4 Books That Will Make You Embrace Simple Living
4 Books That Will Make You Embrace Simple Living
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If you’ve considered simplifying your life and belongings or are suddenly feeling fed up with just how much stuff you have, you may have noticed that there is a lot of talk about simple living out there.
From embracing a minimalist lifestyle to eliminating certain habits from your routine, there are many paths you can take that result in simple living.
I think that is the beauty of embarking upon a journey to simple living: there are many strategies and methods that can get you there; you get to choose exactly what simple living looks like for you. While some of the strategies can seem overwhelming at a glance, it’s worth looking into the methods that have worked for others and adapting them to suit your goals, lifestyle, and personality.
Here are four books that represent different paths to simple living. All of them will inspire you to embrace it.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up
You may have heard of some of the extreme methods taught in The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, like physically touching everything that you own to see if it gives you a feeling of joy. Sounds strange, but at the heart of this book is the message that we should only surround ourselves with items that we truly like and want to have in our lives.
It may seem like a basic or silly concept, but if you walk through any room in your home, I bet you can quickly identify several items that you don’t really like but keep around for one reason or another: clothes that you don’t love but you feel you might need to wear one day, kitchen appliances that take up valuable cabinet space but aren’t used, books on your bookshelf that you’ll never read again, etc.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, by Marie Kondo, an organizational expert, will walk you through her method of “putting your home in order” a process, that if done “quickly” can be done in six months and will bring an end to constant tidying and organizing.
Read this book with an open mind. Ignore the parts that sound extreme to you, and adapt the methods based on what works for you.
Spark Joy
A follow-up to the Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Spark Joy is an illustrated guide to the methods Marie Kondo teaches. It offers step-by-step illustrations of the (fantastic) folding method that will transform your drawers and make you realize you do have room for everything.
This book also provides answers to frequently asked questions about the “KonMari Method” — ones you will likely have after reading the Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.
Spark Joy makes a great read to firm up your approach to purging your belongings.
The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own
In The More of Less, Joshua Becker, the creator of Becoming Minimalist, uses his experience of journeying from the typically overloaded family to minimalist to help you find a more fulfilling life that’s marked by having less stuff.
You’ll learn how to define your version of minimalism and will discover practical strategies for shedding belongings and designing the home and life that you’ve been searching for.
The More of Less will give you the inspiration and encouragement you need to simplify and to make room for the abundance and joy you will gain by having less.
52 Lists for Happiness Journal
As you can see, this is a journal, so instead of doing the reading, you’ll be doing the writing. While the 52 Lists for Happiness Journal is not specifically aimed at simple living, the weekly list-based entries will inspire you to reflect upon where you find true happiness. Hint: it’s not in the material possessions you own.
With lists such as #23, “List the simple ways you enjoy being kind to others,” you’ll be reminded about the sources of joy in your life that you have at your disposal at all times, and you’ll be encouraged to tap into them more regularly. The 52 Lists for Happiness Journal will help you keep your goal of simple living a priority.
The key to making your journey to simple living successful and lasting is to make it your own. These books will help you find the path that’s right for you!
Have you been thinking about simple living, or are you already on your way? Have you read these books? What others would you recommend?
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