Maximum Gratitude, Minimal Stuff

Minimalism is about less.  Less stuff, less busyness, less debt, less stress.  Less time spent cleaning, organizing, fixing, and looking for things.  Less effort, which allows you to put your best effort toward the pursuits you really care about. So shouldn't staying clutter-free be nearly effortless?  If it's meant to save your time and energy for better things, then you need lazy ways to accomplish it. Here it is – the lazy way to declutter and stay that way. Easy tips to get and stay clutter-free 1.  Understand. This first one is a realization instead of an action, but it's essential.  You need to understand that the world is finite.  Your time and energy are finite.  Everything you bring into your life takes the world's resources and your time and energy to acquire and maintain.  You're trading all of that for more stuff.  Is it worth it? 2.  Use the Five Minute rule. Get a box.  Take five minutes and walk through your home...

Why are more and more people questioning the benefits of late-stage capitalism and embracing at least some aspects of minimalism?  Maybe it's because in the U.S. there are more self-storage units than McDonald's, Subway, and Jack-in-the-Box restaurants combined.  And the average American carries $8,674 in credit card debt . Along with frugalism , low or no buy, the circular economy, and no waste lifestyles, minimalism is one way to limit the damage that consumerism – running rampant since the late 1940s – has done to wallets and the planet. So maybe you're only interested in buying the most cost-effective, environmentally friendly products possible.  Good for you!  But do you know what the most frugal, eco-conscious product is?  According to Joshua Becker at becomingminimalist.com , it's the one you don't buy . This is a simple, powerful truth.  The clutter we never bring into our homes is clutter we never have to deal with later.  If you're tired of ...

Are you tired of mess?  Tired of clutter?  Tired of searching for things you know you have – somewhere?  If you're nodding in agreement, you may be ready to try minimalism.  (Take my Minimalist Quiz to find out for sure.) This isn't about living in a mostly-empty space with a chair, a lamp, and a mattress on the floor.  Rather, it's about curating a home that lets you relax, recharge, and reconnect with your loved ones. Imagine a space where everything serves a purpose.  A space that holds items you like and use.  A space that's comfortable and meets your needs.  If that sounds desirable, you probably want to create a simpler home right away. But turning a cluttered space into a serene minimalist home probably won't happen overnight, and before you put in the time and effort, you might want to know "Is it really worth it?" Fortunately, there are ways to give minimalism a tryout before you make a full commitment.  Whether you're completely ne...

As we prepare to turn the calendar toward a new year, it's normal to reflect on our lives and consider improvements we'd like to make.  We ponder diets, exercise plans, business ventures, career goals, and more.  It's all about making a fresh start at becoming the best we can be. But how often have you made resolutions only to forget about them after a month, or even sooner?  The second Friday in January is known as "Quitter's Day" because so many of us give up on our improvement plans by then. There's an art to making resolutions that can stand the test of time. Tips for making successful resolutions 1.  Make bite-sized goals. Do you want to run a marathon or finish your book?  Break that big goal into tiny steps.  Really tiny.  Decide to get suited up, stretch, and run around the block each day.  Open your manuscript and write just one sentence.  You can always do more, but as long as you do that much, you've met your goal.  You're bu...

The President of the United States is seated behind his desk in the Oval Office, wearing a sweater and asking Americans to turn down their thermostats this winter to conserve energy. Many people criticize him for this. Yet decades later, most people recognize that humans have done possibly irreparable harm to our planet by overusing its resources, and even government buildings are retrofitted or constructed with "green" technology. Who is this man?  Jimmy Carter, America's 39th president.  If only we had heeded his words 45 years ago. A better ex-president Although he only served one term as president, Jimmy Carter epitomized the words "public servant."  His distinguished post-presidential career included world travels as a peace emissary, election observer, and human rights advocate.  He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for "decades of untiring effort."  Carter's humanitarian work was conducted under the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia,...

Welcome to the penultimate post for 2024!  This makes #105 for this year, which is more than I've written for any one year since 2020.  That's in spite of suffering through two bouts of pneumonia and an emergency surgery and hospital stay early this spring.  Wow! I want to thank you, faithful readers – especially those who have taken time to email me personally.  You are so thoughtful and encouraging, and some of you are becoming cherished friends.  It's wonderful to join with you on the journey toward a simpler life that is still fulfilling and abundant because of the gratitude we practice every day. I also appreciate those of you who go the extra mile to purchase my books .*  You're the ones I think of most when I sit down to write. * This blog is powered by direct reader support.  If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission. My promises and progress I continue to refuse Google's targeted ads on this site, and to resist the many other ...