How could your life be better with less?

I listened to an interesting podcast the other day, and while the topic wasn’t about nutrition or fitness or health in particular, I felt like there were a lot of parallels.

It was an interview with Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, aka “The Minimalists,” and they were talking about how having less ‘stuff’ in your life can allow for more: more intentional relationships, more room for the things that really matter to you, more space to think and breathe and grow - rather than filling that space with things that don’t actually bring value to your life.

And whether you’re talking about actual physical objects or mental/emotional clutter, the question they were posing was this:

How could your life be better with less?

Less worry, stress, or rumination over things you can’t control.

Less time spent obsessing over what other people think.

Less comparison.

Less trying to live up to someone else’s expectations.

Fewer “shoulds.”

Or, in the realm of nutrition, health and fitness:

Less self-judgment.

Less categorizing behaviors, foods (or yourself) as “good” or “bad.”

Fewer rules, restrictions, and mental games.

Less criticizing or shaming yourself into change.

Where is too much “stuff” holding you back or weighing you down? How might getting rid of some of those things – physical, mental, or otherwise – give you more freedom, flexibility, and space?

You don’t necessarily have to start cleaning out your closets or getting rid of things (although that can certainly be helpful), but considering where you might be able to simplify, or do more with less, can be a huge mindset shift that opens up new ways of thinking, doing, moving, and being in the world.

For example:

How much more could you get done in your day if you spent fewer hours working but got more sleep?

How much more creativity or focus might you have if you spent a little less time looking at a screen time and a little more time in nature?

What might happen if every time you wanted to add in another commitment you removed one instead?

I remember a while back when I was rearranging my living room, and I couldn’t figure out what I needed to add to make it feel right – something was off. So I asked my mom for help - she’s the master when it comes to creative/visual/aesthetic projects - and she came in, removed a few things, and suddenly it was just right!

Here I was trying to add more when what I really needed was to have less.

And in a bit of further experimentation, lately if I get the urge to buy clothes or other objects, I first try getting rid of a few things and then see if I still feel like I need to add something. I almost always feel so much better after removing a few items that I no longer have the ‘craving’ for more.

We live in a world where it’s so easy to get anything and everything instantaneously with the push of a button; it’s no wonder we fall into the trap of thinking that more stuff will make us happier or healthier or feel better - not to mention that we are constantly marketed to in such a way that it seems all our problems can be solved with another purchase.

But a great quote I heard sums it up perfectly: “You can never get enough of what you don’t really want.” (Or to put it another way: “Enough is as good as a feast.”)

How might your life be better with less?

Are there things you could let go of that might be weighing you down or holding you back in some way? If you were going to get rid of just one small thing today, what would it be?

I’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a comment and let me know how "less is more" might apply in your own life.

Letting go is easier said than done, and if you’re finding it challenging to embrace a “less is more” philosophy when it comes to your health and wellness, you’re not alone! Let’s talk about how coaching can help: send me a message or schedule your free consultation call today.

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