My desire with each Weekend Reads is to provide you with articles and posts that encourage simplicity and minimalist living. Below, you will find links to blog posts and news stories that I hand-picked over the last couple weeks. I hope you find inspiration and practical help inside them.
But also, if you get a chance, share these posts with others via social media. With our efforts united, not only will each of us be inspired to own less and live more, but the life-giving message of minimalism will spread further and quicker, deeper and with greater effectiveness.
And that is my goal on Becoming Minimalist: to intentionally promote simplicity in a world that needs to hear it.
The Joy of Letting Go | Zen Habits by Leo Babauta. A surprising number of our daily struggles stem from our attachments.
8 Ways Minimalism Can Help Your Finances | The Balance by Miriam Caldwell. Embracing minimalism does not mean that you stop spending money, but it can mean that you spend it on other things and your focus may change from making money to enjoying life.
4 Overrated Buzzwords in Minimalism You Don’t Need to Embrace the Lifestyle | Medium by Melissa Frost. There are, however, more than enough guides and how-to’s in minimalism, and you can always add some popular buzzwords here and there. Some of these words I would categorize as overrated, and here’s why.
Reclaiming the Wonder of Ordinary Life | Rich in What Matters by Julia Ubbenga. It’s in the pauses, the slower moments, that we reclaim any sense of wonder in our lives.
Mum Overhauls Her Life by Clearing £35k Debt and Binning Most of Family’s Possessions | Mirror by Julia Banim. Along with her partner Robert, 34, the 29-year-old day-care owner completely reevaluated her family’s hoarding lifestyle, tossing out things they don’t use while limiting clothing to 14 items for each family member.
The Easy Way to Have More Time and Money | Becoming Minimalist on YouTube
I really enjoyed these articles. I am trying to let go of more things and your books and videos are inspiring. Liked your talk with Dawn on YouTube. I do like Melissa Frost’s article. I do get sort of hung up on the meaning of those words. I even think they hinder my ability to “let go” in my own way. It was helpful to see that from another perspective.
?? After going through my home and simplifing and minimalizing I feel encouraged to refrain from being anything but free from things. It was challenging at times but doing what needed being done gave me courage to reach my goal. Now for the car. Keep up the good work.????☕
Love your weekend reads and your column. thanks so much.
First, I am so grateful for the time to sit and enjoy your Weekend Reads this week! I always value Leo Babauta’s words. Miriam Caldwell stated minimalism and finances in such a short, succinct way…perfect! I already knew much of this, but so helpful (and easy/quick) to read over and over again. I actually didn’t care for Melissa Frost’s article. These 4 overrated words have helped me a lot in my journey to a minimalist lifestyle. Sure, you can’t feel them all the time, but they are very powerful for me personally. You introduced me to a new writer in Julia Ubbenga! My husband and I have joined a hiking challenge this spring and I am already enjoyed the simplicity of wonder, novelty, and embracing my inner child (which for me was stringing clovers into tiaras and bracelets!) Kudos to mum who overhauled her life…been there, done that…would do more if I could, but holding steady right now. And finally I enjoyed your video about shopping. I don’t care for shopping, in general, however I do fall into moments of impulse buying. Whether it’s retail therapy or what, I am not sure. However, I am now able to recognize it quickly, not beat myself up for it, own it, and reclaim my budget the next month. Thank you Joshua for the reads this weekend!
Wow. This is the most detailed analysis I’ve ever received over a Weekend Reads Edition. Thank you for this Karen.