When I was a financial analyst, I thought success came from accumulation. More hours, more money, more status. My life was measured by how much I could stack onto my plate.

But the more I chased, the emptier I felt.

It wasn’t until I began traveling—packing my entire life into one carry-on and moving through places where “enough” meant something entirely different—that I realized living with less doesn’t mean going without. It means shedding the noise so you can finally hear yourself.

I’ll never forget hiking through the Scottish Highlands one summer, staying in modest cottages with creaky wooden floors. My meals were simple: bread, cheese, tea. My clothes fit in a single backpack. And yet, I felt richer in those days than I ever did when I was buying suits for the office or rushing through another twelve-hour workday.

Travel gave me perspective. When you live out of a bag for weeks at a time, you see how little you actually need—and how much mental weight you were carrying back home.

That’s when it dawned on me: the art of living with less isn’t about restriction. It’s about freedom.

Less stuff = more clarity

Ever noticed the more “stuff” in your space, the more stress you feel? 

Well, you're not alone. Researchers at UCLA studied 32 middle-class, two-income households in Los Angeles. They discovered that clutter in the home was linked to elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol—especially among mothers.

As noted by study co-author, Anthony P. Graesch, "excess becomes a visible sign of unaccomplished work that constantly challenges our deeply ingrained notions of tidy homes and elicits substantial stress."

I've noticed this firsthand, too. When I cleared out half my closet after one particularly eye-opening trip, I noticed something surprising. I wasn’t just gaining physical space—I was gaining clarity. Suddenly I wasn’t wasting energy deciding what to wear or feeling guilty about unworn clothes. The simplicity was liberating.

Time is the real luxury

We cram our schedules the same way we cram our closets—without asking if any of it actually adds value. 

It took me years to understand that saying no isn’t deprivation—it’s preservation. When you live with less on your calendar, you gain more of what we all crave: time.

Time to linger over a meal. Time to read in the garden. Time to go trail running and let your thoughts untangle with every mile.

Well-being thrives in simplicity

Working fewer hours and protecting rest isn’t laziness—it’s science.

I've mentioned this before but a Stanford study showed productivity crashes after 55 hours a week. And UC Berkeley neuroscientist Matthew Walker reminds us that sleep is “the single most effective thing we can do to reset our brain and body health each day.”

When we stop overstuffing our days with endless tasks, we create room for the basics that truly keep us going: rest, health, and peace of mind. Living with less isn’t subtraction—it’s restoration.

Intentional constraints free your mind

One of my favorite pieces I’ve read on this topic comes from The Considered Man: “Why I wear the same outfit almost every day.” The author explains how adopting a “uniform” freed him from decision fatigue and saved him time and money.

At first, the idea might sound dull but since trying I have felt the same. Not monotony, but freedom. By embracing constraints, we create mental space for bigger, more meaningful choices.

How to practice the art of living with less

1. Start with your space

Begin small. Pick one drawer, one closet, one shelf. Hold each item and ask: do I use this? Do I love this? If the answer is no, it’s simply taking up space. Letting go feels like a deep exhale—you’re not losing, you’re gaining breathing room.

2. Audit your time

Look at your calendar as if it’s a cluttered closet. Which commitments feel essential? Which bring joy? Which are just filler? Cancel one recurring meeting, decline one obligation, and notice the weight lift. A simpler schedule is a calmer mind.

3. Let travel reset your scale

Think back to the last time you traveled light. Maybe it was a weekend trip with just a carry-on. Did you miss the piles of clothes and gadgets you left behind? Probably not. In fact, you might have felt free. Use those moments to reset your sense of “enough.”

4. Prioritize experiences over things

When I reflect on my travels, it’s not the souvenirs I remember—it’s the evenings spent laughing with strangers in a small café, the hikes that left me breathless, the quiet mornings with a notebook and coffee. Research shows experiences bring more lasting happiness than purchases. Invest in memories, not things.

5. Protect the basics

Guard your health like treasure. Sleep, rest, nature, and time for reflection aren’t extras—they’re the foundation of living well. Without them, no amount of stuff or achievement will feel like enough.

6. Apply intentional constraints

Like the uniform concept from The Considered Man, experiment with small constraints that free you. Wear the same outfit rotation, eat the same simple breakfast, or keep your mornings device-free. Constraints aren’t limits—they’re liberators.

7. Create small rituals of enough

Living with less shines in the small rituals: brewing your coffee slowly, writing in a journal at the end of the day, walking without headphones so you can hear the world again. These simple acts remind you that joy isn’t hidden in what’s next—it’s right here.

Final thoughts: finding more in less

The art of living with less isn’t about austerity. It’s about clarity. It’s choosing to remove the excess so you can focus on what matters—whether that’s a hike, a conversation, or a good night’s rest.

I used to believe success was measured by how much I could add. Now I know it’s measured by what I can let go.

It’s about space. Space for experiences. Space for presence. Space to live fully, without the noise.