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Mini-missions for Simplicity: small actions for massive change
When you start to simplify your life and even when you are years into the process, some things take longer than you anticipate and it can feel like you are taking one step forward, and two steps back. Instead of getting frustrated or giving up, try a mini-mission.
Mini-Missions are assignments or challenges that you can implement immediately, so you can benefit from some immediate gratification during this adventure and make your simple life more enjoyable and sustainable.
Mini-missions are often one step actions that you can do to improve your health, relationships, bank account or wardrobe.
Table of Contents
Section One: Clutter
One is Enough
Hide Your Stuff
Stop the Inflow by Mike Burns | The Other Side of Complexity
Pass it On
Shoot Your Stuff
The Digital Dip by Joel Zaslofsky | Value of Simple
Break it Off
Sell Something You Don’t Want by Betsy & Warren Talbot | Married with Luggage
33 Items or Less
Section Two: Productivity
Make Time
Habit Stack
Single Task by Brooke McAlary | Slow Your Home
Say No So You Can Say Yes
Sleep Well
Track Every Penny You Spend
Section Three: Relationships
Make Moments
Give Freely
Help No One by Britt Reints | In Pursuit of Happiness
Love More Deeply
Feed Someone
Judge Less
Send a Care Package by Tammy Strobel | Rowdy Kittens
Section Four: Life
Drive Less
Go Cameraless by Paul Jarvis | pjrvs.com
Banish Doubt
Take Brave Baby Steps by Jolie Guillebeau | jolieguillebeau.com
Speak Up by Leslie Webster | A Simple Life Afloat
Enjoy
Section Five: Health & Happiness
Smile by Valentina Thörner | ValDeOro
Sit Still
Calm Down
Grow Something
Floss Every Day
Feel Your Pain
Stand up for Your Health
Eat Real Food
Putting these mini-missions into action will help you reduce stress and discover what really makes you healthy and happy.
Mini-Missions are assignments or challenges that you can implement immediately, so you can benefit from some immediate gratification during this adventure and make your simple life more enjoyable and sustainable.
Mini-missions are often one step actions that you can do to improve your health, relationships, bank account or wardrobe.
Table of Contents
Section One: Clutter
One is Enough
Hide Your Stuff
Stop the Inflow by Mike Burns | The Other Side of Complexity
Pass it On
Shoot Your Stuff
The Digital Dip by Joel Zaslofsky | Value of Simple
Break it Off
Sell Something You Don’t Want by Betsy & Warren Talbot | Married with Luggage
33 Items or Less
Section Two: Productivity
Make Time
Habit Stack
Single Task by Brooke McAlary | Slow Your Home
Say No So You Can Say Yes
Sleep Well
Track Every Penny You Spend
Section Three: Relationships
Make Moments
Give Freely
Help No One by Britt Reints | In Pursuit of Happiness
Love More Deeply
Feed Someone
Judge Less
Send a Care Package by Tammy Strobel | Rowdy Kittens
Section Four: Life
Drive Less
Go Cameraless by Paul Jarvis | pjrvs.com
Banish Doubt
Take Brave Baby Steps by Jolie Guillebeau | jolieguillebeau.com
Speak Up by Leslie Webster | A Simple Life Afloat
Enjoy
Section Five: Health & Happiness
Smile by Valentina Thörner | ValDeOro
Sit Still
Calm Down
Grow Something
Floss Every Day
Feel Your Pain
Stand up for Your Health
Eat Real Food
Putting these mini-missions into action will help you reduce stress and discover what really makes you healthy and happy.
82 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 4, 2013
319 people are currently reading
577 people want to read
About the author
Courtney Carver
13 books364 followersCourtney Carver writes things. She wrote a book called Soulful Simplicity and the simplicity blog, bemorewithless.com. She shares things that make her laugh and cry on Instagram (@bemorewithless). She doesn't know her Myers Briggs Type but she knows she's an introvert because she needs to be free from humans several times a day (cats and dogs are always welcome). Aside from her seasonal wardrobe, she doesn't count her things.
Carver doesn't have an impressive degree, awards, or a big, fancy home full of stuff. Instead, she selectively surrounds herself with her favorite things and people she loves. She does work she truly cares about, goes on adventures (in the world or in her own backyard) and likes chai lattes with almond milk while reading or writing.
Her new book, Project 333, The Minimalist Fashion Challenge That Proves Less Really is So Much More will help you create a capsule wardrobe and a beautiful life.
Carver doesn't have an impressive degree, awards, or a big, fancy home full of stuff. Instead, she selectively surrounds herself with her favorite things and people she loves. She does work she truly cares about, goes on adventures (in the world or in her own backyard) and likes chai lattes with almond milk while reading or writing.
Her new book, Project 333, The Minimalist Fashion Challenge That Proves Less Really is So Much More will help you create a capsule wardrobe and a beautiful life.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
February 12, 2022
HIGHLIGHTS:
1. Living with less has opened my eyes to what is most important to me, and it’s not passive shopping.
2. Do a 5-minute habit stacking by doing things you love in tiny, 5-minute increments.
- You can build momentum and use it to extend the time you spend with your new habits or by adding more blocks of things you love.
3. Let go of your need to decide who deserves what. That’s not your job or responsibility.
- It feels good to give without judgment.
4. Unsolicited help can often feel more like judgment.
- People respond to judgment not with gratitude, but with resentment.
5. When you give help that isn’t asked for – even if you mean well – it usually comes off more like fixing.
- No one wants to be fixed. We want to be heard.
6. If you haven’t been specifically asked to help, there’s a good chance you’re guessing about what’s needed. You’re making assumptions, filling in the gaps with your own perceptions and experiences. That’s normal, but it’s unlikely to lead you to a solution that is right for the person you are trying to help.
7. 5 Ways to Feel Emotionally:
- Say I love you.
- Email someone a thank you note.
- Write a love letter.
- Double or triple your tip at your next meal out.
- Call the owner of a business tell them about the great service you received.
8. Judging a person doesn’t describe who they are. It describes who YOU are.
9. Slow progress is still progress.
10. Happiness is a decision, it requires small changes to put it into practice.
1. Living with less has opened my eyes to what is most important to me, and it’s not passive shopping.
2. Do a 5-minute habit stacking by doing things you love in tiny, 5-minute increments.
- You can build momentum and use it to extend the time you spend with your new habits or by adding more blocks of things you love.
3. Let go of your need to decide who deserves what. That’s not your job or responsibility.
- It feels good to give without judgment.
4. Unsolicited help can often feel more like judgment.
- People respond to judgment not with gratitude, but with resentment.
5. When you give help that isn’t asked for – even if you mean well – it usually comes off more like fixing.
- No one wants to be fixed. We want to be heard.
6. If you haven’t been specifically asked to help, there’s a good chance you’re guessing about what’s needed. You’re making assumptions, filling in the gaps with your own perceptions and experiences. That’s normal, but it’s unlikely to lead you to a solution that is right for the person you are trying to help.
7. 5 Ways to Feel Emotionally:
- Say I love you.
- Email someone a thank you note.
- Write a love letter.
- Double or triple your tip at your next meal out.
- Call the owner of a business tell them about the great service you received.
8. Judging a person doesn’t describe who they are. It describes who YOU are.
9. Slow progress is still progress.
10. Happiness is a decision, it requires small changes to put it into practice.
April 12, 2015
I teetered between giving this two or three stars. Reading this book was akin to remaining in a conversation with someone you don't want to be talking to, because there is the capacity for things to get relevant or interesting, but in the end it didn't work out in your favor. I finished this book mostly just to have the satisfaction of having finished it. Maybe to also be polite.
Some of the content just seemed random and not helpful at all. I did, however, get a nice handful of quotes out of it that I can refer back to for certain projects or mindsets. So there's that.
Some of the content just seemed random and not helpful at all. I did, however, get a nice handful of quotes out of it that I can refer back to for certain projects or mindsets. So there's that.
September 5, 2022
This felt rather random to me. A collection of thoughts from a number of different people with ideas about how to go about simplifying life from clutter to productivity to relationships and lifestyle. It felt rather disjointed but there were also nuggets of usefulness too.
October 12, 2014
I'm accepting this book--more of a pamphlet, really--on it's own terms. Little snippets of advice. Don't expect more. Some of them are trite. Some of them are repetitive. If the book had been longer, I would have started to feel really preached to. But some of those little bits of advice are really quite good, and for those I'll give it 4 stars.
June 4, 2014
Because Amazon prime is a beautiful thing I borrowed this book for free on my kindle and read it at my own pace, finishing it today. (I promise I am not getting any kind of reimbursement for that statement, it is pure honesty.) Thank goodness for authors and publishing houses who choose this option.
The format of this book is easy to read straight-through (as I did), or pick and choose which are or idea interests you most. Each idea is presented as a brief explanation (a page or two at the most) of suggestions you can incorporate to create simplicity in your life.
There is a suggestion on the benefit of smiling - even if you are angry, another on being still (not being still AND....), another on flossing in the shower instead of out, and more. These are simple suggestions a person can implement immediately. Well, unless you just got out of the shower and didn't floss, then you'll have to wait until your next shower. Or not. Heavens, don't let me stop you from dental hygiene bliss.
The format of this book is easy to read straight-through (as I did), or pick and choose which are or idea interests you most. Each idea is presented as a brief explanation (a page or two at the most) of suggestions you can incorporate to create simplicity in your life.
There is a suggestion on the benefit of smiling - even if you are angry, another on being still (not being still AND....), another on flossing in the shower instead of out, and more. These are simple suggestions a person can implement immediately. Well, unless you just got out of the shower and didn't floss, then you'll have to wait until your next shower. Or not. Heavens, don't let me stop you from dental hygiene bliss.
June 4, 2014
Short and sweet reference on simplicity
Short and sweet reference on simplicity
Giving this three stars because there's nothing new here. But I do like the format of the mini missions and how easy it is to go through the entire book. I recommend this book for those who've read other books on simplicity as you'll have the background knowledge on some of the reasoning behind the tips. This is also a good reference for when you want to take baby step in living a simple life.
Short and sweet reference on simplicity
Giving this three stars because there's nothing new here. But I do like the format of the mini missions and how easy it is to go through the entire book. I recommend this book for those who've read other books on simplicity as you'll have the background knowledge on some of the reasoning behind the tips. This is also a good reference for when you want to take baby step in living a simple life.
March 1, 2017
Yes on shower-flossing, Definitely No on giving cash to panhandlers
This was a mostly useful little book with some great ideas. Shower flossing is an interesting concept which I do plan to try. The only definite NO in here is the advice to give cash to panhandlers. I certainly hope most people don't take that advice and instead support groups that provide practical support to end homelessness and substance abuse. Encouraging beggars is just bad all around.
Read via Kindle Unlimited
This was a mostly useful little book with some great ideas. Shower flossing is an interesting concept which I do plan to try. The only definite NO in here is the advice to give cash to panhandlers. I certainly hope most people don't take that advice and instead support groups that provide practical support to end homelessness and substance abuse. Encouraging beggars is just bad all around.
Read via Kindle Unlimited
April 28, 2019
Courtney Carver and friends have written a small book about small actions that can make bigger changes in your life. I did “A Simple Year” with her, a year-long program based on some of the same ideas. But some of these ideas were new and their simplicity belies the difference they can make. This is one book I will come back to. Minimalism, generosity, living in gratitude, intentionality all have a place in it.
March 27, 2014
Several good ideas for ways to help simplify your life. If you follow Courtney Caver's blog, the minimalists' blog and Leo Babauta's Zen Habits then there isn't anything very new here, but overall I'd recommend it as a way to start thinking about minimalism and how to cut back on stuff we just don't need.
April 26, 2014
Short and quick read which will give some nice mini missions to begin with your minimalistic and simpler life. I have already started to life such a life earlier than I found this book, so was glad to find things I'm already doing, but there are still some things which I can start to do :) So in general was really easy and inspiring read.
July 2, 2014
A good bathroom book. Each small chapter held one idea for simplifying your life. Topics ranged from de-cluttering to improving your health and fitness. I liked that you could tackle one or two of these small changes right away and see immediate benefit. I will revisit this book again over time to try more of the ideas.
September 14, 2015
Good concept, but not deep
The idea of mini missions, written by a variety of people, is appealing. Maybe you'll even find something in here that moves you. It is all pretty basic stuff, but it's a fair variety. Who knows, maybe you'll even come across a new concept. I didn't, but this isn't even close to my first foray into the subjects covered here.
The idea of mini missions, written by a variety of people, is appealing. Maybe you'll even find something in here that moves you. It is all pretty basic stuff, but it's a fair variety. Who knows, maybe you'll even come across a new concept. I didn't, but this isn't even close to my first foray into the subjects covered here.
March 12, 2016
Relyn Rating: 3.5 stars (useful, but not amazing)
I really enjoy Courtney Carver's blog and her point of view. This is the type of book I love to read on my phone - bite-sized, easy-reading, with good ideas and/or helpful tips. I enjoyed this one. I'm glad I didn't pay much for it, but I am also glad to own it.
I really enjoy Courtney Carver's blog and her point of view. This is the type of book I love to read on my phone - bite-sized, easy-reading, with good ideas and/or helpful tips. I enjoyed this one. I'm glad I didn't pay much for it, but I am also glad to own it.
August 6, 2016
This book lists some easy ways to live a life of simplicity. I like Courtney Carver because she writes with a humble pen and does not judge. It's an extremely fast read and leaves you with lots of ideas to come back to. Looking forward to implementing some of her ideas.
April 19, 2014
Must admit I skimmed most of this book as I found the mini-missions lacking in practical advice. If you're interested in the topic, I'd recommend reading the book of one of the contributors instead - Tammy Strobel's You Can Buy Happiness (And It's Cheap).
January 1, 2015
I liked it. Read it in one sitting. Great primer for simple living. Not much new if you read minimalist and simple living blogs but a good reminder and a few new ideas and inspirations I hadn't considered.
January 13, 2015
Carver offers really simple and effective steps to simplify your life. If you're against all thing self-help, I suggest that you give this one a try. Our lives are so full of STUFF and CRAP and her solutions may change the way you feel about all of that garbage collecting in your life.
February 2, 2015
This was perfect for reading on my Kindle, a chapter at a time when I had a few moments of free time. Nothing really new, but the packaging of the ideas into bite-size, do-able chunks was useful. I will probably end up re-reading this regularly and picking out some "mini-missions" to tackle.
March 22, 2015
I like Courtney's writing style, so looked forward to this - it's not a bit different from her blog in style, and good ideas throughout! Will be putting them into effect soon. I like that they're "mini" missions. You don't get too overwhelmed while you work on things!
June 23, 2018
This is a handy little book full of bite-sized mini-missions. It doesn’t contain any earth-shattering ideas and as expected many of them are not for me. But lots of them resonate as well. I always enjoy Courtney Carver’s insights and approach and I liked the simple format of this book as well.
December 6, 2014
Lengvai perskaitoma ir naudingesnė nei gali atrodyti knyga. Rekomenduoju visiems kam paprastumas ir laimingas gyvenimas yra norų sąrašuose. Debesyla rekomenduoja! :)
May 14, 2014
This book is just the right kind of mini dose one needs to make simplicity a part of your life very simply.I enjoyed reading it and try to remember few mini missions to add to my daily life.
October 3, 2014
Little notes about small and important tasks, habits. Useful tips to have a healthy life from household to dental cleaning habits.
November 12, 2015
Exactly!
Short and sweet little things to do to make your life a little better -or a lot. Simple missions. Big results.
Short and sweet little things to do to make your life a little better -or a lot. Simple missions. Big results.
May 25, 2017
Good reminders
January 23, 2016
Good ideas
Quick and easy read. Lots of good ideas for making small changes to routines and daily life. Offers perspectives of a number of people.
Quick and easy read. Lots of good ideas for making small changes to routines and daily life. Offers perspectives of a number of people.
April 8, 2018
An easy read with quick little life tips. Honestly, while there is some good little tips in here, there's nothing new that you probably didn't already learn from reading blogs.
July 4, 2018
Great ideas
This book is full of simple strategies for living a simpler, better life. This is a quick read and the suggestions she offers are simple to implement.
This book is full of simple strategies for living a simpler, better life. This is a quick read and the suggestions she offers are simple to implement.
September 9, 2018
I'm already a big fan of Courtney Carver's Instagram page. I enjoyed reading these mini missions but of course, I think I'm going to enjoy her "real" book a lot more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews