20 REASONS TO OWN LESS STUFF

Decluttering is a wonderful method of getting rid of the clutter in your own home and saying goodbye to stuff that you don’t use, don’t like, don’t need and which takes up space in your home, heart and mind. However, the real difference comes when you change your attitude to your belongings in general. Check out this post on 20 reasons to own less stuff and why decluttering is only the first part of the story.

DECLUTTERING AS A FIRST STEP

Decluttering is only the first part of the story. It’s the place where most people begin their journey to a more minimalist, intentional life and where you can see and feel the biggest change in the quickest amount of time.

Yet, getting rid of some (or most) of your unwanted possessions doesn’t have to be the end of the story. 

Of course, you’re going to feel some great benefits such as more physical space and less to tidy and clear away but there are many more good reasons to follow it through and change your relationship with what you own. Consider decluttering your home as just the first step and think about what you might gain by owning less in the longer term.

OWNING LESS AND OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH STUFF

Owning less stuff in the longer term means changing the way you think about your belongings and physical stuff.

Here are some examples of stuff many of us own (or have owned):

• A wardrobe full of clothes
• A playroom full of toys
• A bookcase full of books
• A mantlepiece full of ornaments
• A kitchen cupboard full of crockery
• A garage full of tools
• An attic full of old baby clothes and family heirlooms

I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with all of this. We all hold on to sentimental items sometimes because they mean something special to us. A library of books might be your most treasured possession if you’re a book worm. You might like baking, so you need a cupboard full of different sized baking trays etc.

But few of us really need all these things all at the same time, especially when you think about what this physical stuff requires from you.

Looking after your stuff requires space to store it all in. This storage costs money to buy/rent/heat/light, your time and energy to look after, tidy and clean. Not to mention what it cost you to purchase these items in the first place.

THE BENEFITS OF OWNING LESS STUFF

There are many benefits to owning less stuff if you change the way you think about the things you own, where you spend your money and what it costs you to look after your stuff in terms of your time and energy.

Here are some of the best reasons to own less stuff, simplify and live a fuller life, just with less (physical) things.

1. Less stress

Scientific studies show that too much clutter has been shown to increase our stress levels so in a nutshell – less clutter means less stress.

“Declutter your mind, your heart, your home. Let go of the heaviness that is weighing you down. Make your life simple, but significant.”

Maria Defillo

2. More space

Owning less stuff creates more physical space. You only have what you need, love or adds value to your life so there’s less random clutter taking up space in your cupboards, garage, shed, drawers, on table-tops, shelves, work surfaces and of course, stacked on the floor and stairs.

3. More peaceful

Your home will be calmer and more peaceful because too much stuff not only clutters your space, but it becomes visually distracting and clutters the mind.

4. Easier to find things

It’s less likely that you’ll lose something (and therefore, it’s easier to find things) if you’ve generally got less stuff. There’s less clutter to sift through so even if you’re not the most neat and organised person, you’ll still be able to find things quicker.

5. Increases productivity and efficiency

Building on the point before, you’ll be more productive and efficient because you won’t waste so much time trying to find things! Read more about minimalism and time management.

6. Easier to look after

A decluttered home is much easier to look after and maintain. If there’s less stuff then it’s quicker to tidy up, clear things away, clean and generally keep on top of, especially if you’ve got some household routines in place.

7. Ready for visitors

If your home is easier to look after and has less clutter, then it’s easier to keep it looking neat, tidy and ready if a visitor drops by.

8. Live in a smaller house

When you own less stuff you don’t need such a big home. Less space to clean and tidy, more time and energy for other things.

9. You’ll spend less

When you get used to living with less clutter and learning to be intentional and careful about what you let into your home, then you’ll probably find you spend less on stuff that you don’t really need or want and more careful about what you do spend your money on.

10. More focus on quality over quantity

A life where you own less stuff isn’t about never buying anything new. However, it does encourage you to think carefully about what you have and invest in your purchases wisely. For example, buy one good quality sweater that will keep its shape for years rather than several cheaper ones which will bobble and sag after a few wears.

11. Encourages gratitude

When we’re used to having lots of stuff then we often don’t fully appreciate what we have already. Being grateful for what we have means we’re more content and happy with our life instead of always searching for or expecting more.

12. More time

A decluttered home is easier to look after which means you have more time for other things – playing with the kids, learning a new skill, reading a book.

13. More freedom

With more time comes more freedom. You have more freedom to choose what you want to do, when you want to do it. You’re less tied to looking after your stuff, finding money to buy it and a home to keep it.

“Some things cost way more when we keep them.”

Neeraj Agnhotri

14. Set a great example for your children

When we learn to appreciate what we have and place less value on our possessions then we set a great example to our kids. We are showing them to be grateful for what we have, prioritise experiences over material things, stop attaching importance and status to physical stuff. Be grateful for all that money can’t ever buy over the temptation of what it can.

15. Start living in the present

When our homes are full of sentimental items from times gone by you can end up living in the past. Your home and your life are for living in right now. Be present for your life, have what you need right now and find ways to remember the old days without adding to the clutter.

16. Stop comparing

Comparison is the thief of joy so stop making yourself miserable and start living your own life rather than measuring the size of your car or the size of your wardrobe with others.

“Purposefully owning less begins to take us out of the unwinnable game of comparison.”

Joshua Becker

17. Contribute to good causes

Deciding where you spend your money is, of course, up to you but I feel better when I give a little bit of money each month to a charity I love. It doesn’t have to be a lot but I’d prefer to do that than buying a top I wear once, that I don’t really need and then wish I hadn’t bought.

18. Better for the environment

If you stop buying stuff, there’s less packaging and less production.

19. Live intentionally

When you make a conscious decision to own less, what you do buy and keep in your life takes on more importance because every item counts. These decisions mean you live life intentionally, purposefully crafting a life that makes you happy and fulfilled without needing stuff to do that for you.

20. Be happier

Owning less stuff makes you happier because of all the reasons I’ve just listed. Try it for yourself and see what a difference it makes to not just declutter but actually own less stuff.

“Having more and more won’t solve the problem, and happiness does not lie in possessions, or even relationships: The answer lies within ourselves. If we can’t find peace and happiness there, it’s not going to come from the outside.”

Tenzin Palmo

CONCLUSION

Decluttering is a great first step to a more Minimalist and intentional life, but it needn’t stop there. Placing less importance on our belongings and physical stuff and focusing more on the other aspects of a happier, fuller life is the ultimate goal.

There are lots of benefits to owning less whilst doing and living more. By changing your relationship with physical possessions, you can create opportunities for so much else. Give it a go!

FURTHER READING

If you’d like to explore a life with less stuff, here are some resources which you might find helpful:

• How to declutter your home and life – a complete guide to clearing clutter in all its shapes and forms with plenty of tips and further reading
• 7 easy ways to become Minimalist
• The clutter cycle: 5 tips to help you break the cycle of clutter
• How do you decide what to keep?
• Decluttter Starter Kit – a free workbook to help you understand your own relationship with clutter, clear that clutter and keep it away!

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I’m Antonia and on this blog I share practical inspiration to simplify your home, time and life. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest! You can also subscribe to Balance Through Simplicity and receive regular simplicity tips straight to your inbox for free. Make sure you never miss an article plus you’ll get a copy of my free Declutter Starter Kit as a welcome gift!