Fill your life with stories to tell, not stuff to show.
The simplicity/minimalism movement is a beautiful community. And I enjoy any opportunity to promote writing that encourages people to live more by owning less.
So fix yourself a nice warm cup of coffee or tea. Find a quiet moment this weekend. And enjoy some encouraging words to inspire more simplicity in your life today.
How to Fake a Shopping Buzz Without Spending Any Money | BBC by Katie Beck. Shopping can improve a bad mood temporarily, but the guilt that follows a big spending spree is often worse. There are some tricks you can use to stave off the urge to splurge.
Instagram is the Most Harmful Social Network for your Mental Health | Quartz by Marc Bain. Unrealistic expectations and “fear of missing out” created across our social feeds can lower self-esteem and fuel issues such as anxiety and depression.
Refresh & Rejuvenate Your Personal Library | Apartment Therapy by Shifrah Combiths. Let’s refresh our bookshelves so that rather than being a catalog of what we’ve read or intend to read, they’re a showcase of the material that has played a part in shaping our minds and hearts.
The 12 Things Minimalism Gives You, From A New Book That Makes Me Think Differently About Everything I Own | Business Insider by J. Money. Here’s what minimalism can give you.
Quote Ambition says
Thank you so much, Joshua, for sharing this stuff. I really love reading and making quotes (even created a website). So, I devote a lot of time to reading books. I prefer paper version, love to touch them.
It’s the first time I’ve visited your blog and I really like your site design and colors. Will definitely become your reader and commentator.
Trey James from Quote Ambition
Josh says
Good luck, Judy. As you said, take it one room at a time, and don’t get discouraged. The juice is worth the squeeze!
Judy says
I want to get rid of some more stuff. I feel like my house is too cluttered. I DID get rid of lots and lots of things ( and I rarely shop ) but somehow clutter always seems to creep in. I don’t get it :(
It’s a bit overwhelming. I think I will take it *one room at a time* and clear/clean one room a week—-by the end of summer the whole house should look better.
Clutter and stuff drives me crazy!
I live in a very old home—and I want to highlight the home itself, not the junk inside.
Wish me luck! Any suggestions??? :)
Karin-Olivia says
A few weeks ago I bought a beautiful fern. This is noteworthy because in my efforts to rid my life of unwanted “stuff” I had to dump the dead plants I could no longer care for – even the responsibility of a plant was more than I could cope with . . . but I am finally at a place where I feel I can decide what I want in my life and what was there by default that was weighing me down, physically, emotionally, and mentally. A beautiful fern, faithfully and effortlessly maintained, brings me peace with no burden or guilt that I am “letting it down”. I feel I am on the right track. Thank You
Amy@MoreTimeThanMoney says
Great selection for articles as always. Relating to the BBC article, actively practicing gratitude, as they discuss, has made a huge difference in my life. Diminishes the impulse to buy and a focus on more, more, more.
Tracy says
Once again, the quote about American homes having 300,000 things surfaces. This one doesn’t even say it’s an average. Regina Lark, who supplied that number to the LA Times article where that quote was taken, doesn’t have any information on the study or how it was done (I wrote to her). There is nothing about it on Google. How many households were used for the study? How was the counting done–does it include things like aspirins and safety pins? And should an aspirin count the same as an ironing board? A few years ago, out of curiosity, I counted everything in my house, which is neither super-minimalist nor overstuffed, and even by quintupling to allow for things I didn’t count, like pieces of paper and pins and consumables, I get a number nowhere near 50,000. Yes, that’s just me, but I can’t imagine the average home having 300,000, a truly astronomical number. Are we really a nation of extreme hoarders? I wish people would stop using this quote for shock and awe, when there’s nothing to back it up.
John says
The challenge of comparison, as noted in “The 12 Things”article/and your book, harkens Teddy Roosevelt’s “Comparison is the thief of joy.” It’s not who has the most or littlest. I think it’s about living our best lives.
Angela @ Setting My Intention says
I enjoyed the review of your new book! Im experiencing a lot of those benefits without fully paring down yet. As you start down the path of minimalism and simplicity, the benefits start to flow!
So Lynta says
Really worth sharing & informative article.
It is short, simple, but PERFECT!
Thanks.
Conor Mitchell says
The article from the BBC is really fascinating. I have, for the past few months, been practicing the technique of being grateful for the things that don’t involve spending, in order to combat the impulse to needlessly spend. It really does work!.