In this discussion, Courtney Carver, founder of Be More With Less and author of Gentle, shares her expertise on decluttering and mindful consumption. She reveals why people often struggle to stop buying clothes even after decluttering. The conversation dives into the psychology behind our clothing choices and encourages mindful shopping. Listeners learn the 90-90 rule for assessing their wardrobe and how to embrace minimalism to enhance creativity in personal style. Courtney also emphasizes building an ethical wardrobe and understanding the emotional ties to our clothing.
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Project 333
Try Project 333, a three-month shopping ban on clothes, to understand your buying habits.
This helps break the cycle of buying and decluttering, especially if it affects you financially.
insights INSIGHT
Perfect Closet Paradox
The pursuit of a "perfect" closet often leads to more buying, not less.
True closet completion comes from understanding the psychology of consumerism and subtracting unnecessary items.
insights INSIGHT
Addiction of More
Compulsive buying can stem from a lack of other exciting or fulfilling activities.
Focus on creating a life filled with life-giving pursuits to rival the excitement of shopping.
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Gentle is a self-help book that offers 30 practices to help readers overcome chronic overwhelm, cultivate self-compassion, and find permission to do less. Organized into three parts—Rest, Less, and Rise—the book provides simple challenges to help readers shift their pace, headspace, and heart. It rejects the old rules of hustle culture and invites readers into real self-care that goes beyond superficial measures, focusing on trusting oneself and embracing a rhythm that frees them to enjoy their lives.
Love People, Use Things
Ryan Nicodemus
Joshua Fields Millburn
In 'Love People, Use Things,' Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus expand on the concept of minimalism by exploring how it can help individuals reevaluate and heal their relationships with seven key aspects of life: stuff, truth, self, values, money, creativity, and people. The book delves into how consumerism hinders true happiness and how adopting a minimalist lifestyle can lead to a more intentional, meaningful, and fulfilling life. It uses personal experiences and expert insights to provide a template for living with fewer distractions and more focus on what truly matters.
Clearing Emotional Clutter
Mindfulness Practices for Letting Go of What's Blocking Your Fulfillment and Transformation
Donald Altman
This book provides simple yet powerful mindfulness techniques to help readers overcome emotional baggage, modify harmful habits and patterns, and find joy and fulfillment. Altman combines modern neuroscience with ancient practices to show how daily mindfulness can transform difficult moments and enhance emotional health[1][3].
For the second episode in their five-part Household Clutter series, The Minimalists are joined by Courtney Carver to talk about decluttering the excess clothes, shoes, and accessories in our closets.
Discussed in this episode:
I’m great at decluttering, but why can’t I stop buying new clothes? (2:28)
Why do you own so many clothes? (15:27)
Listener tip: How to achieve variety and novelty with clothing. (41:51)
The Minimalists 
