Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of everything 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.
46 Ways to Give Experiences Instead of Stuff This Year | Wellness Mama by Katie Wellness Mama. We have and consume twice as many material goods than we collectively did 50 years ago, but statistically we are much less happy.
Addicted to Distraction | The New York Times by Tony Schwartz. No obstacle to recovery is greater than the infinite capacity to rationalize our compulsive behaviors.
Why I’m buying nothing for a year—no clothes, no holidays, no coffee | The Guardian by Michelle McGagh. I’m hoping the next year will teach me a thing or two about just how little I need to live on, help me save more and open my eyes to the wonderful free events that happen right under my nose.
Simplifying in Thanksgiving | Creative Holistic Home by Lisa Avellan. My gratitude is for the possessions of my soul, my heart.
Story Hopper: Too Much Stuff | YouTube by Dave Hakkens. Something I should have done a long time ago, getting rid of the useless stuff in my life. Which is actually quite a lot. (3:36)
The New York Times article “Addicted to Distraction” resonates with me greatly. The first few paragraphs are a punch in the teeth and mirror what I have been going through the last few years. I wrote a few posts over at my blog recently about taking a Facebook sabbatical and also another on how to step away. Facebook is a huge source of distraction for many. For example, the average American user spends 40 minutes per day on Facebook. Another way of saying this: Anericans spend more than 10 full days of the year on Facebook.
Scary statistic.
Nicholas Carr’s book The Shallows is cited in the NYT article. I read it years ago. Apparently, I need to read it again.
Hi Joshua, just a short note to say that I and other Canadians are being given an easy reason to de clutter. We have 25,000 Syrian refugees coming to Canada in the next few weeks and they need everything. I have been amazed at how many people are seeing it as the perfect opportunity to “get rid of stuff.” It is, of course and also in the best possible way – helping others. Still, I do think the minimalist message is percolating in people’s minds.
The Tony Schwartz article resonated. Especially the final observation about the father checking his phone, ignoring his little girl. There are books on my library shelf that are lonely, too. Waiting for the laptop light to turn off and my sustained attention to reawaken.
I am interested in how others are going about ridding their lives and homes of “stuff”!
Good Saturday to all. Mr Becker, I look forward to your Weekend Reads every week. Somehow though I skipped last Saturday’s so I am off to your Facebook page to find it. Thanks for your words and the words of your associates who live the minimalist life.
You didn’t miss it Carolyn. I only post the links every other Saturday.
Just read Addicted to Distraction. Yep! Been there, done that, guilty as charged! :) Good advice. Thx!
Re: McGagh
I found the cooments interesting, most not very nice but interesting.
Most were saying its a stunt, not to bother, that the economy would collapse if too may people did this.
Its a shame that there are so many cynics out there and if the comments werent closed I would have left some encouraging words.