Ep. 204 | Starting Minimalism (with MJ Gordon)

Joshua and Ryan discuss how to start simplifying, how to become a minimalist, and some practical tips and rules for decluttering with blogger and KZbinr MJ Gordon. Watch “Maximal” episodes of The Minimalists Private Podcast exclusively at / theminimalists
Questions answered in this episode:
How do I motivate myself to minimize? (01:20)
What is one unexpected result you realized after adopting minimalism? (09:59)
How do I overcome analysis paralysis and wholly embrace minimalism? (24:56)
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Blog: minimalists.com
Podcast: minimalists.com/podcast
Twitter: / theminimalists
Instagram: / theminimalists
Facebook: / theminimalists
Detailed show notes: theminimalists.com/podcast
#TheMinimalists

[@naobolliger9188]

One month ago I've minimized my life from 2BR apartment (1000sqf) into 20 carbord boxes (100sqf storage room). l traveled for a month, just returned to my life and start unpacking my things little by little... again realizing still l have so much to get rid of! How wonderful to live my life with less... the best experience l've ever had😎

[@texaslaulie2565]

Funny moment while we were living in Europe. My husband took a four year international assignment, when we first arrived…we were staying in hotels and then in a temporary apartment while our sea shipment arrived. The beds there are all like sleeping on a sheet of plywood, I was dying! I ask management if there were any other beds ….he looked at me disapproving and said “Americans are Soft…this will help you become stronger”!! It was very true!! I did become more adaptable!! Native Texan but world traveler

[@ihague4568]

I love the idea that minimalism is about continually testing the things that you need. I see minimalism as the process of continually strengthening the brain circuitry that analyzes the value of the objects in our lives.

[@leilarhymeswithsheila1344]

Re. the caller who said, “I don’t feel excited.” I would suggest you don’t need to feel excited. Make like Spock, ignore your feelings if they’re getting in the way. You don’t need to ‘feel like’ doing something in order to do it.

[@pia9343]

We currently have a feeling based culture. Fact and reason has gone out the window.

[@RJ-hx5nb]

I think the caller might have meant he's 'not motivated'.....moving and unpacking is A Lot of work ! Touching every item you own !

[@leilarhymeswithsheila1344]

Pia Maheras: Yes.

[@leilarhymeswithsheila1344]

R J: His words were he didn’t feel excited. And it’s just a suggestion; a psychological approach to getting shit done , if you will.

[@TheMinimalists]

#minimalmaxims

[@SpockCrafting]

What Ryan says at 15:50 about always talking about getting a tesla but never actually going to get one is how I feel about Tattoos. I enjoy the excitement of talking about getting tattoos, looking at tattoos, imagining getting one, but I would never actually get one.

[@smallhouseinthemeadow6131]

I got a large one on my upper arm thirty years ago and I regret it so much now.It looked really cool at thirty on firm, lean arms, but really stupid on a sixty year old woman, who is not quite as firm as I was back in the day.Skin does weird things when we age....I am thinking about having it removed...

[@blvk_93]

You and Matt D’Avella have changed the way I see things. Thank you!

[@marinjayden]

*They're amazing* 🥰

[@cjogorda]

Same Here

[@sdoncam5491]

MJ Gordon yyy

[@sdoncam5491]

MJ Gordon ya.6

[@alysondramilano473]

@@marinjayden you

[@danicegewiss862]

Minimalist behavior is meeting my electric bill. I cut money from my electric bill by unplugging appliances, 2:58 not using my stove because it uses way more electric than my instant pot, and leaving the lights off. I am not one to live out of a box. I clean my house by sections. Front porch, living room, dining room this week. I weed a few items out throughout the week, clean surfaces, organize stuff and generally clean the rooms. Next week is my kitchen. It's so much easier to clean as I peel layers from the rooms.

[@phyliciajoykloes]

Treating a shower like it's the icing on the cake - interesting take on life. I live very comfortably. I could look into that. 🤔 Lovely episode. Money is the first thing I noticed for sure. Clarity of what I own followed, and being able to move more easily is something I am aware of. Also, my habits have changed: I don't go shopping for fun. I "collect" experiences, and I attempt to be more present more often.

[@KKKKAAAARRRRYYYYNN]

8:18 get clear on what you're scared of. 20:20 we lose are resilience to stress. 20:17 lower your threshold for comfort.

[@karensinclair1954]

Base Line resetting!!! Yep, I've experienced that the last 8 months since adopting a frugal minimalist lifestyle and enjoying the heck out of NOT being a snob at life style. Great one Jay and thank you! I can even drink reheated day old coffee....ME! Who is this person I'm becoming? A happier more meaningful version.

[@kellyfarrell4971]

this makes me so happy. thank you. you guys have such purpose, please don't stop.

[@j.d.5709]

The more I practice minimalism the more I realize it isn't so much about "things" as it is about living with intentionality. Focusing on your "why" for everything and what matters will automatically make you begin to remove the superfluous aspects in your life from consumerist habits to daily distractions.

[@marinjayden]

*Love this! So true*

[@fabmontreal25]

Always great content!! Love your commitment to no sponsors

[@MrBird2007]

I've been a fan of you guys since July 2018. Your blog and podcast have helped change for the life. I now appreciate the people in my life now more than ever.

[@Whisky-1203]

Love your video on Netflix! I think the thing that helped me the most is slowly starting to declutter-it helped me to get rid of more stuff and be critical of reasons why I want to keep something.

[@erent.1453]

Thank you for changing my life love both of youu

[@marinjayden]

*Yesssss!*

[@Janneli2024]

I think the same !! we grew up without this stuff but as we get older we have more and can’t live with out it now 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@anata.g.4966]

So good to see you guys

[@marinjayden]

*Thanks for joining the conversation!* 💞

[@magdanieniewska2687]

Talking about Rolex... When I made the conscious decision to live a minimalist life, I all of a sudden started seeing Rolex ads on Instagram (which was never the case before that!) Right now they're being displayed to me regularly... and I'm wondering, what kind of of people does Rolex target???

[@christelschmidt7468]

Love your videos! It truly does get easier but I totally relate to how good marketing is! We have all our boxes from our move in one room and need to wait till our reno is done to unpack but I am acutely aware of being able to do without most of our things for 3 months! It is so exciting when I realize I really want something and being able to take it out (Christmas decorations!). Thanks Ryan…plan to go through all those things and decide to donate, sell or dispose of after the reno!

[@wahinepaddler4]

I miss your lengthy videos 💖

[@marinjayden]

*Can't get enough of them!*

[@anaalves3658]

Oh my goodness! My husband is always pushing me to be a little uncomfortable for a little longer and I don't enjoy it, he also does it to our almost 6 year old daughter and she is proving to be a resilient kid. I don't think that I will let him know that he might be right, but I think that I will stop giving him a hard time about.😉

[@jessiemadanat5455]

Love her!!

[@marinjayden]

*Love you!*

[@Csb1289]

Love this video. I'm feeling stuck!! I never thought I would feel this again, but lately I've been feeling a huge urge to shop and spend money on things I DON'T need! I thought I was past this!! I've purchased the stuff I do need like toiletries and paid bills, even put money away for savings, but I'm finding myself SEARCHING for things to buy, ways in which to spend money. NO BUENO!! I don't know why, but I get the feeling this is a deeper issue 🤔

[@jessie9653]

Me too!!! We need to fight the urge. I hate it because I'll buy something and immediately regret it 😥

[@marinjayden]

*Have you tried the Wish List idea mentioned in the video? I feel this urge too... and I think you should totally treat yourself occasionally - and Intentionally! I like to go about this by starting with the wish list and I totally splurge on my window shopping. But I wait before I pull the trigger and buy. Sometimes after the purchase, I find myself with the item and receipt still in the bag, just in case I have buyer's remorse and want to return it* 😆😆

[@lea_theminiaturepoodle5995]

Me too! 😩

[@briannab5296]

I know the feeling and i can do some real $ damage before it passes. . .it's same way with food .. i'll be so good at eating healthy consistently but then it happens - i get urges to eat junk food and healthy food stops being appealing .. as if my body says enough is enough of the healthy stuff. No matter how hard i try to resist i happily end up on a junk food binge until i've had enough, then my veggies start looking good again. 😊

[@sharongriffiths4796]

I do something I call "consumer bulimia." I go into a store, grab a basket, saunter around, load it up with lovely things, and then leave the basket by the door as I go. Impolite, I know (somebody has to put all that stuff back) - but satisfying.

[@anaalves3658]

That's hilarious 😂. A little rude 😬. I prefer to just browse and walk out. My mother says that your eyes eat more than your stomach, I think that it applies to more than just food.

[@ihague4568]

I just like to walk around stores. As I look at the item, I contemplate the price, value, need etc.

[@bryanrobles4851]

Rude perhaps, but there might be some bored employee who needs a clear task to attend to.

[@salmank1773]

Minimalism ❤️

[@hannahmiller5515]

"not feeling excited" could be another way to say I feel low energy or not so healthy and this is preventing me from feeling engaged with where I'm at in my life. So then this redirects the focus to working on physical health, and self care based on your personal context. Just because your wife is gung ho about something doesn't mean you need to be also. You can be supportive of her and helpful towards the mutual goal of downsizing, without having to direct an equal amount of focus to this area as she does...maybe it's right for her right now and not as right for you, and that's ok, take advantage of her excitement haha!!

[@shrutimitadineshpokhariyal3691]

So mu husband preached me minimalism for the first few years of our marriage, now I am totally into it and I was the packrat and now my husband is totally disoriented and confused hahaha

[@katelynchilders3366]

Holy fuck my 3 favorite people are together!!!!!

[@Sarah-px1ru]

So I have jumped on the minimalism bandwagon and so far I'm loving it. However I have no clue what to do with paperwork. I always feel obligated to keep my HS diploma, birth certificate, parents social security cards, birth and death certificates. I almost NEVER need to present any of these things. But what do I do with them? Please help!

[@briannab5296]

Sarah, this is what works best for me ... i have a 5 x 8 zippered 3-ring planner binder i filled with nothing but a bunch of clear page protecters. Each one holds an important piece of paper such as those you've listed. This binder is my new filing system and works perfectly for all types of paper plus its the most streamlined method of transporting papers (simply fold letter size paper in half, it fits perfectly in the page protecters). I seldom ever remove a paper from the binder instead i just grab the whole binder, tuck it in my totebag & go. . .sure makes moving much easier too. And, i've told my fam when i die look for this particular binder, it will have everything needed to settle my affairs. My whole life is in this one binder. It will even fit in a safe deposit box, if needed.

[@kellyturner4571]

Hey Sarah, they address this in the “clean spaces” video! Just FYI!

[@anaalves3658]

Those are important papers that you need to keep. I have all of mine, including passports in a binder that I can just grab and go. If your home is in a fire you can easily and quickly grab the really important papers and leave.

[@cable30]

Yea, keep the important stuff and rest can be replaced or just tossed out any. it better to have and not need then to need and not have at time. but there are times u need those card or papers for key stuff anytime.

[@myleslos9658]

With all my friends hungover the next "fit" I find it difficult to not give into expensive clothing. Even though I know it will have maybe 5 mins of satisfaction and then I'm back to thinking about the next one then the next one. This was me last year, now I rarely buy clothes. I have more than enough. Thanks for the new perspectives.

[@zenithlifestyle4841]

Sleeping on the floor no pillow the best👍

[@yelenawhitmer1329]

❤️

[@darkdaruma1605]

For you all, read Marco Aurelius Meditations if not done already 👌

[@marinjayden]

*Agreed. LOVE his work*

[@TranscendingRapture]

Meditations?

[@darkdaruma1605]

@@TranscendingRapture yep srry couldn't remember the name, in french it would be "Thoughts for Myself"

[@TranscendingRapture]

@@darkdaruma1605 No problem, I have them on my radar. I am actually in the middle of listening to an audiobook called The Practicing Stoic...

[@kailebrogan447]

Make it a challenge. Challenge yourself to give away one bag and then drive to goodwill. Just one bag. Then go from there.

[@JMvW100]

Oma sound really Dutch! Opa en oma... 💖

[@marinjayden]

*Hahah* 😆

[@CompostWatcher]

Why move all the stuff? Why?

[@ihague4568]

I have a pantry?

[@nguyenvietdung95]

5:00

[@nguyenvietdung95]

18:09

[@nguyenvietdung95]

23:00

[@nguyenvietdung95]

35:00

[@stevepalmer55]

An interview with Will and Madeleine Tuttle would be interesting.See them here kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHK6p6iql9aon7M

[@thebreezeofchange]

Fun podcast but you are plugging products throughout. Enough to make me want to google some of them - the bookcases! Hmmm. Not really the right message.

[@aheartofworship27]

Hi guys, If I can make a constructive criticism, if you’re going to be wearing black as part of the minimalist movement may I suggest that you don’t have a black background because everything is dark! It’s weird, spooky 👻