I read a lot of books on simplicity, organization, and time management and my favorite ones usually combine personal anecdotes with practical action steps to help the reader get started on their journey. Both the books I’m reviewing this month fit this model.
I’ve been a long time fan of Leo Babutta’s blog, Zen Habits. His book, The Power of Less, was published in 2009, but its advice is timeless. Also, its small size is perfect for dipping into when you need a reminder of what is important. I actually own a copy of this book which is rare for me, since I try to simplify by owning fewer books. (After all, I am at the library everyday!) I love this little book as it is both deceptively simple and incredibly thought provoking, much like Leo’s blog posts. Throughout the book Leo makes the case for less. “Doing more things means you’re likely to do a lot of unimportant things, and you’ll be overworked and stressed at the same time.” Leo argues for another way of life and in the first section of the book outlines six principles to help you simplify and focus on what is important. In the second section the author provides specific chapters to implement the six principles into your life. The topics are related to common sources of stress such as email, paperwork, and personal commitments.
Leo advocates taking a 30 day challenge where you focus on building one habit for 30 days. The next steps are to write down your plan, then post your goal publicly, and report on your progress daily. These steps might sound familiar if you have taken a simplify 101 class, as Aby usually has a daily check in forum for participants to record progress on their goals. The member area, included with Aby’s self-paced classes also has a check-in area, so members can stay accountable and share their progress with fellow community members.
In the practical advice section Leo advocates goal setting, and provides tips on how to simplify the internet and filing, as well as bigger topics such as health, fitness, and e-mail. This isn’t a book you need to read all at once. You can dip into the chapters for inspiration on topics you are struggling with and come away reinvigorated with the need for less. At least that’s what always happens to me.
Another little book I dip into when I need a reminder about how to achieve a simple life is Tsh Oxenreider’s book Organized Simplicity: the Clutter Free Approach to Intentional Living. This guide book covers everything from money management to healthy eating and includes a 10-day, step-by-step guide to organizing every room in your home. The book is also full of recipes for natural home cleaners, as well as an appendix with forms and a list of other resources. Tsh is the author of the blog The Art of Simple (formerly Simple Mom). Her blog is always full of inspiring thoughts on making intentional choices and articles on living simply.
If you’re looking to slow down or simplify this summer, either one of these short books will provide a big dose of inspiration.
Happy Reading!
Alissa
