Welcome to Becoming Minimalist. If you are new, welcome! With over 1M readers every month, we’re honored to have new readers every day. If that’s you, welcome. I’d love to make your experience as comfortable as possible.
Most importantly, Becoming Minimalist is designed to inspire people to pursue their greatest passions by owning fewer possessions.
To find out more about my new book, Things That Matter, click here.
About Joshua Becker
My story begins in suburban Vermont while I was cleaning the garage, my wife was cleaning the bathrooms and my 5-year old son was playing alone in the backyard. I struck up a regular 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.
My family and I began donating, recycling, and removing our unnecessary personal possessions. We embarked on an intentional 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.
Becoming Minimalist quickly became a place to encourage others to embrace minimalism. It does not boldly require anyone to become minimalist overnight—nor does it specifically define the word for you. Instead, it encourages each reader to discover their own journey and the far-reaching benefits that come from owning less.
We are dedicated to rational minimalism and discovering what that uniquely means for 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.
Over the course of the last eight years, I’ve become a best-selling author and have written four books:
- Simplify: 7 Guiding Principles to Help Anyone Declutter Their Home and Life*
- Clutterfree with Kids: Change your thinking. Discover new habits. Free your home.*
- The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own.*
- The Minimalist Home.*
- Things That Matter*
Past media coverage includes:
CBS Evening News, The Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio (NPR,) The Guardian, The Boston Globe, The New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Forbes, TIME, Fox News, The Huffington Post, Minimalism Documentary (Netflix), Reader’s Digest, LA Times, Sirius XM, CNBC, TODAY Show, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, Good Housekeeping, and countless others you can find all over the Internet.
Our Articles
Get introduced to our simple message by reading some of our most popular posts:
- How to Declutter Your Home: 10 Creative Decluttering Tips
- What Is Minimalism? The 8 Essential Aspects of Minimalism
- The 10 Most Important Things to Simplify in Your Life
- 10 Reasons to Escape Excessive Consumerism
- 15 Clutter Busting Routines For Any Family
Or, to discover the importance of owning less, try one of these posts:
- Don’t Just Declutter. De-own.
- Minimalism Benefits: 21 Benefits of Owning Less
- Living With Less: 7 Ways to Sample Minimalist Living
We learned quickly that our journey to live with less on the outside would force our attention inward:
- How to Be Happy: 8 Ways to Be Happier Today
- How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
- 20 New Ways to Measure Success
- Learning to Consider Gratitude a Discipline
And would be entirely unique because of our life’s values:
If you really can’t get enough, browse our most popular articles. But be warned, there’s a bunch of information there.
Our Community
If you would like to receive new posts via e-mail, sign up here. We are also connected to our community through social media. Find us here:
- Facebook: Inspirational quotes and links.
- Twitter: Quotes, thoughts, links.
- YouTube: Promoting simplicity in home and life.
For interviews, media requests, or general questions, contact us at becomingminimalist@gmail.com
For more information on Joshua, visit his Wikipedia entry here.
Maria says
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.
di says
Clutter can be just as stressful as financial insecurity.
Tom says
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.
di says
I’ll bet you enjoy the exercise as well…
lynne says
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.
di says
It’s great to teach kids at an early age.
Laura says
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!
Paris Parsa says
I never get tired of your blog. It is always a pleasure reading it over and over. Thank you.
Nial Fuller says
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.
Sylvia says
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
Liz Eustace says
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
Holly says
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?
di says
One section at a time. One day a week. This gives you time to think things over before proceeding onto the next area.
Put discards aside for one week and then part with them. This prevents any regrets.
Katie says
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).
di says
That’s wonderful!