What I Learnt About Living With Less

The art and beauty of saying ‘no’

Photo by on

I used to think that having more was a means to being happier. More clothes, shoes, friends, outings, money (more money can buy happiness though), and more to do.

If you had more, you had won, because you fit in the status quo.

But that’s hardly true, especially now.

Because what good does having more get you? Apart from the headache of having to look after and manage your stuff.

It may provide momentary happiness, but that moment becomes smaller and smaller once the value of ‘more’ reduces.

I was becoming a completely different person because the idea of having more was nauseatingly unappealing. I realized that having more was exhausting and I didn’t want it.

Over a few months, I massively decluttered everything in my life. I donated or sold my clothes, and recycled old papers, notebooks, and decor pieces. I stopped shopping, and only ever bought a garment if I truly fell in love with it and could see myself wearing it for the next decade. I stopped buying anything on impulse and declined a lot of outings with acquaintances. I decided I’d rather catch up with my close friends in more intimate settings than go out to a bar with a bunch of strangers and party over the…