The Unclutterer Philosophy

The first Unclutterer post came on Jan. 6 of this year and was titled “A manifesto on simple living.” Since Jerry’s first musing, more than 300 posts have appeared on the site reflecting that initial vision.

The philosophy of the site is at the heart of everything we do at Unclutterer. If you haven’t stumbled upon Unclutterer’s first post, here is an excerpt from it that speaks to the essence of our site:

Choosing to live simply, to me, is trying to find balance in order to enjoy what one does have, and to avoid becoming overwhelmed by clutter. It means consciously choosing to have fewer things, but knowing that what you will have will be high quality items that you truly cherish.

Simple living, therefore, should not be about asceticism, but about getting rid of (or preferably avoiding) distractions that prevent us from enjoying a modern, luxurious life. It’s about smart consumption, not no consumption. As Albert Einstein said, “Things should be made as simple as possible, but not any simpler.”

This vision has served as inspiration for our lives, and we hope that it can do the same for you.

Popularity: 25% [?]

Posted by Erin on Oct 11, 2007 | Comments |

8 comments posted

  1. Posted by Eric - 10/11/2007

    Another article that I found inspiring on the topic was over at diyplanner. I found it interesting how he used the writings of old to show that simplicity was a problem even for those living in “simpler” times.

    http://www.diyplanner.com/node/4611

  2. Posted by Riverjack - 10/11/2007

    I absolutely love this blog and found it soon after it initially started. It is one of the few blogs I make sure to read every post from. Keep up the good work!

  3. Posted by Brad - 10/11/2007

    I have to second Riverjack’s assessment of the blog. It’s definitely a “must read” everyday. The whole concept of living simply has really made me think a lot about my life and the amount of stuff I have. I wish I had this frame of reference before my wife and I registered for our wedding! I would love a world without the breadmaker, 3 sets of every kitchen utensil, placesettings of china and glassware that have never been opened (we don’t even have a dining room anymore because we converted it into the kids’ playroom), etc. Life would be much better without all of the uneccesary overhead. That said, I am a gadget fiend so it’s difficult to control the amount of technology I own and use.

  4. Posted by Matt - 10/11/2007

    Thanks for the great blog and I second your points above. Quality, organization, minimalism. Enjoy life!

  5. Posted by twosandalz - 10/11/2007

    Reading your posts and this blog’s conversations have provided me with inspiration and support to continue living a Less is More lifestyle when everything else screams Buy-Own-Keep.

  6. Posted by Alvin - 10/11/2007

    This blog has become one of my must-read blogs ever since I subscribed to it. It’s like to my environment what GTD is like for my mind: an essential way to get the clutter out of my life to lead a streamlined life and be more at peace.

    You guys are doing a great job!

  7. Posted by Paula - 10/19/2007

    Great blog! I added you to my blogroll and I’ll be checking your site on a regular basis. Following up on one post …
    http://www.blogsmonroe.com/budget/?p=463
    Now … to the topic. Yes, Brad and his wife are following a trend away from the fancy dishes, crystal, etc. entertaining style of years ago.
    But I do have to say I enjoy and use my fancy dishes. Every day. Even with a teen-ager (now college kid). Even when I’m serving pizza to her friends. Even when just husband and I are eating Hamburger Helper.
    It’s one of the ways I’ve chosen to make our small home more beautiful.
    Referring back to the original clip:
    <>
    My post about my dishes is at http://www.blogsmonroe.com/budget/?p=113

  8. Posted by Paula - 10/19/2007

    The quote I was trying to clip:

    It means consciously choosing to have fewer things, but knowing that what you will have will be high quality items that you truly cherish.

Subscribe to this entry's comments

Post a comment