Welcome to Becoming Minimalist. If you are new to this site, know that you are not alone. In fact, while Becoming Minimalist is honored to have tens of thousands of regular readers, there are thousands of readers each day that stumble on to this site for the first time. And to you, a special welcome. I’d love to make your experience here as comfortable as possible.
More than anything else, this is a site designed to inspire you to pursue your greatest passions in life by owning fewer possessions. It is based on the realization that there are far more important things in life to accomplish.
Our story begins on a beautiful three-day weekend at our home in suburban Vermont. The sun was shining, the flowers were blooming, the grass was beginning to green, and the trees were budding. I was cleaning my garage, my wife was cleaning the bathrooms, and my 5-year old son was in the backyard asking us to come play with him. At that very moment, I struck up an entirely coincidental, life-changing conversation with my neighbor who commented, “Maybe you don’t need to own all this stuff.” The juxtaposition was striking. My possessions piled up in the driveway… my son in the backyard… my day slipping away… I immediately recognized something needed to change. My belongings were not adding value to my life. Instead, they were subtracting from it.
We began donating, recycling, and removing as many of our possessions as possible. We embarked on a minimalist journey to own less stuff. As a result, we discovered more money, more time, more energy, more freedom, less stress, and more opportunity to pursue our greatest passions: faith, family, friends.
And we decided to write about it.
At first, Becoming Minimalist served as an online journal for our decluttering progress. But it quickly became a place to encourage others, the word “becoming” representing an open invitation to all. It does not boldly require anyone to “be” minimalist overnight – nor does it specifically define the word for you. Instead, it encourages you to consider the journey and the far-reaching benefits that come from owning less. This is a blog dedicated to rational minimalism and discovering what that uniquely means for each of us. And the more who are introduced to this life-changing message, the better! Because we’re all just trying to make the most of this journey called life.
To be introduced to our simple message, start with one of our most popular posts:
- The 10 Most Important Things to Simplify in Your Life
- 35 Gifts Your Children Will Never Forget
- 15 Clutter Busting Routines For Any Family
Or to be further convinced of the importance of owning less, try one of these posts:
- Don’t Just Declutter. De-own.
- 10 Reasons to Escape Excessive Consumerism
- The Life-Changing Benefits of Minimalism
We learned quickly that our journey to live with less on the outside would also force our attention inward:
- Stop Comparing Your Life. Start Living It.
- 20 New Ways to Judge Others
- Learning to Consider Gratitude a Discipline
And would be entirely unique because of our life’s values. After all, we have children, live in the suburbs, and work full-time.
Our story has been seen on the CBS Evening News, National Public Radio, The Guardian, and various interviews/reviews you can find all over the Internet. Here are just a few:
Over the course of the last four years, we’ve written three books. And while much of the content in the books can be found on this site (except for the new one), it has been organized and formatted in a far-friendlier format in the books. They tend to sell pretty well.
- Simplify: 7 Guiding Principles to Help Anyone Declutter Their Home and Life
- Inside-Out Simplicity: Life Changing Keys to Your Most Important Relationships
- Living with Less: An Unexpected Key to Happiness
And if you really can’t get enough, feel free to browse our archives. But be warned, there’s a bunch of information there.
We add one or two new posts each week. If you’d like to receive them over e-mail, you can sign up here. Or you can receive them in a web reader format. We’re also connected to our community through various social networks. Here’s where you can find us:
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my favorite blog…. joined about 5 months ago… best choice I ever make.. next to marrying my best friend 40 years ago… (smile)
Great post! I can’t recall any advice on how to organize one’s calendar (daily agenda for home/work). Any tips or a post/site to refer to? Thank you for your site!
Thanks for this welcome message. I came across your becoming minimalist about six months ago, and enjoy it very much. I have it in my ‘blogs I read’ list on my blog. I love how you can pinpoint the very moment that began you and your family on your minimalist journey. Thanks so much for sharing what you learn along the way with all of us!
My quest to become a minimalist initially added even more work to my daily doldrums of duties until I finally bit the bullet and sold the TV and stopped watching senseless programs that only severed to distract me from my goals. I turned on the Radio like my Grand Parents did when I was very young wile we all did our chores and would you know, I actually forgot somethings are still free in this country. Now, instead of sitting on the couch watching the TV (costing me money) I started working on selling and giving away everything I own on Craigslist (Making money and saving me time). Once I really put effort in to getting out of the “I need it phase” it only took me a few months where I had nothing left. With nothing to haul around I decided to sell my car. Now with no car or cable bills; no car insurance I was putting money in the bank and I recognized I could afford to quit my full-time job. This week I gave notice of my rental since I quit the American Way of Life of credit and debt I can afford to move from city to city and find that job where I am working for me.
However, my end run to finally becoming a minimalist actually started with a 3 year battle of paying off my debts and that was only accomplished after I moved to a much smaller and less expensive apartment. Cutting loose of that ball and chain associated with spend, spend and spend even more using the American Way of Life “Credit Machine” just so I could maintain a Credit Score that is acceptable to “someone else” so I can be able to get more credit to obtain more debt was no longer a part of my life.
Now, I am not going to stowaway on a cruise ship or become a rail ridin Hobo but, I think I can work summer jobs and then take off the winters and move from city to city until I find the place that gives me the best cost effective opportunity for my new life style of living on the cheap; more money in my pocket and so much time on my hands as I only have to work part-time that is resulting in a better quality and more productive life.
I owe Becoming Minimalist Blog for proving much needed motivation and tips to guide me along the way. Reading other people’s success stories helped me when I could not just yet see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Mission Accomplished !!! And Loving It !!
I commend you for giving up on the broken American Dream and going for freedom! It is a hard journey to undertake especially when there are so many people out there and companies who are trying very hard to make you do the opposite. I hope that you are able to find more joy and happiness in this new life of yours than ever before. Maybe you will share your journey on a blog and inspire others. Thanks for sharing! And inspiring us.
Josh,
I’ve been a reader for probably a year or so. I find your posts very thought-provoking, and they encourage me to focus on the important things in my own life. I like how you laid out this post and gave an overview of everything.
Keep it up!
Living a simple life truly is the future. We must focus on qualities, rather than quantities, in every aspect of our lives if true happiness is what we are searching for.
Been reading for over a year now, and besides vastly improving my personal quality of life, your blog inspired me to start my own! Now I write about the burdens left behind by a collecting/hoarding parent as I try to clean out my father’s storage unit.
I’d like to consolidate my belongings. Any tips? I can get rid of all my paper documents by scanning them into a computer. I can donate clothes I no longer want. Any others?
Hi Joshua,
I’m a student interior architecture in Belgium. I’m busy with a project for school to design a restaurant started from the thoughts of a fashion designer. Now i’ve chose Yohji Yamamoto. A Japanese fashion designer who looks different in some ways, his thinking, working are not like other fashion designers.
For me is minimalism has always been a start for my designs as a interior designer because the emptiness is inspiring me. Now on my search to find a food-concept for my restaurant i found this blog about living as a minimalist.
Something more about this project. We have a industrial building which we have to keep. Now my concept of this project is “contrast”. So i make a contrast between the industrial building and a minimalistic installation which i will design.
Now my question is for my food-concept. Is there some way for a restaurant to make a contrast with for example McDonalds, to have something minimalistic?
Thanks for your time.
greetings K.
Joshua,
Just had the pleasure of meeting and hearing you, Joshua Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus at WDS. Candidly, I knew nothing about y’all but was so excited to hear your stories about how less is more/better. Looking forward to getting updates in my RSS feed!!! Thanks so much for sharing and inspiring.
Love this. I just discovered your site and I can’t wait to dive in. My friend and I are working on a blog series about eliminating excess with the idea being to sell the stuff, donate the money, and help others (while also helping yourself).
I’m just starting my journey from packrat to minimalist and boy is it overwhelming. Your blog is very inspiring. Any advice for those just starting out and feeling really weighed down?
Hi there,
I’m the publisher of a yoga site called alignyo (www.alignyo.com) and would love to connect about content and possible cross-promotions.
Hope you’re well and I look forward to hearing from you.
Liz
I am Brazilian so my English is not perfect. Anyway, I love reading this blog because I love minimalism and I can find here good ideas.
Thanks a lot,
Sylvia
Josh
The idea of de cluttering and de owning are extremely powerful concepts. A persons life can be improved.. if not transformed using these core values. I look forward to more of your great posts. Keep up the good work.
I never get tired of your blog. It is always a pleasure reading it over and over. Thank you.
I just wanted to let you know that I stumbled on this site when I, for kicks, Googled a question that had been nagging at me for awhile: “Should I buy a bigger home?” (My family of 5 has felt “crammed” in a 1300 square foot house- half the size of the one I grew up in.) Your article, 12 Reasons Why You’ll Be Happier in a Smaller Home, was one of the first answers that popped up, and I’m so grateful it did. I am starting to declutter, and have a feeling I’ve avoided A LOT of unnecessary work and expense. Thank you, and I’m looking forward to reading more!
This is a process. Although the idea of having
white walls,
a bed,
table
one set of dishes
Is a great idea
I cannot do that ( yet) I have a 13 year old who needs the internet for homework, we no longer have cable, just movie streaming that she watches. We no longer watch everyday TV.
I thought even if I could not do this all over the house I can do it in the rooms I control. So the process of clearing out the kitchen started. The living room was next, then the garage. Right now I am working on my room and my bathroom. Then it hit me… wait you have control of the whole house!!!!! Now I have not dragged my kid kicking and screaming in this process, but we have together worked on her room. No new clothes, till she donates some, the plan is for every new thing she buys, she must donate three. So far so good. For me I have gotten rid of a lot of ” stuff” and I have no plans on re placing any of it.
This blog and a few others on minimalism has become addictive, but in a great way.
I have eliminated TV, soft drinks and junk food from my life. With my free time I am constantly cleaning out the closets and tossing out junk.
My wife thinks I am going crazy, but she’s supportive. I am trying to get her to read more blogs on this, so she will understand why I am doing this.
It does feel good to eliminate the clutter. Thank you for all of the wonderful information.
I totally relate with you. I just dont want to miss my kids childhood because I spend too much time cleaning, organizing etc. I just want to enjoy my life with the family n create more memories. I have to change the way we live with all the unessacery items, I just have too, its stressful. I even end up in hospital thinking I was having a heart attack but no I was told I had anxiety due to stress.
My husband and I have just committed to making this journey to being minimilist. We have felt for a while that God was calling us to this journey but always found a way to put it off. When I got devastating news of a family who lost everything and was in need of household ideas I realized this was the time. No more delaying. Its my prayer with less “stuff” in our lives we can focus on what God’s will is for our family and how we can be more like Jesus and serve others with the money we will save and the time we will gain! I’m so excited God lead me to this page with such great tips and advice! Blessings!
Hello There. I discovered your blog the use of msn. That is an extremely smartly written article.
I’ll make sure to bookmark it and come back to learn more of your helpful information. Thanks for the post. I’ll definitely return.
I am looking for a woman to start the journey to become minimalist.
Gosh, so glad that a FB friend shared one of your articles and now I’ve found this site!
The Crock-Pot Duo is perfect for entertaining and having the two slow cookers that adjust independently of each other.
Don’t forget Crockpot’s (slow cookers) are a great way
to save money; My Crockpot (slow cooker) black beans are
the easiest to make, taste great and are super inexpensive and
healthy. As a matter of fact, most recipes are long cooking ones that require several hours of cooking time to complete.
I have been a minimalist now for a couple years now. It all started when my job became unstable and I realized that my whole life as I knew it then was dependent on someone else. (a job). I thought there has to be better way and did some research. Long story short, I traded my large house, my boat, Corvette (all with large payments) for a small Rv, an old toyota, a bicycle and a kayak. The bottom line, I have never been more happy. My life is simple, peaceful, serene. I have very little stress and I have the time to do the things I want to do. I am no longer tied to a job, nor do I worry about what the economy might do. . I live well on less than $1000 per month. Instead of constantly working to pay for “stuff”, I have a life.
I have bee following Becoming Minimalist and a couple others now for sometime now, and I so appreciate the insight and inspiration. It has truly changed my life.
I do believe all of the concepts you’ve introduced on your post. They are very convincing and will definitely work. Nonetheless, the posts are too quick for starters. May just you please extend them a bit from subsequent time? Thank you for the post.
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