Why Choosing Less Can Actually Mean Living More

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Why choosing less can actually mean living more isn’t just a trendy minimalist mantra I saw on Instagram. It’s something I’ve slowly, and sometimes painfully, learned over the past few years. Let me tell you how I went from burnout and clutter to simplicity and joy… and why you might be craving the same shift without even realizing it.

It Started with the Closet

Three years ago, I sat on the floor of my closet, surrounded by heaps of clothes. Clothes I hadn’t worn in months (okay, maybe years). Clothes I thought I “might need someday.” Clothes with tags still on them.

I had just read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo, and I was ready to feel something, peace, clarity, purpose, by cleaning out my stuff. Instead, I felt overwhelmed and kind of ashamed. Why did I have so much? And more importantly… why wasn’t any of it making me happy?

I held up a pair of designer shoes I bought on sale but never wore. “Why did I even buy these?” I asked myself aloud. Then it hit me: I was buying, hoarding, collecting… to feel something I couldn’t buy. Control? Identity? Maybe even success? But instead of feeling more successful or more stylish, I felt stuck.

That day started something deeper. It wasn’t just about decluttering. It was about rethinking how much I was allowing into my life, physically, emotionally, even digitally.

The Truth? More Stuff Wasn’t Making Me Happier

We’re often taught that success means more. More clothes, more money, more friends, more accomplishments, more productivity. But when I started looking around my life, I realized something surprising:

The “more” was stressing me out.

More emails meant more anxiety.
More clothes meant more laundry (and more decision fatigue).
More social media meant more comparison and less self-esteem.
More commitments meant less time for rest, creativity, and people I love.

It wasn’t until I started actively choosing less that I began to feel more grounded, and more like myself.

The Shift from Consuming to Curating

There’s a powerful shift that happens when you stop consuming everything and start curating what truly matters.

I used to be a yes-person. Someone would ask me to volunteer, collaborate, or jump on a call, and I’d automatically say yes. Not because I had time, but because I didn’t want to disappoint anyone.

But slowly, I realized this truth:

Every time I say yes to something I don’t truly want or need, I’m saying no to something else, usually something more meaningful

Now I ask myself three things before taking on anything new:

Is this aligned with my values?
Does this support the life I want to build?
Will this cost me peace or presence?

If I can’t answer a clear “yes” to those, it’s probably a “no.”

And guess what? Saying “no” more often has made room for so many better yeses.

For Example: My Calendar

There was a time when my Google calendar looked like a losing game of Tetris. Color-coded blocks from 7am to 9pm. Back-to-back meetings, errands, social events, workouts I didn’t even enjoy anymore.

A collage depicting an overwhelmed person at a cluttered desk with multiple hands reaching out, stacks of documents, sticky notes, and to-do lists, illustrating the stress of managing multiple tasks and responsibilities.

I wore busyness like a badge of honor.

But the truth? I was exhausted. I couldn’t even enjoy the fun stuff because I was always thinking about the next thing. Then I started doing something radical: I began blocking off “nothing” time on my calendar. At first it felt weird. Shouldn’t I be doing something productive? But eventually, I learned to love those open spaces. I used them to read, go for walks, watch sunsets, call my grandma, journal, or simply breathe.

Ironically, I became more productive, not less, because I was actually rested and present.

Choosing Less Doesn’t Mean Settling

One of the biggest myths about minimalism or simplicity is that it means giving up joy. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Choosing less isn’t about deprivation. It’s about intention.

Instead of 10 random shirts, I now have 5 I love and feel amazing in.
Instead of 100 half-read books, I read one at a time, and I remember what I learn.
Instead of scrolling social media for hours, I text a friend or go outside.

I still have nice things. I still enjoy good food, music, travel, and beauty. But I’m not chasing them like a hamster on a wheel anymore. I let them come to me, and I say yes when it feels right.

Simplicity Isn’t Just for Your Stuff

Let’s be honest, your physical clutter is often a mirror of your mental and emotional clutter. That’s certainly been true for me.

When I had too much stuff, I also had:

Too many obligations
Too many worries
Too many thoughts I didn’t know what to do with

So I started simplifying everything:

My Digital Life

Unsubscribed from 90% of marketing emails
Deleted apps that didn’t serve me
Turned off push notifications
Set a 30-minute screen time limit for social media

My Relationships

Focused on a few deep friendships rather than dozens of shallow ones
Let go of connections that were more draining than nourishing
Prioritized face-to-face over FaceTime

My Habits

Morning coffee with zero screens
Journaling a few times a week
One small task at a time
Letting myself rest without guilt

Check out our article: 10 Best Gratitude Journals to Cultivate a Daily Mindset of Positivity

Each step has helped me feel less frantic and more free.

What I’ve Gained by Choosing Less

You might wonder, “Okay, so what do you actually get when you choose less?” Here’s my honest answer:

1. More Clarity

Fewer distractions mean I can hear my own thoughts. I can see what I want more clearly. I know what matters.

2. More Time

When you’re not constantly maintaining, cleaning, scheduling, or worrying… you actually have time for life.

3. More Joy

Simple joys feel brighter:

A quiet cup of tea
A book you can actually finish
A long walk with someone you love
The sound of your own laughter

4. More Alignment

I finally feel like my life reflects me, not who I’m supposed to be, or what Instagram says I should be doing.

A Few Simple Ways to Start Choosing Less

You don’t have to move into a tiny home or throw out everything you own to feel the magic of less. Try starting with one small thing this week:

Clean out one drawer.
Say no to one thing that drains you.
Set a screen time limit.
Block off one hour of “nothing” time.
Spend five minutes doing nothing at all.

You’ll be amazed what even one shift can do.

It’s Not About Perfect. It’s About Peace.

Here’s the thing: I’m not a monk. I still get tempted by cute home decor, fun events, and flashy sales. I still overbook my calendar sometimes. I still fall into the scroll hole.

But I always come back to this truth: Why choosing less can actually mean living more is not about perfection. It’s about permission. Permission to live slower. Softer. Truer.

Less isn’t less when it gives you back your life.

With love,

Bri & Cat

Related Posts You Might Like:

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