Minimalist Mama
Learn about less with books, blogs, podcasts and more
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Welcome back! You're on your way to living with less and being less stressed. OK, so maybe the "less stressed" part comes after all the cleaning is done, but you've committed to working on it and that's a start.
This month I want to provide you with some resources that I have found extremely helpful in my journey. When I first started learning more about minimalism, it was because of a blog shared by a friend on social media: Becoming Minimalist at www.becomingminimalist.com.
In the blog, Joshua Becker shares how a simple comment from a neighbor about cleaning his garage changed his life. From there, I read his book, "The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own." (He also has written three other books.) Becker takes a faith -- based approach to minimalism, but his blog and Facebook page are a great start for anyone who wants to own less to have more.
That led me to the original Minimalists, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, at www.theminimalists.com. The Minimalists were featured in the 2015 documentary film, "Minimalism," and they are the authors of "Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life," "Everything That Remains" and "Essentials: Essays by The Minimalists," as well as the hosts of the popular "The Minimalists Podcast." I recommend watching the documentary, which is currently available on Netflix.
Other influential minimalists include Francine Jay at www.missminimalist.com. She is the author of "The Joy of Less: A Minimalist Guide to Declutter, Organize and Simplify." Rachel Jonat blogs at www.theminimalistmom.com and is the author of "Do Less: A Minimalist Guide to a Simplified, Organized, and Happy Life," "The Minimalist Mom: How to Simply Parent Your Baby" and "The Minimalist Mom's Guide to Baby's First Year." Courtney Carver writes the Be More with Less blog at http://bemorewithless and is known for her Project 333 challenge, where she encourages people to dress with 33 items or less for three months. Regina Leeds, in her book, "One Year to an Organized Life," features a week-by-week plan for organizing, storing, downsizing and creating better habits. www.flylady.net/d/getting--started/flying--les sons/decluttering/.
Perhaps the most well -- known of the minimalists is Marie "KonMari" Kondo, author of "Spark Joy" and the popular "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing." Kondo encourages people to touch everything they own and ask if it sparks joy. If it doesn't, thank it and get rid of it. She also has some great space-saving tips for folding clothes and a way to approach decluttering by item rather than room -- gather all your clothes and go through them, rather than tackling the clothes in each room. The KonMari method was extremely overwhelming for me, but others have sworn by her life-changing and rigid routine. There's no wrong way to work through this journey!
It is helpful to know why we are attached to our stuff, and I found enlightening this short TEDx video by Christian Jarrett about "The Endowment Effect": http://bit.ly/2iAy7yV. Studies show that getting rid of clutter affect your mental health (http://bit.ly/2bQTZRR) and that decluttering has positive results.
And, of course, there are numerous Facebook groups, such as minimalism + motherhood, minimalist me, minimalist life, minimalist living and next level minimalism, along with social media avenues to learn more about becoming a minimalist and what that means for you. Surprise -- being a minimalist doesn't necessarily mean living in a tiny home with a capsule wardrobe.
Some of the helpful resources I've discovered along the way include:
• http://bit.ly/1y65lHX -- Courtney Carver's list of 10 items to jumpstart decluttering can help you quickly get started without feeling overwhelmed.
• http://r29.co/1G3fR4f -- Drew Barrymore discusses minimalizing her wardrobe in six simple steps.
• http://bit.ly/1unvJhc -- Joshua Becker provides 25 ways to help you get rid of digital clutter.
• http://bit.ly/2l4NlOy -- This is a great read for parents who are thinking about what toys are necessary for minimalist children. Surprise: the best toys are open-ended and not digital!
• http://bit.ly/2kwvmO0 -- If you're up for a challenge, the 40 bags in 40 days challenge has helpful printables available on Pinterest.
• http://bit.ly/2kTy3Kp -- This step-by-step guide helps you go paperless to free yourself from the paper clutter. Confession: this is the next stage of my minimalist journey.
• http://bit.ly/2keghnX -- Tired of all this reading? Listen to these eight TED Talks about minimalism and decide what's right for you.
• http://bit.ly/2l4Aufb -- Thanks to reader Carol for sharing the FlyLady site, which includes helpful tips for decluttering in only 15 minutes per day.
• A search for "simplicity" subjects at the public library also will show books about clearing mental clutter, removing technology, saving money, recipes, finding comfort and joy in the everyday, ideas for tiny house living and more.
Now that you have your homework, next month I'll help you pick a room and decide where to start.
Minimalist Mama is published on the first Sunday of each month in the Lifestyle section. Brigandi can be reached at MinimalistMamainPA@gmail.com.