been so passionate about family—a value that has shaped so many of my life choices.

About a decade ago, both Aunt Marilyn and Aunt Liz began facing health challenges. In a beautiful act of mutual care, they moved into the same home to help one another recover and reduce expenses.

One thing they didn’t reduce, however, was their belongings.

Our family has never been great at letting things go. Boxes in the sunroom held documents from our great-grandfather. Furniture from Grandma’s house crowded every corner of the living room. And the musty basement was packed with remnants from the old family store—items long unused but still quietly taking up space.

This past weekend, I traveled back to Ohio to say goodbye to Aunt Liz. As the family pastor, I had the honor of overseeing the funeral for the last of my two aunts.

The service was deeply meaningful. Friends and family came to pay their respects, share stories, and support one another through our grief. As I stood there, listening and leading, I was reminded—once again—of what truly matters in life.

No one mentioned her possessions. Not once.

But everyone spoke of how she made them feel.

How present she was.

How faithfully she encouraged others, even in quiet ways.

Of course, while no one mentioned her possessions during the service, she and my other aunt left behind plenty of material things to sort through. My sisters and I have been tasked with handling these in a way that honors both our family and her wishes.

Thankfully, Aunt Liz sensed the end was near about a year before she passed. And in that final stretch of time, she made some intentional choices—quiet but impactful—that have made all the difference.

Here are a few things she did that were incredibly helpful, and I share them in hopes they might serve others walking a similar road:

3 Things My Aunt Did That Made Saying Goodbye a Little Easier

1. She Set Up a Trust

Aunt Liz owned two homes, held several retirement accounts from past jobs, had a life insurance policy, and was a dedicated coin collector. Knowing how complicated this could become, she worked with a professional to establish a trust, appoint an executor, and clearly document who would receive what.

This one step saved my sister—who served as the executor—countless hours and headaches. More importantly, it helped us avoid confusion or conflict about finances. Money has a way of straining even the closest families. Because Liz planned ahead, we were free to grieve without tension.

2. She Simplified Where She Could

My aunt was the keeper of our family’s history and secrets. She took great pride in our heritage, always sharing stories of the past—names, places, and moments most of us would have forgotten if not for her. In many ways, she was our family cloud.

Because of that, her home was crowded with the artifacts of generations—photos, furniture, letters, and keepsakes she couldn’t bear to part with.

And yet, in her final year, something shifted. While her home still held plenty, it was clear she had begun to simplify. Closets were partially cleared. Papers were filed and labeled. Some items were gently set aside for donation.

These small acts of preparation made a significant difference. They lifted a burden from our shoulders—and served as a quiet reminder that even a little intentionality can have a lasting impact.

3. She Talked About What Matters

Perhaps the most meaningful gift Aunt Liz gave us was her willingness to talk about death—openly, honestly, and with peace. She had personal conversations with each of us, asking us to consider taking on specific responsibilities after she was gone.

One of us would care for her aging pets. Another would carry on the family Christmas tradition she had lovingly kept for years. And someone, she said, would need to pick up the mantle of family historian.

I gladly accepted that role—and in the months that followed, she began setting aside items for me as she came across them. Old photographs. Handwritten letters. Notes explaining why something mattered.

None of us enjoyed those conversations. But all of us are grateful we had them. They spared us the pain of guessing what was important to her and brought clarity to the difficult process of sorting through what was left behind.

I know I’m not alone in this experience.

Many of us have aging parents, relatives, or lifelong friends who will one day leave behind more than just memories. Along with grief, they may leave behind decisions—about possessions, finances, pets, traditions, and legacies. And it will fall to us to sort through what remains.

The question is: how can we prepare now for what we know is coming?

3 Simple, Loving Steps We Can All Take

1. Initiate the conversation.

It might feel awkward at first, but starting the conversation is a gift to everyone involved. Begin gently. Ask thoughtful questions: Is there a will? A power of attorney in case of health challenges? What are their hopes if the unexpected happens?

These are not easy topics, so approach them with compassion. The goal isn’t control—it’s understanding what matters most and honoring it.

2. Listen to the stories.

Behind every item is a memory. Often, the story is more important than the object itself. Ask why something matters. Don’t be afraid to ask open-ended questions that invite storytelling. 

Questions like: What’s the story behind this? Who gave it to you? Why did you keep it all these years? can unlock important family history.

For photos: Where was this taken? Who are these people? What happened that day?

For letters or heirlooms: Did this belong to someone else in the family? What does it remind you of?

Listening patiently, without rushing, honors the person and gives meaning to the objects left behind. 

Pro tip: write names on the backs of photos. Aunt Liz didn’t do that, and now I’m piecing together clues from extended family members.

3. Don’t wait to share your feelings at the funeral.

At my aunt’s service, I invited others to speak. The room filled with beautiful memories and heartfelt words. But as I listened, I couldn’t help but wonder—had Liz heard these things while she was still alive?

Don’t wait. Tell your loved ones what they mean to you now. Say the words. Let them hear your gratitude, your admiration, and your love while they’re still here to receive it.

Minimalism isn’t just about letting go of stuff. It’s about living with purpose and preparing with love. The intentional steps Aunt Liz took in her final year didn’t just ease our burden—they reminded us of what really matters.

May we all be brave enough to start the conversation, kind enough to preserve the stories, and wise enough to speak our love while there’s still time.

***

Joe Darago has served as the Executive Director of The Hope Effect since its founding in 2015. He and his Christie live in Edmond OK where they enjoy parenting their four adult children and grandparenting two + one on the way. He is passionate about changing the way the world cares for orphans… because every child deserves a family.

The post 3 Things My Aunt Did That Made Saying Goodbye a Little Easier appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

View the full article

There is a small nuance in language that I often find myself chiming in on when I see a need to do so.

At first, the adjustment seems and sounds small. But in reality, there is a life-giving truth contained in it. And equally so, a great danger in missing it.

I first noticed this years ago, during a conversation about minimalism.

I was speaking with a woman who had just started simplifying her home, and she said, “It’s just really difficult for me because I’m a woman. And women like nice things.”

I don’t think she meant to say it in a negative way. In fact, I’m sure she didn’t. It was just something she believed to be true.

But immediately, my mind went to the dozens of women I know—both online and offline—who have exemplified for me what it looks like to live a simple life. Many women I know who aren’t captivated by “nice things,” and who have both chosen a different path and speak boldly about the freedom they’ve found because of it.

So I offered back a different perspective: “Well, not all women like nice things. Just some do.”

It’s a small change—just one word added to the sentence. But this is an important point. Because if all women love nice things, then yes, simplicity becomes impossible. But if it’s only some… suddenly there’s room to choose something different.

Over the years, I’ve heard the same kind of reasoning show up in different forms:

• “Women love fashion.”
• “Guys are into cars.”
• “People who grew up poor aren’t able to get rid of stuff.”
• “Teachers always hold onto every resource.”
• “Readers never part with their books.”
• “Artists need clutter to be creative.”

In each case, a personal experience is projected outward—assumed to be universal and by extension, unchangeable.

But here’s the thing: they’re not universal truths.

• Some women love fashion. But not all women.
• Some men buy expensive toys. But not all men.
• Some people who grew up poor have a hard time getting rid of stuff. But not all.
• Some teachers keep every resource.
• Some people struggle to declutter because of their past.
• Some readers can’t get rid of books.

Each of these statements is more accurate than the universal assumption we make based on our own experience.

And the more we realize that, the more we can grow and expand our potential to change. Because if we are tied to our behavior because of something we cannot change, we are a prisoner to it. But once we see not everyone’s tendency is the same as ours, we are free to choose a different path.

This is good news that we all need to hear.

To illustrate this point, after a speaking event one evening, a woman shared her story with me. She and her sister grew up in a home of extreme hoarding. “Because of that experience,” she told me, “I became a minimalist because I wanted nothing to do with the lifestyle. But my sister became a hoarder. Same childhood, same environment—but we chose opposite paths.”

I’ve never forgotten her words and the power of her example.

There may be inherited tendencies in our past because of our upbringing, but we are never a prisoner to them. Our behaviors aren’t always universal. And just because something feels familiar doesn’t mean it’s required. We always have the power to break patterns that no longer serve us.

The more tightly we hold onto sweeping assumptions—about ourselves or the world around us—the more we limit what’s possible.

We assume, “It’s not just me. Everyone is the same way. I can’t help it.”

But what if that’s not true? What if the story you’ve been telling yourself about who you are and what you need isn’t the only story that can be told?

You may have grown up in a home where the women loved fashion, but that doesn’t mean every woman loves fashion. And once you see that, you can begin to overcome that temptation.

You may have grown up in a family where the men loved cars, but that doesn’t mean every man loves cars. And once you see that, you can overcome that obsession.

If you are an artist who believes every artist requires lots of stuff to be creative, you’ll never open yourself up to the possibility that “the enemy of art is the absence of limitation” (as Orson Welles once said).

Freedom begins when we stop assigning our limitations to the world and start reclaiming the possibility of change. That is why it is so dangerous to assume our experience is universal.

I do not mean this to sound harsh or aggressive. Just the opposite, I hope it will open up potential and opportunity in your life to live differently.

Change is always possible. And if a change in your life would benefit you and your loved ones, I hope this truth will empower you to experience it today.

The post The Danger of Assuming Your Experience Is Universal appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

View the full article

Never underestimate the importance of removing stuff you don’t need.

Encouragement provides us with motivation. It invites us to dream dreams of significance for our lives. And it begs us to work diligently with optimism and promise.

Overcoming the pull of consumerism is a difficult challenge regardless of our stage in life. Therefore, simplicity requires encouragement. To that end, I hope you will find motivation in these articles below.

Each post was intentionally chosen to inspire simplicity in your life. For maximum effect, find a quiet moment this weekend and enjoy them with a fresh cup of coffee or tea.

Maybe This Summer Isn’t Meant to Be Magical | Our Little House in the Country by Ciara Winters. Maybe this is the summer where you stop trying to prove anything—and just allow yourself to be.

3 Principles For Living A Life Less Ordinary—Starting Now! | Forbes by Angela Cusack. Living a life less ordinary isn’t about escaping the life you have. It’s about inhabiting it more fully. It’s about choosing presence over performance, clarity over assumption and stillness over spinning.

The Quiet Freedom of Living Below Your Means | Simple Money by Harper Bennett. Living below your means isn’t about sacrifice or going without. It’s about creating space.

Guarding The Gate: How I Stay a Minimalist | No Sidebar by Justin Hall. With some proactive strategies, we can maintain and continue to reap the life-changing benefits of the minimalist life.

The Big Idea: Should We Embrace Boredom? | The Guardian by Sophie McBain. Smartphones offer instant stimulation, but do they silence a deeper message?

Recently Released Inspiring Videos

The Minimalist Life | YouTube by Joshua Becker. My intention is to take our community to the next level, where we can connect every day and share our challenges, our wins, and motivation to keep living a minimalist life. Hope to see you there!

How to Let Go of the Idea That More is Better | YouTube by Joshua Becker. We live in a world that often tells us that more is always better—more possessions, more money, more activities, more food. But when we pause to question it, we might find that the pursuit of more doesn’t always bring the satisfaction we expect. In fact, it can often lead to overwhelm and stress.

—

The Minimalist Life. If you’ve ever wanted more personal support applying minimalism to your home, habits, and schedule, I’ve just launched something new. The Minimalist Life is a private community with live coaching, weekly challenges, live events, and encouraging accountability. The founding member pricing ($18/month) ends June 30.

The post Inspiring Simplicity. Weekend Reads. appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

View the full article

Imagine saving hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars each year—just by owning less. These 20 stats show how.

Most people I know want more time and money. In most cases, I can see why.

We’re stretched thin—trying to meet deadlines, pay bills, care for our families, and still find space for rest, joy, purpose, and meaning. The days feel short. The expenses pile up. And it’s easy to believe that the only solution is to work harder, earn more, or somehow fit more into an already full life.

But maybe there’s a better answer. What if the solution isn’t found in earning more, but in owning less?

Every item we buy has a cost—and not just in dollars. Our possessions cost us time to earn, time to maintain, and time to manage. And the quickest way to get more time and money back into our lives is to pursue minimalism.

And it turns out, the numbers back this up. Here are 20 statistics that show just how much minimalism can change our everyday by giving us more time and more money.

Money

1. Americans waste $18,000 on “non-essential” expenses each year (source)

2. Despite owning enough clothing to form an average of 135 outfits, Americans spend an average of $1,445 yearly on clothes and shoes. (source)

3. On average, people spend $360 each year on jewelry, whether for gifting others or buying for themselves—despite already owning 34 pieces of jewelry. Men, on average, spend more on themselves than women do. (source)

4. Families spent $24 billion on toys annually. Parents spend an average of $240 on toys and games every year while grandparents spend $500. All while it’s estimated that 20-30% of toys are never played with. (source)

5. Americans spend $14.6 billion every year on home organization. (source)

6. In the United States, people throw away over $473 billion worth of food annually—38% of all the food in America. (source)

7. Nearly $10 billion in electronic devices—comprising computer equipment and devices, screens, and small electronic appliances—is thrown away every year in the US alone. (source)

8. On average, Americans spend approximately $1,100 per year on coffee from coffee shops. (source)

9. Nearly 25% of grocery shopping dollars are spent on processed foods and sweets—that amounts to $125/month for the average American household. (source)

10. In the US, consumers spend an average of $150 per month on impulse purchases. (source)

11. The average American spends over $1,000 a year on subscriptions—$200 of it on unnecessary or unused subscriptions. (source)

Time

12. On average we spend two hours per day buying things and taking care of the things we already own. (source)

13. Americans spend nearly two hours a day shopping online at work. (source)

14. The average woman makes 301 trips to the store annually, spending close to 400 hours a year shopping. This amounts to 8.5 years spent shopping during a typical lifespan. (source)

15. The median size of a new American home has grown to 2,338 square feet from 983 square feet in 1950, driven partly by the need to store excess possessions, increasing housing costs. (source)

16. 54% of Americans feel overwhelmed by clutter, with managing possessions elevating stress hormone levels, particularly for mothers, costing mental health and time. (source)

17. Americans spend more than two full days online shopping per year. (source)

18. The average American now spends 2.5 days per year (60 hours) looking for lost items, costing households $2.7 billion annually to replace misplaced possessions. (source)

More

19. 81% of shoppers are willing to increase their online spending purchase just to meet a retailer’s free shipping threshold. (source)

20. The national average credit card debt among cardholders with unpaid balances in 2025 averaged $7,321 (with much of it tied to unnecessary purchases), which results in an extra $120 billion in credit card interest and fees every year. (source)

The data doesn’t lie: when we own less, we can save more—both time and money. And with that, we gain something even more valuable—margin to live a better, more intentional life.

The post 20 Stats That Show Exactly How Much Time and Money We Can Save Through Minimalism appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

View the full article

Seventeen years ago, I discovered minimalism. It took only a simple sentence from my neighbor to forever change my view of material possessions. This is what she said:

“That’s why my daughter is a minimalist. She keeps telling me I don’t need to own all this stuff.”

The statement came at the most ordinary time: I was cleaning out my garage on a Saturday afternoon.

And yet, the statement also came at the most perfect time: When my heart (and mind) was ready to receive it.

I had just spent the beautiful Saturday morning pulling dirty, dusty items out from my garage into the driveway. And I had done it all at the expense of my 5-year-old son, who was asking me to play catch with him in the backyard.

That was the day I realized all the possessions I had collected weren’t just not making me happy, they were distracting me from the very thing that did.

At first, simplifying my life was about owning less and clearing physical space. But cleared physical space quickly gave way to clearer mental space. And over time, I began to see other areas of my life where minimalist principles could be applied. Every area of life where distraction has taken us from our deepest values and passions becomes an opportunity to simplify.

Believe it or not, this post today is the 2,000th article published on Becoming Minimalist. That is 2.5 articles/week for the last 17 years.

Over the years, I have written much about the life lessons I have learned through minimalism. But as I reflect on my journey for this milestone article, all of the lessons lead to one truth that is perhaps the most important:

Our lives are too valuable to waste chasing and accumulating material possessions.

In fact, this may be the single most important truth I have learned and desire to communicate on Becoming Minimalist. I hope you will hear it today in your heart.

You see, minimalism didn’t just give me a cleaner garage, it changed how I viewed the entire world—and how I viewed my potential and opportunity.

Simplicity didn’t just give me my life back, it paved the pathway to live a fuller, deeper, and more purposeful life. Carrying less means we can travel further in the pursuit of our greatest dreams and ambitions.

Minimalism allows us to dream bigger dreams for our life. When distractions are removed, intentionality is found, self-growth is experienced, and self-worth grows.

Reflecting back, here are a few of the lessons I’ve learned and try to communicate regularly on this site. Each of them help us discover greater potential and a self-worth greater than material possessions:

1. The world will try to hijack your passion. Don’t let it.

We are all born with passions and talents inside us. And deep-down, a desire to serve and love. But the world has learned how to hijack that passion and direct it toward things that benefit someone else’s bottom line.

Marketers are skilled at convincing us that our energy should be spent buying what they are selling. And society sells a picture of success that mainly focuses on external indicators.

But your greatest passion isn’t for things that will be discarded in a few years. Nobody says their greatest goal in life is to just own as much clutter as they can. We were designed and created for something more.

Simplifying helped me see that and minimalism forced me to ask why I had accumulated so much. It is true that unhealthy motivations exist inside us and marketers are masterful at exploiting them. Don’t let them.

2. Comparison is a thief of joy and self-worth. Overcome it.

So much of our consumption is fueled by comparison. We see someone else’s lifestyle, wardrobe, car, house, or vacation—and we begin to desire it for ourselves. Jealousy and envy come quick, especially when we aren’t living intentionally with the resources that we do have.

But trying to live someone else’s life will always keep you from becoming the best version of yourself. It will keep you from appreciating the unique good that you can bring into this world. And it will keep you focused on the things you don’t have rather than appreciating what you do have.

There’s only one person who can live your life—only one person with your story, your voice, your experience, your gifts, your passion, your abilities, and your influence.

When we fill our homes and calendars trying to keep up with others, we rob the world of the one thing we can offer it: our authentic contribution.

Minimalism gives us the space to stop comparing and start contributing. And when we do, we discover we have so much more to contribute than consumerism.

3. We live finite lives. Be deliberate with them.

Time, energy, money, attention—these are not infinite resources. We all have differing amounts of them, but each are finite and limited.

Minimalism lives and dies on this reality. If money and time were in infinite supply, it would make sense to accumulate as much as you can. But they are not infinite. Our lives are finite. So what we choose to pursue and accumulate with them is of utmost importance.

Unfortunately, many of us live lives as if there are no boundaries.

We spend money on things we don’t need. We spend hours organizing closets full of things we don’t use. We distract ourselves endlessly on social media and with television. We sacrifice time with our loved ones for the sake of accumulating wealth or power… and then we call it living.

Life is short. And if we’re not careful, we can waste it chasing things that never mattered. As Seneca wrote (and which became the basis for my book, Things That Matter), “We are not given a short life but we make it short, and we are not ill-supplied but wasteful of it… Life is long if you know how to use it.”

Simplicity taught me to see every resource as precious: my hours, my dollars, my energy, even my life. And the more we invest them in things that matter, the more fulfilled we become.

4. You are more than what you own. Believe it.

Culture has a way of convincing us to believe things we know aren’t true.

For example, none of us, deep-down, believe our value is tied to the things that we own. But subtly, starting in childhood, we begin to look up to those who have more. Magazine covers, movies, and television shows exalt those who live in bigger houses, have nicer clothes, own cooler toys, or earn the bigger paycheck.

All lives are created equal. But for some reason, those with more get put on a pedestal—even when they don’t deserve it.

But a person’s value is never tied to their possessions. In fact, sometimes it is those least worthy of our admiration who accumulate the most. And those who are most worthy of being looked up to as role models are looked over.

Minimalism helped me remember again, and see through clearer eyes, that our worth is not determined by the square footage of our home, the logo on our clothing, the gadgets on our shelf, or the car in our driveway.

You have value because of who you are—your heart, your soul, your ability to love, create, forgive, and make a difference. That’s the part of you that matters. And no purchase can change that.

5. Self-worth is built by doing things that give us self-worth. Not consumerism.

This last point, I should admit, is not necessarily something I learned by pursuing minimalism. Instead, it was learned during the creation of The Hope Effect (which was a result of minimalism).

You don’t become more confident by buying something new. You don’t develop a stronger sense of purpose by upgrading your home decor. You don’t develop greater self-esteem by consuming more and more.

Self-worth grows when we align our actions with our values. When we do things that grow our self-worth, we develop self-worth. Self-esteem is not something we think ourselves into having. It is developed through our actions and our decisions—when we help others, keep our promises, do hard things, learn new skills, and show up for people.

Ironically, the more time we spend caring for physical possessions, the less we are able to invest in the practices that actually build our self-esteem. It’s hard to find time to volunteer at the local non-profit, if we’re spending our days driving from store to store.

Here’s the truth: we don’t need more stuff to feel better about ourselves. We need more of ourselves—freed up and fully engaged in activities that grow our self-worth.

I’ve now written 2,000 articles on Becoming Minimalist. That’s tens of thousands of hours spent encouraging others to own less and live more intentionally.

But underneath every word has always been this simple truth: You matter.

Your life holds value. Not because of what you own, but because of who you are.

The world will try to tell you otherwise. It will measure your worth in net worth, productivity, or popularity. But those measurements fall short. They fade. And they fail to account for the selfless goodness your life brings to others.

Minimalism isn’t just about decluttering your stuff. It’s about clearing space and focus to see that your time, your attention, your values, and your story matter deeply.

So live with fewer distractions. Spend your limited resources on things that matter. And never forget:

Your life is too valuable to waste chasing material possessions.

Spend it on something greater.

The post What Simplifying My Home Taught Me About Self-Worth appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

View the full article

For over 17 years, I have been writing about minimalism on this blog.

During that time, I’ve written over 1,700 articles—sharing stories, principles, and practical tips. I’ve written books that have helped hundreds of thousands of people take their first steps toward owning less and living more. I’ve recorded 400 videos for YouTube. And the Uncluttered Course has helped over 90,000 people declutter their homes, room by room.

But over the years, I have kept hearing the same comment:

“I start strong, but I struggle to keep minimalism going over time. How can I keep this going?”

The answer to this question matters. You don’t just want to read about minimalism over and over—you want to live it. You don’t want a one-time decluttering project—you want a lifetime of intentional choices.

You want minimalism to become your way of life, not just something you think about when your house gets messy. You want to spend your days focused on things that matter.

And to accomplish that, we all need more than just education. Life change can be difficult. And if we’re going to build habits that transition minimalism from an idea into a way of life, we need the support of like-minded people.

So for the first time in my nearly two-decade-long journey, I’m trying something completely new.

I’m offering a community where we work together, month by month, to bring minimalism into every area of your life—your home, finances, schedule, digital life, habits, and relationships (just to name a few). The principles of minimalism are powerful and life-changing—especially with physical possessions—but their impact reaches far beyond that.

This brand-new, private community is called The Minimalist Life, and it’s designed for people who are ready to move beyond consuming content about minimalism and start living it fully.

Here are just some of the things included and why I am so excited about this:

• Monthly themes and weekly action items that guide you step-by-step through your minimalism journey in a clear, thought-out way.
• Personal accountability through weekly check-ins, progress prompts, and highlighted personal stories so you can take consistent action and make sustainable changes.
• An encouraging, supportive community of like-minded people on the same journey to cheer you on and share their experiences.
• Live coaching sessions—three times/month—where you can ask me questions, get unstuck, and learn more about how to apply what you learn.
• Practical tools and specific resources created by me that make minimalism manageable and applicable, not overwhelming.
• An easy-to-use app to keep all of the membership content, videos, resources, and conversations quickly accessible whenever you want it.

This isn’t just another online course you complete and move on from. It’s about lasting, legitimate personal development and growth. It’s ongoing support that helps you build minimalism into your daily rhythm, one intentional choice at a time. And in an online world that is increasingly populated by AI-generated content, this community is about human interaction—with me and others.

If you’ve been reading my content and thinking, “I want this life, but I need help making it stick,” this community is for you. Or, if you’ve been applying minimalism to your physical possessions and are ready to apply the principles elsewhere, this community is for you.

The doors to The Minimalist Life open today. And you can join, starting now, at my founding member rate: $18/month or $180/year (save two months). This special pricing is only available until June 30th.

Click here to join us or learn more.

I can’t wait to meet you and walk alongside you as you create the calm, focused, intentional life you’ve been dreaming about.

With you on the journey,

Joshua

The post I’m Offering Something New (17 Years in the Making) appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

View the full article

Real financial freedom isn’t about affording everything—it’s about realizing you don’t need everything.

In 2008, Memorial Day weekend promised beautiful weather—not always the case in Vermont at that time of year. So my wife, Kim, and I decided to spend the Saturday doing some shopping, running errands, and tackling our spring cleaning. Our garage was the first target.

That morning, as Kim and our infant daughter slept in, I made breakfast for our five-year-old son, Salem, and then brought him outside to help. But as soon as we started pulling out the bins, he rediscovered his summer toys and ran for the backyard. Before leaving, he asked, “Will you play with me, Dad?”

“Not now, buddy. I’ll come play as soon as I finish, I promise.”

But as the hours wore on, that promise felt more and more out of reach. I was knee-deep in stuff—cleaning it, organizing it, moving it from one side of the driveway to the other. Salem returned a few more times, asking again and again for me to join him.

At one point, our neighbor June, an elderly woman with a garden trowel in hand, watched me struggling with the clutter. She smiled and said, “That’s why my daughter’s a minimalist. She keeps telling me I don’t need to own all this stuff.”

The sentence stopped me in my tracks.

I looked at the heap in the driveway. I looked at my son, alone in the backyard.

And I realized, for the first time, the stuff I owned wasn’t just taking up space in my garage. It was taking something far more valuable: my time, my energy, my attention—and in that moment, my opportunity to play catch with my son.

That was the beginning of a journey toward minimalism for our family. And that one realization didn’t just change the way we saw our home. It changed the way we saw everything, including money.

For many, financial independence is defined by the ability to buy whatever we want, whenever we want. A new car. A kitchen remodel. A spontaneous weekend trip. We equate freedom with consumption, assuming that if nothing is out of reach financially, then we must be doing well.

But what if we’ve been aiming at the wrong target?

What if real financial freedom isn’t found in the ability to buy anything but in the realization that we don’t need to?

That shift—simple but profound—has reshaped the way I think about money, success, and what it truly means to be financially free.

The Prosperity Paradox

Here’s the problem: the more money we have, the more money we think we need. The solution the world is offering—earn more and then one day you’ll feel secure—is the exact opposite of what we need.

This is what I call the Prosperity Paradox.

Our relationship with money is one of the most defining—and often confusing—relationships we have. We earn it, save it, spend it, chase it, worry about it, and sometimes even fight over it. Some describe money as a tool—and it is. But it is also something more. It is emotional, powerful, and deeply tied to our sense of well-being.

Consider this: 77% of people in the wealthiest country on earth report feeling anxious about money.[1] And more than 70% say their desire for more money influences their daily decisions.[2] That’s not just a tool. That’s something that touches our heart and mind in profound ways.

The Prosperity Paradox says this: The more money we have, the more money we believe we need.

This isn’t theory—it’s backed by data. Empower recently surveyed Americans and found that those making over $200,000 a year said they would need an additional $150,000 annually to feel financially comfortable.[3] Charles Schwab, in another study, found that 87% of millionaires don’t consider themselves wealthy.[4]

We can see this in how people define what it means to be “rich.” For many, the word “millionaire” signals success. But the closer one gets to that number, the less likely they are to view it as true wealth. In fact, millionaire status is now considered by many to be “just getting started.”

This paradox plays out again and again: retirement targets growing as net worth increases, happiness tied to ever-larger income brackets, and comfort levels that seem always out of reach. The more we accumulate, the more we convince ourselves we need.

Even John D. Rockefeller, once the richest man in the world, when asked how much money is enough, famously replied, “Just a little bit more.”

If our goal to achieve financial freedom is simply to accumulate more money, we will never arrive. The finish line keeps moving.

That’s why this realization—that needing less is more powerful than earning more—changes everything.

Becoming Minimalist

But that raises the important question: if the common approach to financial independence doesn’t deliver on its promise, what does?

For me, the answer came that very weekend in 2008, when my neighbor June introduced me—almost accidentally—to the idea of minimalism. Her words sparked a realization that would change the way I viewed not just my possessions, but money itself.

Real freedom doesn’t come from purchasing power—it comes from the realization that we don’t need more in the first place. And once we stop needing more, we stop spending more. That’s when everything changes. That’s when peace and clarity show up—not in having more, but in finally wanting less.

When we own less, we begin to see how little we truly need. And when we stop needing more, we stop spending more. Suddenly, financial independence doesn’t feel like something reserved for the wealthy—it feels possible, right now, with what we already have.

Minimalism helped reveal this truth to me. The less I owned, the less I needed. The less I needed, the less I spent. The less I spent, the freer I felt. And with every unnecessary item I removed from my home, I began to remove financial pressure from my life.

Abundance in Less

It’s understandable why “spend less” is a hard sell. For most of our lives, we’ve been conditioned to think that spending less is a sacrifice. In a culture that defines success by accumulation, the idea of buying less sounds like going backward.

That’s certainly what I used to believe—until I actually tried it.

I made the intentional decision to own less and buy less. And it remains one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It didn’t just improve my finances; it improved nearly every part of my life.

Owning less meant fewer things to clean, maintain, insure, and replace. It meant fewer distractions and more focus. And it meant I could put my time, money, and energy toward the things that actually matter.

Life didn’t get smaller when I started spending less. It got bigger.

I had more freedom, not less. More clarity. More purpose. And I found myself more present in the things that bring lasting fulfillment—my family, my faith, and the opportunity to help others.

In short, spending less didn’t feel like I was depriving myself. It felt like I was discovering greater abundance—in the truest sense of the word.

And here’s what’s most important: this isn’t just possible for a few. It’s available to all of us.

Financial freedom doesn’t begin with acquiring more money. It begs with having less desire for money.

Becoming Content

This isn’t to suggest that money doesn’t matter. It does. Money provides shelter, food, warmth, and care. It can be used to do good in the world. It can bring stability and security.

But money alone doesn’t bring freedom. Contentment does.

The Harvard Business Review published a study by Ashley Whillans showing that people who prioritize time over money report significantly greater well-being—more fulfilling relationships, more joy, and more satisfaction. Contentment, not accumulation, is the key.[5]

Contentment isn’t about settling for less. It’s about appreciating what already is. It allows us to stop chasing “more” and start building a life that aligns with what matters most.

Here are some principles that can help bring this new vision of financial independence closer:

Define what is truly “enough.” Rather than letting culture or comparison dictate our financial goals, we can take time to define what we genuinely need to live a meaningful life. And often that number is far less than expected.

Lower fixed costs where possible. Housing and transportation are two of the largest expenses for most households. Downsizing or driving a paid-off car can create breathing room in the budget—and in the soul.

Break the habit of lifestyle inflation. When income increases, it’s easy to spend more. But each upgrade delays freedom. Choosing instead to let increased income create margin, not upgrades, moves us closer to peace.

Find joy in simplicity. A home-cooked meal, a walk around the block, a quiet evening—these are often the richest moments. And they don’t cost very much.

Be generous. Generosity interrupts the cycle of always needing more. It reminds us that abundance is not about accumulation but about impact. And it grows contentment every time it’s practiced.

Avoid the comparison trap. Someone else will always have more. But comparison is a thief—of joy, of gratitude, and of purpose. Financial independence isn’t about outperforming others. It’s about being free from the need to.

Make a Choice

When we stop tying freedom to a number and begin tying it to values, everything begins to shift. We stop asking, “How much do I need to be free?” and start asking, “What can I remove that’s keeping me from freedom today?” That’s the realization that changes everything.

Financial independence becomes less about someday and more about today. It becomes less about stock market returns and more about a satisfied heart. It becomes less about accumulation and more about intentionality. And slowly we begin to see that maybe the finish line was closer than we thought.

In the end, we all want the same thing: to live with peace, to care for the people we love, and to spend our days on what matters most. And maybe—just maybe—that future begins not with a raise or a windfall but with a decision. To own less. To want less. And to walk in freedom now, not later.

The post The One Realization That Can Change Everything About Your Finances appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

View the full article

My desire with each Weekend Reads is to provide you with articles and posts that encourage simplicity and minimalist living. Below, you will find links to blog posts and news stories that I hand-picked over the last couple weeks. I hope you find inspiration and practical help inside them.

That is my goal on Becoming Minimalist: to intentionally promote simplicity in a world that needs to hear it.

Finding Calm in Complexity | Linkedin by Robert Waldinger. A simple mind shift allows us to come home to ourselves, even briefly, throughout our busy days.

The American dream is no longer buying a house—it’s paying off debt | AOL by Sydney Lake. About one-third of Gen Zers say they’re financially underwater due to inflation, high interest rates, and stagnant wages.

25 Things I Won’t Be Purchasing in 2025 (to Save Money & Avoid Clutter) | The Simplicity Habit by Julianna Poplin. To avoid overspending and prevent clutter from coming into your home, it takes thought, planning, and intentionality.

From Comparison to Contentment | No Sidebar by Heather Spiva. When we compare what we have to what others have and what we think we should have, it pushes us into an emotional downward spiral. And it’s brutal.

10 Tiny Money Habits That Will Change Your Life in a Year or Less | Simple Money by Richard James. Small leaks sink big ships.

Recently Released Inspiring Videos

15 Places to Apply the Pareto Principle to Help Minimize | YouTube by Joshua Becker. As soon I heard the Pareto principle, it felt like a lightbulb moment. I began noticing it everywhere. Soon, it was about more than numbers and statistics (or even the exact percentages.) It became a new lens through which to see my excess possessions. 

The Most Important Home Buying Advice You’ll Ever Hear | YouTube by Joshua Becker. Buying a home is a very personal decision that weighs a large number of factors. And only you know all the variables for making that decision. But too often, the most important piece of home buying advice we need is the one we never hear.

The post Inspiring Simplicity. Weekend Reads. appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

View the full article

One of the laws of physics I learned in high school was the Second Law of Thermodynamics.

Officially, it says, “The level of disorder in the universe is steadily increasing. Systems tend to move from ordered behavior to more random behavior.“

In simpler terms, it says this: Left on their own, systems tend toward disorder.

That’s why a cup of coffee left on the counter cools over time, not the other way around. It’s why sandcastles crumble, buildings decay, and 52 playing cards thrown on the floor don’t become a stacked deck on their own. Everything, in the absence of outside energy, moves from order to chaos.

This law is always at work—in nature, in science—and in our homes and lives.

I was thinking about this fact recently as I finished writing the manuscript of my next book. The words were typed on my computer, of course. But over the months of researching and writing, I collected a large number of notes and pieces of paper—loose sheets of handwritten outlines, printed pages to edit, notecards, lists, folders of relevant projects, even a stack of books I referenced often. Over time, I placed more and more of them on a shelf near my desk.

As the writing continued, the pile slowly grew. One stack turned into two, and two stacks turned into three. Piles of notecards got higher and higher. Papers intermingled. Things got buried. The mess expanded, more and more, until eventually the entire shelf was overtaken with notes for the book.

The mess didn’t improve with time—it only worsened. The system tended toward disorder, not order. And it stayed that way, until just last week, when the book was completed and I finally took the time and effort to clean it up fully.

Because here’s the thing about messes: They don’t clean themselves. They require attention.

When my kids were younger, Kim and I had a mantra that we would use often. Especially after meals or light snacks in the evening, if someone left their plate on the counter near the sink, I’d say, “You know that plate’s not going to clean itself. Somebody in this family is going to have to do it. It might as well be you since you’re the one who dirtied it.”

I wish I could say the mantra was 100% effective—but we all know better than that.

Regardless, there is an important truth hidden in that reality that we would be wise to remind ourselves of—even beyond our teenage years.

Messes don’t clean themselves. The universe moves naturally toward disorder, not order.

This is important to see and apply accordingly in our homes. Messes only grow as clutter attracts more and more clutter.

• The mail you left on the counter will only pile up higher—until you make the effort to sort it.
• The dishes in your sink will remain dirty—until you make the effort to clean them.
• The clothes in your closet will take up more and more space—until you make the effort to discard some.
• The boxes of stuff in your basement will remain there—until you take the time to sort them.
• The garage will remain too full to park in—until you get out there and declutter the stuff.

And maybe, some of us need to stop reading right here, and go make the change to bring about the order in our home that we’ve been wanting.

But this principle doesn’t stop at our possessions. Messes don’t clean themselves. The universe only moves toward order when energy is applied:

If we’re living paycheck to paycheck, avoiding the numbers won’t change the math. Our attention and energy is required to fix it.

If our lifestyle is unhealthy, doing the same thing over and over won’t bring change. Our attention and energy is required to change it.

If we don’t like the direction of our life, attention and energy will be required to start moving in a different direction.

If there is a strained relationship in our life, ignoring the hard work won’t solve it. Attention, energy—and probably humility—will be required.

We can spend a lot of time waiting for the right moment, the perfect motivation, or the ideal set of circumstances. But messes rarely resolve themselves as we wait. They grow. And the longer we delay, the more energy it takes to clean them up.

So maybe today is a good day to ask: What mess in my life is waiting for my attention?

And what small step can I take before the sun sets to begin cleaning it up?

The post Messes Must Be Cleaned Up appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

View the full article

Some people, it seems, merely drift through life. While others appear driven and focused.

Have you ever wondered why that is? Is it personality? Upbringing? Talent? Ambition?

There’s no doubt that those factors play a role in how each of us approach life.

But I think there is something more important, something available to all of us, that also motivates us to live intentional lives—and ultimately become the best version of ourselves.

That potential can be found in the size of the dream we choose to pursue.

You see, when the goals that we choose for ourselves are meaningful—when they matter deeply to our hearts and souls—they compel us and equip us to become better versions of ourselves. Therefore, getting clear on what is most important to us is an important step in self-development.

We can drift through life pursing nothing. We can take small steps to accomplish small goals. Or we can live each day with passion and ambition to accomplish something lasting.

There are two ways big dreams help us grow: 

1. They almost always require our hardest work. And because of that, we are forced to improve and develop ourselves if we are ever going to meet them.

2. But even more important, our dreams and goals motivate us and shape us. When we pursue meaningful pursuits, work is no longer drudgery. Work becomes meaningful. Discipline and sacrifice are not activities to avoid. Our goals make them desirable—because our focus is on a prize worth giving everything for.

In that way, we don’t become better versions of ourselves by accident or because someone required us to do so. That is always a recipe for disaster. We become better because the finish line is worth becoming better for.

Unfortunately, not every dream brings out the best in us.

If the biggest goals in our lives center on items that bring only fleeting or passing or temporary happiness, they may motivate us for a bit. But in the long run, our hearts and souls scream out to us that the pursuit is empty. 

Goals of accumulating money, possessions, or popularity can motivate for awhile. But often, at some point in our lives, we realize that we sold out our greatest potential for the fading trinkets of this world. When we are focused on self, comparison, leisure, or when we allow fear to dictate the size of our dreams, we end up chasing things that can never satisfy. And our development is stunted.

There’s nothing wrong with being successful in a career or becoming the best employee or boss that we can possibly become. But we sell ourselves short when our dreams stop at comfort, status, or luxury.

There are more meaningful dreams available to us:

—Raising a family that can carry your values and legacy into future generations.
—Solving problems that we see in the world.
—Loving the people around us and contributing to society in a positive way.
—Serving others, benefiting others, using our talents and gifts to help others.
—Passing on wisdom and understanding to move people forward. 
—Bringing about the greatest good in the world with the one life that we have to live.

These are the kinds of dreams that change us in the long-run. They shape our mornings, afternoons, and evenings. They shape how we spend our money and our hours. They redefine fulfillment and meaning. And in so doing, they compel us to become better versions of ourselves each day and every day.

So dream bigger dreams for your life than possessions or money or status.

The bigger the dream, the better version of ourselves we become.

And everybody benefits from that.

The post The Bigger Your Dream, The Better Version of Yourself You Become appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

View the full article

Minimalism is a lifestyle choice with countless benefits.

For one thing, choosing to live a minimalist life isn’t just about decluttering your space, it’s about redirecting your time, money, and energy toward things that truly matter. 

Unfortunately, the path to simplicity is against the current of culture. For that reason, it’s important for all of us to surround ourselves with messages and stories that remind us of the benefits of owning less.

With that in mind, I’ve curated a collection of articles that I believe will inspire and encourage you on your journey to a simpler, more intentional life. Settle down in a quiet moment this weekend with your favorite beverage and enjoy these articles picked to inspire you.

How to Curb Impulse Shopping (or Similar Behaviors) | Zen Habits by Leo Babauta. The root of an impulse habit is that we have some kind of stress, and the habit is a way to soothe it.

8 Things You Will Inevitably Regret Not Letting Go of Sooner in Your Life | Marc & Angel Hack Life by Marc Chernoff. Oftentimes you don’t even realize you’re blocking your own present blessings by holding on to everything so tightly.

10 Minimalist Hacks for a Cleaner, Calmer Home | No Sidebar. A calm home is not found in the size of our space or the beauty of our décor. It’s found in how we feel when we walk through the door. 

7 Reasons to Stop Wasting Money on Fast Fashion | Simple Money by Joshua Becker. The goal is to live intentionally—with purpose, simplicity, and peace. And that’s something no fast fashion rack will ever offer.

The Return of Dumb Things | Yahoo by Kerry Justich. “I want to feel more connected with the world around me and what media I’m choosing to consume, rather than passively listening, watching and wasting away hours I can’t get back.”

Recently Released Inspiring Videos

25 Obsolete Items you Can Get Rid of Right Now | YouTube by Joshua Becker. Technology changes, lifestyles evolve, and yet, many of us still hold on to items that no longer serve a purpose. Here are 25 things you can declutter right away—because in 2025, you just don’t need them anymore.

It is Better to Donate than Resell | YouTube by Joshua Becker. Over time, our most significant and recurring motivation to declutter came from the realization that our excess could become a blessing to somebody else.

The post Inspiring Simplicity. Weekend Reads. appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

View the full article

For the past 15 years, the driving passion behind this website has been simple: to inspire and help people own less and live more.

I hope, in one way or another, it’s been helpful to you in your pursuit.

At first, this blog was the only resource I offered. I published articles three times per week and made them freely available to anyone who subscribed by email. (You still can, by the way.)

But a website built on one-off articles has its limits. It becomes a stream of consciousness—topics shared in no particular order, simply based on what I was learning, thinking about, or wanting to articulate at the time.

The articles were helpful—and still are—but now, just 30 short of 1,000 posts, they can be difficult to navigate. I started receiving more and more emails asking, “Do you have any articles about _____?” And often, I did—they were just buried in the Archives.

So in 2016, I published The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own. The book laid out a straightforward argument for how owning less helps us pursue bigger and better dreams for our lives.

I hoped it would inspire many people to embrace a new way of living. With over 100,000 copies sold, I’d say that’s a pretty good start.

But as the book and blog gained readers, I began to notice something.

Many people had read about minimalism and wanted the benefits of it—but still struggled to put the principles into practice.

So nine years ago, I launched a solution: The Uncluttered Course.

I created the course to provide everything a book, blog post, or YouTube video cannot: structure, accountability, weekly challenges, a supportive community, and an opportunity to ask questions and feel heard.

The course has changed countless lives. I still receive emails that say, “I took your Uncluttered Course in 20xx and it changed my life.”

And I always respond the same way: “I may have provided inspiration and structure—but you did the hard work.”

A few years ago, in 2023, I sat down with a pen and paper and asked myself a new question: What more could I do to help people own less?

I mapped out the entire journey someone might go through—from first hearing about minimalism, to decluttering their home, to building long-term habits that maintain a clutter-free life, to eventually inviting others into its benefits.

No matter where someone finds themselves on that path, I want to help them take their next step.

That process led me to a realization: As much as I love this blog, the books, and the online course, there are still some people who need something more personal in their journey.

They don’t want to go through the process alone. They don’t want to figure it out online.

They want in-person help. One-on-one. In their actual home.

Sometimes that’s because they feel stuck. Other times it’s because they need personal support. And sometimes, they’re just too busy to do it on their own.

Unfortunately, many professional organizers are focused on organizing what we already own—not helping us remove what we don’t need. It can be hard to explain to someone that the goal isn’t better organization—it’s owning less.

The world needs more Professional Declutterers.

So over the past two years, I’ve been training both professionals and passionate individuals in my approach to decluttering and minimalism.

During our live professional trainings, I work directly with participants—teaching the most effective methods I’ve found to help people own less and live more.

Today, nearly 100 individuals have completed the training. They live all over the world and are equipped to come into your home (or work virtually) to walk with you step-by-step through the process.

If you’re looking for personal support to help you declutter, they are available and ready to serve. Here is a website where you can find their information.

Of course, this is their livelihood. Hiring someone for individualized support will cost more than a book or course designed for a larger audience. But if you’re stuck, the investment is worth it—for your home, your peace, your time, and your life.

*I don’t receive any commission from their work.

Each of these professionals has my full recommendation. I’ve trained them personally. They have proven their understanding of my methods. And I believe they can help you.

If you need the help, reach out. Owning less is worth it.

—

PS: If you’re a professional organizer—or even just someone passionate about helping others own less—I’d love to teach you. I offer this training three times per year. If you’d like more information or want to be notified the next time registration opens, sign up here.

The post The Support You’ve Been Looking For: One-on-One Help to Own Less appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

View the full article

According to some studies, the average person touches their phone 2,617 times every day. And, on average, we now spend an average of 5 hours and 16 minutes per day on our phones.

When I was young, our phones were just a tool for communication with others, but those days are long gone. They are now an almost essential device to get through our days. Even more, when you think about it, they have become the screen and lens through which we experience life. We scroll, text, shop, track, plan, capture, play, and navigate every day—all from a device we carry in our pocket.

With a device that has become so powerful in our lives, it is important that we are intentional in how we structure it and use it. Not just in terms of the amount of time we spend on it (although that is incredibly important), but how we use it. Are we setting up our phones, and the apps we download for it, in a way that improves our life or detracts from it?

Are the apps on your phone helping you live an intentional life focused on the things that matter most—or distracting you from it?

Distraction is everywhere these days. But unlike many of life’s interruptions, the apps on our phone are entirely within our control. Every single one is something we chose to download, chose to keep—and chose where to place on our screen.

Some apps are helpful, no doubt. They serve a clear purpose—whether it’s finding directions, tracking habits, locating information quickly, learning a new skill, focusing on a hobby, improving productivity, capturing family memories, or connecting with others. These tools can absolutely improve our lives and drive an intentional life.

But not all apps serve us.

Some only consume our time and attention. They distract us from people and relationships. They steal our focus and dash our productivity. They compel shopping and poor financial decisions. Some stir up stress in our lives.

There are some apps on our phones that do not motivate us to live our best lives. They offer the illusion of a better life while simultaneously pulling us further from the people and purposes that matter most.

I encourage you to look at the apps on your phone in a new way today. Ask yourself about each one, “Is this app helping me live the life I want and achieve the dream I have for my life?”

Because if it’s not, it’s distracting you from it. And the power to decide how your phone is going to serve you is in our hands today—literally.

How to Use Your Phone More Intentionally

Here are five simple but helpful ways to make sure the apps on your phone are contributing to a more meaningful life rather than keeping you from it:

1. Take Inventory

Begin by taking a look at how much time you spend on each app on your phone. Don’t just guess, but actually look. Here’s where to check on an Apple phone and here’s where to check on an Android phone.

Decide, right then and there, whether each app (starting with the most used) is one that is helping you live a more intentional life or keeping you from it.

2. Remove One App That Doesn’t Align with Your Values

It’s okay to start small. Just choose one app (the higher up your time-used list, the better) that consistently wastes time, distracts you, adds stress, or leads to unhealthy habits.

Just one. Delete it—and pay attention to what happens next in your life. If you like who you are becoming after the change, consider finding another… and then another.

3. Make Your Home Screen an Encouraging Place

Your home screen receives more of your brain’s attention than anywhere on the phone. It is the first thing you see when you turn on your phone and has the potential to immediately encourage intentionality or distraction. Build it strategically. Fill it with the apps that reflect your desires and values: a calendar, a reading app, a journal, a health app, a shortcut to Becoming Minimalist…

And move time-wasting, distracting apps—like social media, games, or shopping platforms—to your second or third screen.

4. Do a Little Research on Apps that Support Your Goals

Just like there are many time-wasting and distraction-filled apps on the market, there are also many, many wonderful apps and tools available for you to use to improve your life. I encourage you to not just delete time-wasting apps and leave a void, but fill your digital space with tools that help you in life.

Whether you’re trying to exercise more, eat better, read more, write better, spend less, save more, focus more, grow in your faith, learn more, expand a hobby, build a habit, or declutter your home—there is likely an app that can help.

Sometimes all it takes is thinking to yourself, “I wonder if there’s an app that will help me….” and then googling to see if any options pop up. If you find one that might help, put it on your home screen (see Step #3) to encourage your progress.

5. Review Your App Choices Regularly

Apps seem to come and go pretty quickly in our affections and in our attentions. Removing one time-wasting app doesn’t mean we don’t default to another. Or trying out a habit-building app this week doesn’t mean we’ll still use it next week.

Set a regular reminder to review your apps. Quarterly, at least. Maybe even more often at first. You can decide—just know creating a phone set-up that serves you isn’t a one-time decision. Take some time to ask questions like: What’s serving you well? What’s becoming a distraction? What’s no longer needed?

There is no doubt our phones are powerful tools in our lives. In fact, most of you are reading this article on a phone right now. Let’s work hard to craft them into tools that help us live better, not more distracted.

The post Are the Apps on Your Phone Helping You or Hurting You? appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

View the full article

There’s something natural about the way people hold onto sentimental items from their past.

A child’s toy. A handwritten card. The trophy from the winning game. Souvenirs from concerts attended or trips taken. Boxes of items once owned by our parents, grandparents, or other loved ones. 

For many of us, these things aren’t just household items like extra Tupperware in the kitchen cabinet that can be decluttered when a lid goes missing. They represent the people we love, the experiences we’ve cherished, or the accomplishments we worked hard to achieve.

For that reason, the attachment is emotional. That’s why we refer to it as sentimental. And it can be one of the most difficult categories of items to minimize.

But over time, those meaningful items start to add up if we don’t declutter them. Isn’t that true? Closets fill. Boxes pile up in the attic, basement, and garage. Pieces of furniture begin to collect. Sometimes we even need to rent a storage unit down the street to keep all the sentimental belongings we’re holding onto.

Our spaces become a museum of the past. And slowly, without even realizing it, unless we choose to take intentional action, the stuff we love begins to keep us from the stuff we love. 

Here’s what I mean by that:

The stuff we keep—no matter how lovingly—brings burden and weight onto our lives. Every possession does. They take up space. They need to be stored, organized, cleaned, protected, and worried about. They add time, expense, stress, and mental weight to our lives. Every item we choose to keep takes up physical space in our home and mental space in our mind.

The excess can begin to keep us from peace, calm, freedom, space, and intentionality. As a result, the sentimental items we accumulate can begin to keep us from being fully alive and present in our daily life. They begin to pull our energy from the very life and opportunities we would choose to remember.

We’ve held onto the toys and clothes from when our kids were young. But when the basement is so full of stuff we are constantly thinking about needing to clean it out—we are distracted from the people right in front of us today.

We purchased and kept souvenirs so that we’d never forget the trips that we’ve taken. But when the house is so full of clutter the cleaning and organizing is never done—we become too busy to take new trips today.

We hung all the trophies and certificates we earned through our accomplishments in the past. But when our walls and offices are so full of relics from our achievements in the past—we forget to dream about new goals in the future.

We couldn’t find the strength to declutter the personal possessions of a spouse who passed too early because we loved them so much. But when their things keep us from moving forward into our next season of life—we often miss out on the joy that they would have wanted us to experience.

It’s not that we love too much. It’s just that the items we keep to remember the things we love might actually end up keeping us from discovering and enjoying more of those people and adventures in the future.

The stuff we love begins to keep us from the stuff we love. 

It is important to remember that we don’t love the physical objects. We love the people they represent, the experiences they remind us of, and the accomplishments they signify. This might be fine—unless our physical possessions begin to keep us from loving more people, having more experiences, and achieving more accomplishments.

So take a second look at the sentimental clutter you are holding on to. And if it is distracting you from living your best life in this current season of your life, then it is time for action.

Releasing sentimental objects isn’t about thinking less of your past. It’s about honoring your past by living fully in the present. You’re not being forced to decide what memories to keep, you are creating space for more experiences worth remembering in the future.

Are you ready to get started? If so, here is my advice on How to Handle Sentimental Clutter.

The post When the Stuff You Love Keeps You From the Stuff You Love appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

View the full article

There’s a strange thing that happens when someone says, “Only three left in stock,” or when a sale ends at midnight, or when a product is labeled “limited edition.” Or when we hear the phrase, “But don’t wait—these are moving fast.”

Even if the item wasn’t on your shopping list a moment ago, all of a sudden, the item starts to feel important—urgent, even.

There’s a name for this: The Scarcity Effect.

This experience is, of course, not unique. You knew exactly the scenarios I mentioned in the first paragraph because you’ve heard them countless times before.

Even more, not only is the phrasing recognizable, most of us have felt the internal nudge that we should buy something now, simply because it might not be available later. We’ve bought things we didn’t need—not because we truly valued them—but because we feared missing out.

And it’s influencing more decisions than we realize.

What is the Scarcity Effect?

The Scarcity Effect is a psychological principle that occurs when people place a higher value on something that is limited in availability. The less available something becomes (or appears to become), the more we desire it—whether we actually need it or not.

On some level, it makes sense. Diamonds are more valuable than rocks because diamonds are not as abundant and more scarce. But these perceptions can result in irregular or even unhealthy decision-making when the scarcity is entirely manufactured.

The principle has been studied for decades. A classic experiment from 1975 by researchers Worchel, Lee, and Adewole involved two jars of cookies. One jar held ten cookies, while the other held only two. Participants were asked to rate the cookies—and overwhelmingly, the cookies from the nearly empty jar were rated as more desirable and valuable, even though they were exactly the same.

Scarcity increases perceived value, even if the value is no different.

Marketers and retailers know this well. They create scarcity intentionally—limited-time offers, countdown timers, flash sales, exclusive collections, seasonal releases. No doubt, you’ve seen them all over the Internet and in brick-and-mortar stores. All of these tactics are designed to trigger the internal fear that if we don’t act now, we’ll miss out.

Here’s an entire article offering marketers “innovative ideas” to create scarcity and urgency, encouraging people to take quick action on an item for sale.

And so often, we act—often without thinking clearly about whether we actually need the item or not. Or whether the scarcity is true or manufactured.

The Scarcity Effect pushes us to buy things out of fear, not purpose. It clouds our judgment and convinces us that a possession is more important than it really is—just because it might not be available later. And in doing so, it creates negative effects on our lives: it empties our wallets and often fills our homes with items we never truly needed in the first place.

Not only do the items we buy clutter our physical space, they also take up our time, energy, and attention—precisely the things minimalism helps us reclaim.

How to Overcome the Scarcity Effect

It’s one thing to be aware of the Scarcity Effect. It’s another to overcome it—not just once, but as a lifestyle. But we can do both.

Here are some helpful ways to resist this all-too-common temptation:

1. Pause before purchasing.

When scarcity is used to create urgency, one of the most effective responses is simply to pause. Rarely is a purchase as urgent as the marketing claims it to be. If something is truly needed, it will still be needed tomorrow. Take 24 hours before making a decision. If the desire fades, so did the illusion of need.

“But what about the deadline?” you might ask. My mom summed it up really well when I was young. “If a salesman is pressuring you that there’s a deadline on a purchase, it’s almost never a good deal.”

2. Ask: “Would I want this if it wasn’t limited?”

Strip away the scarcity messaging and ask honestly: “Would I still want this item if it were always available at this price?” Or you can try, “Would I still want this if there were thousands of them still available?” That question might help reveal whether the desire is genuine or artificially inflated.

3. Recognize fear-based marketing for what it is.

Most scarcity-based tactics are not there to help us, they are there to manipulate us. The more we recognize phrases like “only two left” or “before it’s gone forever” as psychological tricks, the easier they are to ignore. Additionally, the more we recognize them around us almost everywhere we look, the easier it becomes to decipher which are entirely manufactured to manipulate us.

4. Focus on long-term value, not short-term emotion.

The Scarcity Effect thrives on impulse. Minimalism, on the other hand, thrives on intentionality. Long-term value should always outweigh short-term emotion. One of the best questions to ask is, “How will this item improve my life one year from now?” Or, “Will this item help me accomplish my purpose in life? Or just distract me from it?” If the answer is unclear, it’s probably not worth owning.

5. Remember: scarcity doesn’t create worth—purpose does.

It’s easy to believe that something is valuable just because it’s rare. But minimalism invites us to rethink the perceived value of almost everything. Purpose is what brings value and fulfillment into our homes and lives—not scarcity, status, deadlines, or hype. And an unneeded tool left on the shelf is more valuable than a trendy gadget collecting dust.

The Scarcity Effect is a cognitive bias that often influences our behavior—both in the pursuit and accumulation of physical things. But once we recognize it, we can begin to overcome it.

And the more we overcome it, the more intentional our lives become.

The post The Scarcity Effect: Why We Buy More Than We Need appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

View the full article

Your home is your sanctuary. Let’s keep it that way.

Simplicity is about creating space in your life for what matters most. It’s about clearing the clutter from our homes and hearts so we can live with intention and purpose. 

As the world gets busier and noisier, embracing simplicity and minimalism becomes even more important.

But we all need inspiration to keep us going. That’s why I carefully selected these articles for you. I hope they inspire you to continue on this beautiful journey towards a simpler life. 

Find a cozy spot, prepare your favorite drink, and immerse yourself in these thought-provoking reads this weekend.

On First Principles, Consumerism, and Why We’re All a Bit Lost | Medium by Charles Adede. Maybe fulfillment isn’t about gaining more control, but about aligning more closely with reality as it is.

The Psychology Behind Consumerism: Why Do We Buy Things We Don’t Need? | The Arabian Stories by Navida Sait. Have you ever walked into a shop intending to buy just one item but left with a basket full of things you hadn’t planned for? You’re not alone.

The Coolest People Online Are Barely Posting at All | Popsugar by Jasmine Desiree. In a world where oversharing has become the norm, a quiet counterculture is emerging: the rise of digital minimalism.

The Best Investment You Can Make: Simplifying Your Life | Simple Money by Richard James. If you want a better return on your time, energy, money, and peace of mind—start simplifying.

I Tried the 30-Day Minimalism Game and Decluttered 465 Things in One Month | Good Housekeeping by Katie Mortram. If you manage to stick to this decluttering game, it can make a big difference to all sorts of areas around the home.

8 Reasons Decluttering a Little Made a Big Difference for Me | No Sidebar by Karen Trefzger. An active life might mean that some clutter will always be entering my home.  That’s why I take a few minutes each week to remove the extras. 

Recently Released Inspiring Videos

12 Items to Declutter That Instantly Create More Space | YouTube by Joshua Becker. If your home feels cluttered and cramped, you’re not alone. By letting go of the excess, you can quickly create more room to breathe, live, and enjoy your home.

10 Money Saving Hacks Minimalists Swear By | YouTube by Joshua Becker. Whether you want to get out of debt, get ahead financially, or start giving more, saving money is always helpful. And by shifting your mindset and habits, you can break free from the cycle of overspending and find greater financial freedom.

The post Inspiring Simplicity. Weekend Reads. appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

View the full article

Every item in a home takes up space, demands attention, and requires care. The more we accumulate, the more we spend our time maintaining things rather than living life.

Unfortunately, most of us were never taught to question this. Even worse, from a young age, we have been told that more is better—that success is measured by what we own, that happiness is found in the next purchase, that security is found in full closets, full garages, and full bank accounts.

But deep down, we know we were designed for something bigger and better than physical possessions. And life is too short to waste chasing things that don’t matter. There is greater joy to be found in owning less than we can ever find pursuing more—because owning less frees us to live a more intentional and focused life.

Sometimes, a single quote is all it takes to shift our entire perspective. Just one sentence can remind us of the freedom found in letting go. Sixteen years ago, my neighbor changed my entire life with a single sentence at just the right time.

So whether you’re just beginning the journey to a clutter-free life or looking for encouragement to keep going, these quotes are here to help—because the right words, at the right time, can change everything.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

You’ll love owning less.

The post 20 Quotes That Will Change the Way You See Your Stuff appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

View the full article

There is an important truth about life that is helpful to understand: sometimes, the things we think will make us happy actually keep us from it.

For most of my life, I believed the ‘American Dream’ was the path to a better life—a bigger house, a fuller closet, the latest gadgets, and all the things everyone else seemed to be chasing. So I chased and accumulated those things with determination, convinced they would improve my life. But looking back, I see how many of my years were spent chasing the wrong things.

It’s not easy to admit, but much of my life was wasted pursuing possessions that didn’t matter. By the time I was 33, our home was filled with stuff—furniture, clothes, toys, gadgets, and countless items we thought we needed. Each new possession came with a hidden cost: time spent cleaning, organizing, repairing, and maintaining. Our lives were quietly being consumed by the very things we thought would bring us freedom.

Then, everything changed.

We began removing the excess—over 60% of our possessions—and in doing so, discovered a life filled with greater joy, purpose, and freedom. We found more time for faith, family, friends, and making a positive impact in the world. We uncovered passions we didn’t know we had. And we realized that the pursuit of possessions had been stealing our best years.

If I could go back, I would start living simply much earlier—in my teens, in my twenties, or as a young family. Because the earlier we embrace simplicity, the sooner we experience its life-giving benefits: less debt, less clutter, more money, more intentionality, more time and presence with the people who matter most.

The truth is, the path to simplicity looks different for everyone. Some get to learn it as a child from their parents. For others, it comes later—perhaps in a season of financial strain, a move to a smaller home, or a moment of clarity about what truly matters. Some discover simplicity as they raise young children, others discover it when they downsize after their kids have moved out. Some find minimalism through a book, a blog, a documentary, a conversation with their neighbor, or a life-changing event. Others stumble into it gradually, one small step at a time.

But no matter how or when we find it, the best time to start living simply is always now.

Here’s why starting early matters:

1. Simplicity Builds Better Habits

When we start living with less early in life, we develop habits that can shape more of our future. We learn to value experiences over things, relationships over status, and purpose over possessions. These habits can become the foundation for a life of ever-increasing intentionality and fulfillment.

2. It Frees Up Resources for What Matters

The earlier we simplify, the more time, money, and energy we have to invest in what truly matters. Imagine the impact of saving more, giving more, and pursuing passions sooner rather than later.

3. It Helps Us Avoid Regret

One of my greatest regrets is not starting sooner—wasting years and money chasing things that didn’t truly matter. I wasted too much of life chasing things that didn’t matter, only to realize later that they were distractions from what did. Starting early helps us avoid that regret and live a life aligned with our values from the beginning.

4. It Prepares Us for the Unexpected

Life is unpredictable. Simplicity equips us to handle change with grace. Whether it’s a career shift, a move, an unexpected diagnosis, or even a global health crisis, living with less means we’ve found freedom to help us be better prepared to adapt and thrive.

5. It Sets an Example for Others

When we choose simplicity, we inspire those around us—our children, friends, and community. We show them that a meaningful life isn’t found in what we own but in how we live. And the earlier we can start showing that truth to our kids, the more likely they are to believe it.

The beauty of simplicity is that it’s never too late to start—no matter where you are in life. Whether you’re 20, 40, 60, or 80, the benefits are waiting for you and able to be enjoyed just as soon as you want. But the earlier we begin, the sooner we experience them and the more time we have to enjoy them.

So, where do we start?

Begin small. Declutter a drawer. Cancel a subscription. Say no to something that doesn’t align with your values. Each small step builds momentum and brings clarity.

The best time to start living simply is now. Don’t wait for the ‘right’ moment or perfect circumstances. Start today, and create a life you’ll never regret.

The post The Best Time to Start Living Simply Is Now appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

View the full article

We are not infinite gods. We are finite creatures. And because of that, all of our life resources are finite. Our days are finite. Our money is finite. Our time and attention and energy are finite.

The abundance of these resources may vary from person to person, but for all of us, they are limited.

And because of that, every “more” comes with a tradeoff. More of one thing always means less of something else.

In some areas of life, this is easier to see:

More junk food means less health.
More screen time means less time outside.
More spending means less savings.
More late nights means less enjoyable mornings.
More clutter means less calm.

But in other areas of life, we are less likely to notice or consider the full cost:

Wanting more money means less energy for more significant pursuits.
Wanting more career success means fewer family dinners.
Wanting more power means less freedom.
Wanting more status means less peace.
Wanting a bigger house means less time playing with your kids.
Wanting more comfort means less personal growth.

Because we are finite creatures, we can have more of anything. But not more of everything.

That’s why it’s important to decide—intentionally, deliberately, and thoughtfully—what we want more of.

And if we don’t choose our “more” carefully, the world will choose for us. And it rarely chooses well.

The things that matter most are often quiet. They don’t clamor for attention. They don’t shout from billboards or flash on screens. But they are what we most desire in our deepest heart: purpose, peace, love, presence, meaning, connection, contribution.

Those items are always worth choosing. And always require us to choose less of something else.

So let’s be sure to ask ourselves the most important questions:

What do we want more of in our lives?
And what are we willing to have less of so we can make room for it?

Because life is too short to chase the wrong more.

The post What Do You Want More of in Your Life? appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

View the full article

My friend Derek wanted to be a good minimalist. So after his son, Sammy, was born, he refused to buy toys for the boy, assuming he would be just as happy playing with the rocks and sticks strewn throughout their backyard.

A few years later, however, my friend started questioning his own minimalism when he saw his son erupt with joy each time he played with his friend’s toys. Sammy smiled while he constructed deformed dinosaurs with multicolored LEGO bricks. He laughed as two Ninja Turtles performed backflips and ate plastic pizza slices. And he literally jumped with joy the first time he slammed a NERF ball into its door-frame hoop.

Derek realized he had been denying Sammy in the name of minimalism—dampening his boy’s playtime with his own preference for simple living. So he did what many loving fathers might do: he logged onto Craigslist and found a big box of used toys.

When Sammy opened the box, his facial features expanded with delight. He extracted his new toys one at a time—a Walkie Talkie, an Etch A Sketch, a miniature Wright Flyer model airplane—welcoming each with gratitude.

Yet at the sight of Sammy’s glee, Derek was overtaken not by triumph, but by the consumerist mindset: If one box made him this happy, then ten boxes will surely make him ten times happier.

As Derek returned to Craigslist, an insight from his past interrupted his next transaction: This was exactly how I behaved before becoming a minimalist. Instead of enjoying the things in front of me—instead of being satisfied with my treasure—I always searched for more.

He looked over at his son and noticed that Sammy was fully present, free from the yearning that is chaperoned by consumerism. The shopper’s delirium that had always removed Derek from the joy of the moment was absent from the boy. Sammy was simply happy with the toys that were in front of him.

It occurred to Derek that the new toys didn’t make his son happy—they intensified the joy that had been there, in his heart, all along. The toys acted as an amplifier of joy, not the source of it.

Derek looked back at his computer and had an aha moment: Ten times the toys didn’t equate to ten times the joy. In fact, more toys might distort Sammy’s innate happiness because, much like a stereo amplifier, every sound turns into noise when the volume is cranked all the way up.

In economics, this overamplification is known as the law of diminishing marginal utility, which states that an item’s total utility increases more slowly as consumption increases, until, eventually, a point is reached at which consumption yields negative utility.

Accordingly, zero toys was a type of deprivation. That’s why the first box generated considerable utility. And yet a warehouse worth of toys would be another kind of deprivation—an overabundance that would strip away the peacefulness of playing in the present.

Instead of making another purchase, Derek shut his laptop and admired his son’s exuberance. Depriving Sammy was not a minimalist move; it was a legalist edict that had accidentally silenced his joy. But when Derek let go of his stringent regulations, the suppressor was removed and joyfulness echoed throughout their home.

***

Joshua Fields Millburn is a New York Times–bestselling author, Emmy-nominated Netflix filmmaker, podcaster, and the founder of the simple-living collective The Minimalists.

.

The post The Amplification of Joy and the Diminishing Marginal Utility of Things appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

View the full article

“The whole of life is but a moment of time. It is our duty, therefore, to use it, not to misuse it.” —Plutarch

“I could never become a minimalist.”

This is a phrase I have heard countless times since starting this blog.

Every time, two thoughts come to mind. First, I wonder what misconception they have about minimalism that would make it seem so difficult. But second, more importantly, I think to myself, “But you already are a minimalist—you just don’t know it yet.“

The truth is, we’re all minimizing something in our lives, whether we realize it or not. And once we understand that fact, everything about us begins to change.

Every day, we make choices about where we spend our time, money, energy, and attention. By definition, these resources are limited. Even if we were the richest man or woman on earth, there is still only a finite amount of money and time available to us. It is impossible to do or have everything.

All of life is a trade. Every minute of every day, we trade for something. And if we’re not minimizing our possessions, we’re minimizing something else.

When I first embraced minimalism, I thought I was just motivated to declutter our home so I could spend more time with my kids. But I quickly realized minimalism was about more than that.

Minimalism was about finding more intentionality with my resources.

It wasn’t just about removing things from my home. It was about making better choices with my life.

When we began to own less, we found more time for the things we love. More energy for pursuits that matter. More focus for what brings real meaning. More money for service and generosity. We even found more opportunity to focus on self-growth and personal development.

When we began minimizing possessions, we began maximizing more important things.

That is always the case!

We are all trading something every day. We are spending money on something, we are spending time somewhere, we are focusing our energy and affections in a specific direction.

And if we’re busy chasing and accumulating physical possessions we don’t need, we’re minimizing resources that could be spent elsewhere. But most of the time, we don’t even realize it.

There is a direct correlation between the increase in our physical possessions and the decrease in our resources to be spent elsewhere.

Make no mistake, everybody is living a version of minimalism. The question is, are we minimizing the right things?

The post A Life-Changing Truth: We’re All Minimizing Something appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

View the full article

My desire with each Weekend Reads is to provide you with articles and posts that encourage simplicity and minimalist living. Below, you will find links to blog posts and news stories that I hand-picked over the last couple weeks. I hope you find inspiration and practical help inside them.

That is my goal on Becoming Minimalist: to intentionally promote simplicity in a world that needs to hear it.

An Ode To Simple Living: A Summer Spent With My Grandparents | Strike Magazine by Hannah King. I know what you’re thinking: You lived with your grandparents as a 21-year-old college student for 3 months?! Yes. And I can confidently say it was one of my best decisions this summer.

14 Qualities That Define a Minimalist Person | The Minimalist Vegan by Michael Ofei. Minimalists are frequently viewed as emotionless, privileged, dull, clinical and extreme. Yet some of the most exciting and dynamic individuals in history practised minimalism.

The Weight of Less: Redefining Minimalism Beyond Things | Manu Sharma. To truly understand minimalism, we must shift the focus from material things to a much deeper inquiry: why do we keep accumulating in the first place?

Stop Trying to Keep Up with the Joneses—They’re Broke | Simple Money by Richard James. Trying to match the lifestyle of others can quickly become a financial disaster.

Becoming Minimalist’s Joshua Becker: 3 Benefits of Minimalist Budgeting for Your Wardrobe | Yahoo by Ellie Diamond. What would it be like to slow down? To find stillness in your day, moments of rest and quietude?

10 Things You Should Stop Buying Today for a Simpler Life | No Sidebar by No Sidebar. By letting go of some specific buying habits, we can create more space—both physically and mentally—and focus on what truly matters.

Recently Released Inspiring Videos

20 Simple Ways to Find a Moment of Peace | YouTube by Joshua Becker. Even when life is chaotic, we always have small opportunities to make peace and quiet a part of our lives. Here are some easy ways to find peace daily and slow life down.

The Zeigarnik Effect: The Hidden Reason Your Mind Feels Cluttered | YouTube by Joshua Becker. We all feel scatterbrained from time to time, but if you’re feeling it lately more than usual, you may be overlooking this common culprit.

The post Inspiring Simplicity. Weekend Reads. appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

View the full article

One of the most life-changing benefits of owning fewer possessions is the gift of more time. No doubt many of you have already experienced that. When we own less, we spend less time cleaning, organizing, maintaining, repairing, replacing… even shopping for new things in the first place.

Life becomes more manageable and less overwhelming at home (and in the world). In fact, the sheer amount of time saved by owning less surprises almost everybody who becomes minimalist. It’s impossible to realize how much of a burden our possessions have become until we begin to remove them.

But, when you’re just starting out on the journey to become minimalist, it can feel like the opposite is true. It feels like you’re adding more things to do to an already busy schedule. When you’re working a full-time job, raising kids, managing a home, attending family commitments, AND partaking in a few hobbies, the thought of finding extra time to declutter feels impossible for many.

Despite the obstacles, it is so worth the effort.

It might take you a little bit longer to minimize than someone who has more free time, but here are 15 practical, decluttering tips to help you get started:

1. Start Small and Visual

Your first step in the right direction doesn’t need to be a big one. So pick a starting area that has a noticeable impact but won’t take much time. A medicine chest, your nightstand, shelving in your living room, maybe a kitchen countertop are all great starting points. These are spaces we see frequently, and clearing them can create a quick visual win, fueling motivation to keep going.

2. Use “In-Between” Moments

Decluttering doesn’t always require long stretches of time. Use spare moments—like while waiting for dinner to cook or during commercial breaks—to tidy a small drawer, a shelf, or your desk. Done consistently, these quick actions will add up.

3. Schedule Decluttering Time

For larger projects, carve out specific time in your week, like a Saturday morning or an hour in the evening after the kids go to bed. If you live a busy life, you probably live by the calendar anyway. There are some projects that just require a period of time—so schedule them in and use your time efficiently when you do.

This will be the hardest at first. But like I mentioned, you’ll be surprised how much time decluttering grants you back when it’s completed. After scheduling just a few of these sessions at the beginning, you’ll find it easier and easier.

4. Declutter As You Go

Think of looking for items to declutter as an intentional part of your daily routine. For example, if you try on clothes and decide not to wear them because you don’t like the fit or color anymore, don’t toss them back into the closet—place them in a donation pile immediately. Same with toiletries or self-care products that you just can’t find the motivation to use.

5. Set Aside 10 Minutes Each Evening

As part of your bedtime routine, plan on a 10-minute decluttering session somewhere on your way to bed. For example, start by spending 10 minutes in the living room where you watch TV. Or ten minutes in the bathroom where you get ready for bed. Or ten minutes decluttering an area in your bedroom. Ten minutes per day, consistently, will make a huge impact in just a week.

6. Focus on Frequently Used Areas

In the earliest stages, focus on decluttering spaces that you interact with daily—like your kitchen or bedroom or closet. Decluttering these areas will make your day run more efficiently right at the beginning.

7. The “One-In-One-Out” Rule

For every new item you bring into your home, remove one that’s no longer needed. If you have a lot of decluttering to do, use the “One-In-Two-Out” variation. This commonly-used trick will force you to make progress even when you don’t feel like it.

8. Adopt a “No-New-Purchases” Rule

If you like the idea of “One-In-One-Out” Rule, go for it! But another decluttering tip for busy people is to temporarily commit not to buy anything until your current decluttering project is complete.

There are many people who have changed their lives through a No-Spend Month or a No-Spend Year (this doesn’t usually apply to consumables like food).

I’m not saying you need to do this as part of your decluttering. But deciding specifically not to buy anything new until your decluttering is done will make your decluttering both easier (less stuff coming in) and faster (because of the incentive to finish).

9. Declutter A Little Before You Sit Down

I learned a life-changing concept several years: A do-it-before-you-sit-down approach to getting stuff done at home. You can read more of the practice here. But the principle is simply this: As soon you get home in the evening, before you sit down to relax, do at least a little bit of decluttering somewhere in your home.

10. Learn Helpful Questions to Ask

When decluttering on a schedule, it’s important to focus on efficiency. So find those questions that help you make quick progress removing things from your home. You might want to try: Do I need this? Does this item help my home function better? Is this just a duplicate of something else? Why do I have it? What would I use if I didn’t own this?

The question that works best for you might be different than the question that works for someone else. So try out a few. And zero in on the one that helps you make the best progress.

11. Donate on Your Commute

Keep a donation box in your car. As you declutter, place unwanted items directly in the box. The next time you drive by a donation center—whether on your way to work or running errands—drop it off. This 1) saves you time; 2) keeps clutter from building up in your home; 3) and helps with the most important step of the decluttering process: actually removing the things from our possession.

12. Hire Help

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, there’s no shame in hiring some help. Most people who hire decluttering help do so because 1) They don’t know how to do this on their own; or 2) They don’t have the time to do it themselves. I have personally trained over 50 professionals and individuals in my strategy and approach to own less. I recommend any one of them: Becker Method Certified Declutterers.

Even having a friend or family member help can make the task feel lighter and faster.

13. Keep the Right Mindset

Remind yourself that every minute spent decluttering pays off in the long run. For every minute you spend minimizing, you’re likely saving yourself an hour of future cleaning, organizing, or searching for misplaced items. Think of your decluttering time as an investment—and find motivation in that mindset.

14. Temporarily Cancel a Recurring Appointment

Here’s the good news: There is a finish line to your decluttering journey. You may need to make an intentional change in your regular weekly or monthly schedule for now, but that change won’t last forever. Once you declutter your home, you’ll be able to add that appointment back in your life plus more if you want.

15. Involve the Whole Family

Decluttering doesn’t have to be a solo activity. Involve your family members, especially if they contributed to the clutter. Set a timer for 20 minutes and see who can declutter the most in that time. Making it a family project can lighten the load and speed up the process.

Of course, I’m not expecting you to use all 15 of these tips—you’ve got enough on your plate already!

But finding just 2 or 3 that fit naturally into your busy lifestyle will help you make the progress you’re looking for. With each small step, you’ll notice the difference in your home and, more importantly, in your life.

The post 15 Super Helpful Decluttering Tips for Busy People appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

View the full article