Tag: how to be a minimalist

7 Minimalist Cleaning Tips

Posted on by Katie Coughran

Keeping things minimalist-minded when it comes to my cleaning routine has saved me hours of cleaning time and kept me on track when it comes to having a tidy home. My family and I all benefit from having a nice space and I’m happy I don’t have to spend extra minutes cleaning — some more bonuses of minimalistic practices.

Hit the play button to listen to the episode, or you can quickly read through my tips below.

If you’ve listened to many of my podcast episodes or read my book, you’ll know that I dislike cleaning, but I love having a clean house. Minimizing the amount of time I spend on chores but also being able to enjoy a tidy home is one of my goals with minimalism and here are my top tips for having the best of both worlds.

  1. Clean the dishes after every meal. Yep, it’s a bit of a pain, but it’s impactful when it comes to amount of dishes you need — if you only have a dish or two for each person In the home, you HAVE to clean up after every meal. If you have 50 plates, it’s easier to let them pile up and create a huge mess. Also, having a tidy kitchen won’t only feel good, but it will likely help you to eat better foods if your kitchen is clean.
  2. Have the right tools. You don’t need a million, just the right ones. I finally made a daily cleaner that I love and crocheted a few wipes that are specifically for the bathroom. The bonuses were that I was able to ditch the other products I had used and I now have more space in my tiny RV cabinet. Even better, our bathroom is clean most of the time because the process is quick and simple with the right tools.
  3. Deal with clutter daily. Put away paperwork as soon as it comes in, make sure your surfaces are cleared off at least once daily, and make sure clothes get put away in the hamper or closet when you’re done with them. You’ll feel less stress and be able to enjoy the benefits of being organized. Plus, it won’t be a big deal if somebody stops by.
  4. Fold and put laundry away as soon as it’s dry. This one’s the worst for me, quite frankly. I’ve learned that having a pile of laundry out makes your home feel cluttered and messy faster than most things, so it’s worth it to just deal with folding it and putting it away as soon as possible.
  5. Make constant efforts to downsize and evaluate. Did you spot a shirt tucked into the back of your closet that you never wear when you put your laundry away? Can you ditch it? You don’t have to be compulsive about searching for things to ditch, but looking at your things objectively when you’re tidying up helps to keep working on minimalistic practices.
  6. Make your bed every day. In the morning is preferable. Have you ever taken a look at how large your bed is? If it’s messy, it looks like the whole room is messy. In comparison, if you leave a glass and book out on your bedside table, but the bed is made, nobody would hardly notice. Making my bed each morning just makes me feel good and gives me a place to comfortably rest or hang out during the day.
  7. Create a cleaning routine. Focus on the flow — move fluidly from one room to the next instead of bouncing around your home like a ball in a pinball machine. It’ll take less time and you won’t have to put much mental effort into making sure you check everything off your list. Check podcast episode 12 for some tips, although I go into the nitty gritty depth of how to do this in Patreon Exclusive episode 7. $3/month patrons get two bonus exclusive podcast episodes each month and you’re also supporting the show continuing, my friends. Thanks for considering!

The Darwin Awards Podcast

Jenny Mustard Minimalist Cleaning Habits — Get Tidy + Organized

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

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

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!

6 Tips for Making Mindful Purchases

Posted on by Katie Coughran

 Listen to the podcast episode below, or stroll down to read my post that briefly goes over my six tips.

Every day, I see ads, spot things in stores, or see images and video of people using products that make me pause and wonder whether I, too, would like to own that item. As a minimalist, I’m constantly trying to avoid this kind of temptation, and I turn down 99.9% of the things I see.

The thing is, even with all of my constant efforts to say, “no,” there are still items that wear out, tools I need, and others in my family that would like to own things that I’m not interested in. Purchases are inevitable, even if that means buying a fresh pair of undies on occasion.

Knowing this, here are six tips that will help you — and me — to stay on track when it comes to deciding whether or not you’ll be bringing something new into the home.

  1. First off, it’s OK to LOVE your stuff. Some may think this means you’ll end up purchasing more because there are lots of things to love out there. What I’ve found since becoming more and more of an extreme minimalist is that the vetting process now has such a high standard, I am rarely tempted to buy anything because I know I won’t love it. The things in our home are things we are adore and if they aren’t, they’re in consideration for being let go of. Knowing I HAVE to love it for it to come in means more “NOs” than ever. 
  2. Don’t purchase things in search of false security. A long time ago, I used to shop in search of happiness and security. I never found it. Knowing that I need a tool for my life and then going and searching for that tool is my new gig and actually brings useful items into my life without all the excess. Knowing what I need to buy is very different from going to the store to search for something to buy.
  3. Take your time before buying. I’m gaining a little patience and contentedness the older I get. Most things aren’t items I need RIGHT NOW. I’m much better at waiting for the excitement of spontaneity to wear off in order to have a clear mind to go through the positive vs negative value of an item. Usually, once I wait for the potential thrill of a purchase to go away, I don’t actually want the item anymore and I’m glad I didn’t buy it.
  4. Research for quality and whether it will serve its purpose. A lot of times, when I know I want to allow something into our home, I’m tempted by the first option I come across. Waiting and researching, thinking about how the item will be used, and what I actually need will often better ensure that I bring the RIGHT item into our home.
  5. Budget and save while you’re researching. I don’t know about you, but putting stuff on credit doesn’t feel good to me. Saving up while I’m researching DOES, and I love knowing I can pay with cash and afford what I’m buying. I know this can be difficult and sometimes impossible, but it’s always an effort I make so I have total peace about my purchase.
  6. Ask yourself if there’s an experience or necessity you’d rather spend your money on. Asking myself this has often instantly removed the temptation to buy and it’s probably the first question I ask myself.

There are so many different ways to make mindful purchases, but I hope one or more of these tips helps you to create a home you love and feel comfortable in.

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!

Here’s the video I talked about on the show — Simple Happy Zen’s 25 Things I Only Own 1 Of

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

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

Minimalism and the Power of Positive Thinking — Ep. 34

Posted on by Katie Coughran

There is so much power in positivity, I’ve made one of my life’s focuses attempting to surround myself with as much of it as possible. I’m happier, I get more done, and I personally feel I have more positive impact on others when I’m positive. Minimalism and positivity go hand in hand — removing negativity means making free spaces in our minds and homes so we can live our best lives.

Listen to the full episode by hitting the play button, or read a shortened snippet below:

There are so many tools out there to support embracing positivity. We’re all different, though, and what works for one person won’t work for another. While I’ve tried a lot of different positivity practices, these are just a few of my favorites.

Vision Boards

I’ve been using some form of vision boards since I was a kid. My brother was the first person to teach this to me, though he didn’t call it a vision board or even have a traditional one — he had posters of those that inspired him on his wall. This left a great impression on me and I used the same technique growing up until I discovered more traditional vision boards.

Journalling

I’ve also used journals to focus on my goals since I was kid. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was also able to remove negativity by expressing myself. I now have two different types of journals — one strictly for emotions I’m processing that I’ll toss someday, and another for posterity. Journalling is inspiring to look back on and helps to give a beautiful vision of how far we’ve come. Or where we can improve.

Ideal Live Vision

I’ve used this idea (see link below) in the past, though I’ve never taken the official course, so I’m really not certain about whether I’m doing it “right” or not. However, I HAVE felt the positive effects of writing out and recording my goals and dreams as if they’ve already happened and listening to it daily. It’s been a beautiful way of assisting progress.

Remove Negativity From Your Life 

This one is tricky. I absolutely don’t mean to be selfish, brush problems under the rug, or ignore feelings. However, after validating my and others’ issues and feelings, dealing with problems with a positive outlook has been really helpful to me and I feel I’ve been more supportive to others by doing my best to be uplifting.

Thoughts Become Things … Choose the Good Ones — Mike Dooley

I’ve got to say, Mike Dooley is my favorite Law of Attraction-type guru. I can relate so well to his main idea of “do your best with what you’ve got right now.” It’s so easy for me to get on board with this idea that being positive and doing your best will get you to your main destination more quickly and happily. My favorite book from his is linked below.

It’s not always easy to practice being positive. Sometimes life sucks — there, I said it! But having a few tools to help me out of emotional ditches has vastly improved my life. I hope you’ll find some of these ideas helpful to you, too.

Mike Dooley’s Infinite Possibilities

Ideal Life Vision

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!

Minimalist Kitchen Tips — Ep. 33

Posted on by Katie Coughran

Like many people, I spend a LOT of time in the kitchen. I want my family to be well-fed and nourished, so — as difficult as it is some days — I put in the time. Having a well-organized menu, shopping list, and cupboards have helped me to be more efficient and make sure that my time is well-used.

In this episode, I talk about everything from our minimalist menu, to cleaning and organizing with minimalism in mind, to the positives of having a few to zero items on your kitchen counters.

When I think about how much time I spend in the kitchen, I know it’s worth it for me and my family to put in the effort to have a pleasant, clean space to prepare our healthy and delicious foods.

It may sound contradictory to want to have less in the kitchen in order to have more nutritious foods in our bodies, but minimalism has helped us to achieve our goals when it comes to eating healthier simply because our menu and cabinets are organized and we have more time to prep deliciousness instead of spending excessive amounts of time cleaning dish after dish. On top of that, having minimalist aesthetics in the kitchen makes it a much more peaceful place, something that I personally appreciate very much.

Whether you spend a lot or a little bit of time in the kitchen, I hope these tips help you to make yours a place you enjoy to be.

Listen to the podcast episode by clicking the play button below.

Article: What a Minimalist Kitchen Really Looks Like

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

My latest videos on YouTube:
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!

10 Things I Don’t Buy Anymore — Another List — Ep. 31

Posted on by Katie Coughran

There are so many things that I used to purchase that weren’t necessary! When I think back, sometimes I bought those items because I felt some sort of social obligation. I also would buy things without considering the non-monetary cost of owning those items. Now, I’m much more mindful about what I bring into our home and try to make sure that when I purchase something, it’s actually necessary or worth the cost and space if it’s more of a luxury item.

Check out the podcast by clicking the play button below:

Ron L Banks Youtube channel and the video I talked about — Check it out HERE

Here’s the Berkey Water Filter System we bought (this is an affiliate link — thanks for your support of the show!)

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

My latest videos on YouTube:
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!

Imposter Syndrome and Minimalism — Ep. 30

Posted on by Katie Coughran

Nearly a decade ago, I gave up minimalism because of Imposter Syndrome Thoughts. It made my life messy in many ways, but the worst part was that I gave in to feelings of inadequacy instead of the logical thoughts I had about finding my own kind of minimalism.

Imposter thoughts became apparent in many areas of my life, which was the final tipping point for me in wanting to overcome those feelings. I became so frustrated with always wondering who was going to “find me out” that it made me dig deeply into the causes of my thoughts and actions.

My other tipping point was when I realized that life was NOT better with a return to being a maximalist. I was NOT happier with excessive amounts of things. I DIDN’T have the ability to do more activities because, while I had more possessions to tinker around with, I was spending so much time cleaning up and looking after my things, I was spending most of my days doing housework instead of creating and practicing my hobbies. Essentially, I was miserable.

Overcoming those Imposter thoughts that I had was the first step for me — it was essential for me to return to peace and, among other things, minimalism. Once I accepted that I was doing my best in one area, I applied that same self-love and acceptance to other areas. I took stock of where I could do better and moved forward. As I took those steps and became more and more OK with the fact that I’m a work in progress — just like everyone else — I was happy as I returned to minimalism. In particular, though, it was MY kind of minimalism.

I am so very thankful that I made better choices just a short way down the road, bringing me back to minimalism. It really is about finding YOUR kind of minimalism, being confident in practicing it, and knowing you’re on a unique adventure. Get the full scoop by clicking the play button below to listen to the podcast episode:

Here’s the article I talk about on the podcast: Yes, Imposter Syndrome is Real: Here’s How to Deal with It

Hush, Now Forget — the Sisters of Bloodcreek Trilogy

Into the Wild by Erin Hunter (affiliate link to the ebook — thank you for your support at no additional cost to you!)

My Anthology of short stories and poetry, It Calls Me

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

My latest videos on YouTube:
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!

Minimalism and Healthy Eating — Ep. 29

Posted on by Katie Coughran

Once again, I’ve discovered that minimalism can apply to yet another aspect of my life — healthy eating. This week, I’m talking about four ways minimalism has helped me to eat better, feel better, lose weight and get back on track when there’s a lag in goodness going into my body.

Click the play button below to listen:

I’m not a doctor or nutritionist and this really doesn’t have anything to do with A diet, but rather with eating more healthfully. There have been so many times I’ve over-complicated things. It’s made my life absolutely miserable sometimes, while other experiences of creating an unnecessarily complex situation have allowed me to learn. I would say that my journey of figuring out what healthy eating means to me has been full of side paths and backward motion, but they’ve all led me where I am now, and I’m a much healthier individual at this point.

I’ve knowingly and not-so-knowingly used minimalism to help me find my way. The first intentional step I took toward minimalism came when I realized our dinner menu was way too complicated. Out of desperation, I decided I would purchase lots of fruits and veggies for the week, but create a menu I’d use EVERY week using a few different bases with a variety of toppings to make them interesting. Beans and rice, rice and veggies, potatoes, and pasta were spread over the week, and I changed up their flavors with all of those veggies and seasonings I had on hand. It was wonderful to eat so many delicious foods, but also know what was for dinner because Wednesday nights were potato nights, etc.

On top of simplifying our dinners, I’ve simplified my lunch and breakfast. Over the years, I’ve accepted that I enjoy having a smoothie for breakfast and am happy to have one each morning. I switch them up, but mostly, I know what I need to have on hand and keep it pretty basic. It’s comforting to have a salad each day for lunch — I’m getting my greens in, I don’t have to waste mental energy on wondering what’s for lunch, and it’s nice to find different ways to eat a salad. Minimalism in the kitchen is amazing!

The previous two minimalist practices have helped me to eat more healthfully than the others in some ways, but I couldn’t do it without practicing emotional minimalism around food issues that arise, as well as finding my healthy eating hero (High Carb Hannah — see link below). These two practices  keep my mind clear and healthy, and also keep diet distractions and confusion to a minimum. With all the noise around what’s healthy and what’s not, I’m so grateful to have found High Carb Hannah because my body simply reacts to her kind of plant-based diet.

Whatever your health goals, I hope me sharing my minimalist practices around healthy eating can help you simplify and focus on what’s important.

High Carb Hannah’s YouTube channel

My latest videos on YouTube:
How to Make Cashew Yogurt
Sushi Bowl Salad

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

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

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!

Why I Love Tiny House Living — Ep. 25

Posted on by Katie Coughran

There are so many things to love about minimalism. Living in a small space can be one of them. We’ve lived in all kinds of home sizes, but right now, we’re loving our tiny house on wheels. In this episode, I’ll tell you why.

What I’m Reading:
Sisters of Bloodcreek Trilogy by Mary Gray and Cammie Larsen
Hush, Now Forget — Book 1
Sleep, Don’t Fret — Book 2
Rise, Take Flight — Book 3

My latest videos on YouTube:
How to Make Cashew Yogurt
Sushi Bowl Salad

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

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

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!

Five Ways Minimalism Can Save You Money: Ep. 24

Posted on by Katie Coughran

Minimalism affects so many different aspects of our lives, including our budget. Here are some ways we’ve saved money by practicing minimalism. Hit the Play Button below to have a listen:

My latest videos on YouTube:
How to Make Cashew Yogurt
Sushi Bowl Salad

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

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist— Josiah’s Instagram

Brightside.me article: 10 Tips to Help you Recognize Quality Items

The Darwin Awards Podcast — Josiah’s Podcast

The How to be a Minimalist YouTube Channel — Please subscribe!

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!