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I’m Francine Jay, and I’m a minimalist.
To me, being a minimalist isn’t only about white walls and empty spaces. It’s about eliminating the distractions that keep us from fully appreciating life.
The less stuff we have cluttering our homes (and the less “to-do’s” cluttering our time), the more energy we can devote to the things that are truly important to us. My goal is to find that elusive point of “just enough,” whereby I own nothing more than that which meets my needs.
I believe that minimalism isn’t about emptiness for the sake of emptiness—but rather making room to move freely, think clearly, and open ourselves to the beauty and wonder of life.
I’m the author of The Joy of Less: A Minimalist Guide to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify, a book about the joy and lightness that can be found in having less stuff. Here’s what you’ll find inside:
- an inspirational pep talk on the rewards of paring down
- the STREAMLINE method: ten easy steps to achieve (and maintain) a clutter-free home
- a Room by Room guide to more space and serenity
- a family-focused program to help children and partners (even reluctant ones!) declutter
- a look at how living lightly can help save the planet
My readers often tell me that they’ve put down my book in the middle of a chapter to clear out a closet or kitchen cabinet. That’s what I love to hear! I want you to be as excited about decluttering as I am, and discover the sheer exhilaration of letting go of the excess.
When I’m not writing, I enjoy hiking, creating wildflower art, and traveling. In the last few years, I’ve been fortunate enough to visit the following places: Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Iceland, Venice, Florence, Rome, Tokyo, Kyoto, Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Barcelona, Madrid, Koln, Copenhagen, Prague, Helsinki, Tallinn, Oslo, Stockholm, Wales, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Vienna, Budapest, Athens, Istanbul, Lisbon, Vietnam, Thailand, London and much of England.
I started this blog in 2009, when I was a carefree nomad with all my possessions in a suitcase. Since then, my husband and I have had a beautiful daughter (nicknamed Plumblossom on my blog), and have settled down in our own home. But even though we’ve stopped wandering, the wanderlust remains—and we hope someday to resume our travels with the little one in tow.
When I began writing about minimalism, I never expected to have more than a handful of readers—but the response has been incredible, and this blog has grown beyond my wildest dreams. I’ve sold over 300,000 books on the topic, and been featured in CNN, BBC, NBC TODAY, the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, The Guardian, Financial Times, Forbes, Huffington Post, ELLE Espana, Spiegel, The Irish Times, and more.
Why does this thrill me so? Because it means 300,000+ people are interested in minimalist living, transforming it from a quirky lifestyle choice into a mainstream movement. 300,000+ people want to reduce their clutter and consumerism, and are taking the steps to do so. How wonderful is that? It gives me great hope for a kinder, gentler, more sustainable future.
Please feel free to contact me with comments, questions, and interview requests—I love to talk about minimalist living!