One of the most effective changes I’ve made to improve my life, in addition to embracing holistic medicine, meditation, exercise, and healthier eating habits, is a decluttering-finding space in my life.
I downsized, and it helped me find space in my life.
It wasn’t always like this, though.
“Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials.”
–Lin Yutang, 1895.
I grew up in a cluttered home where my mother had many new gadgets and utensils in the kitchen. The living room had a large glass sideboard filled with crystal glasses and china.
My mother believed that maintaining a pristine house was essential to impress friends, family, and neighbors. However, we only used the dining room, crystal glasses, and china on special occasions. As a child, I felt overwhelmed by my parents’ cluttered lives.
I’ve been talking about the cluttered house, but your life gets cluttered, too. My parents were never home; they were always working. We only had one month of vacation per year. So, on that note, I grew up in a cluttered house and had a chaotic schedule.
This was my life until I realized I had to be less messy to be more mobile. Over time, I got rid of a lot of my mess. Maybe not as much as I should have, but I found relief in getting free of most of the clutter in the last eight months. Mentally, I feel less stressed; having the bare minimum makes me calmer.
“Too many people spend money they haven’t earned to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like.”
-Will Rogers, 1879.
Today, I still move frequently, and I am more moderate. I don’t keep too much furniture, books, clothing, or decorations. I prefer to travel light because it’s easier and cheaper. However, during our time in Texas (where we lived the longest), I was surprised to see that we had accumulated a lot of clothing, decorations, furniture, and other belongings. Oh my goodness! How is it even possible?
After selling our house and most of our belongings, we had to move into an apartment with just the essentials because our household goods were being shipped to New Zealand, where they arrived at the end of the month.
For the past eight months, we’ve been living with only a mattress, a couch, a TV, a few items of clothing, and some kitchenware. At first, it felt empty and strange, but over time, we realized that life was much simpler. Not having to spend a lot of time cleaning was a big plus. Who wouldn’t appreciate having more time and less cleaning to do?
Less clutter and visual stress helped us break free from consumerism and escape debt. Not bad for simplifying our lives!
When my husband and I go to the store, we often find ourselves admiring things like shirts. We’ll say, “That’s a nice and soft shirt. It will look great with my jeans.” Then we realize that we don’t actually need another shirt. It’s funny because we have this conversation every time we see something we like, even though we’ve made similar purchases in the past. We’ve learned to focus on whether we actually need the item rather than just wanting it. This shift in perspective has helped us reduce clutter and save money, which I think is really important.
“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough
—Oprah Winfrey
When you simplify your life, you are reducing the complexity of your actions and possessions. In today’s modern world, we often face growing complexity due to consumerism and the belief that we need to buy more to solve our problems. This mindset leads us to constantly seek more and bigger things and to believe that being busier and always connected is better.
I understand that not everyone may want to adopt a minimalist lifestyle, but I believe that considering the concept of reducing possessions, streamlining your schedule, and making room for the most important things in your life is worth contemplating for all of us.
“The more you have, the more you are occupied. The less you have, the freer you are.”
– Mother Teresa
Many people have misconceptions about minimalism. It’s not just for wealthy individuals who buy expensive Scandinavian furniture.
There are no strict rules for being a minimalist.
It’s about focusing on what’s important in your life and getting rid of the excess. When you judge someone for their minimalist lifestyle, remember that everyone has different needs, situations, and priorities.
When you decide to declutter your home and life, you’ll have more time to do what you love and find happiness. You’ll also have the space to discover what you want and don’t want, reducing stress and making room for better things that bring you joy.
Minimalism suggests that what is unnecessary is a luxury and a waste. So why spend on things that don’t make you happy or bring you peace of mind? By getting rid of the unnecessary, we create space for the essentials and give ourselves more breathing room.
Collect moments, not things.
– Paulo Coelho
