Joshua Becker

1 month ago | becomingminimalist.com | Joshua Becker

There’s a strange thing that happens when someone says, “Only three left in stock,” or when a sale ends at midnight, or when a product is labeled “limited edition.” Or when we hear the phrase, “But don’t wait—these are moving fast.”Even if the item wasn’t on your shopping list a moment ago, all of a sudden, the item starts to feel important—urgent, even. There’s a name for this: The Scarcity Effect. This experience is, of course, not unique.

1 month ago | mountain-news.com | Joshua Becker

According to statistics, 71% of people check their phone within 10 minutes of waking up. This is problematic for a number of reasons:More Stress: Checking your phone releases adrenaline, which increases heart rate, pulse, and muscle tension. Rather than a relaxing way to start your day, checking your phone increases stress. Less Intentionality: Checking your phone is the equivalent to giving someone (or something) control over your mind.

1 month ago | becomingminimalist.com | Joshua Becker

Note: This is a guest post by Joshua Fields Millburn of The Minimalists. My friend Derek wanted to be a good minimalist. So after his son, Sammy, was born, he refused to buy toys for the boy, assuming he would be just as happy playing with the rocks and sticks strewn throughout their backyard. A few years later, however, my friend started questioning his own minimalism when he saw his son erupt with joy each time he played with his friend’s toys.

1 month ago | mountain-news.com | Joshua Becker

“We live in a very tense society. We are pulled apart… and we all need to learn how to pull ourselves together…. I think that at least part of the answer lies in solitude.” —Helen HayesWe live in the information age. And by that I mean, information is everywhere. Computers provide the opportunity to process enormous amounts of information. The Internet makes the constant flow of information from anywhere in the world possible. Social media ties together information and relationships.

2 months ago | mountain-news.com | Joshua Becker

“You can remove a significant amount of stress from your life simply by reducing the number of items in your closet.” –Courtney CarverIn the constant churn of modern life, where consumerism is encouraged at every turn, it is easy to accumulate more than we need (or even truly desire). The clothes in our closets are a good example of this. We have more than we need, keep buying more, and rarely take the time to thin out the excess. But when we do, there is an opportunity waiting.