And I am excited.
This little ebook is the culmination of about eight solid months of simplifying — of peeling back all the layers of complexity and bad information that tend to get piled on in modern life.
Life gets confusing. Life gets messy. You know it, I know it, and frankly it’s a huge pain in the ass just to find your bearings in a world that never sleeps.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
Eight months back, I was overweight. I was surrounded by piles upon piles of crap that I’d collected over four years at university, and I was struck every day with a feeling that we should all be familiar with: I felt like there wasn’t enough hours in the day.
I decided to change. I had to change. I spent months reading, researching, and thinking about how I lived my life — how I wanted to live my life. Through it all, I came to realize a few things.
Life doesn’t have to be hard. It’s easy to think otherwise when we’re bombarded each day with bad ideas and conflicting information.
Hell, maybe it can be simple. And so I decided to simplify.
This book — and this blog, for that matter — is the result. I’m offering it now, at the start of a brand new year, with the hopes that it might show you a few tricks I picked up on my journey to a happier, stronger me.
Are you unhappy? Overweight? Don’t fall into the usual trap of piling on New Year’s resolutions, pursuing them doggedly for a few weeks, and then feeling the sting of defeat whenever life inevitably gets in the way.
Change your life. Simplify your life. Realize that strong, vibrant health — and strong, vibrant living — doesn’t have to be difficult.
You know what? I think they can be simple.
And hey! This book can help.
What’s Inside
Simpler Health — a discussion on food, drink, and the simple exercises I’ve used over the last eight months to get in the absolute best shape of my life.
Simpler Stuff — a frank look at the two activities we’ve made integral to modern life: buying and selling. Tips, too, on how to declutter the crap you already have and start focusing on the things you need — the things you can’t buy in the first place.
Simpler Life — words on making time and making each day as meaningful as the last.
There are eighty pages total, here, of ideas. Some might be familiar to you, and some you may have already worked into your daily routine. In either case, though, I think the book can offer something new, and I sincerely hope it can aid you in your quest to live a simpler, happier life.
Get the book!
Ready to read it? Click here to get the goods! If you want to keep a copy on your hard drive, you’ll have to right-click that link and select “Download Linked File” or “Save File As.”
And if you enjoy it, please help spread the word! Tweet this post to your followers (use that nifty button down below!), email the book to friends, or even write a review and pass me the link. Provided it doesn’t say I’m the worst writer ever and make me cry myself to sleep at night, I’d be happy to include it in this post and link back to your site!
Likewise, if you really like what I’ve done here and want to support my future work, feel free to use this link and send me a small donation. I don’t have a set amount or anything, and I know money is tight for most people in the post-holiday season, but every little bit helps as I do a big, bold thing and move to Los Angeles in four days(!).
Lastly: thank you. For reading the book, for one, and for any donations you might send my direction. Mostly, though, I want to thank you all for being an amazingly kind and supportive group of people. These last six months of blogging continue to teach and surprise me in so many ways, and I know I have to give credit where it’s due: every single one of you.
Happy New Year, folks! Let’s make 2011 the absolute best it can be.
43 Comments
I'm a writer, minimalist, and health dork with three goals in mind: to teach you how to lose weight, move more, and be happier by living a simple, natural life. It works. Like what you read here? Get 3NL delivered straight to your inbox!
Congrats on this Matt! Not only on launching the ebook, but on the last 8 months. Keep rockin’ it and here’s to an amazing 2011!
jr
Thanks, Joel!
Keep doing the impossible, man.
I read your ebook this evening. Great content! I’m going to try some of the things in your Simpler Health section. Thanks for the encouragement and motivation!
Thanks for reading, Christy! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Hey Matt – LOVE LOVE LOVE the book.
I actually found out 2 days after reading it that I am moving to a much smaller house so will need to continue to simplify even more! So, perfect timing. I have made huge advances on my clutter of all kinds recently (gave away a ton of clothes to charity, am in the process of selling my books, removed a lot of toxic friends and paid off more debt) but there is definitely room for improvement.
Cant wait to see what else 2011 brings!!
Thank you, Mia! I’m really happy you like it.
And I’m glad I had such excellent timing, haha, as you undergo these great changes. Here’s hoping Three New Leaves will be similarly useful as we hit 2011!
Thanks again!
I read Matt’s book and in a word it really is…..Simple. If you want to get healthy, get rid of stuff that is causing you stress, and live a happier, more meaningful life….this book will help.
In today’s tough times when everybody is looking for direction…something Simple….may be just what you need.
Great work Matt, congrats…and best of luck on your move to LA!!
Thank you, Maria! For the well wishes, and for the one-word description. “Simple” is exactly what I was aiming for, so I can now breathe a big sigh of relief, haha.
Awesome advice in your book. I’m on that path myself (slowly getting there). Thank you for writing & sharing it.
Enjoy your new path as you move….
Thanks, Stacia! Best of luck with your own road.
Pingback: smash your t.v. and have adventures. » Blog Archive » What is Minimalism?
I really, really enjoyed your book! ^_^-b
It was simple, to the point, and had random bits of humor to keep the mood light and fun along the way. It inspired me to try even harder than I already was trying.
I’ve been implementing IF on and off for the past months not realizing I was doing it or even what it was called. I just called it too busy at school and too lazy to go get up and make myself eat the same crap.
But ever since I read about it on your site I’m making a conscious effort do do it daily now and loving how much lighter and less bogged down I feel by merely excluding a meal or two.
You book also got me itching to do some purging! Unfortunately, my house is being re-dry walled, so all my stuff is locked away. I really agreed with you on:
-the DVDs (Like anyone REALLY watches 1/2 the crap they own.. sold over 200 last summer)
-video games (love ‘em but they are a huge time suck)
-cable (cancelled it last month)
-gadgets (seriously, we don’t need one for EVERYTHING)
-decor (I absolutely HATE overdone decor)
-clothing (well.. I never have had that issue. I’m bad about buying clothing cause I like my broke-in and comfy stuff.)
-body products (I don’t even understand the damn purpose for half of them and seriously question their safety).
But, we all have our vices and there is one box set I won’t part with… Friends. God, help me; I love that damn show. I’ve re-watched it countless times and still laugh.
Anyway, I swear I’m almost done and will shut up any moment.
On my last note, I will have to say that it was truly awesome for you to give away your work. I enjoyed it so much that I want to give you money for it. (Don’t worry, I didn’t forget about the donation link up above. No really, I’ll GET THERE in a minute! ;D ) I’m hesitant to pay money for many of these ebooks that seem to being coming out faster than I can count. Some say they are good, some say if you’re already a minimalist then don’t bother. But getting to experience it first, see if its something I want and enjoy, and then being given the option to support further work is just how I think it should be. And I’m more than happy to. 
Thanks again!
Thank you so much, Chandra! Feel free to ramble on for as long as you want — that’s a worthy trade for the donation!
And you know what? I won’t fight you about Friends. I recently did a marathon of all ten seasons, so I’d be a massive hypocrite for telling you to avoid what has to be the funniest show I’ve ever seen.
This pricing model is one I’d like to keep working with in the future. I completely agree with the idea of letting people if they enjoyed the work, but, more practically speaking, the problem then arises that most people don’t pay a dime.
I’ve done it myself, heh, so it’s hard to puzzle out just how I could keep doing this and reasonably sustain myself over the next six months to a year.
Oh well. Something to think about, in any case. But thanks so much for donating! I’ll buy a cup of coffee in your honor when I make it to LA.
Pingback: forehead, desk … repeat?» Blog Archive » Bite me Vogue, People, Shape, etc.!
Pingback: Bits and pieces – 04/01/2011 « minimo.
Pingback: End of Week Links: Sat/Jan 8 | Simplified Culture
Pingback: smash your t.v. and have adventures. » Blog Archive » What is Minimalism?
Pingback: I Quit & The Future of This Blog « Expedition Minimalism
Pingback: A sufficienza: il tempo nella terra del “basta così” (III) « minimo.
Pingback: Creative Strategies for Everyday Living
Pingback: The Simple Guide to Doing Everything | Three New Leaves
Pingback: Motivating Reads « The Minimoilist
Is the 4 or 5 minute rest between the 3 exercises really necessary? I like to get the exercises over with faster.
Hey Sue! That one is up to you.
I usually wait 4 to 5 minutes so that I can tackle the next exercise with full strength and intensity, but you could still cut that back to 2-3 minutes and do just fine. I’ve even done just 1 minute of rest between exercises, which definitely turns the whole program into something like HIIT, so feel free to experiment and see what works for you.
Hope this helps!
1 minute rest sounds good to me. Thanks.
My pleasure!
Aw, thanks man! I needed that. Great, simple book. Much appreciated.
My pleasure! Glad you liked it.
Pingback: The Longest Day of My Life
Pingback: Pure Indian Foods Giveaway: Ghee, Coconut Oil, and More! | 3NL
Pingback: The Incredible Value of Doing Nothing at All
Pingback: Announcing Roots — My Next Ebook!
I appreciate that your book is free. It feels like I’m bombarded by stuff for sale everywhere, it’s a pleasant change to get something for free! I’m looking forward to reading it.
Pingback: Simple Success: 33 Pounds Down in 3 Months | Three New Leaves
Pingback: Reaching Out, Breaking Chains « Shalom Mama
Pingback: The Free Ultimate Minimalist Resource Guide (and a fond farewell.) | Minimalist Adventures
Thanks for the book, Matt. I’ll check it out!
This was a fun easy read and a great reminder to myself to (KISS) keep it simple stupid!
Pingback: Unbridled Existence » Unbridled Q’s: Matt Madeiro & The Flow of Information
Pingback: A Beginner’s Guide to the Primal Lifestyle, Part Three | Three New Leaves
Pingback: A sufficienza: il cibo nella terra del “basta così” (VIII) « minimo.
Pingback: записки эмигранта » Архив блога » книжка Simpler в русском переводе.
Pingback: Průvodce Paleolitickým životním stylem pro začátečníka, díl třetí | Paleo Lifestyle Průvodce Paleolitickým životním stylem pro začátečníka, díl třetí | Rozcestník a scestník pro paleo jedlíky