For the past 15 years, the driving passion behind this website has been simple: to inspire and help people own less and live more.
I hope, in one way or another, it’s been helpful to you in your pursuit.
At first, this blog was the only resource I offered. I published articles three times per week and made them freely available to anyone who subscribed by email. (You still can, by the way.)
But a website built on one-off articles has its limits. It becomes a stream of consciousness—topics shared in no particular order, simply based on what I was learning, thinking about, or wanting to articulate at the time.
The articles were helpful—and still are—but now, just 30 short of 1,000 posts, they can be difficult to navigate. I started receiving more and more emails asking, “Do you have any articles about _____?” And often, I did—they were just buried in the Archives.
So in 2016, I published The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own. The book laid out a straightforward argument for how owning less helps us pursue bigger and better dreams for our lives.
I hoped it would inspire many people to embrace a new way of living. With over 100,000 copies sold, I’d say that’s a pretty good start.
But as the book and blog gained readers, I began to notice something.
Many people had read about minimalism and wanted the benefits of it—but still struggled to put the principles into practice.
So nine years ago, I launched a solution: The Uncluttered Course.
I created the course to provide everything a book, blog post, or YouTube video cannot: structure, accountability, weekly challenges, a supportive community, and an opportunity to ask questions and feel heard.
The course has changed countless lives. I still receive emails that say, “I took your Uncluttered Course in 20xx and it changed my life.”
And I always respond the same way: “I may have provided inspiration and structure—but you did the hard work.”
A few years ago, in 2023, I sat down with a pen and paper and asked myself a new question: What more could I do to help people own less?
I mapped out the entire journey someone might go through—from first hearing about minimalism, to decluttering their home, to building long-term habits that maintain a clutter-free life, to eventually inviting others into its benefits.
No matter where someone finds themselves on that path, I want to help them take their next step.
That process led me to a realization: As much as I love this blog, the books, and the online course, there are still some people who need something more personal in their journey.
They don’t want to go through the process alone. They don’t want to figure it out online.
They want in-person help. One-on-one. In their actual home.
Sometimes that’s because they feel stuck. Other times it’s because they need personal support. And sometimes, they’re just too busy to do it on their own.
Unfortunately, many professional organizers are focused on organizing what we already own—not helping us remove what we don’t need. It can be hard to explain to someone that the goal isn’t better organization—it’s owning less.
The world needs more Professional Declutterers.
So over the past two years, I’ve been training both professionals and passionate individuals in my approach to decluttering and minimalism.
During our live professional trainings, I work directly with participants—teaching the most effective methods I’ve found to help people own less and live more.
Today, nearly 100 individuals have completed the training. They live all over the world and are equipped to come into your home (or work virtually) to walk with you step-by-step through the process.
If you’re looking for personal support to help you declutter, they are available and ready to serve. Here is a website where you can find their information.
Of course, this is their livelihood. Hiring someone for individualized support will cost more than a book or course designed for a larger audience. But if you’re stuck, the investment is worth it—for your home, your peace, your time, and your life.
*I don’t receive any commission from their work.
Each of these professionals has my full recommendation. I’ve trained them personally. They have proven their understanding of my methods. And I believe they can help you.
If you need the help, reach out. Owning less is worth it.
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PS: If you’re a professional organizer—or even just someone passionate about helping others own less—I’d love to teach you. I offer this training three times per year. If you’d like more information or want to be notified the next time registration opens, sign up here.
Is becoming a professional organizer part of the Uncluttered Course? I must have missed it if it is. I’ve been wanting to become a “Becker Method Certified DeClutterer”, yet am not sure how to go about it. Is there a different course? I’ve been reading and following since 2012. My home is decluttered and becoming more so all the time with kids getting married and moving out. It has been a very rewarding journey.
I realised that I don’t listen to music anymore-1 am 84, so don’t need the dvd player, 2 speakers etc! I will donate them to a charity shop i support. I will listen to the favourites before I do it and May delay it a while. This means 3 shelves in the bookcase free! It’s like holding on to books you will never read again!
It feels a bit drastic, but I am not using something that someone else could appreciate!
I am sure there are many other retirees who could do the same.
Joshua, I had the pleasure of meeting you many years ago at a gathering you held in a small bookstore on Central Ave in Phoenix where you shared this new decluttering concept. You were beginning to share your ideas to the cluttered laypersons. I have attended workshops, read and have kept your books and been a subscriber to the weekly blog. And now I’m thrilled to hear about the personal one on one sessions. It’s the perfect package! I hope others take advantage of this opportunity and get in a good place. Congratulations to you and your family!! I’m happy for you!
“Unfortunately, many professional organizers are focused on organizing what we already own—not helping us remove what we don’t need. It can be hard to explain to someone that the goal isn’t better organization—it’s owning less.”
This is the crux of the problem. When I first decided I wanted by home to reflect my values and the way I wanted to live, I hired a professional organizer. She charged $100 an hour with a 3 hour minimum. She did a great job, ordered about $200 worth of containers and helped me put everything away. But is was not sustainable.
Even though the containers were sitting on shelves in my walk-in closet, the utility room, pantry and garage, and were labeled, how often does anyone pull down containers to look through them? I found that the stuff packed away in those containers was stuff I rarely used and then every shelf, drawer and cabinet in the house filled up with new stuff.
So I found the videos by Josh Becker on Youtube and watched many of them. They are short enough to keep my attention and I started getting the idea of minimalism.
Next I took the course 3 times starting in 2020 and made progress. But it still took me another year to get my home like I want it to be. I got serious and sold, donated, gave away around two thirds of my possessions.
That included stuff from my grandmothers that I’d been carrying around for years, making space for it, but never using. I let go of fine bone china sets of dishes made in England in the 1880s, 2 sets of Sterling silverware, and many things I’d been attached to over the years.
Cleaning became a breeze. My home that I thought was too small turned into being very spacious. With the money I made getting rid of stuff I was able to hire a designer to go room by room and redo my whole house. She used things I already had and helped me pick out art and accents that would made my home look beautiful.
Now instead of dusting, shifting stuff around, and cleaning I spend my time doing the things I love. Before I dreaded visitors or guests, needing days to get ready before they came. Now my home is presentable all of the time and I enjoy having people over. It is truly life changing.
That’s helpful to read. My family values books and I have a lot from my grandmother in my attic. Some in bookcases. They never get opened or looked at unless I am trying to make space for more books. I need to let these and other things go and free up space and unnecessary clutter.
I’m in the beginning of more than my “declutter and organize” situations. I have learned that if I don’t need, want, if I didn’t have it what would I use. I can research videos and audiobooks for years and end up saving those! lol. I am going to start in my kitchen. I already did my living room and can redo. Once I finish for myself, I would like to take your class and learn to pass my knowledge and/or help them have more peace in their lives as well! Thank you for this e-mail.
Kelly