Joshua Becker's Blog, page 13

A Healthy List of Places to Find Motivation in Life Other Than Physical Possessions

A few weeks ago, I sat outside around a fire alongside two highly successful entrepreneurs. Both, wonderful human beings.

As they began asking me questions about my work, the conversation steered towards minimalism. I shared not just about the work I do around the topic, but the profound, positive impact it has been on our lives.

My friends were intrigued—but surprisingly skeptical. They could understand the connection between clutter and distraction and even commented how clean they like to keep their garages.

But as we began to press deeper into the implications, the notion that one could maintain ambition without the pursuit of larger houses in nicer neighborhoods, more expensive cars, and an abundance of material possessions for their families seemed foreign to them.

One remarked, “I think I’m just too entrepreneurial. That’s just my heart. And my drive for nicer stuff keeps me motivated, which is a good thing for my business. I don’t think the minimalist lifestyle is for me.”

Quietly, I thought to myself, “Well, I’m an entrepreneur too, you know…”

But my audible response was this, “I’m not suggesting we lose ambition. I’m suggesting we can find greater ambition by redirecting it towards more meaningful pursuits than the accumulation of material possessions.”

That evening, I shared a modest list of alternative motivations that inspire me.

But as I’ve thought about that conversation quite a bit since then, I’d like to take a moment and provide a more comprehensive list of where we can find motivation and ambition apart from material possessions.

Perhaps we will all find it helpful.

Before we dive into this list, it occurs to me that not all motivations are equally fulfilling. Even though any number of pursuits can motivate us (and tend to do so), some are better than others.

In fact, my most recent book, Things That Matter, is about this very topic. The book is about recognizing and overcoming the distractions that keep us from a meaningful life. And every topic raised in the book exists precisely because it can become a motivating factor in our lives.

So let me divide this list into two categories (fleeting motivations and longer-lasting motivations):

Motivations Beyond Material Possessions (but equally less-fulfilling)

1. Money

It is not uncommon for people to shift their focus away from accumulating possessions but remain focused on amassing wealth. In fact, some people embrace minimalism for that very reason. So let’s start here.

Someone can remove the pursuit of flashy possessions, but still remain motivated by the endless pursuit of increasing their net worth. It is understandable, common, and even encouraged in our world. I just personally believe there are more fulfilling goals to chase.

2. Early Retirement

Equally so, the dream of early retirement can be enticing, motivating individuals to work tirelessly. Again, some will embrace a minimalist lifestyle for the sole purpose of achieving this even earlier. And while the motivation to work may wane after retirement has been achieved, it can certainly be a major driver for a period of time.

Again, and why I place this motivation in this category, the pursuit of leisure can quickly distract us from fulfilling work and meaningful pursuits.

3. Accolades

The pursuit of fame, recognition, and praise can drive individuals to remarkable achievements. In fact, as I write in Things That Matter, this motivation trips me up more than I like to admit.

There’s nothing wrong with receiving praise for a job well done or a life well-lived, but when that becomes the goal rarely do we achieve it.

4. Power

A desire for influence, control, and power has motivated more than one man and woman in the world today.

5. Competition

Healthy competition can spur innovation and growth, for sure. But when winning, just for the sake of beating the other guy, becomes the biggest motivator in our lives, we can miss out on the importance of cooperation, joy, and lifting others up along the way.

This list of five motivations, all different than physical possessions, can move us to work hard and remain ambitious.

While these motivations can lead to success in some societal definitions of the term, they don’t result in our greatest meaning and lasting fulfillment. Even worse, they often result in regret at the end of our lives.

So let’s turn our attention to more enriching sources of motivation—passions with more meaning, more fulfillment, and fewer regrets.

Motivations Beyond Material Possessions (with more fulfilling outcomes)

6. Being the Best Version of Myself

The quest for personal growth and self-improvement is a noble journey. It encourages us to constantly evolve, learn, and embrace our fullest potential. With this as a goal, motivation never ends.

7. Setting an Example for My Family

The desire to be a role model for our loved ones can be a powerful motivator—especially children. It pushes us to embody the values and virtues we wish to pass down.

8. Making a Positive Difference

The aspiration to leave the world better than we found it motivates us to engage in acts of kindness and service—always working our hardest to achieve it.

9. Advocating for Justice

We have an ingrained desire for fairness. The pursuit of justice and equality in our communities and the wider world can drive us to take action, speak up, and contribute to meaningful change.

10. Solving Problems We See in the World

Whether it’s addressing a spiritual need, a financial need, a societal need, a health crises, or the impact of a natural disaster, the drive to solve problems—whether down the street or around the globe—can lead to a compelling motivation and sense of purpose.

11. Living Faithfully

For many, faith is a profound source of motivation, guiding actions, inspiring service, and encouraging faithfulness every day in both small and big ways.

12. Loving Others

A pure and simple love for others guides many of these motivations already listed when you think about it. Love inspires us to be the best version of ourselves that we can possibly be so that we can live for and benefit others.

13. Cultivating Relationships

Investing in deep, meaningful relationships with family, friends, and community members can be incredibly fulfilling and inspiring.

14. Impacting our Local Community

The desire to create or contribute to a sense of community and belonging can motivate us to engage in local initiatives, social events, and group activities that bring people together.

15. Creating and Innovating

We all have an internal desire to create. For some, this looks like art, music, or writing. For others, their creativity is expressed in parenting, relationships, systems, inventions, or problem-solving. The desire to be as creative as we can be can be highly motivating to us.

16. Living Up to Expectations

No one is here because of themselves entirely. We all stand on the shoulders of those who have come before. While not always the case, sometimes we feel a healthy responsibility to those who invested in our lives and we can find constant motivation in living up to the example that they set for us.

No doubt there are even more motivating factors in life that I didn’t even think to add to the list: lifelong learning, environmental stewardship, personal passion projects, celebrating art and culture all come to mind. Perhaps you have others that you can add in the comment section below.

Minimalism is the intentional pursuit of our greatest values by removing everything that distracts us from them. We own less, so we can live more, focused on things that matter.

Some may use minimalism as a means to check out of life and go lay on a beach for the rest of their lives. But you’ll never find that promoted in my writings.

Minimalism allows us to live a more ambitious life. It is not about selling short. It is not about losing drive or ambition or that entrepreneurial spirit. It is about redirecting that ambition towards things that actually matter.

Because our lives are too valuable to waste chasing and accumulating material possessions.

The post A Healthy List of Places to Find Motivation in Life Other Than Physical Possessions appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

10 Ways Minimalism Will Change Your Life

In a world where success is often measured by money and the amount of our possessions, minimalism is counter-cultural. As a result, keeping its pursuit on the top of our mind requires us to remember its benefits—almost daily.

Of course, for those who have embraced minimalism and experienced the benefits of owning less, these reminders are easier to come by.

There is less need to be persuaded to become minimalist, but there remains a need to not fall back into the consumerism so encouraged in our world today.

No matter where you find yourself on the road to owning less, I want to encourage you today. If you are first hearing about the benefits of minimalism, I hope these ten reasons persuade you to look differently at consumerism. If you’re already convinced, and just need extra encouragement today, I know this list will be helpful.

Here are 10 life-changing ways minimalism impacts those who embrace it:

1. Minimalism makes you more efficient.

Simplifying your possessions leads to a more organized and efficient lifestyle. Imagine a world where everything you own serves a purpose, and every item has its place. Immediately, your day-to-day tasks will run smoother—and likely be more enjoyable.

2. Minimalism inspires bigger dreams.

Once we see that our lives can be lived for greater pursuits than material possessions, we begin to start realizing our full potential. Additionally, freed from the distraction of desiring and managing material clutter, your mind can focus on achieving those bigger goals and aspirations.

3. Minimalism sets a positive example.

The choices we make and the lifestyle we lead serve as a silent lesson to those around us, especially the younger generation. Showing that happiness isn’t tied to possessions is a welcome (and important) example in our world.

4. Minimalism gifts you more time.

Time is our most irreplaceable asset. As Jim Rohn once said, “Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time.”

Minimalism helps reclaim all the time spent on managing and organizing and cleaning and replacing possessions—and allows you to spend it wherever you desire instead.

5. Minimalism reshapes your view of wealth.

Minimalism teaches us two important things about money: 1) You don’t need as much as you think. And 2) It can never bring lasting happiness anyway. As a result, our views (and often the stress associated with it) change dramatically in powerful, positive ways.

6. Minimalism clarifies your values.

As my friend Dustin once told me, ‘It seems to me minimalism would force questions of values upon you.” And he was absolutely right. The act of decluttering will always result in us asking ourselves what is most important to me and what do I want to accomplish with my life.

This clarity begins to influence all aspects of your life, leading to more purposeful choices and actions.

7. Minimalism frees you from consumerism.

In a world where consumer culture is pervasive, choosing minimalism is an act of rebellion. It’s about finding contentment with less and questioning the constant push towards acquiring more that we see all around us. For additional insight, check out this 4-part series I recently posted on YouTube: 7 Life Changing Strategies to Change Your Spending Habits.

8. Minimalism enhances personal growth.

By minimizing distractions and external pressures, you create more space for self-discovery, and personal development. And when you become the best version of yourself, everybody wins.

9. Minimalism enhances well-being.

A clutter-free space contributes to a clutter-free mind, reducing stress and anxiety. The peace, calm, and ambition that minimalism brings you lays the groundwork for well-being, purpose, fulfillment, and meaning.

10. Minimalism deepens your relationships.

By eliminating superficial distractions, minimalism allows you to focus on building meaningful connections. It reminds us that true joy is found in shared moments and genuine bonds, not in material possessions. This isn’t to say that meaningful relationships don’t still take work—it’s just to say that minimalism provides the space to do that work.

As I try to remind people as often as possible, minimalism isn’t about subtraction, it’s about addition.

It’s about removing distraction to make room for more of the things that matter.

It’s a journey towards abundance; as you can see from the list above. Minimalism will change your life in positive ways— as you continue to pursue it.

The post 10 Ways Minimalism Will Change Your Life appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

Less ‘I Know What I Like,’ More ‘What’s Working for You?’

It’s easy and common to settle into the comfort of preference and routine. On some level, this is to be expected. Over time, we craft our lives around what we know we like, from the coffee we drink and the shows we watch, to even the ideas and opinions we hold dear.

And the more we do that, the easier those patterns become to repeat.

This familiarity in life isn’t inherently bad. On some level, it gives us a sense of security and identity—it makes up the people we are and the lives we live.

But there’s a danger when comfort turns into complacency. There’s a point where “I know what I like” can close the door on growth, new experiences, and even wisdom that others can offer us.

There is a subtle line where “I know what I like” begins to take away from joy and even a potentially more meaningful existence.

At all stages of life, but maybe even more the older we get, we would be wise to focus less on “I know what I like” and more on “What’s working for you?”

It’s foolish, of course, to assume that we know all things and have everything figured out in life perfectly. So on some level, this shift in thinking that I’m encouraging today is an invitation to humility.

But it’s not just about the fact that no matter our age, we can still learn from others. It’s about actively pursuing that wisdom.

It’s about intentionally moving away from “I know what I like and I’m not going to change” to “What’s working for you? And how can I improve life for myself and others by moving toward it?”

Think about it this way: Shifting from “I know what I like” to “What’s working for you?” is a small change in wording but a significant shift in mindset.

The question invites a dialogue and opens us up to learn from the experiences and successes of others. It’s an acknowledgment that perhaps there’s a different, maybe even a better way, to approach various aspects of life that we hadn’t considered before.

We can see this in small ways. Questions like “What restaurant do you like to eat at?,” “What movies have you enjoyed seeing?,” “What books are you reading?,” or “What hobbies are you currently enjoying?” can introduce us to new foods, new experiences, and new passions.

But the application of this mindset goes well beyond leisure activities. It can (and should) extend into more profound areas of our lives.

We can ask our friends and people we look up to questions like:

What’s working for you in your physical health?
What’s working for you in your personal finances?
What’s working for you in your relationships?
What’s working for you in your career?

Or imagine the insights we could gain by asking a friend, “What’s working for you in managing stress?” or “What worked for you in restoring that broken relationship?” These questions can uncover wisdom, advice, and strategies we might never have learned otherwise.

But to get there, we need to move beyond being content with what we like and how we’ve decided to live our lives. We need to purposefully desire to learn from others.

Adopting this approach to life doesn’t just benefit us individually. For one, it sparks a culture of sharing and community and deciding to learn from one another rather than argue with one another (and don’t we all need more of that these days). When we live wise and intentional lives, everybody wins.

So let me encourage you today. Think less “I know what I like.” Ask more “What’s working for you?”

And let’s all grow and be better because of it.

The post Less ‘I Know What I Like,’ More ‘What’s Working for You?’ appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

10 Life-Changing Tips for Decluttering Items You Thought You Couldn’t

Decluttering can be a journey with ups and downs. There are moments of high motivation and quick progress, but there are also moments of slow going and tough decisions.

There are some people who can get rid of everything in one weekend, but that personality-type tends to be pretty rare.

For most of us, the journey takes a bit longer. There are some things that are easy to remove, others tend to be difficult—for any number of reasons.

I want to offer you my best advice for decluttering those items you never thought you could. Just because something is hard to part with, doesn’t mean we should keep it.

Difficult to declutter items could be items with a sentimental attachment. But they don’t have to be. These ten tips (+ 1 bonus tip) could also be applied to books or hobbies or collections or gifts—anything you are having difficulty minimizing.

If you’re struggling to get rid of some things in your home, I hope you find these ideas helpful.

Before we jump in, let me mention that you don’t need to start decluttering by getting rid of your hardest things first. In fact, I’d recommend beginning in easier spaces, removing less difficult items.

My full approach to decluttering involves working through your home, room-by-room, easiest-to-hardest, starting with the most lived-in areas. So always begin there.

Eventually you’ll reach those items that tug at your heartstrings or challenge your resolve. And while making these decisions becomes easier after starting to experience the benefits of owning less elsewhere in your home, they are still difficult.

Here are 10 Life-Changing Tips for Decluttering Items You Thought You Couldn’t

1. Start with Easier Items

Decluttering is a little bit like building a muscle. The more you do it, the stronger and better you get at it. So look for easy decluttering wins in your home. Pick the low-hanging fruit first.

As you experience the benefits of owning less, you’ll be more prepared (and motivated) to declutter the things you thought you couldn’t.

2. Adopt a Museum Mentality

Museums are enjoyable not because every piece of art ever created hangs on the walls. Museums are enjoyable because someone has taken the time to choose the most representative pieces of art and display only them.

Think of your life and home in the same way. Your home isn’t the most beautiful when everything is displayed—similarly, your life isn’t best lived when everything is held onto. Curate.

3. Explore Your Emotions

We’re all tempted to stop decluttering when we reach the point where we say, “This is just too hard for me to get rid of.” Rather than stopping there, ask the next question, “Why is this so hard for me to declutter?”

Searching our heart and motivations to understand why letting go of certain items can be difficult. It might reveal underlying issues or attachments that need addressing in your life. But you’ll never discover those motivations until you start asking the question.

4. Express Gratitude

This idea I first heard articulated my Marie Kondo in her culture-changing book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying-Up. In her book, she encourages people to thank the objects in your life that you are removing. Thank them for the role that they played and the joy that they brought.

This can be particularity helpful with difficult items to remove. Thank it for the service, joy, or memories it provided. This practice of gratitude brings closure and helps in mentally and emotionally preparing to part with the item.

5. Take a Photo

Take a photo of items you struggle to part with. Studies show that this simple practice makes parting with items of sentimental value much easier. The photo allows you to preserve the memory without keeping the physical object. After all, the memory is in you, not the object.

The television show, Legacy List with Matt Paxton, does a great job building and expanding on this helpful technique—taking it to a whole new level of effectiveness.

6. Choose Only the Best

“Only the best” is a strategy that I first heard from a caller while I was appearing on a Canadian Radio Call-In Show. The caller told me that her approach for deciding which sentimental items to keep was based on “keeping only the best.” For every relationship, experience, or accomplishment she wanted to remember, she kept only the one item most representative.

*This is the approach that I use most and have found it be particularly helpful.

7. Implement Defined Limits

If keeping only the one best seems too much for you at this time, try setting a physical boundary instead. For example, if you currently have three boxes of memories from college in the basement, see if you can condense it down to just one box. Another option is to try cutting the number of items in half.

You’ll find the physical constraint helps your mind quickly decide between what is kinda-important and what is truly-important.

8. Embrace Life’s Seasons

Life is about change and growth and never stays the same—regardless of how badly we want it to. Some of the items you are struggling to minimize may represent past seasons of life that you loved very much.

Recognize that getting rid of those items doesn’t change the previous season of your life, it only prepares the way for you to make the most of your current season.

9. Imagine a ‘Role Reversal‘

Reverse the circumstances surrounding your clutter and see if you can picture it in a new light. This can be particularly helpful when decluttering the possessions of a loved one who has passed away.

Ask yourself, “If I were to die today, would I expect my son, daughter, or spouse to keep all of my things? If I found out that my possessions were cluttering their home and keeping them from living their best life, would I want them to keep my stuff or get rid of it?”

Almost certainly, we answer “It would be nice for them to keep a few things. But I would never want my belongings to keep them from making the most of this season in their life.”

If you struggle with minimizing the possessions of loved ones, reverse the roles and see if it becomes a bit easier to declutter those items you’ve been storing for years.

10. See the Benefit in Generosity

Think about how the items you’re holding onto could benefit others. Donating to someone who needs or appreciates them can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Generosity is not just a byproduct of owning less, it can become the very motivation for it.

Bonus: Seek Support:

As a bonus idea: If you find it overwhelmingly difficult to declutter certain items, don’t hesitate to seek support from friends, family, or a professional. Sometimes, having an external perspective can provide clarity and strength.

One word of warning here, if you are going to ask a friend or relative to come help you with this, work hard to accept their advice. It would be unfair for you to ask someone to come help you and then argue with every suggestion they offer. Asking over someone that you love and trust can help quite a bit in this regard.

Each of these ten strategies and tips can be life-changing if you allow them to be.

Certainly one or two of them may resonate more with you and the difficult decisions you are making about what to keep and what to remove. But owning less is a decision that holds benefit for all.

You can do it. And you’ll love owning less.

The post 10 Life-Changing Tips for Decluttering Items You Thought You Couldn’t appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

Inspiring Simplicity. Weekend Reads.

Never underestimate the importance of removing stuff you don’t need.

Encouragement provides us with motivation. It invites us to dream dreams of significance for our lives. And it begs us to work diligently with optimism and promise.

Overcoming the pull of consumerism is a difficult challenge regardless of our stage in life. Simplicity requires encouragement. To that end, I hope you will find motivation in these articles below.

Each post was intentionally chosen to inspire simplicity in your life. For maximum effect, find a quiet moment this weekend and enjoy them with a fresh cup of coffee or tea.

Why ‘Simplification’ Should Be Your Focus For The Year Ahead | Image by Niamh Ennis. I’ve never once finished a clear-out and regretted it. It is the best medicine for when you feel overwhelmed.

The 10-Day Minimalist Challenge | No Sidebar. Embarking on this 10-Day Minimalist Challenge can be a game-changer in how you perceive and interact with your possessions. It’s not just about the physical act of removing items; it’s about resetting your mindset towards a more intentional and meaningful lifestyle.

Become Quiet So You Can Listen | Zen Habits by Leo Babauta. What if we could let ourselves become quiet? What happens is something magical: we start to discover a new way of being alive, and a deeper experience starts to reveal itself to us.

8 Life Hacks to Overcome Impulse Shopping | Simple Money by Richard James. By incorporating these hacks into your daily life, you can gain better control over your spending habits, leading to improved financial health and a more mindful approach to consumption.

Doing These Two Proven Happiness Habits at the Same Time is a Wellbeing Win, Study Finds | Country Living by Rosie Stagg. The research suggests that the positive benefits of physical activity and mindfulness are increased significantly when the two actions are combined.

Recently Released Inspiring Videos

This month, I posted an in-depth Teaching Video Series on YouTube: 7 Life-Changing Strategies to Change Your Spending Habits. If you missed any of the videos, you can find links to them all right here:

7 Life Changing Strategies to Change Your Spending Habits – Episode 1 | YouTube by Joshua Becker. In this series, I’ll dive deep into helpful strategies on resetting our spending habits and ways to overcome consumerism in our lives.

7 Life Changing Strategies to Change Your Spending Habits – Episode 2 | YouTube by Joshua Becker.

7 Life Changing Strategies to Change Your Spending Habits – Episode 3 | YouTube by Joshua Becker.

7 Life Changing Strategies to Change Your Spending Habits – Episode 4 | YouTube by Joshua Becker.

The post Inspiring Simplicity. Weekend Reads. appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

The Ten Most Important Time Management Principles I’ve Learned (and Use)

I’m not one to label myself a time management expert. In fact, there are many days where I look back and am almost embarrassed at how much time I wasted.

But over the last 15 years since discovering minimalism, I feel like I’ve accomplished quite a bit: Becoming Minimalist, The Hope Effect, Five Books, The Clutterfree App, The Uncluttered Course, YouTube, Simplify Magazine, Simple Money Magazine, Becker Method Professional Training.

These accomplishments, I believe, are a direct result of some time management principles I’ve learned and embraced over the last decade+.

I wanted to take a moment and share them with you because I think most are applicable to any and every life. Regardless of your “job,” there are important contributions your life can offer to the world. And if some of these ideas are helpful to you in accomplishing that, I want to propel you forward.

While this is not an exhaustive list of any and every helpful time management technique in the world, here are ten of the most important principles I’ve learned and routinely practice in my life:

1. Pre-Planning My Day

I love a plan. In fact, it probably drives Kim crazy how often I ask, “So what’s the plan?”

But for me, the practice of planning my day is essential to time management. Allocating 10 minutes each morning, or the evening before, to outline my work for the next day, helps me start with focus and motivation. It also helps me know the best time to tackle non-time-consuming short tasks over the course of the next 24 hours. This is also where I’ve learned the value of a 3-Item To-Do List.

2. Focusing on Habits and Process First

James Clear puts it this way, “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” In other words, don’t focus on the big goal you want to achieve, focus instead on small, daily actions and doing them consistently and well.

I’ve written elsewhere on my three essential habits for living well: exercise, health, meditation. I find that when I focus on doing those consistently, productivity follows without extra effort.

3. Setting Artificial Deadlines for Myself

This I learned from a podcast episode by Craig Groeschel. Setting weekly deadlines for myself (especially for major tasks) is incredibly effective in both finishing the major task AND accomplishing minor tasks.

For instance, I schedule my own social posts—three/day on Facebook and have done so every day for the last twelve years. This needs to get done every week. My weekly cadence is to schedule all of those posts before Monday ends. Similarly, I set an artificial deadline to finish all my weekly writing projects by Tuesday. These artificial deadlines not only help me overcome procrastination, but they also clear my mind for other projects later in the week.

4. Streamlining Wherever I Can

Call it fighting against decision fatigue or just not wasting time on unimportant things, this is essentially minimalism in action. Intentionally promoting my greatest values (and pursuits) by removing anything that distracts me from it.

Streamlining my day-to-day tasks, often by removing distractions and options, simplifies my life. This could be anything from wearing the same thing every day and eating the same breakfast and lunch every day to keeping the same morning routine and limiting visual distractions on my desk. However you apply streamlining, it’s about reducing choices to focus energy on what truly matters.

5. Accomplishing My Most Important Work First

Mark Twain is credited for saying, “Eat a live frog first thing in the morning, and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” This phrasing has been used by time management experts to encourage doing your hardest or most important work first.

Personally, I’ve never particularly loved doing the hardest thing first. However, I love doing “the most important thing first.” And while often times those overlap, that is not always the case. Similar to the benefits of setting an artificial deadline, once I complete my most important work each day, my mind is more clear to focus on the rest of my to-do list.

6. Embracing Routine

Over the years, I’ve learned the liberating power of routines and systems. At least, for me personally, I find great freedom in routine.

They enable me to maximize each day. Consistent routines for waking up, morning activities, and even weekly grocery shopping, help me create a daily and weekly framework that allows me to know when meaningful work will get accomplished.

7. Practicing a “Do It Before You Sit Down” Approach to Home Projects

This principle is powerful at home. The idea is simple: If there is something that needs to be done at home in the evening, do it before you sit down after returning from work (or wherever you were that day). Cook dinner, start the laundry, change the light bulb, take out the trash.

Especially when it comes to smaller chores, completing tasks immediately upon returning home, before even sitting down, ensures that these tasks don’t linger and become mental burdens.

8. Completing One-Minute Tasks Right Away

I credit Gretchen Rubin for introducing me to the The ‘One-Minute Rule’ and I love it. As she puts it, “It’s very simple: I must do any task that can be finished in one minute. Hang up my coat, read a letter and toss it, fill in a form, answer an email, note down a citation, put a dish in the dishwasher, replenish the diaper supply by the changing table, put the magazines away…and so on.”

If a task takes less than one minute, do it immediately.

9. Batching My Time

I do not know who to credit for starting the idea of Batching Time. It’s probably been around as long as humankind. But I know the first time I ever heard the phrase was during a scene from The Office Television Show.

The idea is this: Group together similar tasks and then block out a period of time (even if it’s only 20 minutes) to focus only on those items. The concept keeps our brains from constant switching and helps us maximize focus. One helpful application of this step for me is to keep my email inbox closed for most of the day and answering emails once/day.

10. Learning My Natural Rhythms

We’re all unique and so are our body’s rhythms. Some people love working in the early morning hours, while I have other author friends who love doing all their writing in the wee hours of the night. It’s all good.

But once I discovered what my natural rhythms are (more creative in the morning and better at routine tasks in the afternoon), it was a game changer for me. It’s important to both learn our natural rhythms AND lean into them for maximum efficiency.

11. Coffee.

I also like coffee.

There are entire books written on the topic of time management. And if you struggle in this area, it might benefit you to read one.

No doubt there are many other popular time management strategies out there than the ones I listed here. But these are the ten that have profoundly impacted my life in the last 15 years.

Embracing them has certainly made me more productive. But even more than that, they have helped me be more present and intentional in my marriage, parenting, and faith.

While doing more just to do more isn’t the goal of my life, doing more of the things that matter is.

The post The Ten Most Important Time Management Principles I’ve Learned (and Use) appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

How to Raise Kids in a Consumerist World

Raising children who are intentional in their consumer choices in an age of excess is a challenge. But it’s also an opportunity to guide them towards a life of meaning, purpose, and fulfillment.

Our goal as parents is to raise our kids to be the best versions of themselves as they can possibly be. And overcoming culture’s pull toward excessive consumerism is certainly one of those steps.

It’s not the only one, but it’s an important one.

When our children become adults, having both a clear sense of their potential AND how to achieve it, is a goal worth investing into.

Our decision to live with less has not only transformed my life and my family’s, it has offered my wife and I helpful thoughts on how to raise children to see the benefit of minimalism. Our kids were 5 and 2 when we first discovered minimalism, now they are 21 and 17.

I’ve certainly not done everything right. But I’ve tried my hardest. And I’ve learned quite a few lessons over the years about raising kids in a consumerist world in a way that keeps them from giving into it.

Here are ten of the most important lessons I’ve learned along the way:

1. Lead by Example with Minimalism

There is no aspect of parenting that doesn’t start here. If there are any traits or values you wish to pass on to your children, they must see them in your life.

Actions speak louder than words and embracing minimalism in your own life is the most powerful step you can take. Show your children the joy and fulfillment that comes from a life of only owning what you need.

2. Communicate the Benefits of Owning Less

Regularly share with your kids why you choose to live the way you do. This is true for all facets of life, but especially with a counter-cultural lifestyle like minimalism.

Articulate the benefits of owning less—when they are young and when they are older. Don’t assume they see everything you see. When owning less allows you to do something or accomplish something, point it out and help them see the direct connection between owning less and living more.

3. Limit Your (and Their) Screen Time

Television and internet are not just distractions; they are platforms for consumerist propaganda. I know that’s a loaded word, but it’s absolutely true.

The economics of television, the Internet, even radio and newspapers these days, requires commercialization. Advertiser dollars are spent on those platforms not because they are hoping to convince you to buy, dollars are spent because they know they can convince you to buy.

So limit your screen time intentionally as the parent. Not only will it provide you an opportunity to speak to them about theirs, but you’ll raise children with greater interests than television along the way.

4. Teach Financial Responsibility

Talk early and often about personal finance principles and responsibility. I was a proud dad the first time my daughter took an Economics Test in High School and came home to tell me, “It was pretty easy. I feel like it was all stuff we’ve talked about at dinner before.”

From an early age and on into their teenage years, teach your kids to earn and save for their own stuff. This instills a sense of ownership and an understanding of the value of money and effort. It also means giving them the freedom to make their own choices with their money. But that brings me to #5.

5. Allow Freedom and Independence to Make Mistakes

Madeline Levine put it this way, “When we shield children from failure or choreograph success for them, we’re distorting the experiences they need in order to grow.” It’s one of the hardest parts of parenting: Allowing kids to make mistakes.

Now certainly, as parents, one of our roles is to teach our children wisdom and sometimes that means helping to steer their decision-making process. But allowing kids to make their own decisions (and some mistakes along the way because of it) is one of the most powerful ways they will learn wisdom.

As your kids get older, even while under your roof (or should I say especially when they are under your roof), allowing them to make their own decisions about smaller amounts of money will help them learn wise personal finance principles in the future.

As a bonus, watching how your children choose to spend their money while they still live at home is a valuable snapshot into their personality and provides opportunity to speak into it while you still see them every day.

6. Volunteer as a Family

Be active offering your time in the community through a local food bank, church, soup kitchen, or community organization that serves the underprivileged in your area. Serve somewhere, and often.

When we serve others, we become more aware of their needs. We begin to better understand our own potential and capabilities. And we learn the joy and fulfillment that comes from living a selfless life.

7. Find Mentors and Role Models

Social media is going to champion those with the most. But in everyday life, those who have the biggest impact on our lives are rarely the most wealthy among us. Instead, they are the ones who show love and kindness, humility and integrity.

The older our kids get, the more important these relationships become. Find an accompanying voice in your community that sees life bigger than physical possessions and worldly success, and then provide opportunities for him/her to speak into your teenager’s life.

8. Teach the Underlying Message in Advertising

Marketing is not going away and can never be completely avoided—no matter how hard we try. So help your child learn to read between the lines and behind the marketing message by asking questions like, “What are they really trying to sell you with this advertisement? Do you think that product will deliver on its promise?”

As they get older, help them see how many advertisements subconsciously appeal to our insecurities. And help them learn to always find their identity elsewhere.

9. Participate in International Service Projects

Send your kids on trips with charities or faith communities that work in less developed countries. (And I mean this honestly). These types of experiences are life-changing in many ways.

Some of my greatest understanding of the benefits of minimalism and the trappings of consumerism has occurred because of the experiences I’ve had in less-developed nations—many of which occurred well before I ever learned the word minimalism.

This is not necessarily an easy step for everyone to partake in, but I have learned of its importance over the years and believe it is important to mention here.

10. Teach Them What Matters Most is Not What They Own, But Who They Are

Consistently remind your kids that their value does not lie in what they own, but in who they are. Integrity, kindness, and generosity are the true measures of any person’s worth. Believe this. Live it. And remind your children of it as often as possible.

As parents, we know the journey has moments of both doubt and great pride. We also know it is worth the effort.

The lessons we teach about simplicity and responsibility and opportunity will shape who our children become. They will make mistakes—just like all of us. But our focus and consistency will pay off in the end.

When we parent with love, patience, and selflessness, the lessons we desire to teach have their greatest impact.

The post How to Raise Kids in a Consumerist World appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

The 7 Most Helpful Decluttering Wins You Can Make in Your Home

In any journey toward change, whether it’s adopting a healthier lifestyle, learning a new skill, or improving a relationship, seeing tangible progress can be a powerful motivator.

It’s known as “The Progress Principle” and the idea is this: A sense of accomplishment, no matter how small, fuels our desire to continue and strive for more. We can see it occur all over our lives: the first time we lose a few pounds on a diet, the first time we start to notice a physical change after a new workout routine, even mobile-based video games that “level-up” after just a few minutes.

This progress principle is also true in the area of decluttering our homes—especially when we find the work difficult. Noticing progress, seeing wins, and experiencing positive results in our decluttering journey motivates us to keep going.

In this way, even one clutterfree space not only brings immediate relief and satisfaction—it also inspires us to keep going. That’s why, embracing the Becker Method to owning less involves decluttering your home one room at a time (easiest-to-hardest) rather than trying to declutter everything at once.

With the Progress Principle in mind, here is a list of seven impactful decluttering wins for your home.

These are areas where tidying up can bring immediate and noticeable benefits, encouraging you to keep pushing forward in your decluttering journey:

1. Clothing

Simplifying your wardrobe is a liberating experience. When you have fewer clothes, decision-making in the morning becomes easier, and managing laundry becomes less of a chore.

A decluttered wardrobe means more space, more peace, and a better start to your day as early as tomorrow.

2. The Bedroom

The bedroom should be a sanctuary, a place of rest and rejuvenation. By decluttering this space, you create a more tranquil environment, conducive to relaxation and better sleep.

Studies have shown that a clutter-free bedroom can even significantly improve the quality of your sleep. You’ll notice the difference right away.

3. The Living Room

As a central space for family interaction, the living room benefits immensely from decluttering. A tidy, uncluttered living room invites more meaningful family time and reduces distractions, allowing for deeper connections with loved ones.

4. The Bathroom

Simplifying your bathroom by removing unused products and organizing essentials can make your daily routines smoother and less stressful.

A decluttered bathroom is also easier to clean and maintain, creating a more pleasant and efficient space.

5. Your Work Desk

Tackling the entire home (or workplace) office can be difficult and time-consuming, but you can start with your desk. A clear desk reduces distractions and creates space for creativity and productivity.

As with the others, it’s a small change that can have a big impact on your workday efficiency and mindset.

6. The Kitchen

A decluttered kitchen streamlines meal preparation and makes cooking a more enjoyable experience. Clearing countertops and organizing cabinets can transform your kitchen into a more functional and inviting space.

7. The Toy Room

If you have kids, decluttering the toy room can have a profound impact. Fewer toys mean less mess and more imaginative play. It also teaches children the value of simplicity and organization, fostering a sense of responsibility and focus.

Making your children declutter their toys as your first step toward a clutterfree home is not the first step you should take (it seems unfair in my opinion), but it is still a decluttering win that you can notice right away.

These decluttering wins are not just about creating more space, they also bring about noticeable and impactful wins in your home and life. That is why they are a great place to start.

As you experience the benefits of owning less in these areas, you’ll find renewed energy and inspiration to continue decluttering, eventually working through even the most difficult areas and categories in your home.

The post The 7 Most Helpful Decluttering Wins You Can Make in Your Home appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

Why We Buy: The Role of Comparison in Our Spending Choices

It seems these days, people’s lives are an open book. Well, maybe not an entirely open book, but people are certainly more quick to share publicly areas of their life they want to share.

Posts and photos are shared on social media from people all day long offering a curated snapshot into their lives.

According to statistics, every minute of every day, there are 64,000 photos shared to Instagram, 24,000 videos uploaded to TikTok, 350,000 tweets sent, and 4,000,000 items shared to Facebook.

That’s every minute, of every day… 365 days a year.

With the world sharing its highlight reel, it becomes easy to fall into the trap of comparison. Add in the element of advertising broadcasting their opinion of what the perfect life looks like and how to get there, and it’s no wonder why overcoming consumerism is so difficult.

This constant comparison not only affects our self-esteem and contentment, it fuels our spending choices in more ways than we’d like to admit.

We begin to feel like our life isn’t measuring up to others. We start to think everyone has it better than us or is happier than us. And we subtly begin looking outside ourselves for answers that “apparently” everyone else has discovered already.

We often end up purchasing things we don’t need and chasing things that don’t satisfy. All because we are trying to keep up with our assumptions about how well life must be going for everyone else.

Here are some of the different ways we compare ourselves with others:

1. Social Media Envy

Social media platforms are notorious for showcasing the best parts of people’s lives, often leading to an unrealistic portrayal of reality. When we scroll through pictures (millions posted every minute apparently) of friends on luxurious vacations, flaunting their latest gadgets, or sharing their best weekend plans, it’s easy to feel like our lives don’t measure up. This can lead us to make unnecessary purchases in an attempt to keep up, or even worse, portray a similarly ‘perfect’ life.

2. The Perfect Home Syndrome

Home improvement shows and magazines broadcast beautifully designed, spacious homes as the norm. This leads us to compare our living spaces with these idealized images. And if that’s not enough, everyone in the world redoing their kitchen or flipping a fixer-upper seems to be sharing their glossiest photos online. This comparison can cause us to feel discontent in our own home and drive us to continuously redecorate or even move to a bigger house, seeking that perfect home experience, often at a great financial cost.

3. Keeping Up with Trends

Fashion and technology industries are particularly adept at making us feel outdated. The constant release of new trends and gadgets can make our perfectly functional belongings seem obsolete. Again, this leads to a cycle of endless buying to keep up with the latest trends, even when our current items are still in good shape. That is their goal of course. If fashion trends weren’t changing, we’d never spend more money on clothing because we already have enough in our closets.

4. The Illusion of a Perfect Life

Sometimes, it’s not just about material possessions. We may perceive others as leading more fulfilling, happier lives. This perception can lead us to buy things we think will make us happier or more accepted or maybe even perfect ourselves: a fancy car, a new outfit, a gym membership, a new diet plan, or a brand new self-care routine that promises the world.

5. Parental Pressure

As parents, we want what’s best for our kids. Too often, this means constantly comparing our children’s experiences and activities and development with others. Rather than learning to appreciate and accentuate our child’s gifts, we want to have everyone else’s. This can lead to overindulgence in toys, gadgets, and activities. We often buy more in an attempt to ensure our children aren’t ‘missing out,’ sometimes forgetting the value of simpler joys.

6. Vacation Vanity

Whether they were intended to or not, travel posts from friends and family on social media almost always spark comparison. I like to think that some people post them with honest intentions… but I’m not sure I’ve seen a single one that comes across that way. Regardless of the intent, once we start comparing our travel lives to others it ignites a desire to visit exotic locations or luxurious resorts. I am a big fan of owning fewer possessions so you can pursue more memories, experiences, and impact. But when travel spending comes from comparison or, even worse, solely for the sake of taking impressive photos, we get into overspending trouble.

7. Fitness Fantasy

Those with perfect bodies and genes have plenty of opportunities to show it off—and I’m not just talking about gym selfies and magazine covers. Fitness influencers are offered lots of money by companies to keep the posts and poses coming every single day. These physical comparisons—whether with actual influencers or just neighbors down the street—can spur us to invest in trendy workout gear, expensive gym memberships, get-fit-quick supplies, or the latest health supplements—often more for the appearance of a fitness lifestyle than actual health benefits.

8. Hobby Hype

When hobbies become a means of social comparison—be it photography, gaming, golfing, or crafting—we can find ourselves purchasing expensive equipment or supplies simply to keep up with the community, rather than for personal enjoyment or development. I’m not against the joy of competition, as long as the competition isn’t who owns the nicest stuff.

9. Occupation Competition

It is equally common to compare our jobs and workplaces to others. Certainly, comparing paycheck to paycheck is nothing new. But nowadays, there seems to be a million other things we can compare: vacation days, virtual/in-person, office perks, personal leave policies, even dress code. Our tendency, just like everything else, is to assume that others have the perfect job and boss as jealousy begins to stir up discontent over the job we currently hold.

10. The Success Metric

Constantly, almost everywhere we look in our world, success gets measured by material wealth and conspicuous consumption. And if this is how society is going to measure success, we feel compelled to prove our own—at least in comparison to others. So we chase money and physical possessions as symbols of our success, trying to prove our worth to others (and often times, ourselves).

In these ways and more, comparison fuels our consumption and shopping habits.

My goal with the list above is to show you how prevalent our tendency to compare is in our society. And also to spark some new thoughts in your own mind about areas you hadn’t considered before.

So how do we overcome this tendency to allow comparison to dictate our spending choices?

Here are a few ideas I wrote down today:

—Acknowledge Your Triggers

Recognize what triggers your comparison habit. Is it scrolling through social media, talking to certain friends, or watching certain shows? What areas from the list above hit closest to home for you?

—Practice Gratitude

The more we focus on what we have, the less inclined we become to desire what we lack. Keeping a gratitude journal can be an effective way to shift focus from comparison to contentment. You may not be leading the pack in every area on this list, but there are certainly wonderful things in your life worth celebrating.

—Intentionally Align with Your Values

Be sure to take the time to figure out what you value most so you can focus on them. Because the most effective way to overcome envy and comparison in your life is to align your life with your deepest held values. Once we know that our money and time and energy are being spent on the things we value most, we become less inclined to care what others are buying or how they are spending their money.

—Limit Exposure

Reduce time spent on platforms or in environments that fuel your comparison. If social media is a trigger, limit your time on it. This is certainly easier when it comes to shutting down social media than say, spending time with family (if they are an issue for you), but wherever and whenever appropriate, limiting exposure is an important strategy.

—Set Personal Goals

Define success on your terms. Set goals based on your values and aspirations, not based on societal standards or others’ expectations. Getting a clear sense of what you want to accomplish with your life will help you stay focused on your life and your days, not others.

—Seek Authentic Relationships

Surround yourself with people who value you for who you are, not what you own. If you have to own nice things to impress your friends, maybe you have the wrong friends. Or maybe, just maybe, you are assuming incorrectly about the types of things that truly impress people. Find people who love you for you—and surround yourself with them as often as you need.

—Remind Yourself that Nobody Has it All

There will always appear to be people who have it better than you. But remember, we almost always compare the worst of what we know about ourselves to the best assumptions we make about others. So remind yourself often, nobody has it all. Each person you meet experiences problems, trials, and weaknesses–just like you. This is what makes us human. Nobody is exempt. Nobody has it all. Nobody.

—Celebrate your Uniqueness

Your life is different than anyone else’s. You have different talents and gifts and experiences. Comparing your path in life to anyone else’s is like comparing apples to oranges. As much as you think you are the same, you are not. You are different. Rather than comparing your life to someone else’s, compare yourself today only to yourself yesterday. If you are growing and improving, you are on the right track.

—Seek Inspiration, not Competition

It can be very motivating to be surrounded by others who are making the most out of their life. And in those cases, comparison can rear its ugly head. Rather than seeing yourself in competition with another person, seek to learn from them.

The path to overcoming comparison and consumerism isn’t easy. But it is worth our effort.

It requires thought and time and difficult conversations with ourselves. But the peace and freedom that come from breaking free from these traps are empowering and life-giving.

Let’s all choose to live a life defined by our values and worthwhile pursuits, not by what others have or do. And in the end, everyone will benefit from it.

The post Why We Buy: The Role of Comparison in Our Spending Choices appeared first on Becoming Minimalist.

This Is What Happened When I Didn’t Buy Any New Clothes for a Year

Note: This is a guest post from Sophie Clarke of Intentional View.

Spoiler alert: The world didn’t end.

In all seriousness, this shouldn’t be a shocking title. It should be totally normal not to buy clothes for a year, let alone every season or few weeks.

I’m a firm believer that one of the reasons many of us feel so empty, bored and unfulfilled is because we live in a consumerist society where we’ve been sold the lie that we can shop our way to happiness. And, if you’ve ever tried this (I know I certainly have in the past), then you’ll have found out the hard way that there is no long-term happiness to be found in the bottom of a shopping bag—just scrunched-up receipts and a twinge of regret.

7 Things I Learned From Not Buying Any New Clothes for a Year

So, I decided not to buy any new clothes for a year. I should clarify here that I didn’t even buy secondhand clothes or accept gifted clothes from friends or family. I didn’t buy underwear, socks, or tights. Nada.

This is what I learned:

1. Fast Fashion is an addiction

Addiction takes many shapes and forms. Some addictions are frowned upon (smoking, gambling, drugs), while others are completely normalized and even celebrated (retail therapy, anyone?).

In reality, 21st-century culture is a neverending stream of softcore addictions like social media, fast food, fast fashion, and trash TV. It’s just all packaged under a more culturally acceptable guise.

I remember the bittersweet evenings I’d spend scouring through page after page of ‘Last Chance Sale,’ all the while feeling an immense pressure that I needed to order before the free next-day delivery cut-off at midnight. 

Intentionally choosing not to buy any new clothes for a year has plainly highlighted to me that insatiable clothes shopping is an addiction. And to beat any kind of addiction, it’s important to get to the root cause of the problem rather than just treating the symptom, which leads me on to my next point…

2. Your primary source of value isn’t your appearance

It sounds blindingly obvious, but when you’ve grown up in a society that routinely bombards you with messages to the contrary, it’s so easy to start internalizing the idea that you need to shoehorn yourself into an ideal beauty standard.

More often than not, the compulsion to buy new clothes comes from a place of lack within us. What we’re really doing on a deeper level is asking questions like: Am I attractive enough? Am I worthy? Do I have value in the world?

There’s no doubt that fashion can be a liberating and creative outlet. But there is also a more subversive drive when it comes to compulsive shopping, and it’s a vicious cycle that only leaves us feeling more insecure in the long term.

When I didn’t have the continual confidence booster of a new outfit, I realised just how much I was relying on clothes to make me feel good about myself. And it was incredibly freeing to accept that as much as I can express myself through my wardrobe, my wardrobe doesn’t define me.

3. A minimalist capsule wardrobe is a must

How many times have you looked through a bulging wardrobe full of clothes and silently despaired that you have nothing to wear? 

It’s so easy to be swayed by statement trends and have a closet full of fad pieces that simply don’t go together. And then, when you finally pluck up the courage to declutter, feelings of guilt and sunk investment rear their ugly heads.

In my experience, the answer is to curate a minimalist capsule wardrobe, which means:

Reduced decision fatigueLess maintenanceHigh-quality pieces that save you money in the long runEndlessly mix-and-matchable staples

I didn’t buy any new clothes for a year, but by having a basic capsule wardrobe in place, I was pleasantly surprised by how many outfits I could conjure up. With a neutral colour palette and a little planning, you don’t need anywhere near as much stuff as you think you do.

4. You have control over your environment

Sometimes, I wouldn’t even be thinking about shopping when an email would ping up on my phone: ‘70% off sale ends tomorrow!’

Then, before I knew it, I’d be off down a rabbit hole of no return.

What you need to remember is that marketers know how to create a sense of urgency and a seemingly ‘unmissable’ offer to manipulate you into buying. You may not realize it, but you’re up against some hardcore guerilla warfare every time you step foot inside your inbox.

In short, you have to control your environment or else it will control you. Rather than relying on your end-of-day, burnt-out self to make good decisions, it’s far better to create intentional boundaries for yourself.

When it came to online shopping, I unsubscribed from all of my go-to brands. And do you know what? It pretty much stopped my cravings in their tracks.

Needless to say, it’s also wise to stop physically shopping in your favorite stores at the weekend (yep, this includes ‘window shopping’!). Instead, find other hobbies. Go on a long walk in nature with your partner, or snuggle up on the sofa and watch a film. It’s infinitely better for the soul.

5. It gets easier to say ‘no’

When you become mindful of your consumption in one area of your life, it can’t help but overflow into other areas, too. Developing a minimalist mindset and becoming content with less is like building a muscle. It’s hard, but it gets easier as you practice.

Once I’d successfully said no to a cute jumper on multiple occasions, I realized that I could radically question anything that was trying to make its way into my home. As a happy side effect, I ended up not buying much outside of my essential consumables and cosmetics at all.

6. The ‘perfect’ pair of jeans doesn’t exist

Do you find you have multiples of the same item in your wardrobe? It’s a strange compulsion to keep buying the same thing over and over again and expect different results (the definition of insanity, some might say).

What I’ve come to realize is that I’m constantly chasing an idealized version of myself. But like an elusive pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, I’m afraid to say that the ‘perfect pair of jeans’ is a myth. They don’t exist anywhere other than your own mind.

In reality, the perfect pair of jeans are the ones that are in the wash (because they’re the pair you always find yourself reaching for).

Rather than buying twenty cheap pairs that are uncomfortable and don’t even fit particularly well, I’ve decided that, in future, I will always opt to spend a bit more on a higher-quality pair. Whilst they will never be the ‘dream’, they’ll be as close as.

7. Slow fashion feels better than fast fashion

The short-term dopamine hit of a fashion haul may feel good in the moment, but it quickly loses its sheen.

When you educate yourself on just how unsustainable the fashion industry is, you realize the true cost to people, planet and animals. And it quickly becomes clear that changing your mindless shopping habits isn’t just about streamlining your wardrobe or simplifying your life (although these are certainly by-products of a minimalist approach). It’s about shopping with a conscience and voting with your wallet for the kind of world you want to live in.

Fast fashion may look good on the outside, but it doesn’t feel great on the inside. Because I think we all have a sneaking suspicion that bargain clothing shouldn’t be able to be produced that cheaply. The irony being that most of it ends up in landfill, anyway.

Embracing a slow fashion mindset for a year has helped me to build a relationship with the clothes I already own—encouraging me to take better care of them, get more creative, and be grateful for what I have. Living in alignment with your values is infinitely more fulfilling in the long term than shiny object syndrome.

So, What’s Next?

After a year of no clothes shopping, am I rushing out to revamp my wardrobe? Well, if I’m completely honest, I never really put a time limit on this experiment. I’d like for it to be an intentional and sustainable change so that I can commit to quitting fast fashion for good. 

Of course, there are going to be times when I genuinely need new things. But when I do, I’ll be sure to do my research and purchase more consciously from ethical brands. And one thing’s for certain—I won’t be turning my email notifications back on again any time soon.

***

Sophie is the creator of Intentional View, a website that encourages others to start their own individual revolution. With weekly articles on mindfulness, productivity, minimalism and veganism, you can learn to take back control of your habitual thoughts, beliefs and actions.

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