Simplifying Your Life: When Less is More

by Wendy Betterini

My husband and I have an ongoing battle about the "stuff" we accumulate in our home. While I do admit to some packrat tendencies of my own, I also like things nice and clean and simple. I go through periods of time when I'm gathering and storing up stuff (like books, clothing, office supplies, and other miscellaneous items) -- but then I also get into moods when I realize I don't need all this stuff hanging around and I either sell it or give it away. I love those "purging" phases because my surroundings feel so much calmer and more open, rather than crammed full of clutter and chaos.

My darling husband, on the other hand, feels that it's a sin to get rid of something that has the remotest possibility of usefulness, now or in the future. He still has clothing he wore when he was in high school. He saves every scrap of wire, every stray screw or nut, every magazine he's ever read. Even worse (in my mind) is that he isn't satisfied with the stuff he's already got, he needs to add to it consistently. And on goes our daily battle - me trying to clear out stuff, and him trying to cram even more in to replace it.

It's not just my husband though. Our societal conditioning encourages excess. Just look at the portion sizes of restaurant meals, or all the nifty electronic gadgets that we supposedly can't live without. While I'm not necessarily opposed to these things, I also think that focusing too much on ever increasing amounts of "stuff" can distance us from our inner selves. We become distracted and disconnected, and that can lead to feelings of stress and emptiness.

So, how do we simplify our lives with all this "stuff" in the way? Do we need to donate all our possessions to charity and move to the Himalayas? Thankfully, no. But we do need to take a look at what we are filling our lives with, and develop a simpler way to live.

Whether you or someone you live with has the packrat mindset, here are some very simple tips to simplify your life:

1) Clear out the unnecessary. I know, that's really subjective, and what seems unnecessary to one might not seem unnecessary to another. That's my dilemma with my husband and all his stuff. He feels strongly that he needs all that stuff, and it's not excessive in the least. I would love to have a dumpster party and get rid of 90% of it, but I know that wouldn't go over too well. ;-) So, just do your best. Go through your own stuff and be honest about whether you really need something, or not. Get rid of what you can. If your spouse is the packrat and he or she refuses to let go of their stuff, then move on to the next step.

2) Organize what's left. In my own situation, I think my husband's packrat tendencies wouldn't bother me so much if he was at least well-organized. Unfortunately, he's not. His stuff is strewn throughout various areas of our home, all jumbled and chaotic. Even when he needs one of the precious items he can't live without, he can't find it! So I've decided to compromise on the *amount* of stuff and instead focus on the *placement* of the stuff. Nowadays it's really easy to stay organized with all the handy, affordable organizers available. I've already begun sorting the stuff in our home and grouping like items together, and I will be purchasing some of those nifty plastic drawer storage units. With everything packed neatly away, our surroundings will at least look and feel simpler.

3) Make time for simplicity. Even if we can't completely simplify our lives, we can definitely make time to connect with ourselves in quiet, simple ways. Things like meditation, prayer, quiet reading time, or even sitting in a park for a few minutes can refresh us and make us feel more relaxed. The important thing to remember is: chaos outside encourages chaos within; and peacefulness within will promote peacefulness in our surroundings. Spending time honoring our connection with our inner selves is a far more powerful solution than anything we do externally.

In the end, living a simpler life is really a choice we make moment to moment. Simplicity is a state of mind. It's about learning how to let "stuff" enhance our lives, without relying on it for our happiness. Rather than seeking fulfillment from the latest greatest gadgets, we simply need to turn within and notice that it's already there, waiting for us.