11 Benefits of Having Less Stuff Will Bring You

Nothing is as irritating as having to move away your stuff to a new place, or worse, to an absolute new country.

Last year I just resigned from my previous job as a cabin crew. One of the hardest tasks I have to admit was to pack my stuff and bring them over to my new home. There were so much to pack even though I was quite a minimalist at the time. I gave away two boxes of clothes, shoes, one massive box of miscellaneous things to the security guys down in my building. I honestly felt like my own tumour just got removed.

“Simplicity is the soul of efficiency.” Austin Freeman - Source: Flickr.com

Being a flight attendant was the peak time of my consumerism journey. I was able to travel around the world, visit all kinds of department stores, shopping districts in all continents, airports, duty free shops, great salary, the pleasure of buying power. It was impossible to say no to binge shopping.

I unfortunately did not feel that happy even though I was spending.

I live quite humbly at the moment, even broke sometimes living with only a few euros per day just for a cup of coffee or some take-away chicken. I have not gone shopping for quite a while (apart from grocery or essential items). But I feel free and joyful.

Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus - the owners of Minimalists.com have been helping over 20 million people live meaningful lives with less through their website, books, podcast, and documentary. They wrote an article which scientifically proven that minimalism does bring happiness.

To keep it short and easy, these are 11 ways that having less stuff only brings good into my life: #1 Having less stuff means "more space and clean less"

Everything has its own place in my house. I used to have my own room but since I moved in with my partner, I try to eliminate unnecessary items that do not serve the purpose of efficiency. We always know where to find our keys, mobile phones, socks, personal stuff... which save a lot of time since I barely lose things and spend time finding them. If the kitchen is there for the purpose of cooking, I do not even bother adding extra decor. The less you have, the less you clean (or hire someone to). It creates some empty space in the house for future usage.

#2 Is it what you want or what you need?

The best question to ask before you yearn to purchase things impulsively. Do you really need it? Or you just want it. Those are two completely different ideas. I love going to shopping malls, supermarkets, different stores just to check out products. Things are just so eye-catching with all the additional discounts, numbers, colours, ads... But I always ask myself do I really need this stuff right now? If not, I skip. With this mindset, I usually end up going home without buying anything.

#3 When it comes to clothes, quality over quantity

Fast fashion brands are not made to last. If you drop by Bershka, H&M, Pull & Bear, even Forever 21 to try on some new clothes, turn out you like them and decide to purchase just because they are so affordable, trendy and that you need. You wear them a few times, then they stay in your closet, who knows: until which century. Try to get good quality maybe a bit pricey clothes, choose the classic ones that hardly out dated, easy colour to mix-and-match that you do not have to wake up and think too much on how to dress properly. Usually they last long, for years even after dozens of washes.

#4 More organised from your home to your personal life

I was so close to get a PS4 just because I love playing games too much. I thought I had some spare time to spend. Imagine, the more entertainment systems you have at home, the more they will trap you. Think about it. If I have a play station, I will need to play it. If I subscribe to Netflix, I must watch more series. The pleasure of being entertained, and I do not deny it, we are all sinners. But eventually, we turn out to exchange our precious time just to have a little fun. While you know it is better to join a language class, play game on mobile (cheaper way), work out or just simply rest your mind.

#5 It could mean saying no more often... to stuff

IKEA is tricky sometimes for example. I grab all the unneeded products that could be useless at home, just because I think I need them later on (in life?!) Imagine that I could act nonchalant and leave the store with only essential things or even with nothing. How powerful that could be? Black Friday, Buy One Get One Free, Discount for the next items, Cyber Monday, Big Sales, Promotions just do not matter anymore. You know you can say and walk away. It is real sass. I chose to spend those cash on travelling experience instead. You learn how to hold the temptation to gain respect for yourself, that you can do it.

“Make it simple but significant.” Anonymous - Image Source: Flickr.com

#6 You end up spending less

I get things that last long, not last for a few days or months. But they want us to buy and spend. Imagine a lot of people in our society have the mindset of wanting more, exactly how the mass media has been trying to manipulate us because they want to increase sells. The more, the bigger, the better. Take the our phones for example, one new version of Iphone released with only one or two new features, though it costs ridiculously more, people still want to own it, even they just got the latest one months ago. It is Apple at the end. Spend less in order to spend more (later on). Your future self will thank you. Unless you have that YOLO mindset, we all die tomorrow, then it is a different story,

#7 You have more free time

Less stuff means more time. There is not much distraction in your life. Everything is so overwhelming nowadays that it is almost impossible to have extra time, let alone a 9-5 job. Imagine going home and having so much distraction from your gadgets. Try to eliminate things. Take bathroom for example, I like the idea of having a bathtub to relax, light some scented candles, spa music. But then you need to buy candles, sea salts, essence oil, exfoliate rubber, you know what I mean. Perhaps some plants, extra bubble shampoo to add onto the experience. And boom, you have way extra stuff.

#8 It makes your life less complicated

Imagine waking up and your house is so basic that you just want to go out and enjoy the sun, or explore some new places in your city. I do not wake up with PS4 in my living room, or the high-end OLED TV with latest Bose technology. Netflix subscription what? I barely watch TV. Writing blog articles is more fun. MacBook and my own personal cellphone consume a lot of my time already. I cannot even think of other tech gadgets. I do not buy books either. We can pretty much find everything online nowadays. Or even when you want to buy a book, pick one, finish reading, then think of getting another. Not four at the same time.

#9 Access to the world of minimalists

By having fewer things, you start to understand the concept of minimalism which you might laugh at first thinking it is a poor person lifestyle. Being less depended on materialism allows you to have more time and energy on what matters more in life such as your partner, family, friends, career, leisure or even your self-development. I am quite an introvert. I find not owning so much stuff in my life, I have more time to go out, to learn something new, to focus on my own projects, to think of what to write for a new article that might blow myself away.

#10 Simplicity is the core essence of happiness

Less is more. As simple as that. I love the idea of having just enough clothes to wear, either for winter, formal occasions, to casually hang out or just at home. I keep wearing the same pairs of shoes everyday. Before I used to own at least 20 pairs of shoes. Now I even think of having sneakers that are wearable for both gym and casual day out , which can match with any pairs of jeans or any type of outfit. Subtraction is the key to add more values into your happy life. Eliminate unnecessary stuff to create more time and room for your well-beings and creativity.

#11 Consumerism culture hold back true freedom

I used to compare myself a lot with other friends or colleagues or even strangers on Instagram. Sometimes I wish I could be as prosperous as they are. Driving that fancy car while travelling to exotic places. We all know that things on social media is not authentic sometimes. People do not really share what is underneath the surface. Only good sides are shown. Once I learnt how to step a way from the culture of consumerism and the need for validations. There is a true sense of liberty. A freedom to stand out, to feel enough, to know that having less than others does not make you less than them. I have time to prioritise and chase what is more meaningful in life instead of impressing the strangers.

“Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.” Coco Chanel - Image Source: Flickr.com by Kaley Richman

Once again, these just personal opinions. I am currently going through a transition which I required to be more thoughtful with purchasing. I refused to follow trends and compulsive spendings for a while. These allowed me to create a budget to carry on the next step in my career and my personal life. Even though I was earning quite well at that time, I was keeping my daily expense quite humbly. I did not own much so I did not spend much.

Bottom Line

Most of the stuff I own at the moment, they were bought from the past-me years ago, and I am still trying to get rid of them. I do not say that going shopping is a bad idea. I love it, we all do. A new pair of shoes, a tech gadget, eating out once in a while, why not? It feels rewarded doing those and we deserve it. But I keep it in moderation. I do not do it just because. Before getting something new, ask yourself this question: Do the thing that you are going to buy somehow bring value or new experience or make your life easier? Do you really need it or you want it. Think about if you do not own it now, what is going to happen? Will you be okay without it? Does life go on ordinarily?

When you were a child, the typical you wanted that toy so badly. What happened once you got it? You got bored immediately after a few plays. Same with our smartphones. I still remember that desire I had for my first ever mobile. But all the craves went away shortly. It was so fast. Only memories and experience last.

Plus the sustainable value in having less stuff, you do the mother nature a big favour. She will thank us in long term.

I really want to know your opinion about the idea of having less stuff. Please share it with me by commenting below. It could be an inspiration for my next article.