Welcome to Becoming Minimalist. If you are new, welcome! We are honored to have hundreds of thousands of regular readers, and brand new readers every day. If that’s you, welcome. I’d love to make your experience here as comfortable as possible.
Most importantly, Becoming Minimalist is designed to inspire others to pursue their greatest passions by owning fewer possessions.
To find out more about my new book, The Minimalist Home, 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.*
Available everywhere: Barnes and Noble | Amazon | IndieBound - The Minimalist Home.*
Available everywhere: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kindle | iBooks | IndieBound
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, TIME, Fox News, The Huffington Post, Minimalism Documentary (Netflix), Reader’s Digest, LA Times, Sirius XM, CNBC, TODAY Show, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, 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.
- Pinterest: 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.
About Joshua Becker
Dear Joshua Becker,
I always loved to simplify things, and when I came across minimalism as a way of living, I found a word to what I’ve been wanting. I didn’t know that I can simplify my life altogether, not just things I do. However, habits that we have accumulated over years take time to get over, but I’m on my path of minimalism. This year 2021 was my No Buy Year – last year’s amazon purchases scared me and the amount I time I spent on Amazon or other eCommerce sites were getting dangerously high. I am so glad to have done this – I started wearing clothes I bought years back, started studying online courses which I had bought couple of years back, got to reading books which have been waiting to be read. I didn’t realize the buying cycle I was in, specially when it comes to buying online courses, it gives an illusion that I was spending it for something productive, but didn’t realize that I became a hoarder. With all these insights, when I read your articles about consumerism and way of living, it now makes so much and I don’t regret the sales I’ve missed.
So thank you for sharing your knowledge, experience and your wisdom to the world.
One article that really made me go wow was the 12 skills one needs to teach children. These are the basics, but it is common knowledge.
I have a question about how you know or knew what you wanted to do, once you discovered minimalism. I read on Wikipedia that you were a pastor. I’m not sure, if that’s a full time job or what your career was before 2008. Once you discovered minimalism, was it just passion that got you writing more about it or did you have a plan to develop if this path? How did you know that this will something sustainable? Did you know that you’d do courses, apps, speaking and the Hope Effect etc. I ask this, because, I plan to transition in my career, however because I’ve been used to having a 9-5 job and a salary ( like they say it’s the biggest addiction on can have), starting something on my own is a very scary thought; not for the lack of clarity but more on will the world really need what I have to offer, especially when there’s already too many options.
Thank you again for sharing your wisdom
Rosh
I loved The More of Less and everything I’ve come across at Becoming Minimalist. The intersection of topics with areas of life we don’t always consider is great work on your end, Josh.
If you could give advice a fellow writer (I’m over at Financial Fives) on how to market the book, grow your audience, what would it be?
Thanks for all you do,
Stay consistent and helpful. And care less about making money.
Joshua, I am so glad that I discovered you recently. Your advice is exactly what I need. I began what I called downsizing many years ago but it’s been slow and tortuous and hasn’t accomplished all that much. Now I see how to do it sensibly, efficiently, without guilt, and definitely speedier. In the past couple of weeks I’ve gotten rid of things I hadn’t before considered unnecessary. I’m happy about how my life has improved already and I see that it will definitely get better as I clear and clean. I needed a teacher and I’m thankful that I found a great one. Bless you, Joshua Becker.
Mr. Becker,
I don’t know about you, but I’ve always believed in some sort of divine providence and that few things are true coincidences. Such is the case with your book on the Minimalist Home. I was in the library studying for an upcoming test (I am a working adult returning to college), when your book caught my eye. I currently live in a very cluttered house, with stuff from years of accumulating junk just from living, kids, etc. I had been promising myself that I would downsize, and as recently as last week, I vowed that _this_ weekend would be the weekend that I would finally clean up the house and get rid of excess junk and clutter. But I made that promise to myself nearly every week. It the weekend would pass and nothing would be done. Why? Because the two obstacles that I faced are (1) where to start decluttering, and (2) how to get the time to do so. Your book advises tackling one room and not stopping. But for those of us who are still working full time and have other obligations, this approach doesn’t work. I just don’t have the spare time. At most, I might have a few hours a day to spare. Note: I no longer do social media (I gave up FB in 2013), I stopped going to the movies in 2009, and I haven’t had a TV since 1994. I stopped those activities because they take up too much time. Yet, despite the lack of those time wasters, I still have lack of time, and lack of time is the main reason that I haven’t gone full-on minimalism.
Find the time, because the time will be returned to you tenfold. That being said, the advice isn’t to do an entire room in one sitting. The strategy is to do one room at a time, rather than starting in multiple rooms. Clear one area, your easiest area, time will be returned, then move on to the next.
I subscribed to your course but the email address was incorrect. Is there a way you can change it so I still receive the course content?
Yes, Leigh. Send us an email at support@becomingminimalist.com and we will sort that out for you!
Hey Joshua.
Your approach parallels the great verse from a quirky, obscure character named Agur. He wrote one chapter in the
Bible and gave us the only prayer in all of Proverbs: “Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.” (Proverbs 30:8) I recommend the book, The Prayer of Agur.
I really struggle with being super thrifty dollar wise w stuff and saving money versus only having what I need. If it’s a consumable why toss it because I might need it.
Hi, I can’t find any other way to get in touch. I ordered you magazine snd was supposed to get the app for free. I haven’t received an email to access the site and when I try to access the magazine, it says there is a problem with the site and it isn’t safe. Can you help? Thanks
You can reach us directly over email right here: https://simplifymagazine.com/contact/
Hi Josh – thank you for showing me a different way to look at possessions. Definitely a work in progress, but I am thinking more before I purchase and letting go more frequently.
Two questions: Do you license or endorse any Minimalist contractors (not just professional organizers) that can be hired to help get the process started?
Have you considered doing a show on HGTV like Hot Mess House? It would be valuable to watch the process of people letting go possessions and gaining freedom back in their lives.
I’ve looked into hosting a few shows on network television and have been approached by a few production companies, but the details have not aligned. I do not license or endorse any minimalist contractors, sorry about that.
Your youtube videos are so beneficial but do you have any hacks for eating well for 2 when business travel is part of the schedule?
Christine
Oh, I don’t think so. Sorry. I’m sure there is a nutritionist somewhere with more helpful advice than I’ll have.
Hi Joshua
Found you on You Tube, I love your calm and concise manner.i have started my decluttering about 2 weeks ago I do have a lot of stuff that has no home.I want to sell my home but because I never started to declutter I cannot put my house up for sale so you inspired me to make a start
So far I have made donations to the local primary school, charity ships,and a local home for disabled people
I have put things that were belonging to my mother who passed away 8 years ago into the local auctions I decided I don’t need to hang on to her nick nacks to remember her by
So thank you Joshua for starting me on this incredible journey.
How about papers?. I hold onto papers and want to organize them to no avail. Any wise thoughts to share?
the idea is get rid of stuff like that. papers? Purge and then make digital copies
I’m ready to declutter, or at least make a start. However, my husband is going behind me taking things out of the donation box, or saying things like “that’s actually OURS and not just YOURS, and I want to keep it.”. I pulled some CDs to donate, and he wanted to look at the pile before I take them away. Half of them he’s decided to keep (they’re still on the dining room table; he wants to keep them, but not put them away).
Do you have any suggestions? I suppose I could just put the box into the car and drive away, but I don’t feel that’s fair. I’m very careful not to declutter things that are definitely his.
You both have to be on board with the idea. If only one of you wants to declutter, that will not work. It will add stress and anxiety.
I am a lifelong subscriber to the uncluttered course. I am having trouble trying to register for the May course. Can you please register me and tell me how to do it.
Thanks.
You can sign back up for the course emails by visiting the Course Resources page after logging-in (my.becomingminimalist.com/login). The sign-up form is at the bottom of the page and is available at any point now or in the future for you to jump back in.
I applied yesterday and did not receive a confirmation, and am wondering if everything went through.
Hello, Mr. Becker.
I’m an 11-year-old from Maryland and for the past few days, we were reading a book about minimalism in class, and it mentioned your efforts to become a minimalist too. It also gave us a quote: “My belongings were not adding value to my life. Instead, they were subtracting from it.” and immediately I tried to find you. I wanted to ask you if you ever missed your belonging[s], or ever missed an item that you don’t have anymore?
Amogh Bandekar.
No, I don’t. Maybe a small item or two. But I’d much rather miss 1-2 items than my entire life with a house full go things I don’t need. Hope that helps.
thank you that answered my question.
I purchased the decluttering with kids book – nothing was received but I was charged. Can someone please contact me?
Hi Joshua!
I have been following your journey for years. Thank you for inspiring me!
I wonder if you have any recommendations on how to deal with people who pity you or are ashamed of you for being a minimalist.
My journey to minimalism began 11 years ago after suffering from burnout in a very stressful job I didn’t like.
So I changed careers and purged my home from clutter to live a less stressful und happier life.
However, many people pity me because my current job (which I love) is less prestigious than the one I had 11 years ago and because I make less money (but still more than enough). I own a small apartment (100% paid, no mortgage) which is a wonderful home to me but people constantly pity me for “having” to live in such a small space. (In my opinion there is more than enough room.)
My mother even lies to people about my job, my apartment and my possessions because she is ashamed of my lifestyle.
I’m sooo fed up with people pitying me or being ashamed of me for no reason at all.
Does any of you have any tips on how to handle this situation?
If you are looking for life satisfaction in other people’s opinions of you, you will never find it.
I’m so happy to hear you’ve created a life that you love funded by a job that provides you a healthy life and enough income! Maybe just tell people that – you are happy in your life and hope they can be happy for you.
Hello, I’m a freelance copywriter who is interested in what Becoming Minimalist does. Please let me know if there are any writing projects you would rather outsource (b2b communication, white papers, ad copy, press releases, etc.). I’m a professional with reasonable rates and my portfolio can be found at jayhendrickswriting.com. Thank you for your time!
Thank you, Joshua for your inspiring posts regarding minimalism. I’m learning a lot from you.
I’m also doing my own minimalism journey which I also post on my blog.
Joshua, this is the first I have come across your articles. They are setting me FREE in a way like nothing else has since 1992.
I was a victim of malpractice and lost the ability to think and talk properly and I lost my creativity as well for around 30 years. The method of the doctor was heinous. It’s taken so many years to find a medical world ready to validate what happened and provide the kind of support, therapy, etc. that I needed. I have never shared this information with anyone online before. But this website reached in and touched my soul and my mind like no other. I would appreciate connecting with you. It was done my GP in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In 1993ish, the Head of Psychiatry of The Foothills Hospital in Calgary, Alberta had 10 therapy sessions with me and started each one with “We have no idea why you are alive.” Finally, I asked why he said that each time, and he replied, because we want you to know that you are a miracle.” Because I had been a School Teacher, I agreed to have people watching my sessions over the next 2 years. I finally discovered that this doctor was charged by a woman who was almost identical in our situations. He lost all of his credentials, but not before destroying countless lives. I just turned 68 and I only started speaking in clear sentences in 2017. I have volunteered through most of the years to stay in contact with people. What I will never understand is why the doctors he practiced with stood by and did not report what he was doing. There was no shortage of doctors. There was no legitimate reason for what he did. I did finally track him to Ohio and spoke with the Director of the hospital he worked at there. He had done the very same thing to his patients there. I am go glad the provincial and federal government got him back to Manitoba to stand trial.
Why do doctors not abide by thier oath, “Do no harm”? That should apply to all people that particular doctor touches. Where is the honor of the doctors that do not speak up? I would really appreciate your opinion. Are there not laws relating to this kind of situation? I plan to live to 100 so at 68 as of Feb. this year, I do have many good years ahead of me.
One thing that I do know for a fact is that seniors desperately need counselling and actual help would the very concept of minimalism. I would like to see you create a concept based on this specifically for seniors. If something like this existed, it might allow seniors to safely remain in thier homes long past retirement. I am quite sure Oprah would be a good advocate for this. Thank you for helping me, Scotty!
How can I renew my annual Clutterfree app without using Google Play?
The Clutterfree App is available through the Google Play store and the Apple Itunes Store. All subscriptions run through their platform. Wish I had a better answer for you.
Hello,
I love your blog and emails, however, I wish there was a way to set my emails from you to weekly only. I find the number of emails from you to be a bit overwhelming, and in a way it clutters my life via email. Can you advise me of a way to only receive your emails once a week? I had to write this in your comments area because I do not see a way to contact you any other way. Thank you kindly.
You could respond directly to the email. I do not send out my blog posts in a digest format. When I publish a new article on Becoming Minimalist (2x/week), it is sent out via email the following morning to anyone who signed up for them.
Hi! Someone recently shared an older article about minimizing your wardrobe for many good reasons that I’m going to start on immediately! But in the comments, there were many suggestions to donate clothing, shoes, etc, to nonprofits, shelters, and charity stores. Yes, that’s fine but please, please, please, encourage your followers, readers, to stop donating their unusable, dirty, badly damaged items or items so worn out that they won’t wear them, to overworked and grossly understaffed nonprofits that have to sort through their detritus AND items that cannot be used by anyone. It costs valuable time to do this work and there are real costs for disposing of useless items. Even worse, it’s degrading and demoralizing to recipients, such as homeless individuals, who are already struggling and do not need to see visible proof of what others think they are worth or will “gladly” accept because of their situation. I’ve worked for nonprofits my entire professional career yet am not only still shocked but also angered by people who believe donating is a great way to dump all sorts of items, especially clothing, etc., that they wouldn’t bother fixing, cleaning, or give to a friend or relative. To your readers: please stop using nonprofits as your garbage disposal resource—unless of course, it’s a non profit that really does that sort of recycling for the good of all.
I am unable to get the course preview. what gives?
Really really wonderful. Though, every tip appears to be our day to day one, truly nothing is done perfectly on a regular basis. Definitely, I will try. All the very best for your simple and most beneficial tips to make the life minimal
Loved our article about 7 Daily habits. I have found a happy medium on having daily walks, with small 3 things to do and reading every day. I blog and podcast so writing comes as a habit to me and having the gentle flow in life has made me happier as a person. Than you.
I just finished listening to your interview with Dr. Troy Ahmdal and really appreciated hearing your conversations. Great tools and I plan to implement them soon. Looking to grab your book and look into your course in the future.
Glad you enjoyed it Kristi.
Hi, I live in Australia, and have been working on minimalism for myself, and need some extra motivation. I have missed the dead line, can i still register even though im late? Please let me know. Cheers, Ness
Hi I missed the deadline for the course start yesterday and I REALLY WANT TO TAKE IT. It’s only half a day since the deadline, can I please still sign up???
I am considering signing up for the course – is this something you can listen to at your own time? How is is structured? Lastly I am reading The More of Less and was considering The Minimalist Home next. Does the book cover much of what is in the course? Thank you for your time answering these questions so I can decide what is the best fit at this stage.
Thank you
The course material is released each week on Monday mornings. Participants log-in at a time convenient for them to view the material and begin the weekly challenge. There are three live webinars that happen during the course—but even those are recorded and made available immediately afterwards for people who cannot attend the live event.
If the books provide all you need to declutter your home, don’t sign up for the course. It is designed for people who need more than a book.
I am trying to decide on purchasing the book or doing the course. If I had time I would try the book first. ??? Does the Minimalist Home give you step by step advice.
Yes, the book is less expensive than the course. If a book is all you need, you don’t need the 12-week course.
Wondering if my husband and I can take the course together? Would we each need to register separately? Or can we just sign up as one person and each watch the videos?
As an artist and a lover or nature, I don’t like to see anything go in landfills, so I try to repurpose or use it in some kind of artsy way, but I’ve discovered that time to do those things is elusive, and those same items are still there being moved around and reorganized more than once. However, recently after watching your shows on Netflix, I’ve done a major dumping. I have to say, I’m glad to feel relief from letting go. It feels so cathartic, which reminds me of the saying, “Let Go and Let God”. It’s a slow process, and I imagine I will go through phases, but right now I’m hopeful I’m on the right road. Now, when I get on Amazon to order something, I ask myself: 1. Do I really need this (not want)? 2. Will this make me happy? 3. Can I circumvent this action with activity or an emotional boost? Now, I get some lotion and massage my face and hands, something I need and want. It’s a start and I’m grateful you shared your journey with us, Josh.