On this weekend, 14 years ago, I discovered minimalism.
It was Memorial Day weekend of 2008 and my wife and I set aside Saturday morning for our annual Spring cleaning.
I volunteered to clean the garage hoping my 5-year-old would enjoy the project. His interest lasted about 30 seconds. Unfortunately, my cleaning project would take several hours.
As my frustration grew, I struck up a conversation with my neighbor who had been busy working on her home as well. When I commented how frustrated I was after so many hours of working on the garage, she replied to me, “That’s why my daughter is a minimalist. She keeps telling me I don’t need to own all this stuff.“
I looked at the pile of dirty, dusty possessions I had spent all morning cleaning and organizing. At that very moment, out of the corner of my eye, I saw my son swinging alone on the swing set in the backyard—where he had been all morning long.
And I suddenly realized not only were my possessions not making me happy, they were actually taking me away from the very thing that did bring me happiness. And not just happiness. But meaning, joy, significance, and purpose.
That moment was the beginning of minimalism in my life.
I started this blog, Becoming Minimalist, that exact same weekend. I can’t imagine there’s anyone around who has been reading this blog for 14 years. But if you have, do let me know in the comment section! I’d love to thank you after all this time.
Minimalism is a lifestyle I was attracted to immediately and it is an approach to life that I continue to pursue—even 14 years later. Even though the world will shout consumerism to me from every billboard, website, and advertisement, I have not strayed from my pursuit.
Here are 14 reasons I’ve been able to sustain minimalism for 14 years:
1. I write about it.
I like to think I would have stuck with minimalism even without starting this blog, but I’m not entirely sure.
Writing about minimalism and consumerism consistently have forced me to think about it deeply and have firmed my resolve over and over again.
On a broader scale, that is what journaling does for us—it forces us to see the world differently and think about it more deeply.
No doubt this blog has been a significant reason I’ve sustained minimalism.
2. I noticed, quickly, the benefits of owning less.
One of the earliest themes on this blog was what I called, “Benefits of Minimalism.” Every time I noticed a positive way my life was improving because of minimalism; I wrote it down. I eventually ended with over 20 practical, life-giving benefits.
Things like: more money, more energy, more focus, more time, better example for my kids, more opportunity for contentment and gratitude.
The more we notice how minimalism improves our life in practical ways, the easier it is to sustain the lifestyle going forward.
3. I tried to introduce minimalism to others.
Not only was I immediately drawn to the idea of owning less, I loved it as soon as I got started.
As a result, I was quick to tell my friends about minimalism. Every time I mentioned it, I would explain how freeing and wonderful it was. Many would respond, “You’re right. That sounds great. I definitely own too much stuff too.”
And with every conversation, my resolve to continue grew.
4. I chose to counter consumerism in my life.
Owning less is great, wanting less is even better.
It is one thing to declutter your home, it is something entirely different to not fill it back up again with stuff. A bit like changing your eating habits after the diet ends.
It takes more effort and focus to overcome consumerism, especially in our world today, but it’s possible. And I’m glad I worked to do that.
5. I read a lot.
The first book I ever picked up in my pursuit of minimalism was Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui by Karen Kingston.
The book sparked new thoughts I hadn’t considered before about clutter and how I looked at my home. Reading helped rewire my brain to see the world differently.
I continued to read about the topic of minimalism and simplicity: books, articles, and blog posts. Whenever I read, I learned something new about myself and/or physical possessions.
The rewiring that took place laid a foundation for minimalism to become second nature to me.
6. I have a supportive spouse.
Kim and I disagree on how minimalist we should be. But we are both on the same page about the benefits of owning less. And I never overlook how helpful that is in my own personal pursuit.
I know plenty of people who are pursuing minimalism without a supportive spouse and many have been able to remain aligned with that pursuit individually, so it’s entirely possible.
But without a doubt, my wife’s support has made it easier for me.
7. I value the invisible.
Because faith has always been important to me and an important element of my worldview, I see value in pursuing the invisible over the visible.
“What is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal,” is how the old proverb goes.
Because of that worldview, I could see the trade that minimalism offered: trading the seen for the unseen. And the more I pursued that exchange, the more I experienced it in my own life.
Without question, my understanding that there is more to this world than the physical things I see around me has kept me passionate about minimalism all these years.
8. I have kids.
Having children in the home doesn’t make minimalism easier, but it does make it more important.
Our kids are watching us as parents. They notice how we spend our time, our money, and our energy. If our focus is spent on accumulating more physical possessions than we need, they will learn to live life in the exact same way.
I have tried to live a minimalist life, not to the detriment of my kids, but for their advantage.
Knowing that their little eyes are watching has kept me extra-focused on intentionally living with less.
9. I became more generous.
I have learned that generosity is both the product of minimalism and the very lifeblood of it.
When I started owning less, I found that my excess could be a blessing to others. The very items collecting dust on my shelves could be used by someone in my community. That realization encouraged me to declutter even more.
Additionally, as we began buying less, we found more opportunity to give and help solve problems in the world that we were passionate about solving.
Minimalism didn’t mean we hoarded extra money and time all for ourselves. Just the opposite, it allowed us to give more and more.
And the joy that comes from giving compelled us to continue embracing that opportunity.
10. I pursued character to impress.
Some people like to say, “I don’t try to impress anybody.” And I understand the sentiment behind the idea.
However, the truth is we are all going to leave an impression on others. Whether we want to or not, we are all going to be remembered in some way by the people closest to us.
When I shifted my focus away from buying stuff, I noticed an entire world of opportunity to impress people by my example and the life I live. Our character and passions are always going to leave a bigger impression on others than our things anyway.
Like the saying goes, “Nobody is going to stand up at your funeral and say she had a really nice couch and beautiful shoes. Don’t make life about stuff.”
Making a conscious effort to pursue character over possessions furthered my resolve for minimalism.
11. We did some traveling.
One of the first decisions we had to make after becoming minimalist was deciding what to do with a few extra dollars.
We had sold a few things. But more importantly, we had stopped buying stuff. So when the monthly credit card statement appeared, it was much lower than usual.
Kim and I sat down to decide what to do. We didn’t have any consumer debts to pay off, so our options were: 1) Save it; 2) New carpet; 3) A short trip to the beach with our kids.
We chose Option 3, and I’m so glad we did. From the very beginning, that decision provided a practical example of what opportunities could be available to us as we owned less.
Over the last 14 years, because of minimalism, we’ve been able to travel more as a family than if we continued to buy stuff we didn’t need. And the benefits of that are important.
12. I discovered the habits needed to maintain a minimalist home.
Owning less removes much of the clutter that zaps our time and energy maintaining a home.
But it doesn’t remove all cleaning that needs to happen. A lived-in home still gets used (obviously).
I noticed very early in my minimalist journey that clutter seems to attract clutter. When I left a kitchen counter cluttered, it just collected more and more. When we left the toys out overnight, more gathered the next day.
Maintaining even a minimalist home requires daily, weekly, and seasonal habits. Of course, minimalism makes those habits easier and less burdensome. But I still needed to take the time to learn them.
And I’m glad I did because there is nothing better than waking up every morning to a tidy home. Minimalism allows that.
13. I began experimenting with less.
The first “experiment” we ever tried in our home was going down to one television for the summer. We loved it and kept it!
Later, I’d experiment with the clothes in my closet by trying out Project 333 for three months. Again, loved it!
With almost every “experiment” I tried, I learned that I needed far less than I thought I needed.
Not every experiment with less became a lifestyle forever, but each time I learned something new about what was needed and what wasn’t.
14. I always knew minimalism was about something more than minimalism.
Becoming a minimalist has never been my greatest goal in life—nor will it be. There are greater pursuits in life than simply trying to own less stuff.
Minimalism, to me, has always been a means to an end.
I want my life to make the greatest difference for the greatest number of people. Owning less frees me to do that.
Seeing the bigger picture behind minimalism and the greater motivation for it keeps me focused on owning less.
And will continue to do so for years to come.
I have been following since my deployment to Afghanistan in 2011. The concept has changed my life. Thanks for the inspiration.
I’ve been following you for 10 years! Thank you for all you do.
joshua, you make my world a better place, and I am so grateful to you. I’m on the journey, and your blog encourages me. I am so grateful for your free “next round”…i keep coming back, and thank you for this gift that helps empower me.
I tried to contact you in Facebook. I would like to share your articles to non-english speakers.
Just found this article after 4 weeks of de-cluttering, cleaning and donating. How timely! I’m nearing retirement, and don’t want my ‘stuff’ to burden my kids. And I sure don’t want to move it if we decide to move to an area with a better climate. I’ve always found that a meat, orderly, minimalist life helps me to feel at peace. I’ll keep reading to keep myself focused. As many have said on here, it would be easier if my spouse was supportive. He’s trying not he’s not there yet! I just keep reminding him that boxes of books are heavy (wink).
Thanks for encouraging us all!
Long time reader here! I have loved hearing about your journey! Thanks so much for sharing and inspiring so many of us!
Been following you for 5 years. I am the minimalist and my husband loves his stuff. Your #6 would make it easier. It’s still doable when the other partner is not in agreement to live a more minimal lifestyle. It’s a compromise, both mentally and emotionally.
I too am the minimalist and my wife loves her stuff A Lot. We just moved into a larger home. I am insistent that we not fill it up with more stuff.
So far it seems that my wife appreciates the open space look. I know it will be an ongoing challenge, but it is a challenge that is rewarding. And it is reassuring to know that there are other spouses facing the same challenge.
I’ve been reading for the whole 14 years! Found you while looking for more sources after reading a Zen Habits article on simple living. You’d recently started blogging. It’s been fun following your journey. Nowadays the updates I look forward the most are the biweekly Inspiring Simplicity curated links. Happy minimalismaversary ;)
Sounds insane to realise how long I’ve been interested in the subject, and how much I’ve changed in this time as well, for all sorts of reasons…
Leo first linked to Becoming Minimalist in August of 2008. That would indeed have been 14 years ago. So nice to meet you Leticiaà.
Likewise! <3
Omg!!! I think I might have learned about them from Zen Habits too!
For me, it must be close to 14 years. I moved house and massively reduced my possessions in 2006, without even knowing there was such a thing as the minimalist movement. After that, the first website I followed was Zen Habits, then several others which don’t seem to exist any more, and then yours, so it must have been around 2008. I don’t subscibe to emails; I simply have the website bookmarked and visit every week or so to read what’s new. This website and Zen Habits have had a huge impact on my life!
Joshua, I found you about 2 years ago which led me to Dawn & Cas. I remember one video where you said you don’t keep anything on your countertop. I saw your kitchen & thought, no wonder his kitchen is big. Well, last July I started downsizing our very small galley kitchen & got rid of several things. A couple months ago my Hubby & I went through it again & got rid of over 200 things, yes, I counted. He cleaned out a couple of cupboards & we began to get things off our countertop that we don’tuse every day. Recently, I had a friend say she would paint our kitchen for my birthday. I had to move several things in order for her to do that. I realized we still have way to much stuff so I am going to go through it again. Maybe 3rd time is the charm to get it to where we like it. We are loving the clean look of less things out & a much more minimal look. Thank you for all your encouragement. We are listening to you.
Joshua—- prob been here with you well over ten years ❤️
Thank you ??
Cant say exactly how many years I‘ve been dipping into your newsletter but many many will have to suffice! I‘ve gone from 3 bdrm house to touring with 1 suitcase to now settling in a 450sqft flat & accepting the recent accumulation of specific things needed for the flat to function. It has been and continues to be a rich process of self growth & learning, deepening my relationship with the objects I use for living & cultivating Beauty Balance & Depth. Your newsletter acts to remind me & inspire my continued dedication to my Minimalist lifestyle & commitment to Mother Nature ? ✨
Joshua – I have not personally followed you directly until the just a few days ago when my wife forwarded this post to me via email, for whatever reason I had never thought to follow but have kind of indirectly through my wife. I am not entirely sure of the year must have been the summer of 2017, we had just had our 4th child in November of 2016 and we were burying ourselves in stuff. At the time we still didn’t really have enough money to purchase things but we often did not turn someone down when they wanted to give us something. That summer of 2017 everything changed, my wife had become aware of your Blog and started following. Before long we went through the “Great Purge” Anything that wasn’t essential made its way to the living room and then to the garage. From there things were reviewed, anything useful was sold very cheap, or taken to the local thrift store, other things put in the garbage. Items did not make it back into the house unless it was thoroughly discussed and a specific reason was found. It was likely on the list of the greatest decisions we ever made. We were a family of 6 in a 4 bedroom 1800 sqft home, and we recently moved. the Movers said it was the lightest load they had ever seen for that size family and house, which in turn saved us money. We now comfortably and happily live in a 1300 sqft 3 bed 2 bath home, people think we are nuts, but I can tell you we are not. We do have some work to do and likely need another small purge, but so far we are more happy than we have ever been. I will say floor plan has a lot to do with things in my opinion, this smaller house is far more functional than that last. We also have more time to spend with our kids. So with all that, I want to say thank you, thank you for your guidance, and thank you for your honesty, God has given you a gift and its great you are using it to help others. God Bless.
Hi Joshua, I’ve been following your blog since 2017. An avid minimalist that always look forward for the weekend read!
Regards from 🇲🇾
I first discovered your blog back in 2008/2009, after reading about the 100-thing challenge by Dave Bruno, and searching for more info on minimalism. It was just after my Mother’s passing, and I was dealing with downsizing a home we lived in for 50 years. I was able to dramatically cut down my possessions before moving 8 years ago, but it was not until I took your course last September that things are finally reaching my desired level of minimalism. Your blog and course have been great resources on my journey and encouragement when old habits want to reappear. Thank you for your continued inspiration!
Oh my goodness Mj. That’s a long time! Thank you for being part of my life this entire time.
Thank you Josuha, for continuing to share your knowledge and experience of living with minimalism for 14 years. Christmas the year 2015, I slipped into your blog, since then I have been faithful to your blog. I do not know English very well, so that’s why Google Translate has helped me. Sometimes the translation is fun, but I understand your idea and purpose of blog posts. I am deafblind, therefore minimalism is very important to me, it has helped me a lot to cope with everyday life as deaf and blind. With few things I can look in the memory where I have them, to manage myself with cleaning and such makes it easier, when I do not get support from society. The journey has been tough, it has taken a lot of time to clean and sort among the things. I bought Karen Kingston’s book many years ago, it has guided me for many years.
I want to thank you, for continuing and infiltrating everyone and many people on this earth. <3 Thank you
Happy minimalist birthday! :)
I’m celebrating 12 years here this month and one of the best things I’ve ever done for my life/mind/happiness. I still fail at least 1-2x a week, haha, but the ratio to Wins has improved greatly over the years :)
Here’s to freedom!!
Hi Joshua! I’ve been reading your wonderful blog since summer 2011- so 11 years!! I remember that year and finding your blog because it was an Aha! moment for me. Not because I was new to minimalism but because I was blown away that this way of life had a name! I was always the declutterer in my consumerist family and had been since a child but I didn’t realize it was a “thing”. ? I was so excited to find a like-minded community. All these years I have loved seeing every new post from you! Thank you for all the quality, thought invoking words you’ve written over the years. Your blog is my favorite ☺️
“Owning less is great. Wanting less is even better.” Relatively new to your blog, but this is key to me!
I love your writing! I’ve been a regular reader for 5 or 6 years, but I’ve read & reread the archives. I prefer to read, not watch & listen. Your message sticks better when I read. Thank you!
I have been following you for years
I long to be a minimalist. My husband does not agree whatsoever he’s an ex mechanic and he has nuts and bolts in boxes and bins everywhere and somehow when we need one he can find on
. My problem is I’m a seamstress and a quilter and I have fabric that I use in pull from in my studio
I’m also a knitter for charity and I have lots of yarn that I keep organized and use on a daily basis. People who see it think it’s a lot!
In the other areas of my life I am a minimalist. But I don’t see how I could ever take the full jump because of my passions these things keep me occupied and sane in a crazy world. I love reading your blog and I am jealous of the simple nature of your life. ?
I won’t even go into the fact that my elderly parents are antique dealers and they have barns of stuff that I’m gonna have to deal with someday so as you can see from my end minimalism sounds like a dream Thank you for your informative and fun content
My first saved post of yours 3/31/2014
Thank you for your continued encouragement on this journey of life!
I have actually been reading your blog since the very beginning. I remember when you first minimized your office and painted it. You had a before and after picture up.
I remember you getting a membership to the gym for a Christmas gift.
I always related because 14 years ago, I had a 6 year old, a 4 year old and twin 2 year olds and I felt like I was discovering minimalism right along beside you.
I read Leo Balbauta and the Minimalists were just starting their blog and I was finding the Elaine St James books from the nineties and Finding Francine Jay.
I was so hungry for anything I could get my hands on to do with simplicity and minimalism. ?
Wow Christa, that’s amazing!
I wish I had discovered you 14 years ago!! But I did it 4 years ago and have been following you all your advice and wisdom ever since, it all has been such an eye opening experience to me. I have to thank you, Joshua, for making such a big impact on me and my life and continue to do so over the years. Very, very grateful :)
“ I value the invisible”
Remarkable
??❤️??
I’ve been reading your blog, I think, since 2012 or 2013. My aha moment, which unfortunately was not yet sustainable, was in 2007 when I returned from an internship to my overcrowded home after 4.5 months of living out of a suitcase. I would have loved to walk out backwards again. All my stuff weighed me down so much that the lightness of the trip evaporated almost instantly. After that, it took me a long time to figure out what the problem actually was and how to address it. Along the way, I found your blog and keep getting new strength and inspiration here for the next step towards less stuff and more freedom.
I think this is a good moment to say thank you for your constant support! Thank you very much!
I’ve been reading your blog for 8 or 9 years. And, while being a hard core minimalist holds no appeal for me, I am working on being less of a maximalist, lol! Having been raised by grandparents who were raising a family during the Great Depression and in the aftermath of it and having, myself, been quite poor during the first decade of married life, I have something of a Great Depression mindset. So, we have stuff. Would probably give a true hardcore minimalist a full on panic attack ?. On the flip side, the mantra that I learned at my grandmama’s knee…use it up, wear it out, make do or do without…has served me well over the years. I was “green” before being green was the “cool” or “in” thing to do. I will say that reading your blog has absolved me of the guilt I used to feel over getting rid of things that I/we no longer love, enjoy or have a use for. I’ve also been better able to acknowledge what my priorities are…for example, money and time to travel.
So, while not everything you talk resonates with me, enough of what you talk about does and keeps me coming back again and again. Thank you.
I’ve been reading your blog for a few years now. It has helped me a lot. I admit I am 77 years old this week, so it is time to minimize belongings. The question I ask myself is do I love it, do I need and use it. If not, who else might like, need or use it? It’s been fun, actually! I’m not leaving this for someone else to do when I’m gone.
Well then, happy birthday Jane.
I’ve been at this for about 3 years and still have a long way to go. But I have made progress. I was never a big spender, but I’m spending even less. I have a one in-one out policy in my closet, so I rarely buy clothes. If I do a small update I get rid of an equal number of times.
I have realized that I have to do this. Our son is an only child. I don’t want to leave him with a houseful of stuff to get rid of.
I have been following the blog for about 8 years. I have a lot to work on since we have had children, but I am very aware of things that come and go. I am constantly donating and buying less. It will be a work in progress BUT I am trying.
I stay at home with the kids, so we are in no position to give give give, but we still do when we can even though we financially can’t because I feel so good when I give. Giving brings me joy and purpose. Isn’t that why we are here? To help each-other You are definitely an inspiration. Thank you for trying to guide us along!
I live with someone who hates throwing anything away, “just in case”, and because it is ‘his’. So I can only declutter my own stuff. But it makes me feel lighter when I do.
Your posts inspire me to keep trying. Thankyou.
A list of articles or books would be useful.
Ann, share same story. Yes, I need to work on my stuff more. Accumulated lots of stuff after 40 plus years. Progress, nor perfection!
Great read today! I’m new to minimalism, I found you a year ago. Thank you so much! ❤️
Such terrific advice! My de-cluttering comes in waves. As I enter retirement from a long career in Real Estate, I now view much of my clutter as a mess that our grown children will someday have to sort, toss, and manage. I witnessed this scenario play out hundreds of times with clients who were downsizing, and their families who already had homes filled with plenty of their own ‘stuff’. This task never failed to be quite stressful for everyone involved.
Minimizing is a road trip that I am very intent on traveling. Joshua’s newest book Things That Matter helped me gain even more perspective on the “Why”, which is the crucial compass on my journey.
Congratulations on this long journey, and thank you for all your writings!
I’ve been reading your works for about 3 years now. It’s been a long journey, swinging from one extreme (throw out everything) to the other (buy every pretty, shiny thing I see to compensate for all that I threw out) to some sort of a personal balance.
But the greatest realization for me came about only two days ago. I had just read a post of yours in which you mentioned how we yearn to have bigger houses when we don’t even use up all the space in the one we live in! I took my child to a birthday party after that, and while I was chatting with the parents, someone asked me if I had a pool and a big backyard, and I was so happy to be able to tell them with much self-confidence that I have neither and I want neither of those things. I don’t want them for myself, so there’s no reason I’ll try to get these things just to keep up appearances!
This journey into minimalism is actually helping me become more authentic, understand who I truly am and who/what I want in my life. Thank you for inspiring me and so many others! The journey is truly so much more than about minimalism!
I’ve been reading you that long! I remember the Karen Kingston book also. I had a baby then, who is a teen now. Thanks for your writing and curation.
The Karen Kingston book was a game changer for me too. I looked at my stuff differently after reading the book. It opened my eyes and I never looked back. Joshua, you have been an inspiration to me as well. Thank you!
I am a member of the decluttering class of 2019. You changed my life my first time through the minimalism course. I get the emails each course and participate in the 2019 Facebook group. Why am I still doing this? Because it keeps me focused on owning less, I write about my journey on the Facebook page and try to help others. I find personal growth and meaning in these activities. I still have a couple of more hidden spaces to declutter. Doing all of this has allowed me to live….and really live in two places. To an old lady, living where the weather is amenable to being outside most days is a dream come true. I continue to show others how having less is more. I continue to learn what that means to me. Thank you for starting me on this adventure.
I’m also a member of the 2019 group. I’m more of a lurker than a poster on Facebook. I’m much less successful at decluttering than you. Your story and posts are always amazing! and always appreciated!
So glad you could finally reappear, Joshua! (You haven’t posted in a while, or maybe the mailing list stopped working?) I am definitely new to your blog, only about three years. But it has helped me tremendously to, like you say, rewire my brain to stay on minimalism. I can only be thankful!
Not sure why the emails haven’t been popping up for you. I’ve been here pretty consistently. :)
I embraced minimalism in 2007, after my mother died. Found myself overloaded with stuff and something had to give. I was also ‘practicing’ for retirement- living on what I expected to be my retirement income. I believe moving into ‘old age’ also made minimalism attractive.
Over the last 15 years I have gradually learned how little I need or want. I no longer buy clothes- only a six pack of socks over the last three years. I may buy a new mattress this year… I grow tomatoes from the seeds of a slice of tomato from the grocery store. It’s fun, a free garden, and tomatoes through next February. I find I enjoy a quiet simplicity. Books from the local library are quieter than tv. I cut the cable.
In the back of my mind is the big question- would I, or could I live this life if I did not have financial reserves? My privilege keeps me from feeling the pinch of sacrifice. Is minimalism only successful if one can afford it?
Anna, I have wondered the same thing. It’s easy if you know you can go buy that tomato if you had to.
I noticed a cha ge in my life after seeing my aunt in a nursing home with one 5-drawer dresser, a few framed-family Photos and a TV. She left behind a 3-story home with 5 bedrooms and alot if stuff. It made me realize that you enter the world with nothing and you leave with nothing….everything else is stuff.
“you enter the world with nothing and you leave with nothing…”
So true! However, it takes knowledge and determination not to take on too much in the course of life.
I find myself so inspired by your posts. I’m slowly working my way to becoming more minimalist but it’s a definite work in progress. I especially loved what you said about your “things” taking away your ability to do the things that give you joy and purpose. As newly retired professionals, my husband and I have been using what give us joy as our guiding hand for what retirement looks like for us.
Thanks for another great post!
My son in law is a hoarder. I almost have panic attacks when i go over to his house.
I’ve been here since 2009 and I’m so thankful for all the wisdom you have shared through the years! Clutter Free with Kids is my most shared book with other mommas! You made minimalism feel achievable all those years ago and my husband and I have never looked back!! Thank you!
Wow, 2009! That’s a long time. Thank you Nicole.
I’m a new reader of your blog, only 8 years. It’s my go to especially when I’m feeling the building up of clutter either physical or digital. I’m very grateful for all your postings.