“When things aren’t adding up in your life, it’s time to start subtracting the things that aren’t helping and that are holding you back.” —Unknown
The path to a richer, more satisfying life isn’t always found in adding more. Often times, the path to a richer life can be found in subtracting—in removing the things that no longer serve us.
Deciding to do and own less is counter-cultural. Especially in a world that constantly encourages us to pursue and acquire more. The decision to remove might even go against our nature.
But the process of removing the distractions that keep us from a better life is a step we must always consider and often take. And this idea applies to numerous areas in life—some may be more applicable during different seasons of course, but it’s wise to consider the option wherever it can be applied.
To get you thinking in that direction, here is a list of areas where applying the principle of subtraction might just be the change you need for a fuller, more focused life:
1. Clothes: A cluttered closet leads to decision fatigue. Reducing your wardrobe to items you love and wear regularly will streamline your morning routine, boost your confidence, and save money.
2. Furniture: Interior designer Francis Jourdain once said, “One can furnish a room very luxuriously by taking out furniture rather than putting it in.” A less cluttered space can bring peace and clarity to your home environment.
3. Decorations: Removing unnecessary decor won’t just enhance the calming nature of your living space, it will make your space more personal and meaningful because it elevates those pieces that most inspire us.
4. Cookware: Too many kitchen gadgets can overwhelm and complicate cooking. So keeping only the essentials can make meal prep more enjoyable and efficient. I stand as proof on this one. Since minimizing the items in my kitchen, I have learned to love cooking much more.
5. Bedding and Linens: Keeping only a few sets of bedding and towels simplifies laundry and storage, making home management easier. In our home, we keep just one set of bed linens for each bed plus one set for company. (Of course, it helps that our kids are older).
6. Beauty/Hygiene Products: Keeping your beauty and hygiene routine simple can save time, money, and reduce waste. Focus on the products you love to use, remove the rest.
7. Paper Clutter: Going digital with bills and documents can reduce paper clutter and make important information easier to manage and access.
8. Unused Apps: Deleting apps you don’t use can declutter your digital space, streamline your usage of it, and remove the temptation of going back to waste time on them.
9. Email Subscriptions: Unsubscribing from marketing emails declutters your inbox and reduces the temptation to spend.
10. To-Do List: Overcommitting dilutes focus, increases stress, and keeps us from doing our best work. Trim your to-do list to essential tasks to improve productivity and well-being.
11. Social Media: There is no need to be on every social media platform. Focus on your favorites. Cutting down on social media platforms can also free up time and reduce information overload.
12. Streaming Services: Limiting your subscriptions can not only save money but also reclaim time that could be spent on living your life—rather than watching others live theirs.
13. News Consumption: Limiting exposure to constant news can reduce anxiety and help maintain focus on your personal life and goals. It might also change everything you currently perceive to be indisputable fact and your opinions of others—especially of people you’ve never met.
14. Impulse Buying: Curbing impulse purchases can save money and prevent clutter from accumulating in your home. Here are 24 simple ways to help.
15. Mindless Snacking: Cutting back on snacking can lead to healthier eating habits and more mindful food consumption. Some of the best advice I ever heard concerning over-snacking was this, “You’re not hungry, you’re thirsty.” The next time you think you need a snack, try drinking a glass of water instead.
16. Over-Checking Emails: Limiting email checks to specific times can increase productivity, reduce stress, and help keep you focused on both the tasks and people right in front of you.
17. Dining Out: Reducing the frequency of dining out can save money and encourage healthier, home-cooked meals. Save money and improve health? Sign me up.
18. Sugar: Reducing sugar intake can lead to better health, more sustainable energy, and improved well-being. Also, sugary products can be quite expensive. Learning to live with less will change your life in more positive ways than you can imagine.
19. Relationships (if toxic): Not every relationship in our life should be focused on what you can get out of it. But letting go of toxic relationships can dramatically improve mental health and happiness.
20. Goals: Focusing on too many goals at once can lead to burnout. Prioritizing a few meaningful goals can lead to more significant achievements and satisfaction.
21. Commitments: Overcommitting spreads you thin and often distracts from life’s joys. If your life is currently overcommitted, subtract a few. Be selective about your commitments to help you live a richer life.
22. House Size: A smaller home can reduce expenses and maintenance, allowing for more freedom and less financial stress.
23. Hobbies: Focusing on a few hobbies that truly bring you joy can be more rewarding than dabbling in many or quickly jumping from one to another just for that next dopamine hit.
24. Kid’s Activities: Overscheduling children can lead to stress for the entire family. Choosing fewer, more meaningful activities can allow for more family time and relaxation. Developing new skills and learning discipline is important for children, of course. But so is downtime and learning to appreciate the warmth and comfort of family.
25. Your Words: Speaking less and listening more can lead to deeper connections and more understanding in relationships.
26. Debt: Reducing debt can alleviate financial stress and lead to a more secure and flexible lifestyle. Here are 101 ways to do that.
27. Habits: Breaking free from negative habits opens up space for positive change. Identify habits that don’t align with your values and work on eliminating them.
28. Negative Self-Talk: Cultivating a positive inner dialogue can boost confidence and mental well-being. Replace negative thoughts and self-talk with positive ones instead.
29. Worry: Harvey Mackay put it this way, “Worrying makes you cross the bridge before you come to it.” And sometimes, you spend time worrying about a bridge that never even appears. Subtracting worry allows you to focus more on the present.
30. Comparisons: Comparison is the thief of joy. Remove it wherever and whenever you can. Focusing on your own journey can increase self-esteem and personal fulfillment.
Minimalism, at its core, is about identifying what is essential and finding the courage to let go of the rest.
And there are countless places where its benefits can be appreciated in our lives. This is a short list of 30 places where subtracting from our lives can make them richer.
If you have others, leave them below as a comment. My hope is to spark new thoughts and ideas about where minimalism can be beneficial.
Marguerite says
Hello,
My daughter lived in a van for 2,5 years. That’s minimalism.
I admit that I am happier now that she lives in a small appartment.
Dianne says
Great article Joshua, thank you.
I agree with Liz, we had too many flower beds and I’m down to three. The backyard is a natural setting with plenty of wildlife. We planted a few small trees for the birds and the front garden has shrubs and roses with minimal fuss. It saves us time, money and we really enjoy it so much more, and it looks so much better! :)
Judy says
Thank you, Joshua! Love lists—- and this one is great 👍🏻
Julie Olson says
Thank you so much for actually clarifying some of the areas that I had doubt about. You have confirmed and helped me to keep going with my declutter journey.
Christina says
Thank you for creating and maintaining your blog with passion and dedication, Joshua. My family and I are just starting down the path to a more minimalist lifestyle and your blog provides the ideas and inspiration that we need! Blessings to you and your family. 💞
Linda says
Thanks Christina. I agree.
Karen says
Packing for travel. Use a backpack. You really don’t need all that much “stuff “ when traveling and a backpack is much easier to travel with than a suitcase(s).
Allyson says
Joshua, As always thank you for sharing such wonderful words of wisdom in a time when we need it more than ever. I discovered your book “The More of Less” many years ago now and it changed my life and the lives of my entire family. My spouse has finally found the benefits of minimalism and is fully on board with simplifying our lives.
Liz says
Landscaping. It starts out looking wonderful, but can be too much to maintain, and all of that work and expense only takes a few weeks to look unkempt and actually detract from your home and the pleasure of seeing it.
Similarly, house plants. It is always tempting to start the new shoots, but can very quickly become overwhelming.
Laura says
Good point, Liz. A few healthy pot plants is much better than many half dead pot plants, which are just depressing to live with. The less I have, the more I can look after it.
Tammy Jo says
I’m with you on the houseplants. I’m getting ready to downsize. I love them, but you only have room for so many and someone always needs reporting, fertilizer, and deadheading!
Nadine says
Reducing portion sizes at meals. This small subtraction can make you healthier, and in some cases help reduce your need for Rx meds and doctor visits.
Karen Rudisell says
Not trying to change others opinions concerning politics, and stopping someone who tries to talk politics
by changing the subject.