Four Words To Declutter From Your Vocabulary Today
My home and calendar reflect my minimalism journey over the past five years. I have decluttered the physical items I no longer use or love, and have removed the commitments from my calendar that I was doing out of guilt or obligation. I continue to struggle, however, with what’s going on in my head. I […]
Live for Your Eulogy, Not Your Obituary
What is your greatest fear? According to Dr. Karl Albrecht, there are five fears that all humans share: fear of extinction (ceasing to exist), fear of mutilation (think spiders and snakes), loss of autonomy (physical and social restrictions), separation (abandonment, rejection, and loss), and ego-death (humiliation and shame). I’m not a fan of spiders and […]
Disruption, Discomfort, Discovery, and Decision: Life During COVID-19 and Beyond
As I think about the impact of COVID-19 around the world, one word keeps coming up: disruption. In a matter of weeks, every facet of our lives has been disrupted: health (physical, mental, and/or emotional) finances work and education relationships with family, friends, and the larger community leisure access to and availability of products and […]
Embracing “Involuntary Simplicity”
Five years ago, I discovered minimalism when my husband and I were struggling with infertility and starting our treatment journey. I knew that in order to prepare for a baby, I needed to make space: physical space in our home, white space on my calendar, and emotional space in my overwhelmed mind and spirit. The […]
5 Questions Minimalists Ask (Plus 45 More!)
Minimalism encourages constant self-inquiry. This self-inquiry can take many forms, but usually boils down to one question: “Why?” Minimalists examine their motivations before making a decision to ensure their actions align with their values. They also look at past decisions to see how they have impacted their present thoughts, habits, and environment. These decisions include […]
What Do You Need to Offload?
When Apple designed the iPhone, they paid special attention to one detail that is excellent at getting the attention of their users – notification bubbles. They could have used a calming blue, a pretty pink, or a nature-inspired green for the notification color. But no, they chose a bright, alarming red. I don’t get many […]
5 Ways Minimalism Helps You Maintain Healthy Habits
There is a reason that most New Year’s resolutions fail. Behavioral change is hard. In fact, the book Triggers: Creating Behavior That Lasts–Becoming the Person You Want to Be describes it this way: “Adult behavioral change is the most difficult thing for sentient human beings to accomplish.” Yet every January, like clockwork, we tell ourselves that […]
Broken Pieces Make You Stronger: Remembering 2019
With 2020 approaching, I have my new planner in hand and have been excitedly leafing through the first pages. Casting my vision. Setting my goals. Picking my word for the year. I feel the hope and promise of a new year, a new decade. A year where I will also turn 40, experience a “milestone” […]
5 Ways to Cultivate a Present Moment Gratitude Practice
Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on what we are grateful for in our lives. Many families have a tradition of going around the table at the Thanksgiving meal to name something they are grateful for that year, while others may incorporate gratitude in a more structured way as part of their morning or evening […]
Why I Did My Own Death Cleaning at 39
What do you want to be to the people that you love? A loyal friend? A trusted advisor? An empathetic listener? An inspiration to live a life aligned with purpose? Depending on the relationship, any or all of these may be true. I think, however, everyone can agree on one thing we do not want […]