Tag: minimalism

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

How to be a Minimalist Q&A

Posted on by Katie Coughran

In this episode, I do my best to answer some of your questions. I hope you enjoy and that they’re helpful!

Click the play button to listen to the podcast episode or scroll down to read the How to be a Minimalist Q&A. Thanks for hanging out with me!

I absolutely loved answering these questions. It made me consider carefully and allowed me to see how far I’ve come. I hope you’ll take a moment to see how far you’ve come, too.

Here are the questions and my answers:

1. What do you do with photographs? Personally, because we so heavily invest in experiences and travel, I love having photo albums. We don’t have a ton, but my kids love them, it’s a bonding experience to look at them together, and it’s preserving our family history. In the future, I’d like to replace the albums we have with one that’s made of wood or something that will go beautifully with our home—a feature instead of an excuse of a place that holds our memories.

If you don’t want a photo album, go digital. Ask family members if they want the originals of the old black and white photographs and consider uploading them to a genealogy site where many can enjoy them.

In my opinion, it’s not so much a problem that we keep photos of memories, but that we take SO MANY on our smart phones and never go through to clean them out. This is a project I’ve been working on a bit and want to dive into more, but even more importantly, I’m trying harder to not remove myself from the moment unless it’s truly worth the photo to disturb it. Taking less pictures will most certainly help with this question!

2. Do you have any tips for going plant-based? Absolutely I do! Here are the things I wish I would have learned ten years ago: Eat the best produce you can afford and more of it in general, and make simple meals that have complex flavors.

I wish I would have been eating as much produce as possible all these years because it has drastically improved my health to get lots of greens, veggies, and potatoes and rice into my body. They’ve healed so much of what was messed up. Also, most of the time, big box store produce is awful and I’m not surprised when I hear that people dislike salads or veggies. I don’t like salads or veggies from big box stores, either! As often as I can, I try to purchase produce at farmers markets, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Sprouts, or other places like that. It’s far superior and worth the extra cost (if there is any—I often find savings).

Keeping the meals simple by creating new dishes with basic ingredients saves so much time and effort! I season and cook things differently, which prevents boredom and actually makes cooking interesting.

Eating plant-based takes effort and has forced a lot of change in my pantry, but it’s been one of the best things I’ve ever done. I feel amazing and so much happier.

3. Bullet Journals—how do you use one to achieve your goals? This question honestly needs a video, so watch out for that in the future. Basically, though, I use my bullet journal to plan out and achieve my goals, keeping a few lists of completed tasks in the pages.

1. Keep a write-out-your-goals page—don’t include how-to steps, here.

2. Keep a monthly spread page that has tasks you’ll complete within the month to be able to achieve your goals. Put check boxes next to the tasks because that’s just a nice feeling and also allows you to see success as well as areas you can improve.

3. After each monthly spread page, create basic weekly pages much like you’d find in a planner. Here you’ll turn your monthly tasks into micro tasks to check off each day.

Because I’ve focused on goals for my bullet journal (these dotted grid blank journals can be used for anything!), it’s very centered on that and doesn’t include things other than my goals. I’ve gotten so much done using this form of organizing! I might get one for home schooling next year because I love the way they work so well.

4. What made me decide to practice minimalism? There were two key moments that convinced me that a firm commitment to minimalism would greatly enhance my life. These stories are a lot longer than I try to keep these posts, so you’ll have to listen to the podcast episode on the player above in order to hear the full scoop, but basically, I had two moments a couple of years apart that massively contrasted each other and that’s when everything began to change.

First, when we were traveling a decade ago, I realized that everything that was truly important and necessary to me was in the car and tent trailer we towed. It made me feel vulnerable for a moment before a feeling of focus and love for my family washed over me. It made me committed to keeping what was enhancing my life and ditching the rest.

Secondly, when we were settled into a home we were renting a year or so later, I found myself overwhelmed by the mess and dredges from letting too much stuff into our home and lives. I’d felt betrayed by minimalist expectations and had walked away from minimalism, but this was an even greater betrayal—stuff really doesn’t make you happy if it’s excessive, unnecessary, and unused.

I’m so grateful for those two experiences—my mental shift never would have happened without them.

5. Where can I find your recipes? First off, you can find most of them by scrolling through the blog right here. Also, you can find them on my YouTube channel—How to be a Minimalist—or at all the links I’ve conveniently placed below. There are a few special recipes that I give to Patrons. If you’d like to become a patron of my work, you can do so by clicking HERE. Thanks for your support!

Hope this Q&A helps and I’ll see you next time. Remember, it’s all about the experiences, not the stuff.

How to be a Minimalist YouTube Videos—52 videos in 2020 Goal:

20. Minimalist Tips for Beginners
19. 5 Chores that Keep Your House Tidy
18. Vegan Sour Cream and Salsa Dip
17. Meals for Maximum Weight Loss
16. Minimalist Nightly Routine
15. Goddess Dressing Recipe + Minimalist Weekly Food Prep
14. Vegetable Orzo Pasta Recipe
13. VLOG: Beacon Rock State Park—RV Minimalists Edition
12. 5 Things I Don’t Buy Anymore as a Minimalist
11. Homemade Hummus Recipe
10. Five Daily Habits that can Improve Your Life
9. Creamy Butternut Squash Soup (Plant-Based/Dairy-Free)
8. Soft and Fluffy Dinner Rolls (Plant-Based, Oil-Free, Dairy-Free)
7. Chocolate Cream Pie (Plant-Based with Oil-Free Crust)
6. Simple Crunchy Granola Recipe
5. Vegan Cheesy Fry Sauce
4. How to Make Cashew Yogurt
3. Sushi Bowl Salad
2. Cashew Milk Recipe
1. WeColor Silicone Straw Review

The Darwin Awards Podcast — My husband and his brothers’ podcast

Something Interesting: Embrace Intentions YouTube Channel & Instagram

You can now purchase my book, How to be a Minimalist — A Beginner’s Guide! Click HERE to see the details.

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

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

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 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!

 

Vegetable Orzo Pasta — Oil-Free and Vegan

Posted on by Katie Coughran

 

Eating plant-based has been a major game-changer for me and it’s been a positive influence on my family. This recipe can be easily adapted so that most vegetables you have on hand can replace the ones I use here. Green beans, asparagus, shredded or thinly diced carrot, or celery would likely all be quite tasty in this recipe. I hope you enjoy!

Find the recipe details below and don’t forget to click on the video link to see how I make it. Thanks for watching!

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

Hang out with me on Instagram

 

VEGETABLE ORZO PASTA RECIPE

1.5-2 Cups orzo pasta, cooked and drained according to package instructions 

1 yellow squash, chopped

2 cups chopped broccoli

1 cup chopped onion

.5 cup chopped red bell pepper

.5 cup chopped mushrooms

.5 tsp thyme

.5 tsp basil

1 tsp garlic

1 tsp onion powder

.5 tsp Himalayan pink salt 

.5 tsp ground pepper

Water or vegetable broth for water sautéing 

Cook the orzo pasta according to package instructions. Water sauté onion, bell pepper and mushrooms until the onions are translucent and fragrant, about 2-3 minutes. Add in the squash and broccoli and continue cooking until the broccoli heads are bright green and a fork goes into the stalk to your desired tenderness. Add water or vegetable broth as necessary for sautéing.

Drain the pasta and set aside until the veggies are done.

Once the vegetables are to your liking, add in the pasta and herbs/seasonings. Mix well to combine and it’s ready to be plated.

Minimalist Night Routine — Getting Ready to Rest

Posted on by Katie Coughran

While I have an episode on creating morning and nightly cleaning routines, this one doesn’t include much tidying up. In this episode, I talk about the things I do—or don’t do—in order to get ready for a great night of sleep.

Listen to the episode by hitting the play button below, watch my YouTube video on the topic by scrolling down a bit, or feel free to read my written thoughts on the topic below.

I don’t think I’m the only one that—at one point or another—has struggled to get good sleep. After pinpointing some things I did that were contributing to poor sleep hygiene, I’ve begun practicing these habits and it’s made a huge difference. Now, sleep comes much more easily.

1. Tidy up before bed. This doesn’t have to be some massive chore. It doesn’t have to include vacuuming or wiping down bathrooms. Just focus on putting bags and shoes away, straightening couch pillows, and clearing off the coffee table. This way, you’re ready for the morning and don’t have these chores nagging at you while lying in bed.

2. Check your calendar. It’s not always my favorite thing to schedule out a busy day, but once I have a plan, I can let it go and prepare for better rest knowing I won’t wake to chaos.

3. Relax for a bit. Once the house is tidy and the schedule created and let go of, taking a moment to have tea, be quiet, chat with a loved one, or cozy up with a good book is well-deserved. By this time of night, I’m exhausted and ready to quit working. Giving myself a break is one of the best self care practices I could indulge in.

4. Avoid Information Overload. When it comes to getting ready to sleep, nothing can disrupt relaxation more than checking in on media/social media. I’m not heartless—I absolutely care considerably about the happenings near and far from me. But 99.9999% of the time, there’s nothing I can do about any of the many issues I could potentially across 10 minutes before bed. I am a much more productive person in the morning, so I try to save my social media time for daylight hours only.

5. Turn off the screens. I continuously hear more and more about screens making a person more alert and straining eyes rather than preparing a person for bed. I’ve been making more efforts to give my eyes and mind a break by getting off of screens well before I turn off the light for bedtime and it’s making a huge difference.

6. Think of successes right before sleeping. This one can be tricky—I often think of my struggles as wife and mother as I drift off to sleep. Unsurprisingly, when I allow my mind to do this, I sleep terribly, wake unrested, and usually have bad dreams. Journaling about my successes, then thinking about them—no matter how small they are—has been a huge help in getting better sleep.

Thanks for reading this article, listening to the podcast, and/or watching my YouTube video! I hope these tips help you to sleep better and thanks for being here.

The Darwin Awards Podcast — My husband and his brothers’ podcast

My Something Interesting: Ellen Fisher’s YouTube Channel

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!

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

Oil-Free Goddess Dressing + Vegan/Plant-Based Weekly Food Prep

Posted on by Katie Coughran

Links to HUMMUS and CASHEW MILK below!

Eating plant-based has been a major game-changer for me and it’s been a positive influence on my family. That being said, it’s a good amount of work, even though it’s worth it. While I don’t do meal prepping, FOOD prepping has made it so much easier! Watch the video and find the Goddess dressing below and don’t forget to check out the other links to my podcast, Instagram and other YouTube videos.

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

Hang out with me on Instagram:

HOMEMADE HUMMUS RECIPE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFTIZe5xgiI

CASHEW MILK RECIPE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99cmjhAxkCg

https://youtu.be/vM-Wgs_xDMo

GODDESS DRESSING RECIPE:

1/2 C tahini

1/4 C + 2 TBS water

2 TBS lemon juice

2 TBS apple cider vinegar

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp onion

1/2 tsp dried basil

In a blender or small mixing bowl, blend or whisk all ingredients until smooth and creamy.

Can be used immediately or chilled before used. Store in the refrigerator.

VLOG: BEACON ROCK STATE PARK

Posted on by Katie Coughran

For those of you that are curious about our RV lifestyle, here’s a little taste of a travel day, what we eat in a day, as well as some of my thoughts on minimalism and health. I hope you enjoy!

Homemade Hummus Recipe

Posted on by Katie Coughran

This is my go-to hummus recipe. Great with veggies, bread, and crackers and even my husband who won’t eat store-bought hummus LOVES this recipe. Find the recipe below and thanks for watching! 

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

Hang out with me on Instagram by CLICKING HERE

Homemade Hummus 

2 Cups Cooked Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans) 

1/4 Cup Tahini 

Juice of 1/2 Lemon 

1/2 Heaping tsp Himalayan Pink Salt (regular salt will work, too) 

3/4 tsp Garlic Powder 

1/4 Cup water 

1 tsp Dried Basil 

1/4 tsp Curry Powder 

Add all ingredients to a high speed blender or food processor and blend until smooth and creamy or to your taste. Refrigerate or enjoy immediately. Store in the refrigerator.

5 Daily Habits that can Improve Your Life

Posted on by Katie Coughran

There are so many habits I’ve developed—good and bad— that have changed my life. While I can’t control everything (let’s face it—it’s nice to have control of even a few things), there are several actions I try to do each day so that I can live my life to the fullest, enjoy those people that are most important to me, and work on goals and skills, which has become a huge part of my life. I still have bad habits, but I’m happy to slowly see the good ones winning more and more often.

Listen to the podcast by clicking the play button below, CLICK HERE to watch my YouTube video on the topic, or scroll down to read on.

They say that small things make the biggest difference and I’m noticing that to be more and more true in my daily life. This comes in many forms for me, but I find that the most personal growth comes from healthy, positive actions taken on almost-daily repeat. Below are five of my favorite high-impact habits.

1. I drink plenty of water each day, including a good 32 oz. soon after waking. You might question how this can have that much of an impact on anything other than giving my body one of the few essentials, and I get it. The thing is, when I wake up and drink water first thing in the morning, I tend to have more energy, I’m alert much more quickly, and I feel more athletic throughout the day. All of these things lead to me feeling generally happier and more capable of getting things accomplished. And it feels great.

2. Take a quiet moment to myself. I try to do this daily, even if it means reading a single chapter of a book, resting for 10 minutes, or going on a short walk alone. I find that putting my phone away is incredibly important during this time as social media and various apps can be some of the loudest things on earth. When I make the time to do this, I feel more whole, content, and focused.

3. Making time to get into nature has always been important to me. It’s inspiring, helps me to feel grounded, and I tend to feel healthier and energized from getting out on a walk or hike. I even try to bring nature to me by having a little tiny RV garden, which brings me joy and brightens our house on wheels.

4. Practicing joyful gratitude isn’t about an attitude adjustment—it’s all about noting, enjoying, and being happy in the abundance in life. Sometimes life is tough, but learning to see the good things has helped me through the bad times.

5. Each day I try to have a meaningful conversation with a family-member or friend. I especially focus on my husband and children. They’re my people, I love them, and I want them to know it. Taking time to laugh and talk with them, smile at them, and look into their eyes—instead of at a screen—while we chat has improved the connection I feel with my loved ones. If I can’t make time for that each day, something has gone terribly wrong and it’s time to re-assess.

What about you? What habits have improved your life? I’d love to hear all about it in the comments.

Remember, it’s all about the experiences, not the stuff.

Want to follow along and see if I can reach my goal of publishing 46 more YouTube videos by December 31st, 2020? Click one of my YouTube videos below and be sure to subscribe.

How to be a Minimalist YouTube Videos:
4. Five Daily Habits that can Improve Your Life
3. Creamy Butternut Squash Soup (Plant-Based/Dairy-Free)
2. Soft and Fluffy Dinner Rolls (Plant-Based, Oil-Free, Dairy-Free)
1. Chocolate Cream Pie (Plant-Based with Oil-Free Crust)

Hal Elrod’s Book—The Miracle Morning

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