There are two ways to be rich: One is by acquiring much, and the other is by desiring little.
Jackie French Koller
Learning to live more simply
Different Lives. Different Strategies.
As you explore minimalism and ways to simplify your life, you will probably want to learn more about how different people apply the principles in their lives. There are many people focused on these principles and you can find many resources on YouTube, Podcasts and Blogs. There are so many options, it can be another source of overwhelm and lost hours. And, yes, I know that I have been writing about reducing both your time on social media and any collections of digital material. That is why I want to encourage you to be intentional about who you choose to follow and read. With a little looking around, you’ll find your own favourites, people who resonate with you for any number of reasons. Some might have a family similar to yours. Others might share your vision for minimalism. Or maybe you just enjoy someone’s sense of humour or presentation style. The advantage of the vast array of resources is that there are plenty of choices. But that, of course, can be a double-edged sword since it also means potential confusion and many possible distractions. With that in mind, I have identified a few resources to help you stay motivated on your minimalism path.
I wrote on this same topic previously. Read my earlier recommendations in 7 Inspiring Blogs about Living Intentionally. Today’s post presents 5 new inspirations so that is combined dozen resources to get you started. Each of these suggestions offers multiple ways to engage giving you options about how – and how often – you want to connect.
Slow Your Home
slowyourhome.com
Brooke McAlary, the author behind Slow Your Home, lives with her husband and two children in the Southern Highlands of Australia. She started her minimalism journey in 2011 with a desire to rediscover what matters most. She has written three books on simplifying life and has recorded more than 300 episodes of the Slow Home Podcast she created with her husband. The podcast features interviews with guests who share how to live slow in a fast-paced world.
Ram Dass once wrote, ‘We’re all just walking each other home,’ and while I think that’s beautiful and true, I also think it’s what we do on the way that matters.”
Brooke McAlary, Care
Jenny & David Mustard
Jenny Mustard is a Swedish London-based writer, podcaster, content creator. Her popular YouTube channel offers videos on minimalism and a range of other topics including feminism, vegan lifestyle and Swedish design principles (check out her video Top 5 benefits of Minimalism. She and her husband David have a weekly pop culture podcast where they discuss life in modern urban environment.
David Mustard has been sharing videos on their house shopping experience which includes minimalist home and apartment tours.
“I want to be grateful, and I want to be humble. I want to do my bit to make this world a better place. But I also want to experience it all—devour as much of this life as I possibly can. …. And I want to nod my head in recognition to all of you other stunning creatures out there. To you who make an effort, who give a damn. To all of you who are grateful and appreciate. And who want to experience it all.”
Jenny Mustard
Simple Lionheart Life
The Simple Lionheart Life offers “inspiration, encouragement and practical advice to simplify and declutter your home and life to embrace minimalism”. Owner Melissa Russel describes herself as an introverted and highly sensitive person whose favourite place to be is at home. She explains that she wants a home that feels like a sanctuary and not a source of stress, a goal that she has achieved through simplifying. Her posts are organized by categories that include decluttering, mindfulness and capsule wardrobe.
“Once you have fully embraced a minimalist mindset, the way you think shifts and changes. You think differently about what you have in your home, how you spend your time, what your priorities are and what you value.”
Melissa Russel
Andrea Dekker
Andrea is a mother of 4 young children. She’s passionate about creating a peaceful home, pursuing a simpler and slower lifestyle, and encouraging women in all stages of life to lean into their values and live more intentionally. She posts weekly with a focus on simple food, an organized home, and intentional living.
“I am not a minimalist, but I do consistently remove items we don’t currently need, use, want, wear, or love…. even if we might need them later. No matter how big or small your living space, you’ll enjoy that space more if you downsize your things to a manageable amount.”
Andrea Decker
Marie Kondo
konmari.com
Finally, no roundup of experts in the field of minimalism can be complete without Marie Kondo and her popular approach to home organizing known as “KonMari”, in which she encourages people to keep only items that spark joy and discard the rest. Kondo has several best-selling books and a webpage, but it’s her Netflix program, Tidying Up, that really made her a household name.
Kondo’s profile has made her a target of much press and she can be quite a polarizing topic of conversation. When her name comes up in conversations about minimalism, it seems equally likely to be met with adoration or with eye-rolls. As with all of the resources, you can choose where you stand, and what, if any, of the suggestions that you wish to adopt, or adapt, as part of your minimalism journey.
“The process of assessing how you feel about the things you own, identifying those that have fulfilled their purpose, expressing your gratitude, and bidding them farewell, is really about examining your inner self, a rite of passage to a new life.”
Marie Kondō
Take Action
These five resources on minimalism Give you a starting point for some motivation and inspiration. You’ll discover a wealth of information to help you create your own customized version of minimalism.
Challenge Questions for Day 18
Which of these resources / presenters resonates most with you? Why?
Are there any that don’t agree with your view?
Do you have other favourites to share?
Declutter Challenge for Day 18
Digital Declutter 3 – Download folder
Review the content of your download folder. Delete anything that you do not need and file any items you wish to keep in the appropriate folder. Be sure to rename any files with your own naming convention. Be sure you replace any generic names that do not tell let you identify what the document contains.
Banner image by 165106 from Pixabay
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