Things I Do Differently Now That I Have Less

In today’s culture, bigger is often equated with better. There’s a constant pressure in nearly every area of life to strive for more, accumulate more, and push yourself to achieve greater things—in the name of success.

But what if instead of more, you chose less?

I’m here to tell you it’s not a crazy idea. In fact, I’ve done it myself, and I’m not alone. A growing number of people are reaching the same conclusion about life—that living simply can be a path to happiness.

Maybe you’ve already embraced the idea of minimalism in some areas, such as your physical possessions, but I want to challenge you to go even further. Embracing less doesn’t have to mean living a quiet life on the sidelines. Instead, it’s about removing the clutter and noise from your life so that you can focus on what’s most important to you and bring your best efforts to those few areas.

If that sounds like something you’re interested in, let me show you some ways to start embracing less.

I take more walks

Since I don’t have as much to do, I can take my time with the tasks I do choose to keep. As a result, I take more long walks to appreciate nature and unwind. Walking is also a great way to explore a new town or city slowly and soak up the atmosphere.

I spend more time preparing good meals and enjoying them with people I love

Choosing to live with less has meant more time and space in my life for the pleasures of a home-cooked meal. I have more time to cook slowly, learn new recipes, and host small intimate gatherings with friends and family to enjoy the fruits of my labor.

I get more sleep

When I was a kid, my parents limited my screen time because they knew it was addictive entertainment for me. But, as adults, we pack our schedules so tight with responsibilities that we don’t leave ourselves enough time to sleep well. I’ve managed to cut back on my own responsibilities so I can afford to sleep long and wake up slow.

I read more fiction

While I enjoy reading for education and self-improvement, I’m also a huge fan of reading for fun. Now that I have more free time, I can read more fiction and soak up the beautiful and entertaining world of imagination.

I say “no” more often

Perhaps the most important of all these things is that I say “no” a lot more than I used to. Times that I would have said “yes” to something that took me away from my family or one of my passions—well now I think twice and consider what I’d be saying “no” to when I say “yes.”

I make time for quiet

One of the most significant changes in my life is that I allow myself to get bored or have quiet moments with nothing in particular to do. I used to try to fill up these times with passive entertainment, but now I just embrace the stillness and see where my mind wanders.

I follow my curiosity

Having fewer goals and responsibilities gives you the freedom to follow your curiosity and see where it leads. I’ve come across great articles online that I never would have sought out on my own because they seemed too far off from what I normally read. But being able to follow these threads whenever and wherever has opened me up to new interests and passions.

I’m more spontaneous

Living with less has made me easier to surprise in the best kinds of ways. I’m more willing than ever to drop what I’m doing at the drop of a hat and do something fun and spontaneous. When there’s less on your mind, it’s easier to let yourself get carried away with the people you love.

I make more time for unstructured play

One last point I’ll mention is that, if I’ve found one thing that machines absolutely cannot do, it’s have fun for the sake of fun. Machines are great at doing work, and that’s why we’ve invented them. But I’m not sure there’s a machine or tool that has made playing any more fun than it already was—such is the beauty and joy of simply playing with good friends.

I keep a slower pace

Slowing down is just another benefit of living with less. When you have fewer things to do in your day, you don’t have to rush from one to the next. You can take your time and enjoy what you’re doing. This has helped me to enjoy my life a lot more and feel more at peace with everything around me.

I reflect more

Finally, I’ve found more time to think about what has happened and what I want to happen next. I was never able to plan because every day was filled with reacting to what was urgent. But now that I’m in a new rhythm, I’ve had more time to reflect on what’s important to me and figure out what I want the next season of my life to be.

I spend more time with people

I’m not quite as much of a machine as I used to be or tried to be. I used to live as if every day was an unsolved puzzle of inefficiency that needed to be sorted out. Now I see my days as opportunities to spend time with people I love and, of course, to get things done. But the highest priority is to love and be loved.

I daydream more

A favorite phrase of mine is “wonder junkie,” and by that, I mean someone who is addicted to wonder and curiosity about the world. Whether I’m learning something new or simply daydreaming about a new idea, I’m more curious than ever about the “why” behind how things work or the “what” could be if someone looked at it from a different direction.

I grow in contentment

When I was always busy and working, I made a mental trade-off where I thought things would only slow down once I had done more. The only problem with that dream is that it never ends—you never feel like you’ve done enough. But now that I’ve gotten off that train and chosen to live with less, I feel more content with what I have because I know what I want, and it’s not more but just enough but not too much.

I work more slowly but with greater focus

Living with less has allowed me to stay focused on my work. I’m not constantly thinking about the next task from my to-do list or worrying about what I didn’t get done. As a result, I can now work on one thing at a time and really give it my all. It’s like I’ve been given a gift of renewed powers of concentration.

I listen more carefully

I didn’t realize how much I used to look at my phone while talking or listening to others. It’s not that I carried my phone everywhere, but I often brought it out in relaxed social settings. But now I’m much more conscious of having my phone out. I try to leave it in my pocket or even in another room so I can be fully present with whoever I’m with.