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Declutter Your Heart and Your Home: How a Minimalist Life Yields Maximum Joy
Declutter Your Heart and Your Home provides tips, tricks, and tools to rid yourself of the internal and external clutter weighing you down, as well as relatable stories and soul-nourishing truths from Scripture to fill your heart and home with what truly matters.
Do you long for a richer life? One with meaning, purpose, and simplicity? One that's lighter, freer, and more focused on who and what matters?
As moms who are busy, stressed out, and living in survival mode, we feel desperate for peace--with ourselves, our families, our homes, and God. But we often don't know how to find it.
God wants us to experience abundant life--and it all starts with clearing clutter, first in our hearts, then in our homes. Julia Ubbenga--creator of the popular blog Rich in What Matters--is a trustworthy guide and companion as she shares the tips, tricks, and inspiring lessons she's learned on her own journey to minimalism. Her book will help
Identify the unhealthy habits and addictions that disorder your lifeRedefine your relationship with money and the stuff it buysFind freedom from hurry, chaos, and consumerismReclaim God's peace in your heart and your home
This journey toward simplicity will transform your life.
Do you long for a richer life? One with meaning, purpose, and simplicity? One that's lighter, freer, and more focused on who and what matters?
As moms who are busy, stressed out, and living in survival mode, we feel desperate for peace--with ourselves, our families, our homes, and God. But we often don't know how to find it.
God wants us to experience abundant life--and it all starts with clearing clutter, first in our hearts, then in our homes. Julia Ubbenga--creator of the popular blog Rich in What Matters--is a trustworthy guide and companion as she shares the tips, tricks, and inspiring lessons she's learned on her own journey to minimalism. Her book will help
Identify the unhealthy habits and addictions that disorder your lifeRedefine your relationship with money and the stuff it buysFind freedom from hurry, chaos, and consumerismReclaim God's peace in your heart and your home
This journey toward simplicity will transform your life.
256 pages, Paperback
Published April 15, 2025
94 people are currently reading
7579 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
April 22, 2025
Wow, this was such a motivational book. I am honestly so glad I have read this. Not only does it help me understand, motivate me, and increase my want to declutter my space.. it also taught me great life lessons along the way in other aspects of like (like the issues with being distracted). I loved that this referenced God and had great advice on so many different aspects many of us struggle with. I'll try to implement more of this in my life. I am excited to try out this and declutter to live more freely!
I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway. However, all of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway. However, all of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
April 5, 2025
DNF
This one is mostly on me for not reading the full description of the book prior to purchasing…
I was hoping that this book would give more of a tips and tricks for the average busy person (whether it be that you are a stay at home mom, working mom or even a working single human) to stay organized and to declutter your home. However it is more here’s why God is great oh by the way having too much stuff is ruining your life and relationship with God.
I am not an anti-religion person but I am also not religious myself so this book just wasn’t for me.
This one is mostly on me for not reading the full description of the book prior to purchasing…
I was hoping that this book would give more of a tips and tricks for the average busy person (whether it be that you are a stay at home mom, working mom or even a working single human) to stay organized and to declutter your home. However it is more here’s why God is great oh by the way having too much stuff is ruining your life and relationship with God.
I am not an anti-religion person but I am also not religious myself so this book just wasn’t for me.
April 11, 2025
Christian women who are interested in minimalism will appreciate how this book combines home and lifestyle advice with spiritual reflections. Julia Ubbenga shares her personal story of overcoming a life of consumerism and clutter, and she reflects on how this has enhanced her life and deepened her relationship with God. She encourages readers to experience the same freedom, and the early chapters explore foundational concepts about pursuing a simpler lifestyle and address some of the spiritual issues beneath many people's consumer habits.
The rest of the book shares practical insights for decluttering different parts of your home. The author shares helpful tips and ideas, and the writing is straightforward and easy to read, with helpful headings and lists. This is the kind of book that someone can work through systematically or skim for whatever project they're working on at the moment. In addition to being very practical, these chapters also address common heart issues related to these spaces, such as comparison for your closet or reactivity for your child's room. At the end of each chapter, there are also brief reflection exercises related to both your internal life and your home.
Because of the strong emphasis on spiritual themes, this book will primarily appeal to readers who share the author's faith. People with other belief backgrounds can still appreciate the practical insights and tips, but they may find this book more of a turn-off than some other lifestyle books from Christian publishers. This one not only has very strong Christian themes, but also makes other sweeping statements, like the idea that you can't declutter your home without God's help. Just because a Christian's experience is incomplete without God doesn't mean that non-believers can't accomplish the same earthly goal of keeping a tidy, minimalist home. I appreciate the author's overall message about relying on God, but this kind of exaggerated phrasing is not helpful.
This book is full of deep, helpful insights and practical tips for pursuing a simpler lifestyle and letting go of excess. This will primarily appeal to Christian women, and the author's vulnerable personal stories and wise advice can help this audience think through and reevaluate their lives, purge unneeded items from their homes, and adopt a slower, more sustainable pace of living.
I received a free ARC from the publisher, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
The rest of the book shares practical insights for decluttering different parts of your home. The author shares helpful tips and ideas, and the writing is straightforward and easy to read, with helpful headings and lists. This is the kind of book that someone can work through systematically or skim for whatever project they're working on at the moment. In addition to being very practical, these chapters also address common heart issues related to these spaces, such as comparison for your closet or reactivity for your child's room. At the end of each chapter, there are also brief reflection exercises related to both your internal life and your home.
Because of the strong emphasis on spiritual themes, this book will primarily appeal to readers who share the author's faith. People with other belief backgrounds can still appreciate the practical insights and tips, but they may find this book more of a turn-off than some other lifestyle books from Christian publishers. This one not only has very strong Christian themes, but also makes other sweeping statements, like the idea that you can't declutter your home without God's help. Just because a Christian's experience is incomplete without God doesn't mean that non-believers can't accomplish the same earthly goal of keeping a tidy, minimalist home. I appreciate the author's overall message about relying on God, but this kind of exaggerated phrasing is not helpful.
This book is full of deep, helpful insights and practical tips for pursuing a simpler lifestyle and letting go of excess. This will primarily appeal to Christian women, and the author's vulnerable personal stories and wise advice can help this audience think through and reevaluate their lives, purge unneeded items from their homes, and adopt a slower, more sustainable pace of living.
I received a free ARC from the publisher, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
September 30, 2025
I’ve read a few minimalism/decluttering books and have watched even more content on YouTube over the years and this is by far the best I’ve found on the topic! I think the pairing of attention on your inner home as well as the outer is what sealed it for me. What good is a perfectly decluttered home if your heart still isn’t right and open to where the Lord is and what He’s doing? This was so practical physically and spiritually!
June 9, 2025
A great Christ centered book if you are interested in minimizing your home and getting away from clutter. I definitely see the ideas from this book changing my life.
October 22, 2025
>>> to ponder<<<
I once read that the state of our home reflects the state of our soul.
Peter Walsh said, "Your home should be the antidote to stress, not the cause of it."'
Parenting from a state of overwhelm has been normalized and even become expected.
materialism can indirectly distort the way we view others by leading us to prioritize possessions above people.
"The point of simplicity is not efficiency, increased productivity or even living a healthier, more relaxed life," writes Jan Johnson in Abundant Simplicity. "The point is making space for treasuring God's own self."
The call to a simple life was an invitation to freedom. To let go of everything that wasn't supporting me, serving me, or helping me build an outer and inner home centered on God.
Minimalism by itself isn't even a sure ticket to happiness. While minimalism will create space in your life, you still have to decide what to fill that space with.
Minimalism is not organizing but de-owning.
John Mark Comer, "The goal [of mini-malism] isn't just to declutter your closet or garage, but to declutter your life. To clear away the myriad of distractions that rachet up our anxiety, feed us an endless stream of mind-numbing drivel, and anesthetize us to what really matters."
What did I want my time on earth to look like?
Leo Babauta writes, “Simplicity boils down to two steps:
1. Identify the essential.
2. Eliminate the rest."
Joshua Becker speaks of the universal benefits of minimalism. "Excess possessions have the power to enslave us physically, psychologically, and financially," he writes. "Stuff is cumbersome and difficult to transport. It weighs on the spirit and makes us feel heavy. On the other hand, every time we remove an unnecessary item, we gain back a little freedom."
This financial shift is possible for you too. Sethi suggests spending unapologetically on what you love as long as you cut costs mercilessly on what you don't love.
Any half-awake materialist well knows - that which you hold holds you.
-TOM ROBBINS
was all his. I was simply the steward, which gave the term "stuff manager" a much different feel.
As I considered letting go, the question wasn't, "How do I give everything away?" but rather "How do I follow Jesus with everything?"
Carrie Gress writes, "Our homes can readily reveal what is happening behind the door of our soul." Your external environment can serve as a lens to your inner environment.
"When I hold on to the wrong things, the wrong things hold on to me,"writes Emily P. Freeman
your most formidable decluttering barrier is often yourself.
According to the National Science Foundation, 80 percent of our thoughts are negative and 95 percent of our thoughts are repetitive.
When faced with an item you're struggling to let go of, dig deep. Ask yourself questions to uncover any biases. Would you buy this item today? If yes, how much would you pay for it?
Understanding that less stuff means more quality time with loved ones can override any of your reasons for holding on to unwanted possessions.
remember that your memories are stored in your mind, not in your stuff.
The Minimalists' 20/20 Rule is a powerful way to let go of “just in case" items. This rule suggests letting the possession go if ...
•you can replace it for less than twenty dollars
• and you can replace it in less than twenty minutes.
For life to be lighter, I had to focus on letting go of what was heavi-est. What did it matter if I had an organized kitchen drawer when I was drowning in kids' clothes and toys?
Studies show that decluttering reduces the amount of time spent on housework by 40 percent in the average home.' Let that stat sink in for a minute. That's almost half the number of housework-dedicated minutes of your life.
If you spend ten hours a week cleaning, organizing, and maintaining things, you could gain back four of those hours simply by having less stuff to manage.
If you set a timer and spend 15 minutes each morning (or evening) decluttering, that's 7.5 hours a month and 90 hours a year. Small, consistent efforts lead to big changes.
Decluttering is an investment in your relationship with your kids and others.
"My goal is no longer to get more done, but to have less to do," writes author Francine Jay in Miss Minimalist.
You have to be ruthless to make the real change you're being called to. Remember, there is so much life on the other side of all your stuff.
As mentioned, the amount of stuff you place on your fridge likely reflects the amount of clutter in your home. If you want to take immediate action and make your kitchen feel lighter in minutes, declutter the front of your fridge.
today's fashion industry capitalizes on our obsession with the visible. In 1930 the average woman had 36 items in her closet-today it's 120.3 Most fashion trends today last around two to four months…
average American household spends $160 on clothing each month (nearly $2,000 a year), but studies show we wear only 20 percent of our clothing.* And yet 61 percent of Americans regularly stand before their full closets and claim they have "nothing to wear." What's the remedy to our textile overconsumption and discontent?
"All that clutter used to be money" came to mind.
Cassandra Aarssen, author of Real Life Organizing: "Remember that the money you spent on that item is gone. You're not any richer if you store this item in your home, and you won't be any poorer if you let it go."
Pay attention to each article of clothing you choose to declutter. Why are you letting it go (was it the fit, the colors, etc.)? Use this information to make better clothing purchases in the future.
our brains can become fatigued before the day even begins.
Be prepared to repeat outfits. No one cares if you wear the same thing twice in a week, or even on consecutive days. Research shows that, after each interaction, people spend only about ten seconds thinking about you; they're usually thinking about themselves.
I needed the deeper antidote to social comparison: gratitude.
Thankfulness is essential to your inner decluttering journey too. Just as your outer world is simplified by a curated capsule wardrobe, your inner world is simplified by replacing your comparing heart with a grateful one that's thankful for not only what you own but also who you are.
God is the giver of all things good in our lives. When the gifts eclipse the Giver, when we focus on stuff instead of its source, comparison sets in. To quote Paul again, "What do you have that you did not receive?" (1 Corinthians 4:7). Read that again. An unseen force is at work in your life, sustaining your every breath, providing for your every need.
God's goodness and presence are within you, around you, covering your life— the life you have, not the life you wish you had, expected to have, or feel you deserve to have. Can you see that? Is your heart in tune with his gifts?
gratitude is simply a matter of focus.
Gratitude won't make you always happy-that's not real life. It will, how-ever, make your life simpler and more joy-filled as you carve out more space for contentment with who you are and what you have.
Hurry is not just a disordered schedule.
Hurry is a disordered heart.
-JOHN ORTBERG
rushing wasn't truly living. Psalms 39:6
Jesus was never worried about time. Maybe because his perception of time involved eternity-time without end. And he extends that promise to those who are his. I was promised eternity, but I still felt like I never had enough time.
Writer Corrie ten Boom said that if the devil can't make you sin, he'll make you busy. Read that again. BUSY might as well stand for "being under Satan's yoke."
WHAT IS YOUR VISION? Before decluttering your living room and bedroom, develop your vision for these rooms. Be specific-we're talking laser-like precision. Let the purpose of these two rooms become so clear that you could outline it in your sleep. Write down a phrase or several words that define your rooms' purpose. I chose connection and rest. These words were the standard by which every item in the room was measured. If something didn't pass the connection-and-rest test, it didn't stay. Maybe your word is leisure or a space for hobbies (both forms of rest).
A 2009 study by the University of Sussex revealed that a mere six minutes of reading can reduce a person's stress level by 68 percent.
For more tips on decluttering books, go to www.richinwhatmatters.com and search "books."
Cheryl Richardson, "If you want to improve your life imme-diately, clean out a closet. Often it's what we hold onto that holds us back. "
Lysa TerKeurst says, "Whenever you say yes to something, there is less of you for something else. Make sure your yes is worth the less."
If you want your children to turn out well. spend twice as much time with them, and half as much money. ABIGAIL VAN BUREN
Carl Jung said that children do not distinguish between ritual and reality. In the world of childhood, toys are ritual objects with powerful meaning and resonance.
To a child, a mountain of toys is more than something to trip over. It's a topographical map of their emerging worldview. The mountain, casting a large symbolic shadow, means "I can choose this toy, or that, or this one way down here, or that: They are all mine! But there are so many that none of them have value. I must want something else!" This worldview shapes their emotional landscape as well; children given so very many choices learn to undervalue them all, and hold out-always —for whatever elusive thing isn't offered. "More!"
A continual stream of stuff begets a desire for even more.
having fewer toys "invites deeper play - and engagement. An avalanche of toys invites emotional disconnect and a sense of overwhelm.'
Consistently asking your child whether the artwork is "ta da" or "ta dump" plants the seed that not everything needs to be kept.
Viktor E. Frankl is attributed with saying, "Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom."
Our emotions are a gift from God. They give us information about our needs and where God wants to meet us in our lives.
"As you decrease the quantity of your child's toys and clutter, you increase their attention and their capacity for deep play."'
What would it feel like to surround myself only with things that supported the person God was calling me to become today, now?
Would you feel relieved? Then let that item go. Would you feel good, but a little guilty? Then take a picture of the item and then let it go. Would you feel devastated? Then that's an item you definitely want to keep.
Patrick Lencioni, "If everything is important, then nothing is."
Attention is the beginning of devotion.
-MARY OLIVER
"Minimalism doesn't mean always tidy," writes author Rachelle Crawford. "It just means easily tidied."
Charles Duhigg suggests that we can't end habits; we can only replace them.
I once read that the state of our home reflects the state of our soul.
Peter Walsh said, "Your home should be the antidote to stress, not the cause of it."'
Parenting from a state of overwhelm has been normalized and even become expected.
materialism can indirectly distort the way we view others by leading us to prioritize possessions above people.
"The point of simplicity is not efficiency, increased productivity or even living a healthier, more relaxed life," writes Jan Johnson in Abundant Simplicity. "The point is making space for treasuring God's own self."
The call to a simple life was an invitation to freedom. To let go of everything that wasn't supporting me, serving me, or helping me build an outer and inner home centered on God.
Minimalism by itself isn't even a sure ticket to happiness. While minimalism will create space in your life, you still have to decide what to fill that space with.
Minimalism is not organizing but de-owning.
John Mark Comer, "The goal [of mini-malism] isn't just to declutter your closet or garage, but to declutter your life. To clear away the myriad of distractions that rachet up our anxiety, feed us an endless stream of mind-numbing drivel, and anesthetize us to what really matters."
What did I want my time on earth to look like?
Leo Babauta writes, “Simplicity boils down to two steps:
1. Identify the essential.
2. Eliminate the rest."
Joshua Becker speaks of the universal benefits of minimalism. "Excess possessions have the power to enslave us physically, psychologically, and financially," he writes. "Stuff is cumbersome and difficult to transport. It weighs on the spirit and makes us feel heavy. On the other hand, every time we remove an unnecessary item, we gain back a little freedom."
This financial shift is possible for you too. Sethi suggests spending unapologetically on what you love as long as you cut costs mercilessly on what you don't love.
Any half-awake materialist well knows - that which you hold holds you.
-TOM ROBBINS
was all his. I was simply the steward, which gave the term "stuff manager" a much different feel.
As I considered letting go, the question wasn't, "How do I give everything away?" but rather "How do I follow Jesus with everything?"
Carrie Gress writes, "Our homes can readily reveal what is happening behind the door of our soul." Your external environment can serve as a lens to your inner environment.
"When I hold on to the wrong things, the wrong things hold on to me,"writes Emily P. Freeman
your most formidable decluttering barrier is often yourself.
According to the National Science Foundation, 80 percent of our thoughts are negative and 95 percent of our thoughts are repetitive.
When faced with an item you're struggling to let go of, dig deep. Ask yourself questions to uncover any biases. Would you buy this item today? If yes, how much would you pay for it?
Understanding that less stuff means more quality time with loved ones can override any of your reasons for holding on to unwanted possessions.
remember that your memories are stored in your mind, not in your stuff.
The Minimalists' 20/20 Rule is a powerful way to let go of “just in case" items. This rule suggests letting the possession go if ...
•you can replace it for less than twenty dollars
• and you can replace it in less than twenty minutes.
For life to be lighter, I had to focus on letting go of what was heavi-est. What did it matter if I had an organized kitchen drawer when I was drowning in kids' clothes and toys?
Studies show that decluttering reduces the amount of time spent on housework by 40 percent in the average home.' Let that stat sink in for a minute. That's almost half the number of housework-dedicated minutes of your life.
If you spend ten hours a week cleaning, organizing, and maintaining things, you could gain back four of those hours simply by having less stuff to manage.
If you set a timer and spend 15 minutes each morning (or evening) decluttering, that's 7.5 hours a month and 90 hours a year. Small, consistent efforts lead to big changes.
Decluttering is an investment in your relationship with your kids and others.
"My goal is no longer to get more done, but to have less to do," writes author Francine Jay in Miss Minimalist.
You have to be ruthless to make the real change you're being called to. Remember, there is so much life on the other side of all your stuff.
As mentioned, the amount of stuff you place on your fridge likely reflects the amount of clutter in your home. If you want to take immediate action and make your kitchen feel lighter in minutes, declutter the front of your fridge.
today's fashion industry capitalizes on our obsession with the visible. In 1930 the average woman had 36 items in her closet-today it's 120.3 Most fashion trends today last around two to four months…
average American household spends $160 on clothing each month (nearly $2,000 a year), but studies show we wear only 20 percent of our clothing.* And yet 61 percent of Americans regularly stand before their full closets and claim they have "nothing to wear." What's the remedy to our textile overconsumption and discontent?
"All that clutter used to be money" came to mind.
Cassandra Aarssen, author of Real Life Organizing: "Remember that the money you spent on that item is gone. You're not any richer if you store this item in your home, and you won't be any poorer if you let it go."
Pay attention to each article of clothing you choose to declutter. Why are you letting it go (was it the fit, the colors, etc.)? Use this information to make better clothing purchases in the future.
our brains can become fatigued before the day even begins.
Be prepared to repeat outfits. No one cares if you wear the same thing twice in a week, or even on consecutive days. Research shows that, after each interaction, people spend only about ten seconds thinking about you; they're usually thinking about themselves.
I needed the deeper antidote to social comparison: gratitude.
Thankfulness is essential to your inner decluttering journey too. Just as your outer world is simplified by a curated capsule wardrobe, your inner world is simplified by replacing your comparing heart with a grateful one that's thankful for not only what you own but also who you are.
God is the giver of all things good in our lives. When the gifts eclipse the Giver, when we focus on stuff instead of its source, comparison sets in. To quote Paul again, "What do you have that you did not receive?" (1 Corinthians 4:7). Read that again. An unseen force is at work in your life, sustaining your every breath, providing for your every need.
God's goodness and presence are within you, around you, covering your life— the life you have, not the life you wish you had, expected to have, or feel you deserve to have. Can you see that? Is your heart in tune with his gifts?
gratitude is simply a matter of focus.
Gratitude won't make you always happy-that's not real life. It will, how-ever, make your life simpler and more joy-filled as you carve out more space for contentment with who you are and what you have.
Hurry is not just a disordered schedule.
Hurry is a disordered heart.
-JOHN ORTBERG
rushing wasn't truly living. Psalms 39:6
Jesus was never worried about time. Maybe because his perception of time involved eternity-time without end. And he extends that promise to those who are his. I was promised eternity, but I still felt like I never had enough time.
Writer Corrie ten Boom said that if the devil can't make you sin, he'll make you busy. Read that again. BUSY might as well stand for "being under Satan's yoke."
WHAT IS YOUR VISION? Before decluttering your living room and bedroom, develop your vision for these rooms. Be specific-we're talking laser-like precision. Let the purpose of these two rooms become so clear that you could outline it in your sleep. Write down a phrase or several words that define your rooms' purpose. I chose connection and rest. These words were the standard by which every item in the room was measured. If something didn't pass the connection-and-rest test, it didn't stay. Maybe your word is leisure or a space for hobbies (both forms of rest).
A 2009 study by the University of Sussex revealed that a mere six minutes of reading can reduce a person's stress level by 68 percent.
For more tips on decluttering books, go to www.richinwhatmatters.com and search "books."
Cheryl Richardson, "If you want to improve your life imme-diately, clean out a closet. Often it's what we hold onto that holds us back. "
Lysa TerKeurst says, "Whenever you say yes to something, there is less of you for something else. Make sure your yes is worth the less."
If you want your children to turn out well. spend twice as much time with them, and half as much money. ABIGAIL VAN BUREN
Carl Jung said that children do not distinguish between ritual and reality. In the world of childhood, toys are ritual objects with powerful meaning and resonance.
To a child, a mountain of toys is more than something to trip over. It's a topographical map of their emerging worldview. The mountain, casting a large symbolic shadow, means "I can choose this toy, or that, or this one way down here, or that: They are all mine! But there are so many that none of them have value. I must want something else!" This worldview shapes their emotional landscape as well; children given so very many choices learn to undervalue them all, and hold out-always —for whatever elusive thing isn't offered. "More!"
A continual stream of stuff begets a desire for even more.
having fewer toys "invites deeper play - and engagement. An avalanche of toys invites emotional disconnect and a sense of overwhelm.'
Consistently asking your child whether the artwork is "ta da" or "ta dump" plants the seed that not everything needs to be kept.
Viktor E. Frankl is attributed with saying, "Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom."
Our emotions are a gift from God. They give us information about our needs and where God wants to meet us in our lives.
"As you decrease the quantity of your child's toys and clutter, you increase their attention and their capacity for deep play."'
What would it feel like to surround myself only with things that supported the person God was calling me to become today, now?
Would you feel relieved? Then let that item go. Would you feel good, but a little guilty? Then take a picture of the item and then let it go. Would you feel devastated? Then that's an item you definitely want to keep.
Patrick Lencioni, "If everything is important, then nothing is."
Attention is the beginning of devotion.
-MARY OLIVER
"Minimalism doesn't mean always tidy," writes author Rachelle Crawford. "It just means easily tidied."
Charles Duhigg suggests that we can't end habits; we can only replace them.
August 16, 2025
I’ve read several minimalist/decluttering/get-your-priorities-straight books. I think the author of this book quoted them all? And I thought each of those books said it better.
In one sense this books is still helpful because it encompasses the physical, spiritual, and mental clutter all in one book (and it’s not too long). Her spirituality seemed a bit hokey to me, but i think we agree on values and belief systems. I gleaned some helpful hints for decluttering storage/sentimental items and paper systems.
In one sense this books is still helpful because it encompasses the physical, spiritual, and mental clutter all in one book (and it’s not too long). Her spirituality seemed a bit hokey to me, but i think we agree on values and belief systems. I gleaned some helpful hints for decluttering storage/sentimental items and paper systems.
August 9, 2025
I found this book extremely helpful. Some of the minimalist ideas were a little extreme for me, but that is just my opinion. Some people would find it a perfect solution to clutter.
September 17, 2025
I’ve read a lot of books on simplicity and minimalism, and I appreciate how this one stands out by connecting faith with the “why” of minimalism. If you’re looking for a ton of in depth instructions on how to declutter there are more detailed books for that, many of which she references throughout the book.
Honestly, most of her practical tips are not new if you’ve read much about minimalism. She brings lots of research together to give an overview, which could be a helpful starting place if you’re new to minimalism, but won’t surprise you if you’ve read a few books. I do really appreciate the faith aspect though and found the book insightful because of it.
Honestly, most of her practical tips are not new if you’ve read much about minimalism. She brings lots of research together to give an overview, which could be a helpful starting place if you’re new to minimalism, but won’t surprise you if you’ve read a few books. I do really appreciate the faith aspect though and found the book insightful because of it.
October 21, 2025
***starts immediately decluttering and purging everything
So good! 🤩
So good! 🤩
September 29, 2025
Amazing book!!
June 29, 2025
The only reason it took me so long to finish this book was because it truly inspired me to go actively declutter various spots in our home, little by little, while reading and doing full time parenting! I highly recommend it! It’s very readable, with advice that comes from the genuine lived experience of the author. She provides many practical ideas that can suit a great number of readers. Happy decluttering and re-focusing on what matters!
May 14, 2025
Sweet, helpful guide to minimalism from a Christian perspective. This book shares a lot of practical advice on decluttering your possessions, while also reminding the reader who they are as a child of God and that their life is measured by so much more than the stuff they own.
I quite enjoyed it and it has convicted me to begin pursuing a path of simple living.
I quite enjoyed it and it has convicted me to begin pursuing a path of simple living.
July 8, 2025
I really enjoyed it. Since I started homeschooling, I feel like my home has gained a whole lot more “stuff.” It has started giving me anxiety and I have been feeling like I needed to do something about it, but I was overwhelmed with where to begin. This book was so encouraging and thoughtful.
I also love thrifting and going to estate sales. I love to find a steal! I got this from my mom. I also am very sentimental and attach emotions and memories to items and then have a hard time parting with them. I get this from my dad. This book addressed both of these when it comes to sorting through things and maintaining a clutter free home. Very practical advice, but keeps the focus on what’s truly important: how a cluttered heart and mind doesn’t leave room for the Holy Spirit.
I also love thrifting and going to estate sales. I love to find a steal! I got this from my mom. I also am very sentimental and attach emotions and memories to items and then have a hard time parting with them. I get this from my dad. This book addressed both of these when it comes to sorting through things and maintaining a clutter free home. Very practical advice, but keeps the focus on what’s truly important: how a cluttered heart and mind doesn’t leave room for the Holy Spirit.
May 31, 2025
Loved the concept of both the inner clutter and outer clutter affecting our lives. The references to scripture were very well used and consistent throughout. I do think this book did a good job of focusing on the why behind why you are choosing to declutter and keeping the focus on the higher value of living minimally.
The reason why I rated it lower is because I have read other Decluttering books in the past that felt more action focused and very practical. This book had good tips and steps but weren’t as impactful as other Decluttering books I have read for actually getting stuff out.
The reason why I rated it lower is because I have read other Decluttering books in the past that felt more action focused and very practical. This book had good tips and steps but weren’t as impactful as other Decluttering books I have read for actually getting stuff out.
July 7, 2025
This book has slowly been transforming my life for the better, getting me through some tough times, and bringing me back closer to the person I desire to be. I couldn't recommend it more highly. I just don't have the words. It is healing to body, mind, spirit, and soul. Julia gives great ideas, raw passionate but gentle honesty and it does feel like I was being guided by the closest of friends. I highlighted numerous lines on almost every page and know I will return to this book again.
October 21, 2025
i so appreciate this book and love a good declutter and someone recently called me a minimalist and I thought why yes, yes I am. 😂 i live in a 770 sq foot 2 bedroom home with my husband and 3 children who aren't terribly small anymore. so we definitely live with less out of necessity. but ive also grown to love having less. none of this was new information for me, so i found myself skipping sections but still appreciated the content of it.
May 4, 2025
This is a book I will look to in all phases of my life. It is so good to know that my feelings are valid and understand why I feel this way and how I can start to change them. If you feel like you are drowning in worldly things and want tips and tricks to make a more simple life in God I recommend this book!
June 11, 2025
Some good nuggets of information about decluttering and minimalism, but the constant bible verses came off as preachy and actually kind of detracted from the book in my opinion. I enjoyed the snippets she included about her own decluttering journey and life as a mom, but a lot of this I have already learned from following her on Instagram.
June 14, 2025
*disclaimer, this is a Christ-centered book*
As a Christian, I absolutely LOVED this book. I have been interested in minimalism since The Minimalist documentary on Netflix in 2018. This book made me think a lot and changed my outlook on things. The author also gives practical ways to implement minimalism while also explaining how it relates back to God.
As a Christian, I absolutely LOVED this book. I have been interested in minimalism since The Minimalist documentary on Netflix in 2018. This book made me think a lot and changed my outlook on things. The author also gives practical ways to implement minimalism while also explaining how it relates back to God.
September 30, 2025
Ive read so many decluttering books and had just about given up hope on myself, until discovering this one because of the authors IG posts. I was barely halfway through & started again from the beginning because its SO applicable! I began underlining & writing in the margins. Hallelujah -there is hope for me yet & I already see & feel a shift! This book hits home for me.
July 4, 2025
Gem of a book! Taking decluttering to an entirely different level - both spiritual and material. I really found the author's take on lightening the load in one's life to be really different and unique. I savored a lot of what she had to say.
August 16, 2025
This was a great easier read on declutter and minimalism. I really liked some of the helpful suggestions she had that helped me to prioritize which areas to work on first for maximum impact. great read!
September 8, 2025
This book was so good, I loved how the author combined physical space and heart space. I, too, feel like a stuff manager and can really relate. Also, I was so happy to be reminded about the Sunday basket lady and now I hope to get on track with that.
March 29, 2025
Lots of great ideas to try!!!
May 9, 2025
3.5 stars. Really liked the inner/outer decluttering dialogue. That was a unique take that makes this book standout in the “minimalist” space I think!
May 15, 2025
10/10
Loved this
Loved this
May 18, 2025
Challenging. In the best way.
June 3, 2025
This was a lovely walk through decluttering principles from a spiritual/Catholic lens. Great food for thought and one to revisit.
June 24, 2025
Loved the Christ centered perspective when it comes to decluttering in more ways than one!
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