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.
Jen Dahme says
This is a fraud site. Money was taken out of my accounts
Barbara Dobell says
I have a charge on my bank account from you and I have no idea why. Can you explain that to me?
joshua becker says
Not sure why that would be. But you can send me an email and I can look into it, sure: support @ becomingminimalist .com
Daniel Blatt says
Daniel Blatt
January 15, 2023
Hello. My name is Dniel Blatt. I started my minimalism journey 4 years ago in 2019. I had so much stuff in storage. I was paying close to $200 for the cost of one unit. That money could have been used for better uses.
I have watched your videos and documentaries. I was moved by them. From that point on from 2019 until now, I have worked hard on trying to live a more simple life. The main reason I started my minimalism journey is for financial reasons. After that, I found other important reasons that followed through my journey. Thanks for the inspiration. This helps me focus on what’s more important in life. That’s why minimalism is very important to me. Appreciate it.
Sarah says
Dear Joshua,
My interest in Minimalism began because of you. I discovered your blog not too long after you started it. I wanted to jump on board. However, at that time, my 3 sons were young and 2 of them had just been diagnosed with Autism. I was overwhelmed, to say the least. I had no time for anything else really.
Last summer, around 11 years later, I finally felt I had space in my life to dedicate to Minimalism. I was curious to see if you were still around & WOW! I was so inspired by what Minimalism has done for you and your family and so many people all over the world! So, I read your most recent book. I have been watching you on YouTube, and started my journey with the support of my husband and kids. Because of the decluttering and organizing I have done since August 2022, the feeling in our home changed. It feels lighter and there is an absence of a visual busy- ness. All the clutter was noisy!! Our home gradually felt softer, calmer and relaxed.
My youngest son, who is 15 and more impacted by Autism, noticed what I was doing, and he too, wanted to jump on board!! He would point to different areas of our home and would say, “there is too much stuff here, mom!” We promptly got to work decluttering the area he brought to my attention! Even though my son struggles with receptive and expressive communication, I truly believe he was feeling the impact of a decluttered and more organized home! He also has severe anxiety, and I know this new minimalist lifestyle has been instrumental in helping him feel more grounded and less anxious both at home and at school.
My best friend and my mother have been inspired by what I have been doing and they are decluttering now too!
During the holiday season, we slowed down the decluttering process, but picked back up when it was time to put away the decorations. Your video about what decorations you take out for Christmas was so inspiring!
Every day I am excited to go to your website or YouTube channel, Joshua. You and your family inspire me and mine to continue this journey as new minimalists. I believe you that our lives will change for the better because we intentionally live this lifestyle. How can we not believe that? We truly are experience more room for things that matter. Yes, it’s happening!! Thank you and God Bless!!
joshua becker says
This is beautiful to read. Thank you for sharing it and for the opportunity to provide just a little bit of inspiration in your life.
Christine Waltermyer says
So wonderful Sarah! As a fellow special needs mom I understand how time can get away from us. Thanks for sharing your inspiring journey here!
Emily M says
Hi, I am looking for a support email address. Where can I email a support question?
joshua becker says
A question about what specifically Emily? Happy to help.
Susan Hayward says
Hiya, I’d like to sign up to hear more from you, thank you. Heard about you from John P Weiss.
Syafrizal Maludin says
Hey Joshua, I get your interesting website from JPW. I am ready to read. Thank you
Kim says
I am working to becoming a minimalist. I am 60 years old and I have a question about sentimental items (birthday/anniversary cards, kids crafting creations, old family pictures and memorabilia, etc.). I feel heartless throwing or giving away. But someone will someday. What are your thoughts?
Lindy says
I have the same concern. Depending on the type of item or photo, maybe a shared cloud file for the family. Or even a searchable cloud file for the public. Submit the photos to a geneology site. Submit historical photos to a relevant organization, e.g. World War II photos to an archival site.
See who might have a blog about this. Cheers.
Jose says
joshua becker
If you are not that popular, you are becoming more popular because of the fraud that you are doing or is doing in your name and for your benefit when they are trying to take money from credit cards without authorization.
If I were you, I would investigate or stop doing it because far from trusting you they are going to make you famous
really for a thief.
joshua becker says
There is no credit card fraud benefiting me. If someone is defrauding you, report it immediately to your credit card company so they can be stopped. I don’t want anyone to be stealing from anyone, but especially not using my name.
Janet Southwood says
You have attempted to get money from my bank account fraudulently. You have been reported to my bank and they are researching you
joshua becker says
I can assure you that wasn’t me.