Ergonomic Furniture and Equipment

It’s really easy to fall into the thinking that organizing will solve the clutter in our homes. As a result, we buy storage bins, shelves, and labels, believing that if everything has a place, our space will feel more orderly and peaceful. But organizing is always, only a temporary solution. We can organize everything perfectly today—only to have to organize it again tomorrow. That is because organizing only treats the symptom, not the problem. No matter how well-organized our home might get, too many possessions still create stress, demand our attention, and consume our time. Physical possessions take up physical space in our home and mental space in our minds. …

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 th…

The physical possessions we choose to own shape the direction of our lives more than we realize. Our possessions either help us fulfill our purpose, or they distract us from it. 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…

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 posse…

Note: This is a guest post from Joe Darago, Executive Director of The Hope Effect, and a friend of mine for over 30 years. 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 gradua…

“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 …

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…

Note: This is a guest post from Angela G. Horn of Mostly Mindful. What started as a design aesthetic has snowballed over the years into a lifestyle movement embraced by people worldwide. It’s easy to see why (or maybe I’m biased?) since minimalism offers a clear path to a more intentional, fulfilling, and sustainable way of life. The allure of “living with less” has permeated popular culture, from decluttered living spaces to capsule wardrobes. But, like any widespread trend, minimalism has evolved over time. In this article, I want to examine the different paths of minimalism—from the extreme to a more balanced, rational approach. I also believe it is imp…

So you want to declutter your home? Awesome! I highly recommend it. When you declutter your stuff, you find that your home improves because the environment feels more calm, visual noise is removed, things are easier to find, and you might even sleep better at night. And those are all really good things. I wish you all the best in your decluttering journey because it will change your life for the better! In fact, if you are looking for some practical ideas to get started, try these articles: The Simple Guide to a Clutter-Free Home Go Ahead. Start Decluttering with the Easiest Step. A Guide to Creating a Minimalist Home Decluttering is wonderful! But…

There is something powerful about the concept of “home” for us as humans. It is celebrated in movies (There’s no place like home) immortalized in music (Take Me Home, Country Roads), written about in literature, celebrated in magazines, and enviable in advertisements. Everywhere we turn, we’re reminded that home represents more than a physical space. It is the heart of where we are from and hopefully, the place where we feel safe, connected, and loved. But not only is home a place of emotion and nostalgia, psychologists tells us the impact goes beyond the physical space. It is a place where we feel rooted and connected. Research shows that our connection to home e…

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…

Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it. It requires a conscious decision because it is a countercultural lifestyle that stands against the culture of overconsumption that surrounds us. The world we live in is not friendly to the pursuit of minimalism. Its tendencies and relentless advertising campaigns call us to acquire more, better, faster, and newer. The journey of finding simplicity requires consistent inspiration. For that reason, I hope you will make an effort this weekend to find a quiet moment with a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy some of these hand-picked articles to encour…

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 thi…

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 | O…

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 Ge…

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, Consum…

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 …

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 scienc…

Note: The following article was published in the September 01 issue of Simplify Magazine. We often consider our food diet as the primary determinant of our health. And there is a lot of truth to that. What we eat determines quite a bit the physical body we live our lives in. But our “diet” extends beyond just what we eat. Every day, we consume countless other things: the media we watch, the books we read, the conversations we engage in, the news we encounter, and even the thoughts we entertain. Just as the food we eat impacts our physical health, these other forms of consumption significantly influence our emotional, spiritual, and mental well-being. And i…

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…

Note: This is a guest post by Joshua Fields Millburn of The Minimalists. 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 …

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—furni…

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 …

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 w…

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 …