YouTuber, author, blogger and now app developer Joshua Becker is one of the most influential people in the minimalism movement so I asked if he would spend some time here on Female First answering our burning minimalist questions and he kindly agreed…
Joshua Becker, Copyright Becoming Minimalist
There is a popular video trending on YouTube right now called 'things I only own one of'. What do you only own one of that other people might own multiples of?
There are a number of household items that I only own of: 1 belt, 1 pair of dress shoes, 1 set of bedsheets. For the last several years, I only owned one pen—which was great because I always knew where it was. But when I went to replace it, it was only sold in packages in 4. So now I have 4 of them, otherwise I would have offered that as my “only own one."
After decluttering your home years ago- is there something that you couldn't get rid of then- or even in subsequent decluttering projects because of sentimentality?
No, not really, everything I wanted to get rid of, I got rid of. There are certainly some things in my home that I don’t think need to be there, but because we’re a family of four I don’t get to make all the decisions about what everyone else can keep :)
I like to think all the possessions I kept serve some specific purpose in my life. I did keep a small collection of baseball cards from my childhood, that’s probably the one thing I’ve held on to that isn’t specifically necessary.
As a mother myself, I am trying to keep my daughter's belongings to a manageable amount, which is difficult. I've read that less is more to help children's development- do you agree? If so, why do you think that minimalism is beneficial for children?
Oh, definitely, there is lots of research in the world today about “deeper play” and how fewer toys help children experience more of it. But there are more reasons that minimalism can be beneficial for children. Kids get to see their parents being intentional about money, time, and energy. They also learn about the value of boundaries and the empty promises of consumerism.
What is your favourite thing to do with your family now that excess stuff is out of the equation?
My kids are now 17 and 13, so a lot has changed over the last 12 years. When they were young, we enjoyed playing games in the backyard or going to the park. Nowadays, we enjoy travelling or eating at new places.
You have said before that when a partner is not a minimalist and you are- to focus on your own things and lead by example. With that said, there is frustration involved when you both have differing attitudes to minimalism- what is your advice for keeping those negative feelings to a minimum?
Every healthy relationship requires compromise—in countless differences of opinions, not just in physical possessions. So there’s nothing different here. Healthy relationships are also always based on love and patience and grace and humility and faithfulness. If you disagree in this specific area, still focus on the good that your partner brings into your relationship. And realize that you’re almost certainly not perfect and there are numerous things your partner would probably like to change about you that you’re not budging on either.
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As a minimalist yourself, who do you look to for inspiration?
There aren’t any “minimalists” that I look to for inspiration in life. But there are a large number of men and women that I admire for how they live their life. I am inspired by different people for different reasons—but anybody who is doing their best to live their best life serving others inspires me.
Your books are so wonderfully addictive- as a fan of your work I have to ask- do you have plans to write anymore?
I do, and I’m really excited about it. But it’s a long way off—several years from now for sure—so don’t get too excited. I just recently developed an app called Clutterfree (clutterfree.com) to help people own less and live more. It’s the first app on the market that provides a personalized, customized room-by-room roadmap for someone to declutter their home and find a life of more calm and peace. So most of my recent efforts have been directed toward it. That is the tool I’ve been focused on most recently.
Minimalism has gained a lot of traction in the last few years- do you think it is here to stay?
Yes, absolutely. By owning fewer possessions, people are able to free up money, time, energy, focus, and space to pursue those things in life they are most passionate about. Why would anybody go back to unintentionally wasting their life on things they don’t need? As more people discover minimalism, more people wish to apply it to their lives, and as they tell their friends, the movement will continue to grow.
What is next for you?
My passion for the last 12 years has been to help people live fulfilling lives by owning fewer possessions. I don’t see that changing any time soon. Whether I am able to help people accomplish that through my blog (www.becomingminimalist.com), my books, or an app (clutterfree.com), that will continue to be my focus.
RELATED: Review: The More Of Less By Joshua Becker
I have become somewhat obsessed with books on minimalism, so when I came across Becker’s book, I just had to read it despite feeling well rehearsed in the ins and outs of the lifestyle that proves to be so popular today. It’s inevitable that authors in this arena will overlap each other and repeat the same advice but I was thrilled to find that Becker’s book was like no other I had read.. to read more click HERE
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