5 Life Changing Books on Minimalism
Today, we live in a whirlwind world: there is so much going on it could be a real struggle to keep up. We are often so consumed by all the obligations and expectations placed on us by others (or even ourselves!) that we forget who we are and what really matters. I remember how getting to know myself, figuring out my values and getting rid of physical, mental and emotional clutter changed my life. If before it was merely drifting through, now it is more intentional. Aligning my life with my values and passions is helping me to live with more purpose and clarity than I ever had before. I am by no means a finished product — I am still learning, growing and changing.
That’s why I am constantly on the look for stories that resonate with me and books that give valuable advice, and if you are too, today I would like to share a few of them with you.
1. The Joy of Less: A Minimalist Guide to Declutter, Organize and Simplify by Francine Jay
I had been a reader of Francine Jay’s blog, Miss Minimalist, for quite some time before I found out that she was publishing a book on how to cultivate a minimalist mindset and maintain it throughout different stages in life. I have been through some of these stages, such as getting married or moving house (and even moving to another country in early 2019). All the excellent tips on keeping things simple and organized definitely helped a lot. The book can be accompanied by The Joy of Less Journal, a great guide on how to deal with worry, find more clarity and uplift your thinking with the help of writing prompts and inspiring quotes. I’ll leave you with my favorite quote from the book, which serves as a wonderful reminder: “We are not what we own; we are what we do, what we think and who we love.”
2. The Art of Simple: Recipes and Ideas for A Calmer Way of Life by Eleanor Ozich
This is a wonderful book that I discovered when I moved to New Zealand and was eager to learn about local writers. I came across The Art of Simple while browsing through the Recommendations shelf in the local library and was fascinated by the author’s story. Eleanor moved away from the hustle of the big city having published a few successful healthy recipe books, and found joy and clarity by embracing slow living. This book also includes a few amazing recipes, alongside the advice on how to find balance through simplifying everyday life. My favorite parts here, perhaps, are environmentally friendly homemade alternatives to cleaning and beauty products, some information on using essential oils and, of course, the focus on creating a beautiful organized life full of meaningful moments.
This is the book where I found the definition of minimalism that makes the most sense to me: “a mindful, intentional way of living, prioritizing relationships and experiences above material things” as opposed to hyperconsumption. It is about finding the middle ground between letting go of what weighs you down and keeping what you absolutely love and what adds value to your everyday life (even if it is not 100% functional) and, essentially, the beauty of flexibility. Based on the Swedish concept of lagom, or having just enough, it is also about creating the right balance between who we are and the things we own. For me, this is the most practical and down to earth guide to decluttering your space and re-designing it to inspire contentment and happiness.
4. Soulful Simplicity: How Living with Less Can Lead to So Mush More by Courtney Carver
Again, I knew about Courtney Carver because she was the founder of one of my favorite blogs on minimalism, Be More with Less, and the famous capsule wardrobe challenge Project 333. It was the most comprehensive guide that taught me to streamline my wardrobe, define my personal style and remove the stress and overwhelm from the daily process of getting dressed. So, when I learned that Soulful Simplicity was coming out, I had to have it! Like most great reads, it has a powerful personal message as Courtney shares about living with Multiple Sclerosis and how embracing simplicity helps with it. I actually have a very close friend who was recently diagnosed with MS and had to rethink her entire life. Reading this book last year gave me a much better understanding of what my friend was going through, as well as some ideas how to support her better. I was inspired by Courtney’s firm belief that love should be the fuel of all changes, and that creating more time and more space ultimately means inviting more love into our lives.
You have probably already read or at least heard of this amazing book, and if not, do check it out. I couldn’t put it down until I reached the last page, and then I immediately wanted to read it all over again. I loved every word of this raw, honest and inspiring story of a girl who was able to overcome addiction, turn around her financial situation, declutter and find a new meaning in life. It was fascinating to follow Cait’s journey as she decided to stop shopping for fun for the entire year. Reading about all the doubts and difficulties that accompanied the decision of consuming less and finally celebrating all the lessons learned on the way brought up some important questions in my own life. Could I give up shopping and for how long? What would it be like to try a television ban? For me, this was definitely one of the most impactful and empowering books I ever read.
While I am writing this post, there is a part of me that wishes these books were around earlier, when I first thought of simplifying and streamlining my life several years ago. Still, I am grateful that I discovered them later and they became like good old friends: even though you know them well, there is so much comfort in turning to them over and over again, and they never fail to provide support and inspiration. Every time I open these books even to read a chapter or two, I am transported back to the beginning of my journey and reminded why slowing down, living more simply and having less matter so much.
These are only a few of my favorite books touching upon the topic of minimal living, decluttering and simplifying, and I am aware that there must be other valuable resources that provide great insights and practical tips for someone on the journey to simplicity. I would be very happy if you let me know about them in the comments or a personal message! :)