Wait… buying things in a minimalist lifestyle?
Yep. We’re going there.

If you’ve ever felt guilty for buying something new—even something that actually made your life easier—this episode is for you.

Because decluttering isn’t about never buying again.
It’s about buying smarter. More intentionally. In ways that support your current season (not clutter your home or conscience).

In this honest and practical episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on 8 simple purchases I’ve made over the years that have truly helped me streamline routines, reduce friction, and support my peace.

From laundry hacks that keep my boys’ floors clear 🙌 to the one kitchen item that makes every morning feel just a little more joyful—these aren’t “influencer” recommendations. They’re real-life, tried-and-true tools that help a home work.

• The reframe you need if you feel guilty about buying (even useful!) things

• My go-to habit-supporting tools for smoother mornings, less nagging, and fewer meltdowns

• Why spending money can align with minimalist values (and how to tell if it actually will)

• The underrated power of functional upgrades—and how to spot them in your own routines

• Hanging laundry hampers for kids’ rooms

• A countertop espresso machine that sparks joy ☕

• Matching garage bins that finally ended bin Jenga

• Reusable plastic sleeves + dry erase markers for family routines

• Visual timers for time-blind kiddos (and mamas)

• Our beloved digital photo frame

• My favorite way to “read” more books without the guilt stack → Audible

Buying less is a powerful tool.
But buying better? That’s how you build a home that serves your life.

So if you’ve been eyeing something that would actually make your days flow easier—this is your nudge.
Don’t overthink it. Just press play.

🎯 SEO keywords woven throughout:
minimalist lifestyle hacks, simple home organization tools, decluttering guilt, best household purchases, how to simplify your life, family organization ideas, minimalism for moms, smart home buys

🧡 Loved this episode? Join me inside the Clutter Cure Club (https://www.katyjoywells.com/cluttercureclub-page837548) — where we take conversations like this even deeper, and I help you simplify everything.

📩 Or subscribe to my free weekly newsletter, Ready, Set, Simplify (https://www.katyjoywells.com/simplify), for one decluttering mindset shift every Wednesday morning.

Tag me @katyjoywells with your favorite simplifying purchase—I’d love to cheer you on.

See you next week.

Ready, Set, Simplify.

Ever feel like the world’s designed to keep you anxious… and stuck?

You’re not alone. And today’s guest—Martha Beck, best-selling author and world-renowned life coach—is here to show us a gentler way forward.

In this episode, Martha shares the soul-soothing, science-backed strategies from her latest book, “Beyond Anxiety: Curiosity, Creativity, and Finding Your Life’s Purpose.” We dive deep into why anxiety is on the rise (and what you can do to quiet it), how to live in a “circle world” even when life feels like a box, and the simple actions that unlock your purpose—no hustle required.

🎙️ Inside this conversation:

• 🌿 How your environment (yes, even your kitchen counters!) can either fuel anxiety or bring calm

• 🌱 Why modern life is like living in a box… and how to create your own circles of peace, creativity, and connection

• 🧠 The real reason your brain is stuck in the anxiety spiral (it’s not your fault!)

• 💡 The magic of “sense drenching” and how it can melt anxiety in minutes

• 💛 Why your life’s purpose isn’t something you have to find—it’s something you live, one step at a time

Martha’s insights are more than just tips—they’re an invitation to come home to yourself. To swap out overwhelm for curiosity. To finally create the calm and purpose you know you’re craving.

Because when we declutter the noise and listen to our soul’s quiet whispers? That’s where real peace—and real purpose—live.

🔗 Links & Resources:

• Martha’s must-read book: “Beyond Anxiety” (https://marthabeck.com/beyond-anxiety/)

• Free Anxiety Toolkit (https://marthabeck.com/exercises/) from Martha to help you put these ideas into practice

• Join my free weekly newsletter, Ready, Set, Simplify, (https://www.katyjoywells.com/simplify) for more ways to calm the chaos in your home (and head!)

👉 Let’s step out of the box, into the circle, and find the freedom you’ve been waiting for.

Hit play and let’s simplify, together.

If you’ve ever felt torn between wanting to improve yourself and just wanting to be… this episode is for you.

I sat down with Gretchen Rubin—best-selling author, researcher, and self-knowledge expert—to unpack some of her most powerful insights from her book, “Secrets of Adulthood.” We’re talking about real-life advice you can actually use… the kind that makes you go, “Oh, that’s me.”

👉 No one-size-fits-all life hacks.
👉 No endless to-do lists.
👉 Just honest, practical wisdom about how to be a little more you—and a little happier in the process.

🎙️ What You’ll Hear:

• Gretchen’s favorite secrets of adulthood—like why “no tool fits every hand” is a game-changer for simplifying your life

• The surprising link between self-knowledge and decluttering (yes, your home and your mind!)

• How to stop “arrival fallacy” thinking—where we wait for someday to feel happier or enough

• Tips for balancing ambition with acceptance… because love is unconditional (and demanding!)

• Why self-awareness is the missing piece to everything from better mornings to real calm

✨ Why It Matters:

So often, we’re bombarded with advice that doesn’t fit our lives or personalities. Gretchen and I dive deep into how to find what actually works for you—and why knowing yourself is the ultimate clutter cure.

Because when you truly know yourself, you can build a life that feels lighter, calmer, and more aligned with what matters most.

🔗 Links & Resources:

• Grab Gretchen’s book, Secrets of Adulthood (https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Adulthood-Simple-Truths-Complex/dp/0593800737), for even more bite-sized wisdom you’ll want to stick on your fridge (link in show notes!)

• Love this kind of conversation? Join my free weekly newsletter, Ready, Set, Simplify (https://www.katyjoywells.com/simplify), for bite-sized tips and pep talks to help you declutter your home and your mind

👉 Ready for some of the best life advice you’ll ever hear?

Hit play and let’s simplify—inside and out.