As the saying goes, “less is more.” And boy, have I taken that to heart. In fact, 2022 was the year that I finally committed to living with less.
On January 1st, 2022 I decided; no more excuses, no more pointless decluttering followed by the accumulation of more stuff. And let me tell you, I have found more happiness, financial freedom and peace this year than ever before.
Have I convinced you to make 2023 the year that you finally live with less? Perfect! Let the transformation begin.
Why Should You Live With Less in 2023?
1. Less clutter
For starters, living with less means less clutter, which means less cleaning and tidying up. Imagine never having to dust off that pile of knick-knacks on your mantle or sort through a cluttered closet again?! Bliss.
2. you’ll be more organized
If you’re someone who easily misplaces things, it’ll be easier to find things when you simply own less. When everything you own is an essential you’ll know exactly where it’s kept. There’s no risk of things getting buried beneath tons of clutter, never to be found again.
3. Less Decision fatigue
Living with less also means less decision fatigue. No more standing in front of your closet for hours trying to decide what to wear. With a minimalist wardrobe, your options are limited (in a good way). Plus, you’ll save money on clothing and have an easier time getting dressed in the morning.
4. financial freedom
What’s my favorite part about living with less? More money in my pocket.
With fewer possessions to buy, maintain, and insure, you’ll have more disposable income to put towards the things that truly matter to you. Whether it’s saving for a rainy day or splurging on a luxury vacation, living with less means more financial freedom.
5. more free time
Living with less means wasting less time. You’ll spend less time spent shopping, cleaning, and organizing. Imagine all the extra time you’ll have to pursue your hobbies, spend time with loved ones, or just relax.
6. a sense of accomplishment
Living with less will also give you a sense of accomplishment.
For one, cutting back your consumption is better for the environment. By consuming less, you’ll be doing your part to reduce your carbon footprint and help protect the planet. Plus, by getting rid of the things you no longer need, you’ll be able to give them a second life through donation or resale.
You’ll also get a sense of accomplishment from the act of decluttering itself. Let’s be real, there’s a certain satisfaction that comes from decluttering and simplifying your life. You’ll feel a sense of pride knowing that you’re living with only the things you truly need and value.
So, How Was I Able to Finally Live With Less?
For starters, I got rid of my home. Yeah, you read that right. No more mortgage payments, no more cleaning and maintaining a house. I decided to instead live out of a backpack and wander the world.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. “But how did you shower and use the bathroom?” Ah, the age-old question. I just used public restrooms and found the occasional waterfall to rinse off in. It’s all about living life on the edge, right?
In all seriousness, although becoming a traveling nomad is one way to live with less, it’s not the only option. You can benefit from living with less without getting rid of all of your possessions. But you will need to get rid of most of them. I mean, do you really need that sixth coffee mug? Or that third set of towels?
Learning to live with less boils down to owning just the essentials.
Below are the steps I took to pare down my belongings.
5 Easy Steps to Living With Less
Step 1: Make a list of all your possessions. Yes, ALL of them. This includes everything from your clothes and electronics to that half-empty bottle of ketchup in the back of your fridge. However, if you have an overwhelming amount of stuff, writing everything down may not be the best use of your time. Move on to step 2 and make a list of your possessions after your initial declutter.
Step 2: Start tossing (or donating) things that you haven’t used in the past year. If you haven’t needed it in the past 12 months, chances are you won’t need it in the next 12 either.
Step 3: Take a good, hard look at your list. Do you really need all of these things? Could you live without that extra set of pots and pans? How about that collection of shot glasses from your college days? Be honest with yourself and get rid of anything that isn’t truly essential.
Step 4: Find creative ways to store the things you decide to keep. For example, use under-bed storage containers for out-of-season clothing or stackable bins for your pantry items.
Step 5: Repeat steps 2-4 until you feel like you’re living with only the essentials. And don’t worry, if you get rid of something and realize you actually do need it, you can always buy it again (but let’s try to avoid that if possible).
In Conclusion
And there you have it! With a little bit of determination and some tough decision-making, you too can join the ranks of the minimalist elite. Just remember, living with less doesn’t mean living with nothing. It’s all about finding a balance and being mindful of the things you bring into your life.
Pam says
My husband and I are on the journey to become minimalists. I really enjoyed your atricles. We are,dreaming of the day we have little or no stuff to worry about. We are about 6yrs off of retirement and want to just travel and make memories.
barefootminimalists says
Hi Pam. What an amazing goal to have. Best of luck and thanks for reading!