Book picks similar to
Ultralight: The Zen Habits Guide to Traveling Light & Living Light by Leo Babauta
non-fiction
minimalism
travel
nonfiction
Throw Out Fifty Things: Clear the Clutter, Find Your Life
Gail Blanke - 2009
Through poignant and humorous stories, she inspires us to get rid of the "life plaque" we've allowed to build-up there.That junk drawer (you know that drawer) in the kitchen? Empty it! Those old regrets? Throw 'em out! That make-up from your "old" look? Toss it! That relationship that depresses you? Dump it! Once you've hit fifty-you'll be surprised how easy it is to get there-and once you've thrown out that too-tight belt and too-small view of yourself, you'll be ready to step out into the clearing and into the next, and greatest, segment of your life.
Simplify: 7 Guiding Principles to Help Anyone Declutter Their Home and Life
Joshua Becker - 2010
Written by Joshua Becker, who inspires hundreds of thousands of people on his personal blog, this is a book that calls for the end of living lives seeking and accumulating more and more possessions by highlighting the enjoyment of living with less. Three years ago, his typical, suburban family of four made the decision to minimize their possessions, declutter their home, and simplify their lives. In so doing, they discovered countless real-life benefits of living with less. And now, to help others experience the same freedom, they offer the most important lessons they’ve learned through the process. Simplify is full of personal stories, practical tips, and powerful inspiration. It is based on a rational approach to minimalism. It will forever change the way you look at physical possessions. And most importantly, its approach will free you from the burden of clutter and provide you with the extra motivation to realign your life around your heart’s greatest passions… however you choose to define them. Praise for Simplify: • “A must-read.” - Leo Babauta, Zen Habits, TIME Magazine Blog of the Year • “If you’re looking for specific advice on how to live well with less, this book is worth a look.” - Naomi Seldin, The Times Union, Albany, NY • “It is a simple, straightforward guide to simplifying your life and brings new light to the term minimalist.” - Tanna Clark, Professional Organizer
The Invisible Force: 365 Ways to Apply the Power of Intention to Your Life
Wayne W. Dyer - 2007
Wayne W. Dyer has put together this little book in order to convey the fact that intention is a field of energy that flows invisibly beyond the reach of our normal, everyday habitual patterns. It’s a force that we all have within us, and we have the power to draw it into our lives by being the energy we want to attract. Use the uplifting material within these pages to bring the power of intention into your life for many years to come, and experience the world in a new and exciting way!
Less: Minimalism, For Real
Rose Lounsbury - 2017
Based on her own life-changing experiment of “going minimalist,” Rose provides a realistic guide to reducing your excess stuff and reclaiming your hard-earned free time. Less offers attainable steps that you can take to achieve the clutter-free, functional home you crave. Through candid stories from her life as a minimalist blogger-turned-businesswoman, Rose will inspire you to stop spending your time dealing with your stuff and start living a better life with less.
The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well
Meik Wiking - 2016
That's down to one thing: hygge.'Hygge has been translated as everything from the art of creating intimacy to cosiness of the soul to taking pleasure from the presence of soothing things. My personal favourite is cocoa by candlelight...'You know hygge when you feel it. It is when you are cuddled up on a sofa with a loved one, or sharing comfort food with your closest friends. It is those crisp blue mornings when the light through your window is just right.Who better than Meik Wiking to be your guide to all things hygge? Meik is CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen and has spent years studying the magic of Danish life. In this beautiful, inspiring book he will help you be more hygge: from picking the right lighting and planning a dinner party through to creating an emergency hygge kit and even how to dress.Meik Wiking is the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen. He is committed to finding out what makes people happy and has concluded that hygge is the magic ingredient that makes Danes the happiest nation in the world.
Put Your Big Girl Panties on and Deal with It: The No-Nonsense Guide to Getting What You Want
Roz Van Meter - 2007
Rife with deeply personal, perhaps slightly embarrassing and often hysterical personal stories from the author herself, Put Your Big Girl Panties On and Deal With It is the guidebook for real women ready to take charge of their own lives.Inside, discover:--How to shuck those procrastination panties: Action Antidotes to the Top 10 Procrastination Perpetuator--How to untwist your knickers: Stressbusting for the rest of us--Aunties in your panties: What we can learn from the Big Girl Panty-Wearers who have gone before us--Big girl Valentine panties: Plenty of romance revivers and passion primers--Bodacious Beauty Britches: How to celebrate your unique gorgeousness
Outer Order, Inner Calm: Declutter & Organize to Make More Room for Happiness
Gretchen Rubin - 2019
In a new book packed with more than one hundred concrete ideas, she helps us create the order and organization that can make our lives happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative. In the context of a happy life, a messy desk or crowded coat closet is a trivial problem–yet Gretchen Rubin has found that getting control of the stuff of life makes us feel more in control of our lives generally. By getting rid of things we don’t use, don’t need, or don’t love, as well as things that don’t work, don’t fit, or don’t suit, we free our mind (and our shelves) for what we truly value. In this trim book filled with insights, strategies, and sometimes surprising tips, Gretchen tackles the key challenges of creating outer order, by explaining how to “Make Choices,” “Create Order,” “Know Yourself–and Others,” “Cultivate Helpful Habits,” and, of course, “Add Beauty.” When we get our possessions under control, we feel both calmer and more energetic. With a sense of humor, and also a clear sense of what’s realistic for most people, Gretchen suggests dozens of manageable steps for creating a more serene, orderly environment–one that helps us to create the lives we yearn for.
Lagom: Not Too Little, Not Too Much, Just Right: The Swedish Guide to Creating Balance in Your Life
Niki Brantmark - 2017
At its core is the idea that we can strike a healthy balance with the world around us without having to make extreme changes, and without denying ourselves anything.This delightful book, written by Niki Brantmark, founder and curator of the award winning interior design blog, My Scandinavian Home, gives a taste of the philosophy behind Lagom and shows how to include some of the principles into our daily lives. Inspirational and fun ideas to help you achieve balance, well being and a more sustainable existence.The book is divided into three sections. Introducing Lagom to your personal life includes ideas for decluttering your home, conscious buying and embracing ‘slow design’. At work take time to balance your day with a proper lunchbreak and a gadget free Sabbath, while outdoor staycations in remote settings can offer relaxation you never knew possible!Lagom at home and with our families explains the art of simple pleasures – bring a dish entertaining at home, of shared craft activities with our children and less stressed homework time! And finally there’s Lagom in the wider world and the principles of living sustainably – as IKEA have pledged in their Live Lagom campaign -make some small changes like using LED lightbulbs, taking shorter showers and upcycling and you are living a Lagom life,a rewarding but responsible life; not denying yourself or sacrificing what you love, while not taking from the planet more than you need. It’s just the right amount!
Break the Twitch: A Practical Guide to Minimalism, Intentional Living & Doing More of What Matters
Anthony Ongaro - 2017
Pulling out our smartphones, clicking the one-click purchase button, pulling down to refresh the social media feed, and more. Automatic actions that have become so deeply programmed into our lives that we don't have the chance to stop and ask ourselves a very important question: Do I actually want to do this right now? This book is all about taking a step back, identifying the Twitch—the impulsive, unproductive responses we have to discomfort—minimizing those distractions, kicking the clutter, and doing more of what matters. "In this book, Anthony provides a unique perspective on minimalism and intentional living while proving that small changes really can make a big difference. If you're looking for practical, actionable advice on clearing the clutter and doing more of what matters, this book is a must-read.” —Joshua Becker, Founder of Becoming Minimalist "If you're tired of your life being left on autopilot and you long to live more intentionally, you need this book. If you find yourself clinging to technology without knowing why or constantly consuming instead of creating, then this one is for you. It's time to Break the Twitch. And Anthony Ongaro will show you how." —Jeff Goins, best-selling author of The Art of Work and Real Artists Don't Starve "Short, sweet, and motivating is only the tip of this intentionally crafted book. You're bound to have at least a few moments where you say, 'Wait – spending less and having more of what I truly want is that simple?!' The answer is a resounding 'Yes!' as Anthony proves with vibrant stories and practical steps that anyone can do without moving mountains. Get ready to replace your own mindless twitches with more focus, greater awareness, and less stress on your brain or bank account." —Joel Zaslofsky, The Smart and Simple Podcast "The first step to becoming a more mindful consumer is to identify when you are about to take the false first step and stop yourself in your tracks. "Breaking" the Twitch is essentially learning how to hit the pause button and ask yourself what you really want. In a world where everything is designed for you to act on impulse, Anthony shows us how to take the control back into our own hands—which saves us both money and time, in the process." —Cait Flanders, author of The Year of Less
Minimalism: Essential Essays
Joshua Fields Millburn - 2011
Essential Essays highlights essays from the first nine months of their journey into minimalism.Essential Essays is an edited collection of 29 of The Minimalists' favorite essays about living a more meaningful life with less stuff. This collection also contains a special forward by Joshua and Ryan, as well as two bonus essays you can't find anywhere else: "Dealing with Overwhelm" and "Focus On What's Important."The book is organized into seven interconnected themes: Living in the Moment, Emotional Health, Growth, Contribution, Taking Action, Passion and Mission, and Change and Experimentation. The order of this collection is deliberate; it is meant to be read from beginning to end. Doing so will result in a better overall experience--a different experience from reading these essays all over the web--connecting various concepts that might otherwise seem unconnected.
Target 100: The World's Simplest Weight-Loss Program in 6 Easy Steps
Liz Josefsberg - 2017
She just got it, because she'd been through it herself (and helped about a million other people through it, too). Target 100 is Liz in book form--smart, supportive, and full of practical, simple solutions. Liz changed my life and my whole concept of dieting--and now can change, yours too."--Jessica SimpsonWhen did weight loss get so complicated?Today, it feels like there are a million different apps, tools, workouts, and eating plans designed to help you lose weight. Some promise success via drastic, unlivable restrictions, others are so complex they turn losing weight into a second job. In Target 100, celebrity weight-loss coach Liz Josefsberg shows you don't have to be a slave to your weight-loss program. You don't have to count every gram of every nutrient and every calorie you eat at every meal. Believe it or not, weight loss can be simple. It can even be . . . fun.A 15-year veteran of the weight-loss industry and who lost--and kept off--65 pounds herself, Liz has accrued a high-profile clientele. She helped Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson lose weight and transform her life and coached Jessica Simpson to shed over 50 pounds of baby weight (twice!). But along with the likes of Charles Barkley and Katie Couric, Josefsberg has also coached thousands of others, everyone from stay-at-home moms to office jockeys. Along the way, she's learned what works--and what doesn't--when it comes to lasting weight loss, and she's ready to share her secrets with the rest of us.Target 100 streamlines the weight-loss process into six easy-to-follow guidelines and shows you how to adjust them to fit your lifestyle, personalizing the program so that it works for you. Josefsberg offers tips, worksheets, and powerful insights to help you fine-tune a range of weight-related behaviors, from battling stress to getting more sleep, setting the stage for permanent, long-term weight loss.Instead of counting calories, you'll learn how simple changes come together to jumpstart your health and wellbeing, such as: Drinking 100 ounces of water a day Exercising for 100 minutes a week Adding 100 minutes of Sleep a week De-Stressing for 100 minutes a week And more! Warm and no-nonsense, encouraging and informative, Target 100 is a holistic and revolutionary wellness book with a simple message: You don't need to be perfect to lose weight, or transform yourself into someone you're not. You can lose weight for good, with the world's simplest weight loss program.
The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere
Pico Iyer - 2014
There’s never been a greater need to slow down, tune out and give ourselves permission to be still. In The Art of Stillness—a TED Books release—Iyer investigate the lives of people who have made a life seeking stillness: from Matthieu Ricard, a Frenchman with a PhD in molecular biology who left a promising scientific career to become a Tibetan monk, to revered singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, who traded the pleasures of the senses for several years of living the near-silent life of meditation as a Zen monk. Iyer also draws on his own experiences as a travel writer to explore why advances in technology are making us more likely to retreat. He reflects that this is perhaps the reason why many people—even those with no religious commitment—seem to be turning to yoga, or meditation, or seeking silent retreats. These aren't New Age fads so much as ways to rediscover the wisdom of an earlier age. Growing trends like observing an “Internet Sabbath”—turning off online connections from Friday night to Monday morning—highlight how increasingly desperate many of us are to unplug and bring stillness into our lives. The Art of Stillness paints a picture of why so many—from Marcel Proust to Mahatma Gandhi to Emily Dickinson—have found richness in stillness. Ultimately, Iyer shows that, in this age of constant movement and connectedness, perhaps staying in one place is a more exciting prospect, and a greater necessity than ever before. In 2013, Pico Iyer gave a blockbuster TED Talk. This lyrical and inspiring book expands on a new idea, offering a way forward for all those feeling affected by the frenetic pace of our modern world.
Bigger Than Us: The Power of Finding Meaning in a Messy World
Fearne Cotton - 2022
Find happiness through purpose. Feel comfort in the universal. Think bigger to unlock you.Writing this book changed my life. I sought the insight and advice of wise minds to explore what they can teach us to achieve happiness, connection and hope. With their help, I peeled back layers of anxiety and self-limiting beliefs to find contentment and deeper meaning. From intuition and energy to manifesting, ritual, prayer, and signs, I have explored positive ideas and simple exercises that are available to every single one of us. Bigger Than Us is for anyone seeking a path through their confusing lives and offers inspiration for tapping into the strength and comfort around us and releasing the blocks and insecurities that hold us back.
The Sentimental Person's Guide to Decluttering
Claire Middleton - 2017
and none of the mess you live with now. Declutter Your Home and Let Go of Your Stuff Without Losing Your Nostalgic Memories In this book, Claire shares tips that will help you give up the bulk of your sentimental clutter while keeping your most precious treasures to use and display. Learn how to shrink your collections of nostalgic items such as: Your children's baby clothes and toys Mementos from your own youth Clothes you've kept for decades Heirlooms you inherited Books you've kept for years Gifts you don't want (but feel you have to keep) Holiday decorations And everything else that brings back happy memories. Claire will teach you the art of discarding items that trigger your memories without actually losing those memories. If you've been hoarding too much stuff because you fear losing the memories along with the stuff, you need this book. This Decluttering Guide is Packed with Advice Whether you're downsizing the family home or you simply need to learn how to declutter in a way that honors your memories, this book is for you. If your adult children are moving out, or you're faced with going through the belongings of a beloved parent or other loved one, this will be one of your books that you refer to again and again, as it lists categories of sentimental items, and how to deal with each. Yes, You Can Declutter Without Losing Your Treasured Memories You don't have to live with overflowing closets, an attic full of boxes and a basement packed with more of the same, just because it's so hard for you to sort through and give up belongings linked to your past. The truth is, you CAN finally free yourself of clutter while keeping your most treasured belongings. There are many decluttering books and downsizing books, but this one is written by someone with personal experience. Claire and her family gave up more than half their possessions when they downsized from their large family home to a much smaller house. She let go of things she'd been carrying around for most of her life, as well as treasured mementos from many years of raising her large family to adulthood. In this book, she spells out the steps a sentimental person can take to reduce their clutter while keeping their memories intact. Read The Sentimental Person's Guide to Decluttering now, and start on the path to conquering clutter without giving up happy memories.
Self Coaching 101
Brooke Castillo - 2008
It really is that simple. Everything we do in our lives is because we want to feel better. When we give-it feels good. When we help others-it feels good. When we accomplish something-it feels good. Whenever we feel bad-we are usually seeking a way to feel good. The reason we want to feel good, is because it is our true nature. Alignment with our spirit-our true essence-the God within us feels good. It feels peaceful, joyous, honest, abundant and free. Through coaching ourselves we can feel good much more of the time. By coaching ourselves we find what is not working in our lives. We find that trying to change the external circumstances to change how we feel is impossible. We learn that fighting our emotions or trying to deny them only makes them bigger. We find that our thinking is the most important thing we can pay attention to in order to feel better now. By taking a peek into our own minds we can find the cause of all our suffering. We can see how we block our joy with outdated and untruthful thoughts and beliefs. By just being in this place of awareness we have aligned with our true nature and can observe the patterns of our lives. Hiring a coach can be an amazing experience. Having someone who is already "outside" of your mind give you a different perspective to consider is often the first step in change. But ultimately, it is the process of shifting your own perception with your own awareness that will create non-dependent freedom. This is why I feel so strongly about learning how to apply these simple self coaching tools in your own life and on your own mind. If you are willing to do the work now-it becomes a way of being. You will step into a life that is lived with awareness and consciousness because each time you feel any negative emotion you see it as a signal to coach yourself and realign with the true essence of you. Self coaching 101 teaches you the basics of how to do this. And the basics are enough.