Tag: #minimalism

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!

 

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

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

10 Things I Regret Buying

Posted on by Katie Coughran

The more I practice minimalism, the less stuff I purchase. I like to think it’s because I have bigger goals and desires which include having the time and space to enjoy my life and experiences. It hasn’t always been this way, though. Here are some of the pitfalls I’ve experienced in the past, some of which I still have to remind myself are a waste of money.

Listen to the podcast below or scroll down to read the article I wrote down below:

In no particular order, here are ten things I wish I would’ve never purchased:

1. Fast food/food out for regular meals instead of as a treat. Listen, I know everybody likes a treat of eating out every once in a while, but we were eating out up to two times a day when we were in heavy home renovation mode and it was just too much. I wish I would have taken a moment to breathe and create meal plans that were simple and easy to execute. It would have been better for our budget as well as our health.

2. Subscriptions that weren’t useful. Although I’ve had many subscriptions I’ve used and enjoyed, I’ve often stuck with subscriptions I’ve never or barely used for far too long. Auto-renewals ALWAYS get me. Last month, I cancelled all auto-renewals I could think of so I wouldn’t have any sneak up on me in the coming months.

3. Gifts that were purchased out of obligation. You know when you’re going to a Christmas party and you go and buy something generic you HOPE the person will like? Obligations similar to that always snag me. Mostly because—instead of making a homemade loaf of bread or potting a clipping of one of my succulents—I always try to go with something purchased to meet social standards and expectations. Now, I try to make sure that I bring something that goes with my ideals that I also know most people would love. And I don’t try to meet any underlying expectations.

4. Items “guaranteed” by myself or the packagIng to make my life easier. I’ve spent a lot of money on stuff I didn’t use more than a few times because in the end, the item didn’t make my life any easier. It’s arguable that they made my life harder, actually; I wasted resources, time, and storage space on those unused items.

5. Makeup. I don’t wear makeup. I don’t like the way it looks or feels on me, and it’s just never been my thing. The last bit of makeup I purchased was out of self-inflicted obligations to social norms. I’ll never buy makeup again that doesn’t make me feel physically and emotionally great.

6. High-ticketed courses. I purchased one a long time ago. While it was a great course, I didn’t have the time or energy to put all that was necessary into the requirements. For now, I’ll stick to video instruction on Skillshare and YouTube.

7. More supplies than necessary for a project. I used to over-buy all the time, particularly when I was learning a new skill. I’ve learned to only buy what I need, as I need it. This makes it a lot more likely that I won’t have excessive amounts of materials hanging around.

8. “Someday” clothes. I don’t do these anymore. It’s just not mentally healthy for many to most people. In fact, when I think about it, it’s a pretty disturbing “reward” system. In my opinion, it’s actually one of the worst punishment systems when a person is trying to get healthier and changes the focus of self-appreciation, efforts, and love, to only deserving beautiful things when you’re “skinny.“ Now, I purchase cute, nicely-fitting clothing…no matter my size.

9. Low-quality furniture. There are times when I could have waited a month or two in order to purchase something I really wanted, but instead let my impatience get the best of me and ran out and purchased something low quality. I can’t think of a time I was satisfied. Now, we wait and either purchase or create the exact piece that will work in our home.

10. Stuff for the simple fact that it was a “good deal.” Mmmm. I love a good deal. But it’s something I fight. I don’t care if it’s 90% off, I really don’t need a specialty wrapping paper cutter or sweater I hate.

There they are! Ten things I wish I would’ve never purchased. What about you? What do you wish you would’ve passed on? Please leave a comment below to share!

Beautiful Minimal Millennial

Fabled Podcast—It’s Fall Y’All

The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking

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

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’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?

Four Quick Chores that Keep Your Home Tidy

Posted on by Katie Coughran

If you’ve listened to this podcast even somewhat regularly, you’ll know that I hate cleaning. This is especially tedious for me when the mess has built up, so I’ve learned to not let that happen. Even if I can’t get to the bigger daily chores, these are the few things we do almost every single day to ensure our home stays pleasant and manageable.

Click the play button to listen to the episode, or scroll down to read all about it.

1. Deal with mail right away. Not only does this lower our stress because it’s not hanging out where we can see it, nagging at us to take care of it, but having a tidy space also lowers our stress. Recycle flyers and ads, then file mail that needs to be taken care of another day. If you don’t give it a home, its home will be whatever surface is closest to the front door.

2. Put your keys/purse/wallet/backpack away as soon as you enter. It takes so little time, but the tiny bit of extra effort will make your home a more pleasant space.

3. Empty your dish drainer or dishwasher right as soon as soon as your dishes are dry. This always inspires me to cook better foods and makes me a happier person in the kitchen. Plus, it just looks nicer.

4. Do a nightly clean sweep. It’s one of the easiest ways to keep your home clean. Taking 5-10 minutes to pick up all the little stuff that’s quick and easy to put away is pretty simple and a great habit. If you have others living in the home, try to get them to help out! It’s so nice to wake up to a clean home in the morning.

These four things won’t make your home perfect, nor will they necessarily help you to downsize, but they are great at maintaining the hard work you’ve already done. If you’re home right now, I challenge you to quickly do one of these things. If you’re not home, do one of them as soon as you walk in the door.

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

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!

Clean My Space 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.

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

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!