Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it. It requires a conscious decision because it is a countercultural lifestyle that stands against the culture of overconsumption that surrounds us.
The world we live in is not friendly to the pursuit of minimalism. Its tendencies and relentless advertising campaigns call us to acquire more, better, faster, and newer. The journey of finding simplicity requires consistent inspiration.
For that reason, I hope you will make an effort this weekend to find a quiet moment with a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy some of these hand-picked articles to encourage more simplicity in your life.
If Getting Back to Normal Means Mindless Shopping, Forget It | The Guardian by Suzanne Moore. The cycle of consumption has been transformed by the pandemic and we have seen through the miserable con of ‘retail therapy.’
7 Things I Love About Minimalism | Medium by Megan Holstein. Minimalism saves time, saves money, and makes me a better person.
The True Essence of Minimalism, and How You Can Live It | Pop! by Nel Villagracia. Minimalism isn’t just about living in an empty space and wearing black and white clothes every day. It’s a state of mind that goes much deeper than what it looks like on the surface.
Your To-Do List Is, in Fact, Too Long | Harvard Business Review by Peter Bregman. The one-thing list reflects a strategic and intentional choice about what you will do next and continue to focus on until it’s done.
What is the Diderot Effect? (And How to Overcome It) | Joshua Becker on YouTube
I witnessed some mindless consumerism on Sunday. Having just moved I was in need of a few furniture items and decided to go to Ikea. The weather has been about 110 all weekend and when I arrived at the store there was literally 200 people standing in line, in the heat, not socially distancing, waiting to go shopping. There were also many children in line as well.
In California the smoke from the fire is toxic which combined with the Covid is a toxic recipe for disaster. No shopping is worth risking one’s health.
I had the same experience at IKEA and was not thrilled. Went home and ordered the item I needed online, via their click and collect option. Received an email when it was ready, parked in the designated click and collect parking area, entered via the returns/exchanges doorway (not the main entrance), showed my ID and was driving away from the store within 5-7 minutes. Incredibly easy experience without the mindless browsing or excessive crowds, a welcome difference from the usual IKEA experience!
Yes Francine that reminds me of an old Twilight Zone episode where each teenager has to go through a conversion to a “new body” with only two models to pick from.
Conformity kills individuality, and what a boring world it would be when some people strive to look like one another.
“Avoid consumerism for the sake of your wallet even if the wallet doesn’t match with your handbag” this is a keeper(quote?)
I find the concept of the Diderot Effect quite fascinating. I have never been into the fashion thing, heck I still love tye dyed clothing but I have bought clothing second hand for years, much of it brand new or slightly worn. But it is like the psychology behind shopping and for some people that really think they have to accessorize, they mentally get sucked into the buying frenzy. Also the notion that everything has to match, thinking they have to impress everyone.
But at the end of the day I feel that would be very exhausting.
Personally I think mixing it up, feeling comfortable with your surroundings is the best. Just enough is good enough for me.
Throughout the years I come to think that there is a huge interconnection between us. Especially the CovId. We are all in it together. The revolution around the marketing science that is used here to trick us into the buying and living in the wonderland has to be kept in control. And, you are right to say, it is up to us to decide whether we let the advertising corporation to make this decision for us to buy always more.
Mik,
Newspapers give their views, like in Op Eds and Editorials etc. They are asking for donations so they can keep doing what they do best, print the news.
Thank you for introducing me to the work by Peter Bregman. His list to do article makes lots of sense to me. I usually have so much in my bucket and then don’t have a good idea of what is important on this list. I know it can sound like being hyperactive and irrealistly ambitious. Thinking of myself as a very “organized” person, you have now convinced me that I am way far from being it. I check out for more of his work, thanks for sharing your email. Great stuffs.
Question…why does The Guardian at the end of their articles tell us how to think politically and then request financial support…I suspect they’re political activists disguised as journalists aka fake news.
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It seems taking it out of its context but “… the Guardian delivers targeted advertising to people who visit our website”Advertiser content’ or content ‘from our advertisers’ In the world of publication, their content appear to be paid for and produced by the advertiser rather than the publisher vs. author/writer. The good thing is they have to be subject to regulation for their “advertiser content.” They have a target for the consumers thus could lead to personal political view, imho.
I was planning to spend my free day shopping for bed linens at IKEA. Then I watched your Diderot video. I’m spending the day doing art, instead. Perfect timing. Thank you.
One thing that choosing a life of minimalism/voluntary simplicity means is that you are in control, not the marketing and advertising corporations. This is one area of your life where you as a consumer decide if you control your stuff or your stuff controls you. That in itself is quite liberating and comes with peace of mind to breathe and become the individual you have a right to be.
Thank you for providing this list. Living a simple life is important, it makes room for the things that matter most. I’ve come to realize that living in a cluttered space creates mental clutter, which takes up the present moment and the joy we could be experiencing.
I enjoyed reading the articles of list you provided. Now, it’s on to your youtube link. Thank you!
Very nice, Joshua!
I def need to do some decluttering and change my mindset a bit. Your blog is always inspiring. So grateful for it. Thank you!