Start with the easy shit
“Peace cannot be created—it is already there beneath the chaos.” – Joshua Fields Millburn
Start with the easy shit
Baffled by life’s excess, we often look around at our piles of miscellanea and throw our hands in the air. There’s so much emotion—so many memories—wrapped up in our possessions.
Although of course, the memories aren’t in the possessions—they’re inside us. And that’s where they’ll always be.
But, still, letting go is difficult.
Difficult, yes; but not impossible.
Want to start simplifying? First, avoid sentimental items and difficult-to-part-with objects; you’ll never get started if you’re faced with all that heavy lifting. And stay away from the most onerous rooms: basements, garages, and attics; they will only overwhelm you.
Instead, start with the easy things: the superfluous clothes jammed in the closet, the junk drawers teeming with junk, the unused kitchenware taking up space just in case.
If you begin with the things that are painless, then, as inertia takes over, simplifying gets easier by the day.
Moreover, the journey toward a simpler life is more enjoyable with an accountability partner. A new month is peeking its head around the corner, which means it’s the perfect time to play the 30-Day Minimalism Game. So grab a friend, clear the clutter, and have some fun together.
Words by The Minimalists
01 – Journal
Read entries from the archive of the Minimalism Life® community journal
Minimalism is...: Thoughts on finding the edges of minimalism (by Maarten P. Kappert)
My minimalism adventure so far: From discovering the word of minimalism, to experiencing and understanding it every day (by Mark Tan)
Mental minimalism and reducing opinion overload: Making space for our own thoughts (by Dr. Egypt Iredia)
Share your story
Do you have an interesting story you would like to share on minimalism.com? We want to read about it. You have the opportunity write about your experience of how minimalism has impacted your life and get your words published in our community journal.
02 – Minimal art
From our curated gallery
03 – Minimal design
Explore our list of curated design resources
A conversation with Oliver Grabes (interview)
A lesson with A G Fronzoni (book)
04 – Minimal lifestyle
Explore our list of curated lifestyle resources for simple living
LOT Systems (tool/experiment)
Why I don’t want stuff by Derek Sivers (article)
05 – Shop
Discover our hand-picked minimalist products in the Minimalism Life® shop
06 – Brands anchored by simplicity and sustainability
Minimalism can be about frugality and owning less, but it can also be about supporting ethical brands with sustainability at their core. Here’s several that you might be interested learning more about:
Stiksen: Premium caps from Sweden
CLAE: Minimalist footwear from LA
Dalgado: Timeless accessories made to last
JAK: Portuguese leather sneakers
Oliver Cabell: Minimalist Italian footwear and accessories
Nordic Knots: Rugs inspired by the beauty of the Nordic light
CDLP: Luxury essentials
Steele & Borough: Vegan, lightweight and water repellant bags
Meller: Minimal shades
Selfmade: Handmade eyewear
Wahts: Minimal monochromatic menswear
Void Watches: Simple Swedish timepieces
Floyd: Unique and distinctive travel cases
ASKET: ending fast fashion by making covetable everyday essentials
Mismo: Bags and accessories from natural materials
The Resort Co: Eco-conscious and artisan vacation wear
Discover more minimal brands on minimalism.com