Tag: #howtobeaminimalist

How to Declutter — Negative VS Positive Value

Posted on by Katie Coughran

Sometimes it’s really difficult to evaluate our possessions and determine whether something has earned its place in our home. I hope my take helps!

Watch by hitting the play button or read the recap by scrolling down.

There was a time when I didn’t understand when or why I should keep or ditch something. As soon as I realized that each item I own has both positive and negative value and vibes, it became so much more clear what I wanted to have around me. Things with bad vibes? Absolutely not! Beautiful, space-efficient things I love? Heck yes!

Here are just a couple of tips for determining negative and positive value:

How much space does it take? Items can be useful and wonderful but still have a lot of negative value if they take up too much space. This is where you have to decide if an item is worth the space or not. If it’s not worth the space but you still want that type of functional tool in your life, look for a similar item that is space-efficient.

Do negative memories surround an item? I’ve used this example many times in my books and podcast, but it’s the example that cemented negative value in for me. I had a blouse that was beautiful and looked great on me…but when I purchased it, somebody said something incredibly rude to me. I kept the shirt but hated wearing it and I tried to avert my eyes when I opened the closet because every time I saw the blouse, I couldn’t help but remember that comment. Ditching that shirt was like ditching that comment. Now when I use it as an example and remember it, I see that comment as that person’s character issue and not mine. Even though it stung at the time, I’m grateful for the lesson I—eventually—learned.

If you have items that bring back terrible memories and make you feel bad about yourself, why are you keeping them? Is there enough negative value there that you can let those items go?

The same goes for the opposite—if you have something functional and to your taste with great memories attached, try to make space for it in your home.

Is it adding to the style you want to achieve in your home/wardrobe? If you have something that doesn’t add to the vibes you’re trying to achieve in your space, why are you keeping it? The negative value is that you have something that isn’t making your home/wardrobe feel the way you want, therefore taking up space you could be using for something that would make your home exactly the way you want it to be.

When I bring something into my home/wardrobe now, I’m hyper aware of style, quality, and space. I never want something that won’t be well-loved and used in our home again. Of course, I know I’ll fail at this task at many points, but I find myself succeeding more and more often.

Whatever you need to declutter, I hope these tips help you make decisions about what earns a place in your home and what needs to find a home elsewhere. After all, if you have to spend your precious time and resources housing it, shouldn’t you make sure it’s truly worth the effort?

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

Want to listen to the How to be a Minimalist podcast? You can find it here

Hang out with me on Instagram

Want to become a patron to the show? Get two bonus exclusive podcast episodes each month by signing up for just $3 a month at the link below. Thanks for considering!

https://www.patreon.com/Katiecoughran

Minimalist Tips for Beginners

Posted on by Katie Coughran

There are so many reasons to practice minimalism, but sometimes it’s easy to get lost when we begin to simplify our lives. Here are some tips to help you out.

Click the play button below or scroll down to read the article.

There are so many tips that can aid you in your minimalistic practices, but these are a few of my favorites that keep me going time and time again. I hope they help you, too!

1. Define your “Whys.” Sounds kind of cheesy, but it actually works. If you don’t know why you’re doing something, when times get tough, it’s easy to give up. However, if you know what you want to get out of minimalism and you’re either going to continue practicing minimalism or give up your goals and dreams, it’s a lot harder to throw in the towel than when you don’t realize what you’re giving up. Define your “Whys” — those wants and dreams. It’ll be a lot harder to quit and will ensure you get closer to what you want.

2. Declutter one micro space at a time. If you’re just starting out, I usually recommend starting small. Start with a drawer in one piece of furniture, then work on the next drawer in that piece, and the next until the entire piece is decluttered from top to bottom. You’re much more likely to feel really good about that piece, it’s easier to see progress than if you grabbed random stuff from around your home, and you’ll probably want to put in a little effort to keep the space clean. Grabbing random stuff from around the house isn’t quite as noticeable.

3. Don’t stop progressing—set aside items you’re stuck on and continue moving. Lots of times people stop their forward motion while decluttering because they get stuck on an item/set of items. Instead of setting them aside and continuing to ditch and declutter items they CAN make decisions about, lots of people simply stop their progress. Some even quit.

If you’re stuck on an item or space, move on. Set that item aside in a box or even empty the drawers of a particular piece of furniture (use a couple of boxes), then tuck those boxes away into a space labeled, “Still deciding.” Once you’re done decluttering and ditching stuff in the rest of your home or after several months, come back to the box and see if you’re ready to decide.

Call yourself a minimalist, practice minimalism, and don’t worry about whether your home has been decluttered 100%. We’re all works in progress and honestly, I don’t think it’s ever done. Minimalism isn’t about one massive overhaul, but about living mindfully about what you choose to allow into your life. The massive overhaul is just an initial clearing out that gives you more opportunities to make those choices about what you really want in your life.

4. Minimalism is about more than physical possessions. Check out your schedule—what’s cluttering it up? Or what ISN’T on your schedule that really should be? What about your budget—what’s on there that’s keeping you from experiences or isn’t on there that would enhance your life? What’s cluttering up your mind or not taking up enough space in your thoughts? My commitment to minimalism truly began once I realized it wasn’t only to be practiced with my kitchen gadgets.

5. Find YOUR kind of minimalism. This is pretty much the heart of everything I talk about when it comes to minimalism. It’s great to gather information about how to practice something, but the way you actually make it functional in your life is by trying it out and seeing what works for you and your home. Learn from others, but in the end, don’t worry about how they’re implementing minimalism—do it your way or it’ll never be all it can for you.

I hope these tips help! Remember, it’s all about the experiences, not the stuff.

Want to listen to the How to be a Minimalist podcast? You can find it here

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Want to become a patron to the show? Get two bonus exclusive podcast episodes each month by signing up for just $3 a month by heading over to Patreon RIGHT HERE. Thanks for considering!

5 Quick Chores that Keep Your House Clean

Posted on by Katie Coughran

 

Cleaning is one of my least favorite things to do. That’s why I try to manage our home cleanliness by doing quick chores that keep things in shape. These help me so much and I hope they help you, too!

Click below to watch the video or you can scroll down to read the article. Thanks for hanging out with me!

There are lots of quick things you can do to tidy up your home fast, but these are my favorites. Let me know in the comments if you’ve got one you can’t skip on!

1. Fold and put laundry away as soon as it’s done. This one is tough, but it’s one that ALWAYS makes our home feel better. Relative to the space in your house, having a pile of laundry on your sofa is a much bigger mess than having a few toys or books out. Getting it folded and put away will immediately have a positive impact on your home. (Thanks for submitting this tip, HeatherAnne!)

2. Put the dishes away as soon as they’re dry. I never enjoy this one, probably because I home-cook all of our food and do a ton of dishes. Still, once they’re dry, I’ve been making more effort to put them away and be done with the task. It helps me to be ready to cook the next healthy meal and generally makes our home feel better.

3. Wipe the bathroom down daily. If you have multiple bathrooms this can be a daunting task. We only have one in our RV, so it gets pretty messy. I’ve got a homemade cleaner that makes me feel better about getting my kids to help out than if I had harsh chemicals. When we do this daily, our house feels so much cleaner and it’s one of the few chores that gets easier and easier to do than the first time it’s done when there’s likely a week of grime built up. Don’t get into scrubbing down the tub or things like that—save that for Saturdays. Just wipe the toilet, sink, and mirror and you’ll see a big improvement and be able to get it done quickly. If you have multiple bathrooms, get to the one that gets the most traffic and rotate through the others in order to ease your burden.

4. Do a nightly tidy-up. This is one of my favorites because we all jump in and clean for 5 minutes and the house suddenly feels great. I actually sleep better knowing it’s done! This nightly tidy-up means straightening the couch, putting keys/bags where they belong, toys away, dirty clothes head to the hamper, and coats are hung in the closet. Don’t make it complicated—just do those quick, easy things that make the house feel better but don’t require a vacuum.

5. Make the bed each morning. This one is so important! Think about it—your bed is a massive piece of furniture, so if it isn’t made, it feels like a massive mess. Make your bed when you get up and if you have kids, help them get into the habit of doing it, too. Your whole house will probably feel cleaner and it’ll make those beds more relaxing places to read in during the day or climb into at night.

Good luck with keeping your house tidy and remember, it’s all about the experiences, not stuff.

Want to listen to the How to be a Minimalist podcast? You can find it here

Hang out with me on Instagram

Want to become a patron to the show? Get two bonus exclusive podcast episodes each month by signing up for just $3 a month by CLICKING HERE. Thanks for considering!

 

VEGAN SOUR CREAM AND SALSA DIP || CULTURED CASHEW CREAM RECIPE

Posted on by Katie Coughran

CLICK THE PICTURE ABOVE OR RIGHT HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO ON HOW TO MAKE THE SALSA DIP OR SCROLL DOWN TO READ THE SUPER EASY RECIPE.

My Cultured Cashew Ygurt/Cream has changed our lives and we now use it pretty much anywhere we would have used cheese in the past. Mixing it with salsa is just one way we enjoy the delicious sour cream/cheesy flavor. Find the recipes for how to make the yogurt, another cheesy dip, and the salsa dip below.

 

Vegan Sour Cream and Salsa Dip Recipe:

1/3 Cup Vegan Sour Cream (I use my cashew yogurt recipe linked above)

1/3 Cup Mild Original Pace Salsa (or try another salsa you enjoy)

In a small bowl, combine the salsa and cashew yogurt. Enjoy over tacos, vegan nachos, as a tortilla chip dip, or anywhere else you like salsa.

Minimalism in the Workspace

Posted on by Katie Coughran

Whatever kind of work you do, in this episode I’m walking you through several ways you can bring minimalism to work. After all, many people spend almost as many hours doing their work as they spend on their personal lives. I hope these tips help you to have a more productive and peaceful workspace.

Listen to the episode by hitting the play button or scroll down to read the article.

Today, I want to talk about minimalism in workspaces, but talking about minimalism and an office space isn’t broad enough, but I also can’t possibly talk about every type of different work and how to apply minimalism to that particular area. I decided to break it up into a few different areas. I hope you find these tips helpful!

At Work, In Person:

This may sound basic, but keep your drawers nicely sorted. It’s hard because you’re working and taking the time to tidy up might even be frowned upon. In the end, though, it’ll make you better able to work efficiently, so spending a little time outside of work hours will end up helping you to work more quickly and have a more enjoyable space.

On a similar note, keep your desktop sorted out! Ask yourself, “What do I really need and want on my desk?” From there, you can decide how many photos and desk toys you want. I know from experience that shuffling things around your desk isn’t productive.

If you need organizing tools, get them…but only if you actually have thought about it and determined that you need them. It’s easy to have a space full of organizers without being organized at all.

If there’s a lot of drama at work, choose carefully who you spend optional time with. On the other hand, find those people that are uplifting and eat your lunch or collaborate with them as much as possible. Yes, your desk space is important, but your head space and choosing to fill it with either negativity or positivity is way more important. Negativity is the worst kind of clutter.

Driving for Work/Commuter Tips:

Spending a lot of time in a vehicle can lead to a lot of garbage tucked into door pockets and cup holders. Having a system for your garbage is essential! Keep a bin, bag, or garbage gadget in your car so it’s easy to toss your apple cores.

There’s a rule in hiking; “Pack it in, pack it out.” The same applies to vehicles—if you pack it in, pack it out. Don’t leave garbage or objects behind, no matter how tired you are after your day of hard work.

Don’t forget to wash the outside of your vehicle! It can be a challenge—especially if you drive a commercial vehicle—but it’ll make you feel great to drive a rig that’s clean inside and out.

Find ways to eat healthfully while you’re on the road. It’s already a sedentary life to be driving and sitting so much, eating unhealthy junk foods all day doesn’t help. Minimalism has been a big help when it comes to travel and packing foods for my husband—we keep it simple and healthy, which saves food and menu prep time. I’ve been making myself 1-2 things at the beginning of the week so I can save food prep time and it’s been an awesome way to allow myself to have more time to write and podcast instead of spending that time on cooking or opting to grab something unhealthy, instead.

Working at Home

If you’re working an office Job at home, what do you really need on your desk and in your space? Also, since you’re working from home, I’m assuming you have at least a teeny bit more control of your space than when you’re at an office building. How can you be happier in your space? Better lighting? Tidying your home the night before? Take advantage of being the decider of your office space so you can add to your happiness.

If you’re working at home as a homemaker, what tools do you need? I know that as the keeper of budgets, schedules, activities, menus, etc., I have things I NEED, but don’t often treat myself to. It’s wrong and I’m working on it. Need an hour so you can take care of your budget? Schedule it in. Need a desk drawer so you can have a place to keep your tools? Re-organize the desk. Almost every type of work requires some type of tool, so making sure you have what you need as the home maker is important. With the wide variety within the many areas we manage, it’s impossible to do it well without having the essentials.

Put your work away when you’re done. While we spend a good part of our lives at our work, our home life is more important and where we can take care of ourselves, reenergize, and spend time with loved ones. No need to keep our work out on our desk or other areas; this visual will only nag at us and keep our minds from relaxing into our home life.

Minimalist Challenge: Ask yourself, “What’s one thing that bothers me about my work area?” Maybe it’s your cluttered desk, unorganized pantry, or trash in your vehicle. Whatever the case, spend ten minutes working on it during your lunch or after work hours until you’ve got it the way you want it.

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

Here’s the article I talked about in the podcast episode.

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.

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!

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

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!

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!

How to Start Practicing Minimalism — Ep. 32

Posted on by Katie Coughran

If you’ve been enjoying the How to be a Minimalist podcast or are new to it but haven’t quite figured out where to start with minimalism, this is the podcast episode for you. I offer four steps I wish I would have started with when I first began practicing minimalism and I hope they help you on your minimalist journey. Listen to the podcast by clicking the play button below or read about the four steps below.

Step 1. Stop accumulating STUFF

This is important for two reasons — first off, this gives us time to evaluate what we have and what we actually need, which makes the process of getting rid of things easier. It’s also helpful to building better habits.

Secondly, this allows the “wear and tear” process to begin and ensures that we actually use up what we have. There’s nothing wrong with getting something new! You might consider if it’s the best choice to buy now, or wear out the thing you want to replace, first.

It’s worthwhile to note here that you should be mindful about what you bring in. Even thought it’s tempting to buy the first thing you see when you’re ready to replace an item, taking your time to purchase something that you both love and find perfectly useful will serve you well in the end.

Step 2. Write down your WHYS

We all need motivators. Understanding why you’re practicing minimalism is like creating a reward for yourself when you ditch an item, and also cements in why you’re practicing living this lifestyle.

When we finally decided to sell our home and purchase an RV to live in full time, I began getting rid of even more stuff than I ever had before. I would look at an item, tell myself, “I want to live in an RV,” then decide if I should keep that item or not. I can’t tell you how many things I got rid of just from saying that little mantra over and over.

Times will get tough. You’ll wonder why you are living simply. Saying something like, “I want to spend more time with my family and less time cleaning up my stuff,” or “I want a healthy budget” can help you to overcome those moments when you want to make a spontaneous purchase or don’t understand why you’re trying to donate your old prom dress.

Step 3. Ditch, Donate, and Declutter

I understand wanting the downsizing process to happen quickly, but many people that try to rush this step pass up developing good habits. Snapping our fingers and having everything we don’t want disappear would be amazing, yet it wouldn’t give us the same opportunities for growth. Making consistent efforts to work through your things until you’ve achieved your ideal minimalist home will most likely go better than one ditching session over a weekend.

On top of that, going through your things just once isn’t really enough. I’m constantly evaluating our possessions, determining what is still useful and wanted. Taking the time to do this has made me a much more mindful minimalist.

Step 4. Don’t forget minimalist practices on your calendar

Practice saying “no.” Look carefully at your activities and obligations — are they adding meaning and value to your life or are they simply running out the clock? In the podcast episode today, I talk about wanting my life to mean something. Ditching activities that weren’t getting me and my family to that end goal has been an important part of living minimalism to its fullest.

Good luck with finding YOUR kind of minimalism and remember, it’s all about the experiences, not the stuff.

Here’s the article from Beautiful Minimal Millennial and her Instagram

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!

Minimalism, Heirlooms, and Collections: Ep. 26

Posted on by Katie Coughran

There have been plenty of times when I felt I couldn’t keep something simply because I was a minimalist. There’s more to minimalism than having as few items as possible, though. It’s about keeping the truly significant in your life, and that means you have to figure out when it’s a good time to hold on or let go. Have a listen by clicking the play button below or find the How to be a Minimalist podcast on your favorite podcast app.

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

Here’s the link to the Barefoot Minimalist Podcast I talked about

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!