Embracing Minimalism Means Finding Joy in Living with Less
In Goodbye, Things, Fumio Sasaki writes, “Minimalism is not about what you own, but about why you own it.” When I first read that line, I paused.
I had spent so much of my life accumulating – clothes, books, keepsakes – each item carrying a story, a just-in-case excuse, a weight I didn’t even realise I was carrying. I thought they would make me feel fulfilled because I grew up having very little.
It wasn’t until I found myself exhausted from managing my own belongings that I began to wonder: what if I had less?
The Hidden Burden of Too Much
We don’t just carry physical clutter; we carry mental clutter, too. The half-read books on the shelf, the forgotten hobbies, the clothes we swear we’ll wear again someday.
It’s a constant reminder of unfinished tasks, unmet expectations, and the pressure to keep up with a world that’s always accumulating more.
When I look at my room, my home, and there is clutter everywhere – my clothes, most of them old, some barely worn – I realise how much I’ve held onto simply out of habit.
For years, I believed I needed to keep everything – just in case. But then, life happened. The pandemic forced me to live with less. A sudden move. A change in priorities.
A realisation that no matter how much I owned, it was never the things that brought me real happiness.
As I started letting go, I noticed unexpected benefits – more clarity, more freedom. It wasn’t just about decluttering; it was about reshaping my mindset. Looking back, even the smallest changes – whether in mindset, habits, or priorities – made a big impact on how I live.
Living with Less Isn’t About Deprivation
There’s a misconception that minimalism means sacrifice. That it’s about stark, empty rooms and living with only the bare essentials.
But in reality, it’s about clarity. About making space for what truly matters.
For me, that meant letting go of books I had no intention of reading, donating clothes I hadn’t worn in years, and recognising that memories don’t live in objects – they live in experiences.
It wasn’t about having nothing; it was about keeping only what added value to my life.
I realised that living with less extended beyond my belongings. It affected my digital life, too. I started unsubscribing from newsletters I never read, deleting apps that wasted my time, and cutting down on mindless scrolling.
Without these distractions, my mind felt lighter, freer. I found myself more engaged in conversations, more focused on creative projects, more present in my day-to-day life.
Living minimally also aligns with a more mindful way of consuming. If you're looking for simple ways to be more mindful of consumption, check out Simple Sustainable Practices for a Greener Everyday Life.
The Unexpected Freedom of Owning Less
But minimalism isn't about perfection. Even though I’ve embraced it, I still find myself holding onto books, scrolling mindlessly, accumulating in small ways.
The urge to keep things lingers, but awareness is the first step to change.
Something shifts when you start living with less. You stop feeling overwhelmed by choices. You stop organising and reorganising the same clutter.
You start prioritising presence over possessions.
Without the distraction of excess, I found myself with more time for things that truly brought joy – long conversations, creative projects, spontaneous adventures.
And surprisingly, I didn’t miss the things I let go of. Out of sight, out of mind, maybe. I only regretted not doing it sooner. It reminded me how liberating it is to live with intention.
I need little to feel content. The same shorts, the same shoes – yes, the shoes are expensive, but they’re lasting so far.
Every morning, the same coffee mug. The same notebook for jotting down thoughts.
There's something peaceful about knowing exactly what I need and not feeling the urge to chase more.
How to Start Living with Less
Identify what truly serves you. If you wouldn’t buy it again today, do you really need to keep it?
Let go of just-in-case thinking. Most of the things we keep for ‘someday’ never get used.
Create mental space too. Unsubscribe from noise – emails, social media, obligations that no longer align with your values.
Prioritise presence over possessions. What moments make you feel alive? Invest in those instead.
Notice how it feels. Lightness, clarity, ease – let that guide you forward.
Sell what you don’t need. I sold things we didn’t need at home and got some nice money.
Be intentional with new purchases. Before buying anything new, ask yourself if it truly adds value to your life.
Enjoy the freedom of less. Appreciate the mental and physical space you've created and notice how it changes your daily life.
Minimalism isn’t about stripping life of joy – it’s about uncovering where the real joy is.
My ideal living space would be cosy, free of unnecessary things. And if I had to pack my life into one suitcase? My favourite tees and my laptop to write this. That’s enough.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned? Owning less has given me more – not just in time and space, but in clarity, energy, and the ability to focus on what truly matters. And that’s something I wouldn’t trade for anything.
If you enjoyed this, you might also like reading The Unexpected Joys of Simple Living on a Cruise Ship.
