As the pine needles fall off the fake trees, as the last of the eggnog is drunk, as the storefront signage is changed, a new year begins. Christmas was already a week ago, and now you’re preparing to go back to work or school or your version of regular, post-holiday life.
It’s common for people to resolve to do something major today: the infamous New Year’s Resolution. Unfortunately, many resolutions often fail, not because they’re unreasonable, but usually because we don’t have enough leverage to see our resolutions through for an entire year.
But what if instead of a lofty new goal, you resolve to simply find a new direction? Maybe your new direction will get you to your goal much faster than you think.
2012: A Recap
Last year was a spectacular year for The Minimalists, but not thanks to goals or resolutions. Instead, we knew our direction and started taking incremental actions each day on that route.
In 2012 we toured 43 cities, spreading our message of simple living, dishing out thousands of hugs in the process (check out our tour photos). We moved to a cabin in Montana, met new friends, established new relationships, started a new publishing company, raised thousands of dollars for charity, taught 120 online students how to write better, privately mentored dozens of people, spoke at Harvard Business School and several conferences, published four books, wrote more than 100 essays, and have been featured all over the media.
None of these achievements were our goals when we started the year, and we present these accomplishments now not to impress you, but rather to illustrate how everything can change in a year if you take action.
Ergo, do likewise, ladies and gents: take massive action in 2013. This year will be a pivotal year for you. We’re certain of it.
Our Favorite Essays of 2012
- I Was Not a Minimalist, Until I Was
- Create Your Masterpiece, a 16-Step Guide
- A Minimalist’s Thoughts On Diet
- Lessons Learned from Two Months Without a Phone
- A Minimalist’s Thoughts On Money
- Tour My Minimalist Apartment
- Letting Go of Shitty Relationships
- More Wins Than Losses
- One Thing Each Day
- Organizing Is Often Well-Planned Hoarding
- The Commodification of Love
- The High Price of Pursuing My Dream
Our Favorite Media Interviews from 2012
Television
- Decluttering Your Way to Happiness (CBS This Morning)
- Meet The Minimalists (CBS News Interview)
- Can Minimalists Put an End to “Swipe & Spend”? (The Big Picture)
Radio
- NPR Radio Interview (NPR with Don Marsh)
- NPR’s On Point Radio Program (NPR with Tom Ashbrook)
- Thom Hartmann Interview (Thom Hartman Radio Program)
- What Do You Get By Letting Go of Your Stuff (CBC Radio)
- What It Means to Live a More Meaningful Life (CBS Radio)
Print/Newspaper
- Does a less-is-more life bring happiness? (Globe and Mail)
- Friends Pursuing Minimalist Lives inMontana (The Missoulian)
- Meet Generation M (Toronto Star)
- Minimalism has brought happiness to former executives (Vancouver Sun)
- Minimalism Interview (San Francisco Chronicle)
- Minimalism: Losing life’s excess baggage (The Province)
- Minimalists Make the Most of Living with Very Little (Chicago Sun-Times)
- Pull Up a Box and Have a Minimalist Holiday (USA TODAY)
- Like Henry David Thoreau, but with WiFi (The Boston Globe)
- They Just Might Give You a Hug (Dayton Daily News)
- Graphic: Lessons from Minimalism (Will Hopkins)
Thank you all for a wonderful year.
