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The journey to simple living doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be just that – simple. With guidance from long-time Minimalism practitioners, or ordinary people like you and me who have made a conscious decision to live simply, it’s certainly possible with simple living books we can use as resources.
I even created a 31-Day Simple Living Challenge you can download to jumpstart your simple living journey today.
Living with less requires a lifestyle change as well as a mindset shift that happens overtime.
Applying minimalism to my home life, finances, career, and overall approach to relationships has been an eye opening experience.
I’ve gained so much clarity on what I want and need for my growth both personally and professionally.
Less choices. Less decisions. Less headaches.
What can I say? I’ve learned how to narrow down the options in every aspect of my life to make it less hectic and worrisome. I’m more productive and stress-free in return.
I’m nowhere near the end of my simply living journey, in fact, I’m just beginning. There’s so much more research to be done!
There may not be a specific set of rules to follow or ultimate guide to simplify your life but there are people who’ve done it before.
I figured, why not learn from them?
How do you start a simple life?
Just to reiterate, there isn’t a rule book for simplifying your life.
My first rule of thumb, however, is to declutter.
I can’t encourage this enough, especially when you’re brand spankin’ new to simple living.
Eliminate relationships or friendships that distract you from reaching your goals, finding your purpose, or hindering you from personal development.
Declutter and organize your home by taking a challenge.
Budgeting for Bliss emphasizes the importance of letting things go, and makes decluttering your home much easier with their 30-day home decluttering challenge.
Creating a capsule wardrobe is also a great way to declutter your closet.
You can declutter your mind by taking a break from social media. Limiting our thoughts on trivial matters makes room for more important decisions we’ll have to make later on.
Other ways to learn how to start a simple life include reading books, taking part in different challenges, taking courses, and joining simple living groups and communities. Yes, they do exist!
Simple living is a lifestyle practice that has been around for years, and continues to gain momentum.
Similar to minimalism, people are in search of ways to down-size and lead a much simpler, slower paced life.
“Minimalist” is still a popular buzzword around social media, but now more and more people are searching for ways to hygge, declutter, and live slow.
People want to simplify their life, but not without properly educating themselves first.
I have yet to read the simple living books recommended below, but have instead added them to my TBR list for 2021.
Let’s get educated on simple living together!
7 Simple Living Books On My ‘To Be Read’ List For 2021
1.The Lazy Genuis Way
Kendra Adachi’s The Lazy Genius Way: Embrace What Matters, Ditch What Doesn’t and Get Stuff Done is at the top of my simple living reading list for 2021.
I’m looking forward to learning more about the thirteen Lazy Genius principles and how to live life free of judgement. Kendra encourages doing more of what matters to you! The snippet below reeled me in.
The chorus of “shoulds” is loud. You should enjoy the moment, dream big, have it all, get up before the sun, track your water consumption, go on date nights, and be the best. Or maybe you should ignore what people think, live on dry shampoo, be a negligent PTA mom, have a dirty house, and claim your hot mess like a badge of honor.
2. Down To Earth: A Guide To Simple Living
Rhonda shares her journey to slower, simple, sustainable living in this mini simple living guide. The pages are jam-packed with financial and lifestyle tips.
Rhonda Hetzel gently encourages readers to find the pleasure and meaning in a simpler life, sharing all the practical information she has gathered on her own journey. Whether you want to learn how to grow tomatoes, bake bread, make your own soap and preserve fruit, or just be inspired to slow down and live more sustainably, Down to Earth will be your guide.
3. Zen: The Art of Simple Living
Shunmyo Masuno, author of Zen: The Art of Simple Living, appreciates the simpler things in life and created a system to teach others how to live simply in less than 100 days, too.
I can’t wait to pick up this read to follow the practical lessons he’s assigned to each day.
In Zen: The Art of Simple Living, you will learn to find happiness not by seeking out extraordinary experiences but by making small changes--to what you do, how you think, how you interact with others, and how you appreciate the present moment.
4. Slow: Simple Living In A Frantic World
Brooke McAlary defines the philosophy of simple living as “the freedom to be less perfect and taking time to enjoy the pure joys of life: a walk in the forest, sharing laughter with family, a personal moment of gratitude.”
When I first learned of Slow: Simple Living In A Frantic World from Brooke’s Slow Home Podcast, (which I am totally obsessed with by the way) I couldn’t wait to read more about her personal minimalism journey. I will definitely be adding her guide to slow, simple living to my shelf.
5. Seeking Slow
Seeking Slow: Reclaim Moments of Calm In Your Day piqued my interest because Melanie Barnes really digs deep into the perspective of time management and productivity when it comes to simplifying your day.
Many of us would love to live more intentionally and Melanie provides practical simple living tips on how to do just that.
If daily life feels too busy and hectic, it's time to discover the beauty of slow living. Being fully present and intentional with your time allows you to embrace the wholehearted moments that are right in front of you every day.
6. Chasing Slow
Chasing Slow HGTV star, Erin Loechner’s Chasing Slow takes readers on a heart-felt journey to slow and simple living practices.
I read a few excerpts from Erin’s simple living book and was immediately hooked. She gives real-life examples and an intimate snapshot of what sparked her decision to live a simpler life.
Erin’s slow living memoir is a beautifully written memoir and has great takeaways from the very first page.
In Chasing Slow, Erin upgrades her life through downsizing--her stuff, her obligations, her fears, her personal metric of "perfect." And ultimately, her invitation becomes yours: to turn away from the fast and frenzy, and find freedom in a new-fashioned lifestyle defined by grace.
7. Destination Simple
Destination Simple is another simple living starter kit between the pages from Brooke McAlary. It’s an easy read for beginners interested in getting rid of overwhelm, stress, and prefer to live more in the moment rather than on autopilot.
Brooke McAlary shows readers that no matter how busy you are, you too can feel in control of your days; minimize stress; find pockets of peace on even the busiest day; empty your mind and sleep better.
Your Simplest Life
I know, I know. I said seven but I couldn’t leave Lisa Turner’s A Simple Life: 15 Unconventional Time Management Shortcuts off the list!
I’m all for down-sizing and decluttering, but Lisa takes simple living a step further by sharing tips on how to simplify your career goals, working from home, and even writing a slimmer to-do list.
Be sure to grab a copy of her handy simple living book too!
New at working from home? Feeling overwhelmed by a big to-do list? Reduce stress and get more done with this succinct book that covers handling distraction, improving focus, effective planning and scheduling, attraction psychology, procrastination, time management, de-cluttering, values, habits, goal setting, and mindfulness – all in one fun book of answers and exercises.
Simple Living Books For The Aspiring Minimalist
The Year of Less
Cait Flanders’ one year ‘no shopping’ challenge inspired her to write the Year of Less. Between the pages, she shares her home decluttering experience, paying down over $30,000 in debt, and letting go of costly indulgences due to bad habits and vices.
The Year of Less documents Cait’s life for twelve months during which she bought only consumables: groceries, toiletries, gas for her car. Along the way, she challenged herself to consume less of many other things besides shopping.
The Minimalist Budget
Simeon Lindstrom’s pursuit of minimalism takes a different spin on how to earn, spend, and think of money. Her philosophical approach makes this read even more unique.
Minimalism is not about doing with less than you need. Rather, it's about finding what you need and fulfilling that need exactly, without excess.
Simply Living Well
Are you into simple and zero waste living? Well, Julia Watkins, touches on both in Simply Living Well: A Guide To Creating A Natural, Low Waste Home . Julia takes sustainable living to an entirely new level.
For every area of your household—kitchen, cleaning, wellness, bath, and garden—Julia shows you how to eliminate wasteful packaging, harmful ingredients, and disposable items.
Simple Living Books That Will Help You Declutter And Organize
This Is Home: The Art Of Simple Living
One of my goals for 2021 is to create spaces in my new home that will be a direct reflection of my minimalist lifestyle.
My home decor will be stylish, with neutral colors, and unique art pieces authentic to me. Natalie Walton, author of This Is Home teaches us how to interior decorate creatively while on a small budget.
The vivid photos of authentic home decor ideas makes this simple living book stand out from the crowd.
This is Home is a back-to-basics guide on how to create authentic wholehearted interiors. It's about living simply – finding the essence of what makes you happy at home and creating spaces that reflect your needs and style.
The Art of Decluttering and Organizing
Decluttering and organizing is an essential part of simplifying your lifestyle. There isn’t a right or wrong way to do so, but the process can be much easier with Alex Wong’s 30 day roadmap to minimalism.
The Art of Decluttering and Organizing provides a step-by-step strategy to declutter your home. After completing this workbook, Alex guarantees you’ll emerge with a renewed mindset, and will no longer hoard things you can finally let go of in your home.
Decluttering is a powerful way of helping you organize your life, stop worrying about material things, and shift your focus to the experiences and relationships that matter to you – and with a brilliant 30-day roadmap to minimalism, this book makes organizing and tidying up a breeze!
Minimal
The great thing about simple living is the ability to apply it to every aspect of your life.
What you eat? What you consume? How you handle waste and excess clutter? Daily habits and beauty routines. Minimal by Madaleine Olivia is the perfect guide to follow for a sustainable lifestyle.
Leading environmentalist Madeleine Olivia shares her insights on how to care for yourself in a more eco-friendly way, as well as how to introduce a mindful approach to your habits.
The Joy Of Missing Out
Intentionally living anyone? If you’ve been following my blog from the beginning, I’m advocate of living on purpose, doing more with less, and maximizing productivity to reach simple goals.
If this blog came with a handbook, The Joy of Missing Out, would be it! I can’t wait to get my hands on Tanya Dalton’s best-selling simple living book.
She’s a CEO and productivity expert who believes in implementing systems, defining priorities, and stresses how people can live more by doing less.
Tanya Dalton, CEO and productivity expert, offers you a liberating shift in perspective: feeling overwhelmed isn't the result of having too much to do -- it's from not knowing where to start.
Developing the mindset and daily habits to live simply will take time and practice.
Hopefully, your research to join the simple living movement will continue, but if you’re unsure that a simpler lifestyle is for you, complete our month long Simple Living Challenge here.
There’s a reason why so many people have decided to down-size their life.
Tiny homes, smaller budgets, capsule wardrobes, and fewer goals.
People are making more room for things and relationships that matter most in their lives. Why tackle life on autopilot with all the headaches and stress you can eliminate by living slow?
Hopefully, your research from simple living doesn’t stop here.
Grab a few books that align with your simple living goals in 2021 and start your journey today.
I teach entrepreneurs how to simplify their life and business with less + own their time and maximize productivity towards their personal and monetary goals.
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