Our spaces all have a tendency to get overrun with stuff: paperwork, clothes, books. Even when we try to pare back, things keep creeping in. You’ll get gifts from friends. You’ll realize you have furniture that doesn’t quite work in your space. It all accumulates surprisingly fast. When you’re ready to eliminate the unnecessary from […] The post The Art of Letting Go: Use These 5 Questions to Declutter Your Space appeared first on No Sidebar ..read more

I have always been someone who loves my stuff. I have lived in the same home for 30 years and have many books, plants, tea cups, purses, multiple craft hobbies and collections. Years ago I began a downsizing/rightsizing journey. With some gentle nudging from my husband I realized every drawer and closet was full. They […] The post 7 Lessons on My Journey from Maximalist to Minimalist appeared first on No Sidebar ..read more

Do you have a bad habit that you’ve been trying to shake for years? Maybe it’s procrastination, impatience, or a cluttered home. I know I do. Let me first encourage you with the reminder that no one is perfect, not even one. You will arrive at your grave still a work in progress, but this […] The post The Straight-Forward Path to Personal Growth appeared first on No Sidebar ..read more

It’s easy to fall off the minimalist bandwagon. One minute you’re decluttering like a pro, and the next you’re knee-deep in Amazon packages and thinking, “just one more” trinket from Target.  Whatever the reason, it’s easy to feel defeated when you backslide. But don’t worry, it happens to the best of us. In fact, it’s […] The post Get Back on the Minimalist Bandwagon appeared first on No Sidebar ..read more

My family and I spent two weeks last Summer visiting our extended families in the midwest. On our long drive back home to Colorado, somewhere in rural Iowa, in the early pre-dawn hours we drove through an extended patch of mist and fog. We weren’t able to see very far in front of us, and there […] The post How to Keep Going appeared first on No Sidebar ..read more

Why am I so interested in habit change? Because my life used to be an unconscious stream of short-term dopamine hits. Whether it was another fast fashion haul I couldn’t afford, or binging on trash TV shows like Love Island or Real Housewives, it was mindless, comfortable and soul-destroying. Month to month, my gym subscription […] The post 7 Micro-Habits that Changed My Life appeared first on No Sidebar ..read more

My grandfather passed away a few years ago. More recently I was given a photo album that was found in his bedroom as my father was sorting through his things. It was filled with photos, newspaper clippings and theater programs of me growing up through the years. My grandfather was a man of few words […] The post 7 Ways to Intentionally Use Your Photos and Videos appeared first on No Sidebar ..read more

It’s 8 a.m. on Sunday morning and the smell of coffee beckons from the kitchen. Rolling out of bed, I make my way to the living room sofa and groggily settle in between my husband and our eight-year-old daughter. She immediately snuggles against my side, chattering away. I’m often on my phone right now, I […] The post Seeing What We’re Missing appeared first on No Sidebar ..read more

Have you heard, said, or thought any of these sentiments? “I could never be a minimalist because I hate modern art and furniture.” “I could never be a minimalist because I have kids, and they need a ton of stuff.” “I could never be a minimalist because I need all my equipment for [name of hobby].” […] The post Why Minimalism Might Make You Happy Even If You’re Skeptical appeared first on No Sidebar ..read more

I tried the 5 am club for a week. Mainly because I love a good challenge but also because I made a bet with my husband that whoever caves first is on dish duty for the rest of the week. To make a long story short, after a rather sleep-less week, hubby won and I […] The post 10 Little Things that Make Life Beautiful appeared first on No Sidebar ..read more