Justine Harrington on August 14, 2017 0 Comments When you decide to start living simply, whether you’re moving into a tiny house or just getting rid of old clothing and excess stuff, you don’t have to do so alone. There are dozens of excellent resources on simple living out there – everything from awesome podcasts and books, to documentaries on Netflix, to minimalist-minded blogs. Below, we’ve rounded up 7 of our favorite resources on organization, minimalism, tiny house living, and embracing the value of simplicity. 1. Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things You’ve likely heard of Minimalism, a documentary that took the world by storm upon its release in 2016. Now available on Netflix (as well as DVD, Google Play, and Amazon, among other outlets), Minimalism is an examination of how people from various walks of life are living with less. Created by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, or “The Minimalists” as they’re known, the documentary features the pair embarking on a book tour — to promote their newest book, Everything That Remains — in addition to snapshots from other people who live simply. You’ll be both fascinated and inspired when you check out this awesome doc – in fact, we’re betting that you start a closet purge as soon as you’re finished watching. And, if you like the documentary, be sure to check out their podcast, where they discuss living a meaningful life with less. Great stuff! 2. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing Speaking of minimalist-centric resources that have swept the nation, is there anyone left on Planet Earth that hasn’t heard of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up? This book was, and still is, all the rage — in fact, your mom, grandma, and second cousins in Ohio are all probably “Marie Kondo-ing” as we speak! If you haven’t yet read this oracle of organization, now’s the time to do so. Published in 2014, The Life-Changing Magic was a #1 New York Times best-seller, for good reason. Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo’s tips for decluttering and simplifying your home are invaluable. If you’re ready to finally clear away your clutter, hop on the Kondo train as soon as possible! Written by: Marie Kondo Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle & Audiobook Read the reviews for the book on Amazon 3. Simplify Your Life: 100 Ways to Slow Down and Enjoy the Things That Really Matter This is another international bestseller that’s positively chock-full of foolproof tips on how to declutter, get organized, and thereby improve the quality of your life. Elaine St. James is a former realtor turned “simple liver” who’s been promoting downsizing and conscious consumerism for decades now, and she’s written over 20 books on these topics and more. Simplify Your Life contains practical advice that truly works, and it’s another must-read for anyone who’s curious about simple living and the art of minimalism. Written by: Elaine St. James Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle & Audiobook Read the reviews for the book on Amazon 4. PAD Tiny Houses If you’ve ever considered building or buying a tiny house, then it’s highly likely you’ve come across PAD. Short for Portland Alternative Dwellings, PAD is a resource center for people interested in going tiny. The company was founded in 2008 by Dee Williams and Katy Anderson, and is now considered to be one of the leaders of the tiny house industry. Williams was one of the first people to build a tiny home on wheels, and her memoir The Big Tiny chronicles this journey. This is another must-read! According to their website, PAD’s primary focus is on “expanding people’s ideas about what ‘home’ might be” and encouraging tiny house residents to “ask themselves what they really needed out of a home to be happy.” Talk about a worthwhile mission! Learn More: Click here to visit PADtinyhouses.com 5. Tiny House Design Following the motto of “Dream Big, Design Tiny,” this website is replete with tons of actual tiny house plans, scale models, and other fantastic ideas on how to create the best tiny house possible. Are you considering constructing your own tiny home one day? If so, Tiny House Design should be one of your go-to resources right from the start. Some of the tiny house plans are free to download, while others are available to purchase. In addition to design plans and models, the site also has super helpful sets of instructions on everything from using Google SketchUp to building your first-ever composting toilet. Not to mention all the great photos of real tiny homes. Learn More: Click here to visit TinyHouseDesign.com 6. The Simple Sophisticate Podcast The Simple Sophisticate is a fabulous podcast about the value of quality over quantity, and sensible living over over-consumption. Every week, founder Shannon Ables — who also runs a similar-minded lifestyle blog called The Simply Luxurious Life — shares awesome and inspiring tips for a simpler existence and living a “refined life on an everyday income.” There are a ton of great podcasts available, but this is easily one of my favorites. You have to give this one a listen. If you need some serious inspiration to kick-start your own minimalist journey, then you’ll love The Simple Sophisticate podcast. Learn More: Subscribe to The Simple Sophisticate podcast Bonus Resource: Check out her book ‘Choosing the Simply Luxurious Life’ 7. Becoming Minimalist If you’re just starting to explore minimalism and living simply, Becoming Minimalist is another invaluable resource. Joshua Becker and his small family of three began donating and recycling tons of their possessions, in an effort to spend less time cleaning out the garage and more quality time together. Becoming Minimalist is packed with practical tips that anyone can follow, in-depth articles, and links to other important minimalist-centric works. Becker has also written three books on the pleasures of minimalism and simple living. As their website states, Becker and his family seek to encourage each reader to “discover their own journey and the far-reaching benefits that come from owning less.” Now, there’s a message we can get on board with! Learn More: Click here to visit BecomingMinimalist.com Bonus Resource: Check out his book ‘The More of Less’ 8. No Sidebar Are you seeking bits of inspiration about the fashionable approach to minimalism? No Sidebar is right up your alley! This aesthetically-minded site offers in-depth articles, short blog posts, and even a 30-day email course, all of which are bound to inspire you to live a simple life with purpose. From the clutter in your home to the role that money plays in your everyday life, No Sidebar provides you with the tools you need to focus on what’s really important — the simple life. Apart from being fashion-forward, No Sidebar is also focused on deconstructing the myth that busy always equals happy. Learn More: Click here to visit NoSidebar.com Start your simple living journey today. These are just some of the many, many resources out there for all you minimalist-minded, simple living folk. So, start sifting through blog posts on minimalism, tune into a tiny house podcast, find a like-minded community on Facebook – your tribe is out there! Prepare to be inspired to get moving on your minimalist journey today.
