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:

• Discard the preconception that YOU can't discard your things. You just need to learn the techniques and create the habit.

• Discarding something takes skill, not time. Day 1, you throw out the garbage. Day 2 is for selling books & CDs. Day 3, you sell your electronics. Day 4 is for selling or donating large pieces of furniture. A week is all the time you need to reduce your possessions. 

• Reset your mind. When you discard something, you gain more than you lose.

• Start with what anyone would consider garbage - e.g., clothes with holes in them, expired food in the refrigerator. 

• Minimize anything you have in multiples (e.g., pens, scissors, etc.). You can still cut with one pair of scissors and write with one pen.

• Get rid of it if you haven't used it in a year, especially if you don't have plans to use it in the near future (with the exception of emergency supplies & equipment).

• Discard it if you have it only for the sake of appearance. We often try to use objects to show our worth. Ask yourself: Am I really fond of this or am I simply trying to project my desired image?

• You can avoid buying more things simply by asking yourself if it's something that you truly need.

• Take photos of the items that are tough to part with. This can help you preserve the memories that are associated with that item (e.g., a picture made by your child, a souvenir from a trip, a gift from a friend, etc.).

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.