Encouraging Simplicity. Weekend Reads.

Never underestimate the importance of removing stuff you don’t need.

Encouragement provides us with motivation to persevere. It invites us to dream dreams of significance for our lives. And it begs us to work diligently with optimism and promise.

Overcoming the pull of consumerism is a difficult challenge regardless of our stage in life. Simplicity requires encouragement. To that end, I hope you will find motivation in these articles below.

Each post was intentionally chosen to inspire simplicity in your life. For maximum effect, find a quiet moment this weekend and enjoy them with a fresh cup of coffee or tea.

We Need to Stop Buying Stuff – and I Know Just the People to Persuade Us | The Guardian by Adrian Chiles. Our ridiculous addiction to acquiring more possessions is stuffing up the planet, so it’s time to call in the experts.

Create a Place For Everything That Matters | Zen Habits by Leo Babauta. So when we declutter, it’s not just about getting rid of things we don’t want — it’s also about finding a home for everything we do want. A place for everything.

Understanding the Diderot Effect To Overcome Overspending | Forbes* by Joshua Becker. Arriving at a healthy understanding of why we buy what we do is a worthy pursuit.

*Forbes allows a number of free articles each month. If you have reached your limit, this article may require a subscription.

Pandemic Life Encourages People to Live with Less | Korean JoongAng Dailey by Haley Yang. Overall, 55.7 percent of respondents said that they developed a heightened interest in minimalist living since the pandemic started.

5 Questions to Ask Yourself When Decluttering | Verily by Patty Breen. Tidying expert Marie Kondo famously shared the tip to ask yourself if an item you pick up brings you a spark of joy, and if not, to say farewell to that object. Here are some other questions I’ve found helpful to ask myself when decluttering, to keep up the pace and reach my tidying goals.

Minimalism: 7 Reasons that Keep People From Getting Started | Joshua Becker on YouTube. The idea of minimalism may sound attractive, but sometimes, the first step seems very difficult. And, too often, is never taken.