Why Minimalism?

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

In the Environmentalist's manta of "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle," reduce can be the most powerful because it's the easiest to implement and minimizes the need for the rest of the actions (i.e., reuse, recycle, repurpose, repair, or rot).

Minimalism is the conscious practice of reducing the amount of things you have, consuming resources mindfully, and appreciating how less can truly be more.

Do a quick search on Google for "books on minimalism" and you'll find a treasure trove. One that we like to recommend is Fumio Sasaki's "Goodbye, Things." While Fumio writes from the perspective of an unmarried man, his 50 tips for saying goodbye to excess things are practical for singles and families alike! He also wins points for encouraging "green" methods for reducing clutter and his gentleness & compassion for people who have a hard time letting go of their stuff.

Check out "Goodbye, Things" through the Roselle Public Library's offerings on or on Audible today!

Here are a few tips from Sasaki to get you going:

The Negative Impact of Clutter on Mental Health

Do you dig through piles of clothes to find the shirt you want to wear for the day? When you leave the house, do you struggle to find your keys and your wallet among all the items on your kitchen table? Maybe you can't open the garage door all the way because there are so many boxes of knick-knacks in there.

You might tell yourself, I'll declutter eventually. But time keeps passing, and your home, office, or car is still filled to the brim with stuff. If any of this resonates with you, you're not alone. But many people don't realize the connection between clutter and mental health.

Benefits of Minimalism: 21 Benefits of Owning Less

Minimalism is countercultural. It is contrary to every advertisement we have ever seen because we live in a society that prides itself on the accumulation of possessions.

But there is more joy to be found in minimalist living than can be found pursuing more.

6 Environmental Benefits of a Minimalist Lifestyle

The world is changing, resources are dwindling, and nature needs our help. We must devise a fresh approach to a consumerism-dominated life in such circumstances. Minimalism is one such philosophy that can lead us to a better and more sustainable future. Many people believe a minimalist lifestyle is unrealistic, challenging, and unsuited to the fast-paced and marketed character of modern living. However, it is becoming increasingly fashionable, and many individuals are adopting it to reap the environmental benefits of a minimalist lifestyle.

"I'm getting rid of everything, now what?"

Congratulations! Welcome to the journey of a lifetime where you discover a newfound richness that accompanies having less stuff! Now what about the planet? How can we minimize the nonessential material things in our lives while staying conscious of their end-of-life?

There are many options to explore, but they fall under 4 main categories: sell, donate, recycle, dispose. While the fourth option may seem like the easiest, we recommend saving it for last. Today there are so many quick and easy options for selling, donating, & recycling that it'd be a shame to misuse viable resources in that way.

Below we share resources for selling, donating, and recycling the items you no longer need. Take a look and strive to keep your minimalism green! :)


Sell

Craigslist

Facebook Marketplace

eBay

Poshmark

ThredUp


Donate

Goodwill

Junkluggers

Salvation Army

SCARCE

Local "Buy Nothing" Group


Recycle

DuPage Recycling & Green Events

Junkluggers

Roselle Recycles

SCARCE

TerraCycle

Local campaigns with drop-off sites (e.g., Holiday Light Recycling)