Minimalist Moms: Living and Parenting with Simplicity

by Diane Boden

Minimalist Moms is a beginner's guide, full of wisdom for the mom looking to "think more and do with less". What does this mean? In thinking more about what we incorporate into our life (whether that’s in our home, schedule, or mind) we are able to live with less clutter, chaos and stress. Do a quick Amazon search and you’ll find hundreds of books on simplifying, decluttering, or something that may promise ‘life-changing magic’.

Minimalist Moms aim is to provide a book that is more of a quick, daily reminder of the impact of minimalism. It's composed of phrases, or ‘areas of focus’ that the reader can dwell on daily. Minimalism is more of a way of life than a place one can arrive. We need little reminders to help keep perspective and focus on what’s important to us.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Self Help, Childrens

208 pages, Paperback

Published March 16, 2021

About the author

Diane Boden is the voice behind the top-rated podcast, the Minimalist Moms, where she spreads her ideas and interviews others in regard to living a life in the pursuit of less. Her goal is to simply: think more and do with less. Diane has been featured on many popular podcasts: 1000 Hours Outside, The Spillover with Alex Clark, The Mom Hour, What Fresh Hell and many others. She has also been nationally featured on News Nation and the popular, Simplify Magazine. Her first book released in March 2021. She lives in Granville, Ohio with her husband and three children. 

Reviews

[Diane]

I wrote Minimalist Moms as a beginner's resource of inspiration for moms as they pursue minimalism in their daily lives. As mothers, it can be a struggle to regularly prioritize reading but this book is broken up into digestible sections of quick-dose wisdom. The larger sections were written to encourage the reader in specific areas of minimalism that can be more difficult to navigate. The areas of focus were written to digest at leisure.

[Erin O. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. A mediocre contribution to an already crowded (some might say cluttered) genre. Flip straight to the back where the author lists additional titles for further reading. She nailed it when she listed Simplicity Parenting first. Whether you’re brand new to the idea or a seasoned minimalist looking for renewed inspiration, skip Minimalist Moms and head directly to Kim John Payne’s treasure.

[Marian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple guide packed with many practical ideas. Also check her out on the Minimalist Moms podcast.

[Erica Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how this book was organized! Easy to flip to sections for specific help, a fast read, and helpful insight shared from experience. I also enjoy her podcast! A good beginner book for moms looking to explore elements of minimalism.

[Kelsey Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of all the book on Minimalism that I’ve read, this was by far the most personable and practical. I could not recommend this more, whether you’re a seasoned minimalist, a not-so-minimalist, or anywhere in between!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the idea of living a minimalist life in all aspects, so this book is great for people wanting to learn more about this concept. I didn't feel like it presented any new information or tips I hadn't already heard.

[Deanna Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would’ve given 5 stars but I’m such a visual learner, this girl needs more pictures! Also I need a step by step plan, which I get this book probably isn’t meant to be a guide. Overall, this helped me grasp the fact that minimalism isn’t just about bare walls and owning fewer items, it is a lifestyle shift. I think many moms are overwhelmed by the clutter and this book is a great read for someone that is unsure of the idea of minimalism. Loved that this is through the lens of motherhood and had many practical tips! Also loved that she explained minimalism in terms of schedules and other things that make up “mental clutter.” I’d recommend this book for any mom who feels overwhelmed by the clutter, physically and mentally.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ok, I didn't feel like it covered mich new material from other minimalist books I've read. I did like how at the end of the chapters she had followers from her podcast Tell how they implement what she was talking about in the chapter.

[Coralie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great resource full of refreshment for those who have been on a minimalist journey for a while or for those just beginning. I love how fluid and communicative this book seemed as I read it. I didn’t feel judged or criticized by things I have and haven’t done regarding minimalism but was reminded and encouraged to step into the practice of minimalism daily with grace and awareness.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good book about minimalism and appreciated this one after enjoying her podcast for the past 9ish months. Liked that she included parts about sleep, schedule, and sustainable minimalism. Those don't always show up in these kinds of books.

[Dani Westphal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Best for mothers and young women who are new to minimalism. Boden covers most topics that can be found surrounding the movement. Although the book is not inherently Christian there are some thoughts in there that flavor it that way. I liked her thoughts and ideas for how to implement habits and new home structures. She makes minimalism approachable for anyone and customizable to individual/family needs.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a wonderful resource for a beginner interested in minimalism as well as a more seasoned minimalist. The suggestions and advice are very practical. I enjoyed the questions and areas to include your responses to get you thinking about how you can realistically apply the information in your own life. Definitely a must read!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great beginner book for parents interested in the minimalist/sustainability lifestyle.

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy.

Little stories and tips included with a great amount of advice to help cleanse and restore both mind and home.

[Morgan Tyree · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for all moms(parents). Diane's tips are realistic and doable. You'll be encouraged after reading this book!

[Natalie K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very similar to a lot of minimalist books. A quick easy read and the layout make it practical if you’re just starting your minimalist journey.

[Heather Jackson (Riddle) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Minimalist moms is perfect for any moms who feel overstimulated by “all the things” it was easily digestible with prompts along the way that allowed me to stop and journal my thoughts and feelings at this stage of motherhood.

It is a book for the bookshelf as I feel it will come back out during different times of the year and also allow me to rejournal the prompts as my seasons of life change.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to pursue less things and more memories, someone who feels overwhelmed by the amount of “stuff”, or really anyone who wants to simplify their motherhood lifestyle.

My favorite part of the book was the list of recommended books at the end, it gives me more resources to pursue continuing my path of minimalism and intentional parenting.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I struggled with how to write this book. I wish I could have given it three and a half stars. It was good but definitely pretty basic for someone just getting into minimalism. The end felt a little scattered talking about the holidays. It's a pretty short book so it just seemed weird to spend so much time on holidays when a lot of that stuff could have been covered elsewhere. I did appreciate the book recommendations at the end and added them to my Goodreads to read list.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ A quick listen. The first half of the book was the most useful and applicable.

[Reagan Kapasi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good clear action steps, enjoyed reminder about ways to minimalize holidays/birthdays

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really broke down and is a true beginner guide. It’s an easy read and would be great re-read for encouragement in hard times…so many great ideas and simple reminders.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely LOVED this book!! Diane did a wonderful job in organizing her minimalism thoughts. She wrote about all the topics that are necessary to simplify in order to live with more intention and less stress. As a new mama and a new minimalist, Diane’s book and podcast have given me helpful guidance for my parenthood and minimalism journeys.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Tips

I will incorporate some of these mantras into my lifestyle. I love the idea of taking pictures of artwork and making a book later!

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. So many wonderful tips I hope to use for my own home and life.

[Kristyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple guide to minimalism as a mom! Pairing this with a 1000 item decluttering challenge has been a breath of fresh air in our home!

[Elyse · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking for a quick audiobook to listen to in between holds and this definitely fit the bill. If you have read other books on minimalism, this won't be anything new. But it is nice to have in this format. I found the section on minimalism in pregnancy and newborn stages especially relevant to my experience right now. I also loved the reminder to use up what you have. I always find it inspiring to finally get around to using up that lip gloss or package of rice noodles that's been lingering for too long.
Ultimately, this was a good reminder to think intentionally about what you really need in your home, life, and for your family.

[Annaliesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple, straight to the point and relevant for my current stage of life. Yes heaps of minimalism books out there but I found this really helpful and relevant as a mum. I also appreciate the action points at the end of each chapter.

[A Lorette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book. Not just for those who want to live a minimalist lifestyle but it also has good tips for those who just want to maybe get rid of some clutter. It's Chapters are broken into chunks that explain the what's, why's and how's. And you can do them in any order you wish.

[Tiffany Hackworth · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you know absolutely nothing about the concept of minimalism, maybe this book would be helpful for you.
But otherwise, it’s very basic. It didn’t really offer me anything new from what I’ve read on the internet about minimalism. Thankfully, I got the book from the library and didn’t waste any of my own money on it - most of the I information I read I could get for free on the internet.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is fine. It’s easily skimmable, but it really isn’t new or wonderful information. All of it could be quickly Googled and you would get the same results.
If you’re brand new to the idea of minimalism, then this may be helpful.