Tag: how to be a minimalist

This Week’s Minimalist and Simple Living Happenings

Posted on by Katie Coughran

I’m amazed at how long it takes to adjust to getting into a different type of lifestyle flow. When we’re on the road in the summertime, everything is really spontaneous—we don’t make reservations months or even weeks in advance, we hardly know where we’re going when we set out, and we’re pretty much just looking for the next place we’ll find beauty and adventure. 

Is there hard work involved? Absolutely! But because of the circumstances and fun, it doesn’t always feel like hard work. As soon as we pull into a stationary spot I can deeply feel the hard work of getting into a routine. Once again, this last week has been all about getting into a routine.

Home school has been going great, though getting into the flow of THIS type of concentrated learning has been challenging for the kids. I like to have Monday-Thursday set up to work a little harder and have Fridays be a bit more chill and ready for a field trip. By the time Friday came this week, we were definitely ready to chill! It made me realize I’ve got a little more adjusting I need to do to our schedule.

Each week we have a family night where we try to do something fun together. This week I suggested we head to the park and play. Our daughter brought her frisbee and our son brought a toy parachute man and between those two things and the playground, we had a great time. Simple and sweet, but it was the highlight of my week.

My husband has been growing his hair out and wanted some Rambands. Instead of buying them or asking me to make them, he got fabric and asked me to teach him to make them. We had a fun date night of me bossing him around the sewing machine while The Office was on in the background. He’s pretty good with a sewing machine!

I’m always on the look-out for ways I can help the kids expand their skills without purchasing too much stuff. I’ve loved the look of macrame pieces for a long time and decided I wanted to learn, so I watched a billion YouTube videos and bought a spool of rope. I taught the kids the history of macrame and we each made a piece for home school on Friday. It was really fun and I love the way my first attempt turned out! Also, because you only NEED rope (all the other accessories for macrame are optional), I feel like it’s a very minimalist hobby/skill.

Since we’re stationary, I’ve been trying to take more time to organize and do some deeper cleaning. During the summer on the road, it’s pretty hard to give up a hike in a national park so I can wipe down cabinets. This week I got to several projects, but my favorite was the large and deep cabinet beneath the kitchen sink. A potato-gone-horribly-wrong turned my attention/nose to this area, but by the time I was done cleaning it, I was happy I’d somehow lost track of that lone potato. 

Those are definitely my favorite minimalist and simple living happenings this week. What about you? What minimalistic or simple living practices made you happy this week?

This Week’s Minimalist and Simple Living Happenings

Posted on by Katie Coughran

This past week has been all about settling back into the PNW, home schooling, and all the things that come with being stationary in an RV. It’s been a bit of an adjustment, but when we’re practicing simple living, things always go more smoothly. Here are our happenings for the past week:

I spent a slow Saturday really thinking about all things How to be a Minimalist as well as my other author works and where they’re going. Before each quarter of the year comes to an end, I tend to do this, hoping to get clarity on what I want to accomplish during the upcoming three months. Feels good to have a refreshed plan. Sometimes it’s hard to take alone time when we’re on the road, so this was a much-needed day for me.

My husband and I watched a couple of episodes of Unsolved Mysteries. I wanted to watch the rest of The Game Changers, but whatever! It was still a fun little date night.

I used up some food from the pantry and freezer. It felt good to use some things that had been tucked back, but also to make space. With all of these blackberries everywhere, I’m hoping I can pick some for the freezer and make some jam as well.

Since many of our home school curriculum books are on back order or are taking a really long time to ship, I designed fun, simple, creative school plans for the week and also took the opportunity to use some books we already have. Going through our books so thoroughly made me realize we’ve already got a lot we can use, so I’ll be holding off on ordering most things for a bit so we can use up what we’ve got.

Pandora Disney channel, anyone? That’s what my kids turned on all week while playing board games. I now know music from movies I’ve never seen, ha!

We decided to cancel two subscriptions this week. Not only will we save money, but we don’t need to be wasting time using these services.

Now that we have electricity all the time, I’ve played the piano (weighted electric keyboard) several evenings. It’s relaxing and therapeutic at the same time, plus, I think it’s a calming sound to help the kids fall asleep and bring peace in our home. My kids started lessons with me again, so we’ll all be playing the piano a lot more often!

Between the cooler weather and having access to electricity at all times, I’ve been using my Instant Pot SO MUCH MORE. It’s awesome to be able to whip something up so quickly. Beans, rice, soups, and stews have all been so tasty this week.

What about you? What have you done to practice minimalism and simple living this week?

You can now purchase my book, How to be a Minimalist — A Beginner’s Guide! Click HERE to see the details. I sincerely hope you enjoy the book and thanks for supporting me/my family/my work! The ebook is out now and the paperback will be out in the next month or two.

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

My book, How to be a Minimalist with Kids: Finding YOUR Kind of Minimalism

Broden and the Shark-Toothed Chicken — Book 1 of this chapter book series (should be marked as free)

My latest videos on YouTube:
Simple Crunchy Granola Recipe
Vegan Cheesy Fry Sauce
How to Make Cashew Yogurt
Sushi Bowl Salad

Your support of the show is so very appreciated! Ratings, reviews, and Patreon patronage all sustain this show. Don’t forget that Patrons now get bonus episodes! Thanks so much!

Want to leave a tip in my virtual tip jar? You can Venmo me @HowtobeaMinimalist Thank you so much for your support!

Four Minimalist Wardrobe Tips for the Changing Weather Seasons

Posted on by Katie Coughran

Ditching and donating when the weather seasons are changing is a great way to work on downsizing. Not only are you more easily able to see what you haven’t worn and can donate those pieces, but going through your clothing can help you to be more selective about what you bring in for the coming season.

Click the play button, or read all about it down below:

1. When looking at your clothing as the seasons are changing, ask yourself what will work for the next season? Most people have at least a few pieces that work year-round. Using these same pieces all year means you need less season-specific clothing and your closet can be a little more minimalistic.

2. If possible, keep your clothes in one closet. If you can do this, instead of packing away off-season clothes, you’ll have a better idea of how much clothing you ACTUALLY have. It’s all too easy to pick up a piece or two here and there until you have many more items than you’d actually like to own.

3. Ask yourself, What do I really need? Lay out and/or try on all of your clothing to see what works. Ditch clothing you no longer wear, then see what’s left over. Make a detailed list of exactly what else you’d like to have in your wardrobe. Include color, style, and amounts needed.

4. When you shop, don’t go looking to see what you can find. FIND WHAT’S ON YOUR LIST. It’s easy to find plenty of things we like when we go shopping. There are very few stores I’ve been to where I DIDN’T find something I liked. Those aren’t necessarily the pieces you need to make a wardrobe that makes you look and feel great, though. Be picky, take your time, and get what you want.

Good luck with your minimalist wardrobe and remember, it’s all about the experiences, not the stuff.

You can now purchase my book, How to be a Minimalist — A Beginner’s Guide! Click HERE to see the details. I sincerely hope you enjoy the book and thanks for supporting me/my family/my work! The ebook is out now and the paperback will be out in the next month or two.

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

My book, How to be a Minimalist with Kids: Finding YOUR Kind of Minimalism

Broden and the Shark-Toothed Chicken — Book 1 of this chapter book series (should be marked as free)

My latest videos on YouTube:
Simple Crunchy Granola Recipe
Vegan Cheesy Fry Sauce
How to Make Cashew Yogurt
Sushi Bowl Salad

Your support of the show is so very appreciated! Ratings, reviews, and Patreon patronage all sustain this show. Don’t forget that Patrons now get bonus episodes! Thanks so much!

Want to leave a tip in my virtual tip jar? You can Venmo me @HowtobeaMinimalist Thank you so much for your support!

This Week’s Minimalist and Simple Living Happenings

Posted on by Katie Coughran

I often notice the big ways in which we practice minimalism and simple living — pretty easy when you wake up in an RV each morning. However, I don’t always notice the little things.

Last week I had a few days of staying in bed (LISTEN TO THE PODCAST EPISODE FOR THE FULL STORY. Hint: strep and double ear infections are no fun) and watched my family work through our family chores as well as live without my assistance. I can’t tell you how grateful it made me that our home and calendar are easy to maintain!

As I made a mental list of the sweet and simple things we do, I realized it was yet another way to share with this community. Don’t be shy about sharing YOUR simple and minimalist living happenings—I’d love to hear about it and be inspired.

  • On the days that I could cook, I made simple, low-stress dinners.
  • We turned music on often, enjoying listening and singing/rocking out.
  • We supported a small business and were able to replace our cracked cutting board. I only keep two cutting boards and I knew my small one was about to go at any time. I’ve got a large one from this small, local business and wanted to wait until we were back in the PNW to buy a small one from him. I’m glad I waited!
  • I created our budget for September—essential for supporting our needs as well as using our resources to further our financial goals.
  • I ate clean, healthy foods for breakfast and lunch while also keeping it simple.
  • I got rid of a tiered basket we used to keep on our kitchen counter. We used it for bread and tortillas, so I simply put those things into the produce baskets (aka, my little “store” on the shelf above our table/piano) and got rid of the baskets on the kitchen counter. Now, I simply have my herb garden on the kitchen counter, my chicken timer, and my dish soap. It feels SO much more open and I love it! Space is always an issue when living in an RV, but this just feels so great, it was worth the adjustments and effort. Where there’s a will, there’s a way! I’m much happier cooking in the space, now, so it was totally a positive change.
  • My husband turned on Pride and Prejudice (CLICK HERE TO SEE WHICH VERSION) the other night—I thought he was going to turn on Cobra Kai, so this was a nice surprise, ha!—and we had a spontaneous date night. I love my man.
  • I pulled out the craft supplies and my kids made some dream catchers that turned out beautifully. We don’t keep a ton of craft supplies in the RV, but it’s definitely been a major part of their growth and creativity, making them a vital part of our lives and home school.

I hope you enjoyed this post and thanks for being here! What are the minimalist and simple living happenings in your home?

You can now purchase my book, How to be a Minimalist — A Beginner’s Guide! Click HERE to see the details. I sincerely hope you enjoy the book and thanks for supporting me/my family/my work! The ebook is out now and the paperback will be out in the next month or two.

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

My book, How to be a Minimalist with Kids: Finding YOUR Kind of Minimalism

Broden and the Shark-Toothed Chicken — Book 1 of this chapter book series (should be marked as free)

My latest videos on YouTube:
Simple Crunchy Granola Recipe
Vegan Cheesy Fry Sauce
How to Make Cashew Yogurt
Sushi Bowl Salad

Your support of my work/the show is so very appreciated! Ratings, reviews, and Patreon patronage all sustain this show. Don’t forget that Patrons now get bonus episodes! Thanks so much!

Want to leave a tip in my virtual tip jar? You can Venmo me @HowtobeaMinimalist Thank you so much for your support!

How to be a Minimalist: A Beginner’s Guide

Posted on by Katie Coughran

Grab it on Amazon by clicking HERE — How to be a Minimalist: A Beginner’s Guide

My book, How to be a Minimalist: A Beginner’s Guide is now up and available for purchase in ebook format! I’ve really loved working on this project and I hope you enjoy reading it. Thanks so much for checking it out and supporting me/my family/my work!

Note: The paperback will be out in a month or two in case you’re interested.

Why I’m Grateful for Minimalism — A Short and Sweet Episode

Posted on by Katie Coughran

You can now purchase my book, How to be a Minimalist — A Beginner’s Guide! Click HERE to see the details. I sincerely hope you enjoy the book and thanks for supporting me/my family/my work! The ebook is out now and the paperback will be out in the next month or two.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FHSMQLL

Welcome to a short and sweet episode of the podcast. Minimalism has been a great help in my life and this past week, I had another insight into why. No article today, you’ll have to hit the play button below to hear all about it. Thanks for being here!

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

My book, How to be a Minimalist with Kids: Finding YOUR Kind of Minimalism

Broden and the Shark-Toothed Chicken — Book 1 of this chapter book series (should be marked as free)

My latest videos on YouTube:
Simple Crunchy Granola Recipe
Vegan Cheesy Fry Sauce
How to Make Cashew Yogurt
Sushi Bowl Salad

Your support of the show is so very appreciated! Ratings, reviews, and Patreon patronage all sustain this show. Don’t forget that Patrons now get bonus episodes! Thanks so much!

Want to leave a tip in my virtual tip jar? You can Venmo me @HowtobeaMinimalist Thank you so much for your support!

Pre-Order Time! How to be a Minimalist: A Beginner’s Guide

Posted on by Katie Coughran

I’m pleased to announce that the second book in the How to be a Minimalist series is now available for pre-order with a release date of September 1st! NOTE: Ebook only at this time — the paperback will be out in the next month or two. You can find the Amazon link HERE or by clicking the book cover above. Pre-order now and it’ll show up on your device when it comes out September 1st.

While How to be a Minimalist With Kids: Finding YOUR Kind of Minimalism focused on parents/families, this Beginner’s Guide is all about the individual and the various ways they can implement minimalism into their personal lives. It was a pleasure to write this book and I sincerely hope you enjoy!

DESCRIPTION:

Excited to start practicing minimalism, but uncertain about where to start? This book is — as titled — a guide just for beginners, and a great starting point. However, because of the variety of areas this book covers, experienced minimalists might also enjoy the different ideas explored in each chapter.

Although it’s difficult to capture EVERY aspect that simple living and minimalism can encompass, this guide goes over more than just how to go about decluttering your home. The reason for that? Minimalism is about more than just your possessions — it’s about your calendar, spending time on your goals, self care, maintaining your home once you’ve put in the effort to declutter it, emotional minimalism, and even keeping your budget in line. Don’t worry, though, this guide doesn’t skimp on the details of how to ditch, donate, and declutter so that you can move forward with confidence in your minimalistic practices.

That’s the beauty of minimalism — it can touch every aspect of your life. This guide is here to get you started with practical, realistic, and thoughtful methods so that you can find YOUR kind of minimalism.

Minimalism and Goals: My July Law of Attraction Experiment — Ep. 39

Posted on by Katie Coughran

I learned about the Law of Attraction, Thoughts Become Things, and the Power of Positive Thinking nearly a decade ago, but I feel like I’m just now learning to harness the power of this kind of positivity, combined with knowing what I want, and also taking action. The final push for me giving these kinds of mindsets a try? Negativity was getting me nowhere.

Because this episode was so long, detailed, and personal, I’ve decided I won’t be writing an article to go along with it this time. If you’re curious, you’ll just have to listen by hitting the play button below.

In case you missed it, my latest video is out: Simple Crunchy Granola Recipe

Article on speaking to yourself in the 3rd person potentially making you wiser

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

My book, How to be a Minimalist with Kids: Finding YOUR Kind of Minimalism

Broden and the Shark-Toothed Chicken — Book 1 of this chapter book series (should be marked as free)

My latest videos on YouTube:
Vegan Cheesy Fry Sauce
How to Make Cashew Yogurt
Sushi Bowl Salad

Your support of the show is so very appreciated! Ratings, reviews, and Patreon patronage all sustain this show. Don’t forget that Patrons now get bonus episodes! Thanks so much!

Want to leave a tip in my virtual tip jar? You can Venmo me @HowtobeaMinimalist Thank you so much for your support!

Simple Crunchy Granola Recipe

Posted on by Katie Coughran

 

I absolutely love a good smoothie bowl with delicious granola on top. Or just some plain granola with cashew milk. I never found a granola that suited all of my dietary and taste specifications, though, so I finally decided to create my own recipe. It’s highly versatile, easy to make, and has the perfect amount of crunch. I hope you enjoy it!

Find the full recipe in the details of the video and thanks for watching!

6 Happiness Practices — Episode 38

Posted on by Katie Coughran

Living in the PNW in the winter has its challenges, as does the normal stresses of life, so I’ve been doing my best to implement simple living, minimalism, and happiness practices that help me to be able to live my best life, no matter what’s going on around me. Today, I’m sharing 6 practices I’ve implemented into my life that allow me to feel more positive and have higher energy levels in my daily life.

Click the play button below to listen to this episode of the How to be a Minimalist podcast or read a shortened version below

NOTE: While these practices work for me, they may not work for you! If you need professional help, you should definitely seek it.

1. Light body movement is one of my favorite ways to boost my energy and happiness levels. I always feel more mental clarity, and my body feels so much better afterward. There are countless ways to do this, but stretching, going for a walk, dancing, or even just stepping outside for a minute always create a little more positivity in my life.

2. Intake uplifting information. Several months ago, I realized that I only had deeply negative topics of conversation to bring to the table because that’s what was running through my head. Choosing wisely how much time I spent with negative sources, ditching or limiting all forms of media, and discerning between educating myself and indulging in negative articles/posts helped me to return to the person I really want to be. Being uplifting and being a source of positive energy are two extremely important focuses for me and allow me to do more good for others than drenching myself in negativity.

3. Get in touch with your Higher Power. For me, this is God, for you it might be nature, spirituality, the Universe, or any number of sources. When I get out of touch, I notice a lack in my life and always feel a pull to return. And when I do, I notice a boost in happiness.

4. Look at your successes. I had a tendency to never slow down and appreciate my accomplishments and instead, constantly tried to figure out what I was supposed to be doing next. This led to me always feeling frenzied. Knowing that I can take a moment to pause and be happy that I got the kitchen cleaned or a podcast episode uploaded has added greatly to my happiness and self-love.

5. Get into nature. This can even be done by bringing a plant into your home to put on your bedside table. Whether you walk down your street, go for a bike ride, head to a state park, or add a succulent to your bathroom counter, being in nature is a beautiful way to get grounded, feel peace, and find inspiration. This world is a beautiful place to explore.

6. Live in joyful gratitude. I’ve recently had an epiphany about gratitude. I’ve always been full of gratitude, but I never knew all it could be and the joy it could bring until a couple of weeks ago. I saw a YouTube video from the Gem Goddess where she talked about doing everything with passion. The second she mentioned something about passionately being grateful you actually have dishes to clean, I realized that I had been grateful all my life, yes, but it wasn’t with joy. And it was always with a touch of guilt — like I would be an awful person if I wasn’t grateful for what I had and if I wanted to progress onward to better things. Since watching her video, I’ve been trying to do things with passion and joyful gratitude simply for the sake of adding happiness to my life. It’s allowed me to truly see all that I have and bask in the joy for all that’s in my life.

There are a lot of things to be happy and positive about. My life is better when I focus on and find them and I’m much better able to share my positivity with others.

The article I talked about: 9 Natural Ways to Boost Your Energy Levels

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

My latest videos on YouTube:
Vegan Cheesy Fry Sauce
How to Make Cashew Yogurt
Sushi Bowl Salad

My book, How to be a Minimalist with Kids: Finding YOUR Kind of Minimalism

Your support of the show is so very appreciated! Ratings, reviews, and Patreon patronage all sustain this show. Don’t forget that Patrons now get bonus episodes! Thanks so much!

Want to leave a tip in my virtual tip jar? You can Venmo me @HowtobeaMinimalist Thank you so much for your support!