Anthony Ongaro

How Trying To Be A Good Writer Made It Difficult To Write Well

I’m sitting here at my desk, with a now slightly less blank page in front of me. After almost two years of Break the Twitch writing, it still plagues me every time I look at it. Even the most mangled piece of writing is less intimidating than the empty sheet. In that moment the possibilities are infinite, and that is scary. I thought that it would get easier over time, and it hasn’t–that’s not exactly what this piece is about, though.

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How Buying One Thing Can Ruin Your Life

Written by Anthony Ongaro

Click.

In two days, there will be a box sitting on your front porch and it may be the one thing that’s going to ruin your life.

It’s funny to think that such a small, seemingly harmless movement–the click of a mouse–could be so damaging. I bet it doesn’t even burn 1/5th of a calorie doing it.

So you spent $23 on a new phone case that you didn’t really need. So what?

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Weekend Reads & Resources, May 2016

Written by Anthony Ongaro

I often share things that I find online through my social media channels, but I quickly realized that due to the nature of Facebook and Twitter they oft go unseen. Below, I’ve curated a collection of some of the videos, articles, and resources that I particularly liked, or wanted to share. These pieces are intended to inspire, provoke thought, or be a helpful resource on your intentional living journey.

I’ll be curating a similar collection on a bi-weekly basis in order to share important pieces that I believe are worthy of your attention. Enjoy!

What’s In Your Intentional Lifestyle Bag?

Really enjoyed this post from Cait as it has me thinking about a list of my own “directives” for living well. Finding a balance between unlimited options, but also having restrictions and directives for what you know is best for yourself can be incredibly challenging. I think she does a great job of highlighting her own in this post.

Scaling Back

This is an article from my friend Julie about the behind-the-scenes work that into lifestyle blogging. It’s an incredibly raw, honest look into what it takes to create the (completely gorgeous) photos and curated appearance that many fashion writers cultivate. Julie is a talented web developer, photographer, writer, and deserving member of the literati – her perspective is incredibly valuable on this matter and I encourage you to give it a read.

Breakthrough with Jeff Sandquist

If you haven’t caught it yet, I launched a brand new interview series called, “Breakthrough”. It shares breakthrough stories in the lives of people choosing to live intentionally. This one feels like cheating a bit as it’s my own content, but I’d love for you to check out this episode with Jeff Sandquist. He shares his story of switching careers, how he discovered minimalism, and how he chooses to intentionally wander through life.

Scrubb

This is pretty cool–a brand new service from some of my friends here in Minnesota. They recycle old electronics in a secure, safe way that fully destroys any sensitive data on those electronics. Old hard drives, computers, and phones are kind of a pain to get rid of. They have sensitive information on them, and local recycling services can be difficult to find. Scrubb provides you a mailing label, you plop it on the box, and they charge a flat fee to safely dispose of and recycle your gear. Use coupon code “#minimize-your-life” to get your first box for just $15.

Minimalism in Job Searches

This is a post about looking for jobs in the startup industry–traditionally they tend to be more flexible and in a way more ‘lifestyle design’ friendly. This post provides an interesting perspective on why you should take a minimalist approach to your job search. People tend to ‘spray and pray’ but looking and applying more intentionally can really help your odds. If this fits your life right now, have a look.

Minimalist Couple: Meet My Wife, Amy!

Written by Anthony Ongaro

https://youtu.be/PvZ6TAld_g0

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After several audience requests and some personal encouragement, my wife Amy joined me for a video! In this one, we discuss how we met, what it was like decluttering as a couple, what inspired our intentional living journey, and Amy introduces herself to the Break the Twitch family.

Many people often ask what to do if a partner isn’t on board with minimalism and the decluttering process. As a minimalist couple with some different opinions, we offer some advice and thoughts on the topic. While being a minimalist couple is rare, that doesn’t mean there aren’t disagreements. It can be difficult, but we have some tips on how to compromise and how to move on to make more progress.

Life gets better, you will be happier, and you’ll have more time to pursue what matters to you. That happiness will inspire others and spark questions as to how you did it. The best way to encourage people is to be living proof of what is possible by owning less stuff. In a sense, this creates a chain reaction that will influence more and more people in your life. Just stick with it, and you’ll eventually get there with the people you love.

I hope you enjoy the video. This is Amy’s first video with me on YouTube, so let’s give her a warm welcome.

Thoughts on The More of Less, by Joshua Becker

Written by Anthony Ongaro

If you’ve been hanging around with me for a while, you’ll know that I am a huge fan of books. I’ve read a wide variety, but typically end up in the nonfiction section. I love learning about the world through different people’s perspectives and sharing my own ideas on what I read.

Every now and then, a book that really hits the nail on the head comes along and changes the way I think of things. Sometimes that change is simply a reinforcement of the way that I already view the world, and sometimes it’s a complete shift all together.

Last week, I received an advance reading copy of The More of Less by Joshua Becker, and have really enjoyed reading through. I can safely say that this book will be an impactful, helpful guide for those seeking to change their lives in a meaningful way.

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Creating Checks Points for Living Well

Written by Anthony Ongaro

I’ve been thinking a lot about minimalism recently, specifically the idea of living with less stuff and prioritizing experiences. Over the last two years, this philosophy has been incredibly effective in helping Amy and me slowly craft our lives into what we’ve wanted them to be. There are just so many different considerations that it can sometimes be overwhelming to think about whether or not we’ve landed where we should be.

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