Tag: simple living

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

Posted on by Katie Coughran

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

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

DESCRIPTION:

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

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

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

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

Posted on by Katie Coughran

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

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

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

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

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

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

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

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

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

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

6 Happiness Practices — Episode 38

Posted on by Katie Coughran

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

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

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

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

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

7 Minimalist Cleaning Tips

Posted on by Katie Coughran

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

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

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

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

The Darwin Awards Podcast

Jenny Mustard Minimalist Cleaning Habits — Get Tidy + Organized

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

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

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

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

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

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

Creating a Minimalist Budget — Ep. 35

Posted on by Katie Coughran

Budgeting with a minimalist mindset has totally changed the way I view money, budgeting, and using money as a tool, instead of something I simply want or need more of. I hope some of these tips can help you to harness the tool that money can be and empower you to have peace of mind and better use of your resources.

As always, you can listen by hitting the play button, or read a quick snippet below. Also, don’t forget to check out Dave Ramsey if you’re financially struggling.

This ended up being a long podcast episode, so summing up the entire thing would be a little tricky. However, my top tips would be the following:

Create a Monthly Budget:

If you don’t currently have a budget and are going to implement only one thing from this list, create a monthly budget. I think most people just check their bank accounts to see when the money is gone, but creating a budget will empower you to save, get out of debt, or simply take control.

Simplify Your Budget:

It can be tough to let go of stuff — like your favorite holey sweater — but it’s also difficult to decide to get rid of a streaming subscription or that gym membership you never use. The thing is, you can ALWAYS re-subscribe or sign back up to stuff you actually miss. If you’re trying to get out of debt or just get a hold of your finances, ditching subscriptions is one of those things that can be super helpful. It’ll make it easier to look at a cleaner budget, plus, it’ll put more money in your pocket to use as a tool for whatever goal you’re working on.

Money is a Tool:

I used to feel very negatively about money/budgeting/etc., but since coming to the idea that money is a tool, I feel so much more peace about it. It gives me direction about what I’d like to do with it. The idea also keeps me centered on getting experiences, not more money just for the sake of wanting more money. Money isn’t bad, it’s what we do with it and think about it that can get us into trouble. Having a healthy relationship with money has made all the difference for me.

Budget Fun Money:

Even if you can only scrape together $1, budget a little fun money. Maybe you want a box of candy to go with movie night, to download your favorite song, or to buy a marker for your art set. $1 isn’t nothing. And if you have $50 to set aside, you could do even more — camping trip, gas to go to a new city, or have a nice dinner with friends. The important thing is that you have some money to enjoy experiences, because practicing simple living and minimalism are all about experiences.

Use Your Budget to Prepare:

Do you know whether your kids are going to need a new winter wardrobe? What a are you going to do about that hole in your shoe? Note: I literally have a hole in my Birkenstock, so shoes are on my mind as I only have 4 pairs. Christmas will be here before we know it, plus you’ve been wanting to go on a little vacation. Note: Last year, we gave our kids a budget for planning a day trip as their major Christmas gift and it was awesome. They absolutely LOVED planning a trip!

The thing is, some stuff just pops up on us and we have to deal with surprises as they come — Dave Ramsey suggests having an emergency fund of $1,000 for these surprises like a popped tired, etc. But some things we see coming. If we take the time to prepare, we can do so with a minimalist mindset and purchase only the things we need or truly want to bring into our home, instead of buying excessive amounts that don’t necessarily fill out needs.

I hope these tips help you on your minimalist journey! Taking control of our money has been one of the most empowering things we’ve ever done and it feels good to be getting a foothold, even if it’s felt impossible at times.

Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

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

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

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

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

Minimalism and the Power of Positive Thinking — Ep. 34

Posted on by Katie Coughran

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

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

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

Vision Boards

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

Journalling

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

Ideal Live Vision

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

Remove Negativity From Your Life 

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

Thoughts Become Things … Choose the Good Ones — Mike Dooley

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

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

Mike Dooley’s Infinite Possibilities

Ideal Life Vision

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

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

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

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

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

Minimalist Kitchen Tips — Ep. 33

Posted on by Katie Coughran

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

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

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

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

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

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

Article: What a Minimalist Kitchen Really Looks Like

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

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

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

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

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

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

Posted on by Katie Coughran

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

Check out the podcast by clicking the play button below:

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

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

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

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

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

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

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

Imposter Syndrome and Minimalism — Ep. 30

Posted on by Katie Coughran

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hush, Now Forget — the Sisters of Bloodcreek Trilogy

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

My Anthology of short stories and poetry, It Calls Me

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

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

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

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

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

Minimalist Hobbies — Ep. 28

Posted on by Katie Coughran

If you’ve been looking for some new hobbies to try out, but don’t want to get involved in anything that requires a lot of materials, I’m hoping this list will get you inspired. Some on my list are new-to-me hobbies, some are old, all are things I enjoy and am grateful are a part of my life. Hit the play button below to listen or find the How to be a Minimalist podcast on your favorite podcast app.

Here’s the YouTube Channel I talked about: Heal Your Living

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

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

Instagram @howtobeaminimalist

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

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