“I must change my life so that I can live it, not wait for it.”
— Susan Sontag
The rule of two
We’re all searching for that 25th hour in the day.
We’re stressed because we can’t accomplish every task we want to accomplish every single day. As our to-do lists grow, it seems we must be superheroes—or high-functioning sociopaths—to be “effective” people.
I feel the pressure, too.
But instead of beating myself up when my life isn’t “complete,” I give myself permission to be satisfied if, twice a week, I’m able to engage in the twelve solo endeavors that are most important to me (in no particular order):
Sunlight (one hour)
Writing (two hours)
Reading (one hour)
Sauna (30 minutes)
Yoga (30 minutes)
Squats (100 reps)
Pull-ups (60 reps)
Push-ups (200 reps)
Cycling (30 minutes)
Meditation (20 minutes)
Hiking/walking (two hours)
Weight training (30 minutes)
Some folks might call these endeavours simple self-care rituals, while I simply consider them part of a meaningful life. Although I’ll likely never accomplish all these tasks in one day, doing each just a couple times a week gives me 24 opportunities to improve my life every seven days.
Moreover, these pastimes make me a better version of myself, especially when I’m around others. Committing to twice a week relieves the pressure of daily expectations, and it has proven far more productive than trying to overdo everything. At under sixteen hours total, “self-care” occupies less than ten percent of my week, but it makes life immeasurably better during the other 90 percent.
What twice-a-week pursuits would improve your life?
Words by Joshua Fields Millburn
00: On being seen
The premium edition of Minimalism Life returns on February 11 with an essay on connection, and the growing gap between being visible and being truly seen.
We have never been more connected. Messages move instantly. Conversations stack endlessly. Faces and updates pass before us in a steady stream. By every measurable standard, contact is abundant.
And yet, something feels thin. Many people report feeling more isolated than ever, even while surrounded by notifications, group chats, and social signals. The question lingers quietly: when connection is everywhere, why does it so often feel insufficient?
This essay explores the promise and the poverty of modern connection. How ease and volume can dilute intimacy. How visibility can masquerade as belonging. And how being in touch is not the same as being understood.
Not a rejection of technology. Not a call to disconnect. Just a closer look at what connection loses when it becomes constant, and what it takes to feel genuinely seen again.
Subscribe for $5/month or $50/year to read the full essay when it lands, and unlock the full archive of long-form reflections on simplicity, restraint, and intentional living.
01: Journal
Read entries from the archive of the Minimalism Life® community journal
The beauty of the ellipsis: silence is the best part of speech
Words by Leo Babauta
Mental minimalism and reducing opinion overload: making space for our own thoughts
Words by Dr. Egypt Iredia
Minimalism in business: how minimalism boosts productivity
Words by Alitzel Guerrero
Share your story
Do you have an interesting story you would like to share on minimalism.com? We want to read about it. You have the opportunity to write about your experience of how minimalism has impacted your life and get your words published in our community journal.
02: Minimal art
From our curated gallery
03: Shop
Discover our hand-picked minimalist products in the Minimalism Life® shop
04: Brands anchored by simplicity and sustainability
Minimalism can mean frugality and owning less, but it can also mean supporting ethical brands with sustainability at their core. Here are a few you might find interesting—just remember, clothes are not an investment.
Nordic Knots: rugs inspired by the beauty of the Nordic light
WAHTS: minimal monochromatic menswear
Mismo: bags and accessories from natural materials
Floyd: Unique and distinctive travel cases
Void Watches: simple Swedish timepieces
Nordic Nest: Scandinavian design for real homes
Discover more minimal brands on minimalism.com
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