The Minimalist Home

The Minimalist Home - Parenting Like HannahChristmas is coming and with it comes…stuff. Often lots of stuff. We usually have the best intentions of getting rid of all of the stuff no longer needed to make room for the new, but somehow we just cram more things into nooks and crannies all over our homes.

More stuff doesn’t lead to more happiness. Mainly, more stuff just means more things to clean, more things that break and need to be fixed…just more. What would your life be like if you had less stuff?

Joshua Becker has written about just that in his new book The Minimalist Home. He walks readers through the benefits and the process of living life with less. One point to understand before buying this book is that minimalism in the author’s mind is not a decorating style. He points out his family’s style is more traditional, but they still have a minimalist home.

The other thing he is quick to add is that the vast majority of people can’t achieve the minimalist lifestyle without some help. As he puts it, just saying “Get rid of a bunch of stuff,” isn’t that easy.

So he spends the bulk of the book walking readers through how to organize the great purge of the things in their homes. After introducing the basic concept of moving from the easiest rooms and areas to the more difficult ones, he instructs readers through the process one room at a time.

In each chapter, he gives encouragement for those who are frightened to get rid of the stuff in a particular room. He talks about the decisions you need to make and gives helpful tips. These can be particularly helpful in rooms like the home office which is full of papers you “may need some day.”

Becker doesn’t really go deeply into the psychology of why you may be holding on to your things. Although published by a Christian publisher, it also is a book that is basically secular. There is one small section about all of the good you can do with the time and money you save by having less stuff, but that’s about it.

The advice is practical and helpful for those who have difficulty organizing or purging their things. If you have deep psychological issues with hoarding though, I’m not sure this book helps you work through your issues. This is a how-to book, not a “why” book – which is more than enough for the average reader.

So gather the family and make it your holiday project. You’ll be glad you did.

 

 

This book was given to me for free in exchange for my honest review. An affiliate link is included for your convenience.

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Thereasa Winnett

Thereasa Winnett is the founder of Teach One Reach One and blogger at Parenting Like Hannah. She holds a BA in education from the College of William and Mary. She has served in all areas of ministry to children and teens for more than thirty years and regularly leads workshops for ministries and churches. She has conducted numerous workshops, including sessions at Points of Light’s National Conference on Volunteering and Service, the National Urban Ministry Conference, Pepperdine Bible Lectures, and Lipscomb’s Summer Celebration. Thereasa lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband Greg, where she enjoys reading, knitting, traveling and cooking.

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