Joshua Fields Millburn's Blog, page 4
August 5, 2024
Podcast 454 | Reaction Clutter
In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about the clutter that appears every time we are unnecessarily reactive or defensive in our interactions with others. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.
Listen to the Minimal EpisodeApple · Spotify · YouTube · Patreon · MP3
Discussed in This EpisodeHow can I be less defensive when interacting with others?Of all the things that push your buttons, what’s one thing you have a hard time not reacting to?From whom did The Minimalists receive a grant?Listener tip: Buy nothing for a month! Is it possible to let go of the past decisions that I wish I would have made?Why do I have trouble enjoying the present moment?How do I help my mother declutter her need for family approval?What did you enjoy most about the end of the Everything Tour?How is Malabama celebrating her 30th birthday?Why does this celebrity hold on to his anger?Why does JFM own so many timers?Minimal MaximsJoshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.
Curiosity is the best defense.Awareness provides the space to act without overreacting.The true test of self-control is tolerance for those who lack it.Other people upset you only if you hand them the power.Hoarders cling to everything that doesn’t exist.Thoughts are not facts.Emotional prisons are built with bricks of approval.You can’t change the people around you, but you can change the people around you.Links Mentioned in This EpisodeAdded Value: Antoki TimerBook: Never Split the Difference Book: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Book: The War of Art Course: How to Write BetterEvent: Sunday SymposiumPodcast: EarthingPodcast: InfidelityResource: 15 Ways to Write BetterFollow Our TeamJoshua Fields MillburnRyan NicodemusT.K. ColemanMalabamaPost-Production PeterAlyssa BorrelliJeff SarrisDave LaTulippeSubscribe to The Minimalists via email.The post Podcast 454 | Reaction Clutter appeared first on The Minimalists.
August 1, 2024
Decluttering Rules
If you’re looking for some fun ways to start simplifying your life, we just created a new Decluttering Rules playlist on YouTube, which includes 30 of our favorite minimizing videos. Enjoy it 100% ad-free!
One of the videos in that playlist is How to Play the 30-Day Minimalism Game. Grab a friend and simplify together. Today is the perfect time to start letting go.
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July 29, 2024
Podcast 453 | Infidelity
In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists speak with Carl Lentz about the deep breach of trust that accompanies cheating in a romantic relationship. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.
Listen to the Minimal EpisodeApple · Spotify · YouTube · Patreon · MP3
Discussed in This EpisodeHow did Carl Lentz’s life come crashing down at the height of his fame?How did “lifestyle clutter” contribute to Lentz’s infidelity?What unexpected areas of Lentz’s life were affected by his extramarital affair? What steps are required to make amends after you’ve hurt someone you love?How do I avoid blaming others for the mistakes I’ve made?What role did apologizing and forgiveness play in Lentz’s healing?What self-defeating stories lead to adultery?What are the commonalities between most cases of unfaithfulness?What’s your definition of infidelity?Listener tip: Just say no to free things!What’s the difference between emotional cheating and physical cheating?What did you remove—and what did you keep—as you simplified your life?What did you learn from your time away from social media?Is there a difference between a one-time slip-up and a long-term affair?Did Lentz think his wife was going to move on without him?Minimal MaximsJoshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.
Infidelity is when you take a break from an agreement without agreeing to break the agreement.Bad decisions are different from mistakes. Selecting the wrong answer on a test is a mistake; not studying for that test is a bad decision.Clinging to a relationship is the first step toward infidelity.Emotional cheating and physical cheating are two sides of the same coin.Moving on requires letting go.A minimalist owns nothing that gets in the way.Even the best excuse is still an excuse.Links Mentioned in This EpisodeArticle: “Micro-cheating”Book: Own the Moment Essay: Store-Brand InsecurityEvents: Sunday SymposiumPatreon: Friday Afternoon Minimalist ZoomPodcast: How to LovePodcast: Lights OnPodcast: Savage LovecastResource: 30 Day Minimalism GameFilm: MinimalismFilm: Glen Gary Glen RossWatch: FragmentsFollow Our TeamJoshua Fields MillburnRyan NicodemusT.K. ColemanMalabamaPost-Production PeterAlyssa BorrelliJeff SarrisDave LaTulippeSubscribe to The Minimalists via email.The post Podcast 453 | Infidelity appeared first on The Minimalists.
July 22, 2024
Podcast 452 | Rest
In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about the need for rest in a restless world. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.
Listen to the Minimal EpisodeApple · Spotify · YouTube · Patreon · MP3
Discussed in This EpisodeHow do I get my kids to adhere to a more reasonable bedtime so I can go to bed earlier?What’s one thing that’s stopping you from getting the rest you need?Listener tip: Realize what you want by getting rid of what you don’t need.When it comes to buying products that improve my health, how much is enough?How will I know when I’m done simplifying?How do I declutter my restless email inbox?What do The Minimalists’ home screens on their phones look like?Amass It or Trash It: How do I get rid of my grandma’s bulky bedroom set?More About Less: Unbusy, some thoughts about doing less.Minimal MaximsJoshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.
If you’re devoted to the destination, the path appears naturally.Rest isn’t the goal; it’s the playing field.Going to bed early is the same as sleeping in.The music is shaped by the rest between the notes. Doing less is the only thing worth doing. Simplicity is a tool, not a destination.Attention is earned, not granted.Less content, more contentment.Links Mentioned in This EpisodeAdded Value: “Soft Air”Book: Everything That Remains Book: Infinite Jest Book: A World Without Email Blog: “The Paradox of Lessons”Essay: “Unbusy”Tour: The Everything TourPodcast: Sleep ProblemsPodcast: GroundingFilm: Kinds of KindnessWatch: FragmentsFollow Our TeamJoshua Fields MillburnRyan NicodemusT.K. ColemanMalabamaPost-Production PeterAlyssa BorrelliJeff SarrisDave LaTulippeSubscribe to The Minimalists via email.The post Podcast 452 | Rest appeared first on The Minimalists.
July 18, 2024
New Film Series
Fragments, The Minimalists’ new short-film series, directed by Danny Martinez and staring Joshua Fields Millburn, Ryan Nicodemus, and T.K. Coleman, has arrived.
The premiere episode, “The Other Clutter,” is now streaming for free. Several viewers have said that this episode contains the perfect description of clutter, so feel free to share it with your simple-living-curious friends.
The remaining five episodes—including “The Shopping Cart” and “The Museum of Things”—are available exclusively on Patreon. Binge the first five episodes before next week’s season finale.
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July 15, 2024
Podcast 451 | Other People’s Possessions
In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about counting material possessions, decluttering other people’s possessions, and more. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.
Listen to the Minimal EpisodeApple · Spotify · YouTube · Patreon · MP3
Discussed in This EpisodeWhat’s the best way to count my material possessions?What’s one thing you’d like to declutter from someone else’s life?Right Here, Right Now: Who is The Minimalists’ newest team member?Listener tip: What’s the best way to declutter the contacts on your phone?How can I determine whether my opinions are useful or clutter? How would you go about explaining minimalism from scratch to kids?Why do I get so happy when my friends cancel plans? Talkaboutable: How has social media ruined our concept of “fame”?Have you heard of this new trend of men “raw dogging“ flights?Obsolete Object: Getting rid of everything that causes pain?More About Less: What is the “Out-in-the-Open” Rule for decluttering?Minimal MaximsJoshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.
Fewer is greater than zero.Clutter is the child of an unsure mind.Why do you look at the clutter in your brother’s home and pay no attention to the clutter in your own home?Every opinion is an argument with yourself.A single drop of self-righteousness is enough to poison the present moment.Anxiety clutters our ability to care about the important things.A mental prison is built with bricks of “should.”Relationships are earned, not granted. A demonstration is the best explanation.Every relationship comes prepackaged with challenges, frustrations, and expectations. Links Mentioned in This EpisodeArticle: I Tried the “Out-in-the-Open Rule” and Decluttered My Clothes in Under an HourBook: The 100 Thing Challenge Book: Minimalism Essay: Everything I Own: My 288 ThingsEssay: UnbusyFilm: In TimeFilm: Less is NowFilm: Requiem for a DreamPodcast: EnoughismPodcast: The Presence of AbsenceResource: 30 Day Minimalism GameTour: The Everything TourWatch: FragmentsWatch: NYU Masterclass with Pharrell WilliamsWebsite: Colin WrightFollow Our TeamJoshua Fields MillburnRyan NicodemusT.K. ColemanMalabamaPost-Production PeterAlyssa BorrelliSubscribe to The Minimalists via email.The post Podcast 451 | Other People’s Possessions appeared first on The Minimalists.
July 10, 2024
Unbusy
Busy is the filthiest four-letter word.
Yet it is treated as a badge of honor,
a status symbol,
not unlike the logo
on a designer handbag
or the branding on a luxury car.
Branding: how apropos.
You are a body
branded with busyness—
a busybody.
(It’s not just you; everybody
is infected with the Busy Virus.)
What have you been up to lately?
Oh, I’ve just been so busy.
When you say you’re busy,
what are you really saying?
My life is out of control!
Each time you say yes to an unwanted task,
you unthinkingly say no to yourself
because everyone else’s urgency
is now your emergency.
Emails, texts, direct messages.
Phone calls, meetings, conferences.
Drive time, cocktails, dinner parties.
Multitasking your way to the horizon.
Busy, busy, busy.
Go, go, go.
Yes, yes, yes…
Keep your fecund hands stirring,
your breathless mind roving,
until you’ve run out of time.
There are exactly 168 hours in a week.
And you are attempting to fill every one of them
with more.
Episodic television, streaming services, and social media.
Breaking news, political debates, and untold distractions.
Suddenly, there’s no time for life’s timeless pleasures.
Drive-thru coffees and meals on the go.
The to-go life is now your go-to.
Enjoyment has been replaced by absentminded consumption.
If you had a few more hours each day,
you swear you’d make time
for the gym,
for your health,
for your family,
for that untouched passion project.
You’ll get to those things “someday,” right?
Sure.
As soon as you have more time.
But today you’re busy;
alldayeveryday you’re busy.
At least all these fevered assiduities make you feel
useful, necessary, significant—yeah?
Maybe.
But what are you busy about?
You’ve learned how to get things done,
so you keep on doing,
adding more to your plate,
saying yes to every “opportunity,”
cluttering your itinerary
with half-hearted promises.
What are you actually accomplishing?
What does it mean?
Does it matter?
And what are you hiding?
When you do the calculous,
does it add up to a worthwhile life?
Have you ever stopped to ask:
After all this busyness,
what is my endpoint, my arrival?
What will happen when you get there?
You’re unhappy now, but maybe
all this effort will lead to a point of perpetual bliss.
Or…
Perhaps you’ll look for the next horizon
when today is in the rearview?
Human beings used to witness
25,000 sunrises during their lifetime.
Have you seen 25 in the last year?
Or were you too busy?
Too busy to witness the wonder.
Too busy to appreciate the moment.
Too busy to realize just how busy you are.
The path out of this chaos
has been covered with more—
more events, more appointments,
more “functions” that lead to circadian dysfunction.
More content, less contentment.
Try as you might, you cannot add composure to disorder.
Equilibrium is not on the other side of your current assignments.
It is already there—buried beneath the busywork.
You want out, but
the exit is blocked
by a barricade of ceaseless commitments.
What a mess.
The only escape route
is a quiet emergency exit
with a door that is labeled
“unbusy.”
What would happen if you…
canceled half your engagements next week?
deleted half the duties on your to-do list?
redefined your self-worth by the spaciousness of your days?
Empty space is the secret weapon of the unbusy.
You can use that space to mercilessly examine
and eliminate
the everyday undertakings
that obstruct your serenity.
The advice you’ve been force-fed by society
is wrong.
Technology has not given you more time.
Advanced habits have not led to meaningful work.
Obligations and responsibilities are not axiomatically virtuous.
It has all been an entertaining lie,
a lie told to make you busy,
busy but not fulfilled,
occupied but not devoted to anything significant.
Calendar clutter is a modern malady
that amplifies distress and anguish.
You don’t need more strategies
to manage your time,
to ease the painful symptoms of busyness.
If your doctor said you have cancer,
you wouldn’t ask her how to “manage” it;
you would demand a cure that eliminates it.
What if you treated busyness with the same seriousness?
You don’t need another “pro tip” to use as analgesic;
you need a remedy that permanently heals your relationship with busyness.
To heal, you can’t do anything;
you can only stop doing
the things
that opened the busyness wound in the first place.
In this context, doing less is the only thing worth doing.
The post Unbusy appeared first on The Minimalists.
July 8, 2024
Podcast 450 | Can’t Let Go
In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about what to do when you can’t let go. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.
Listen to the Minimal EpisodeApple · Spotify · YouTube · Patreon · MP3
Discussed in This EpisodeWhat can I do if my family won’t allow me to let go of certain sentimental things? What’s one thing that other people won’t allow you to let go of?Listener tip: A response to Gratitude Clutter. How do I help my parents get rid of trinkets that are decades old?Am I betraying my deceased family members if I let go of their ashes?Why is it so difficult for me to let go of my children’s old artwork?How do I encourage my significant other to declutter now that we’re living together?Talkaboutable: Celebrating T.K. Coleman’s 100th episode as cohost!Amass It or Trash It: Should I get rid of my 2,000 DVDs that I love but don’t watch? More About Less: Why is the “path of less” always the path less traveled?Added Value: Which TV show will make you question the false stories you tell yourself?Minimal MaximsJoshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.
Letting go of acceptance is the most difficult part of letting go.Your attachment to a character doesn’t require me to play the role.You can’t be free if you can’t let go.Forcing someone to let go robs them of their dignity.Letting go does not betray the past—it honors it.It’s not wrong to hold on if you’re not ready to let go.Where there is pure joy there is no fear.Decluttering is compelling once the benefits outweigh the possessions.Links Mentioned in This EpisodeAdded Value: Dark Matter Book: Drops Like Stars Book: Love People, Use ThingsBook: Oblivion: Stories Essay: Store-Brand InsecurityFilm: August (2008)Film: Less is NowPodcast: Gratitude ClutterPodcast: Minimal AgingPodcast: Unhappy BillionairesResource: Minimalist RulebookSong: “One Last Cry”Tour: The Everything TourWatch: The Out-in-the-Open RuleWatch: FragmentsFollow Our TeamJoshua Fields MillburnRyan NicodemusT.K. ColemanMalabamaPost-Production PeterSubscribe to The Minimalists via email.The post Podcast 450 | Can’t Let Go appeared first on The Minimalists.
July 1, 2024
Podcast 449 | Searching for Chaos
In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists talk about why people avoid peace and go searching for chaos instead. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.
Listen to the Minimal EpisodeApple · Spotify · YouTube · Patreon · MP3
Discussed in This EpisodeHow do I handle the chaos in my life that is caused by other people?In what ways do you make your own life more chaotic?When is the next 30-Day Minimalism Game?Listener tip: How do you throw a decluttering dinner party?Should I end my chaotic marriage or try to save it?How can I save my mother from my chaotic and narcissistic father?Why has my girlfriend changed after our pregnancy scare?Why does my over-planning lead to chaos instead of peace?Obsolete Objects: What is the latest “genius” decluttering hack?Talkaboutable: Is T.K. Coleman’s keychain filled with chaos?More About Less: What is the antidote to chaos?Minimal MaximsJoshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.
If you want to save a fish from drowning, do nothing. Every unchecked commitment eventually becomes an obligation; every unchecked obligation eventually becomes a burden.To let go is to love.A bigger shovel will not dig you out of the hole you’ve created.When you resist, your power ceases to exist.A crash is inevitable when money is in the driver’s seat.A relationship has already failed if it needs to be saved.Love is not conditional, but relationships are.Forgiveness is the path out of the suffering that’s caused by clinging. The stories we invent are more disruptive than the actual events. Planning creates calm; over-planning produces chaos. Peace cannot be planned; it can only be uncovered. “Enough” is the key to order and the antidote to chaos.Links Mentioned in This EpisodeAdded Value: “Overcome”Book: Emotional Clutter Blog: The Challenge of N+1Blog: Friday Afternoon Minimalist ZoomPodcast: Graduation DayPodcast: Necessary EndingsResource: 30 Day Minimalism GameFollow Our TeamJoshua Fields MillburnRyan NicodemusT.K. ColemanMalabamaPost-Production PeterSubscribe to The Minimalists via email.The post Podcast 449 | Searching for Chaos appeared first on The Minimalists.
June 24, 2024
Podcast 448 | Minimal Aging
In this public episode of The Minimalists Podcast, The Minimalists sit down with Colin Wright, author of How to Turn 39: Thoughts About Aging for People of All Ages, to talk about youth, aging, redefining accomplishments, and more. Listen to the full Maximal episode on The Minimalists Private Podcast.
Listen to the Minimal EpisodeApple · Spotify · YouTube · Patreon · MP3
Discussed in This EpisodeWhat does it mean for young people to embrace the natural aging process?Would your 15-year-old self be impressed by you today?What does JFM want for his 43rd birthday?Listener tip: How can you downsize 100 items in one hour?How do I identify and let go of toxic relationships as I grow older?What can I do if I want to live elsewhere but my family keeps me tied to my city?How can I form meaningful relationships if I am an extreme introvert and other people exhaust me?What can I do, as a 22-year-old, if I feel like I’m “behind” compared to my peers?Minimal MaximsJoshua, Ryan, and T.K.’s pithy, shareable, less-than-140-character responses. Find more quotes from The Minimalists at MinimalMaxims.com.
You care what other people think only because you have an underlying dissatisfaction in your own life.My current idea of the good life is my childhood idea of the bad life.The present moment is brighter when it is not dimmed by the past.The best way to love a toxic person is from a distance.Some people enjoy the Christmas Party, but I’m not one of them.Needing a relationship is the easiest way to ruin a relationship.The more you awaken, the less you desire to fit in.I’d rather be alone than miserable.Links Mentioned in This EpisodeAdded Value: “Atavista”Added Value: Mr. & Mrs. SmithBook: How to Turn 39 Book: My Exile Lifestyle Book: Some Thoughts About Relationships Essay: Store-Brand InsecurityFilm: Less is NowGame: BalatroPodcast: Brain LensesPodcast: Let’s Know ThingsPodcast: Trade-OffsWebsite: Asymmetrical PressWebsite: Colin WrightWebsite: Exile LifestyleWebsite: Shawn MihalikWebsite: Waking UpFollow Our TeamSubscribe to The Minimalists via email.The post Podcast 448 | Minimal Aging appeared first on The Minimalists.
