Never underestimate the importance of removing stuff you don’t need.
Encouragement is important in all areas of life, but especially when trying to live a life different than those around us.
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 intentionality 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.
11 Ways Clutter Is Messing With Your Health & Relationships | Mind Body Green by Karen Kingston. Most people have no idea how much their clutter affects them. It is only when you start clearing it out that you realize how much better you feel without it.
Simplifying Childhood May Protect Against Mental Health Issues | Raised Good by Tracy Gillett. Too many choices erodes happiness, robbing kids of the gift of boredom which encourages creativity and self-directed learning. And most importantly “too much” steals precious time.
Americans Basically Agree that Shopping is “A Great Cure for Boredom” | QZ by Marc Bain. “Shopping has become a hugely popular leisure activity that often has nothing to do with need.”
The Secret to Spring Cleaning: Don’t Just Organize Your Stuff – Get Rid Of It | The Guardian by Madeleine Somerville. Our surroundings have an incredible impact on how we feel, and clutter can make us feel depressed—so spring cleaning doesn’t just look good, it feels good.
Think Outside The Subscription Box | Frugaling by Sam Lustgarten. Subscription services know that once they have someone on the trial, they’re more likely to continue using their product and/or try it again at a later date.
Khat says
Just what I needed for the weekend. A great list of encouraging posts. Sometimes I forget in the midst of all the chaos in life to give myself time to simplify. I am slowly decluttering things and I love reading posts like these.
Bridget - Nutty Hiker says
This is a great list of posts. My son was complaining just yesterday that he was bored. I told him that’s good. He asked why. I said boredom is good for you, it allows you to reenergize =) Today’s kids don’t really know what it means to be bored. I just read Rest Assured which reminded me that even adults fall into that trap. I am on a decluttering my life binge right now, trying to simplify things, so your post comes just at the right time!
Lori in Prescott says
What if you are married to a pack rat? Surely, there are many of you ‘out there’ who want to be lean and mean, and your spouse keeps buying more. I wouldn’t have to have garage sales and donate if someone didn’t keep bringing things home. I hope this issue is covered in the course coming up!
Joanne says
I can relate!! This is the roadblock that stops me in my tracks time after time.
Sunshine says
You’ll be surprised how much your cheerful change will affect your household! It will take time, but it might happen faster than you imagine. The key is to keep it positive. Don’t talk too much about what you’re doing except to express your joy over how the changes are making life better for you and your family. Perhaps how decluttering allows more time for fun. If your husband has a hobby or watches sports, he might want to get in on the extra free time that comes from simplifying by having fewer things around. Even if he doesn’t help around the house now, your joyful example can be contagious. Focus on getting rid of your own excess and all the things you can control. You might find him decluttering his things or asking for your help.
Sunshine says
I forgot to add something that has really helped me. You can “just do it” and keep it positive, but if you think this will help, try talking to him in a positive way that does not guilt him or make him thing he is going to have to do extra work or lose anything he loves. For example, tell him your why…why do you want to declutter? If you want to enjoy the beauty of a clean home or have less dusting to do so you can have more fun…whatever your reasons, find a quiet time (set a date) and tell him. Ask him for permission to declutter the home as long as you don’t get rid of anything that isn’t your domain without his okay. You can pile it all in the garage, a closet, a box somewhere and have him ok it all. He might get excited about the positive change, and at least he won’t have to live in fear of his treasures disappearing! How can he say no to that? If you believe he won’t go for it, just work on your stuff, and be surprised when he comes around. :)
John P. Weiss says
Love the article in Frugaling about the Bye Box. A good reminder to identify what you don’t need, box it and ship it out! Be it the Goodwill, garage sale or other charity. Less truly is more.
Thomas says
11 Ways Clutter Is Messing With Your Health & Relationships | Mind Body Green – That hit home!
I can relate to this thoroughly.
Many thanks for editing!
Deborah Kultala says
Your advice is right on; I have put it all to the test & I can say that not only organizing my stuff but also donating at least half of my material goods has freed me and cleared the clutter, but the most amazing & surprising benefit is how great I feel & how much weight is lifted off of me!!! <3 Thank You!
Valerie Ardron says
Thank you for the encouragement. We find it most challenging to be minimslist when family is around, so these articles inspire us to stay strong and do what we feel is best for our fsmily, even when those around us do not quite understand the lifestyle we have chosen.
Cheryl says
I too want to thank you for your advice. It has inspired me to clear out a storage unit I was trying to do myself. Got a business that does that sort of thing and they were done in an hour. Ridiculous what it cost but looking back worth every single dollar. I would be trying to do it myself for the next five years.
Looking forward to seeing your movie in Chicago
Judy says
What movie in Chicago?
Cheryl says
In May. In Logan Square. Minimalist movie
joshua becker says
I am in the movie, but it is produced by someone else.
Lori in Prescott says
I would love to see “the after” pictures of homes that minimalists live in. That would be truly inspiring. Lots of info on WHY we should get rid of our stuff, HOW we should get rid of our stuff, which all sounds so punishing to me. I would like to see the end result that I could emulate. The reason that would propel me to dig in and reach that end goal.
Dee Ann says
I’d invite you to join Joshua’s Uncluttered course, which I believe will be offered free starting in May. (I’m in the current class, which began several weeks ago.) The first thing we did was determine our “why” with regard to uncluttering and living a more minimal lifestyle. Finding your own reason is really important since I believe the motivation for this has to come from inside. Also, people share pictures of their progress, and it’s not at all like those stark, modern-art-museum-looking examples you sometimes see in magazines.
Lori in Prescott says
Yes, I bought 2 books from Amazon and am now signed up for free! Can’t wait!
Sunshine says
How this excites me for the class! I also delight in visuals. I know my reasons, but I love to see where I’m heading too!
Allison Jimenez says
I agree. In my case I am going to take before and after pics. I have read a lot but starting has been really hard. I am emotionally attached to a lot of things. I know and long for the day I finally let go because I am sure the freedom it will bring will catapult me toward a brighter, happier space and time.
sheryl says
If it helps, i took pictures of some things i had trouble letting go of. So i could look back and remember without having the physical item. That was last year and i have yet to open the file on the computer! Its interesting how we view things once they have been removed from our lives.
Its a tough but worthwhile process.
Good luck!
Me says
Lori- check on YouTube of preview of minimalist movie with Joshua . His house is so minimalist. He practices what he preaches a real role model with kids living a normal life
Sunshine says
I love before and afters too (and all the steps in between!). I know my “why”, but it has grown over the years. It’s been so wonderful to see how my family has been able to let go of more and more stuff, and with each batch that goes out, we are renewed and ready to start again. If I’d known it would take so long, I might have been disheartened, but this is good and easy this way. I do wish we could have just done it all at once though. I think this course will be the push to get serious! I’m really excited about it!
Elizabeth Mills says
Joshua, thank you for the encouragement you bring. I love simplicity in life and minimalism is a familiar practice for me. Now to work on the consumerism part.
Angela says
Surely if you’re a minimalist you have already stopped being a consumer. Am I missing something?
Angela
joshua becker says
I find the journey to owning less and the journey to wanting less to actually be quite different. There are different habits to break.
Angela says
I know what you mean Joshua. I was referring to the comment made by Elizabeth.
I assumed because she liked simplicity & was familiar with it, that she didn’t like consumerism.
Something I wanted to ask you was this.
Do you save wrapping paper for instance?
I’m not a shopper, never have been. I keep wrapping paper to use again as it seems wasteful not to.
I guess that’s not very minimalist, just frugal.
Would love to know what you or your readers think about that.
Congrats on your new book.
Angela
Betty says
So true. I want to live with less but then I see something I would love to have and the struggle starts. I’m getting better at not letting the consumer side of me win.
Amy@MoreTimeThanMoney says
Oh that is so true. I’m happy where I am with owning less but it is the wanting less that is the struggle. Avoiding shops and magazines are key for me!