I’m a naturally clean person. I don’t remember my parents telling me to clean my room once when I was growing up. I don’t know where I got this from, but if I try to reach back in my mind, all I remember is my father saying, “A messy work space reflects a messy mind.”
And to some degree, I believe that’s true.
I try living with less because I do believe there’s an emotional and spiritual benefit in doing so. Jesus didn’t hang on to possessions because He understood a deeper reality with having them, not because He couldn’t afford them.
For years I tried deciphering what Jesus knew about possessions that I didn’t. In zooming in on this matter, I began to notice the benefits of a clean life. They’re not just spiritual benefits—they improve our whole life.
So I thought I would share some of my findings with you. These discoveries are much of the reason why I try to declutter my life often. I live with a clean work space, a simplified desktop, and an organized paperwork system, all because I believe it affects the entirety of my life.
Here are my findings:
1. Living with less allows you to care more for other things
The trouble with today is not that we care less, but that we care too much about little things.
For instance, do you get upset when you break one of your possessions? Do you get mad or shed tears when your stuff gets lost? In today’s world of excess, it’s only natural to get upset like this. Now days, we need many things to function in society. But the less you carry, the less things your emotions and personal wellbeing are tied to.
I’m not saying live with nothing. I’m just saying to live with less so the more important things of life can shine through more clearly.
2. Living with less creates efficiency
The only reason I care for efficiency in my life is so I can devote ample time to the things that make life meaningful. I don’t want to waste time doing work I don’t care about. I want to devote my time to family, friends, and making memories.
With less stuff, I find that I improve my overall efficiency so that I can allow more margins in my life. I cut down on time spent shuffling through papers and add to time with family.
3. Living with less allows you to move freely
The more stuff you have, the harder it is to travel, the harder it is to pursue your dreams, and the harder it is to move at the speed you desire. I spent two summers living out of a suitcase, and during that time, I was thankful I could pack up and travel so easily. I’m repeating this theme, but with less stuff, I could allow more time and energy elsewhere.
4. Living with less gives you better rest
Do you ever stress out unnecessarily because your stuff is lying everywhere? I used to, and I never liked it. Whenever I sat down to rest, the sight of my stuff everywhere would annoy me. So then, I would spend my relaxation time cleaning my mess.
The more mess you make, the more time you have to spend cleaning it up—even if this means cutting into your relaxation time.
5. Living with less allows you to be rich elsewhere
When I did live with less stuff, there was surprisingly less stuff I could do to entertain myself. I didn’t like being alone with nothing to do. So instead, I looked for people to hang out with. As a result, my relationships improved as I reached out more.
The truth is, when you have stuff, you can easily occupy—and even isolate—your self in your things. But without so much stuff, you can grow in your relationships.
An example of this is when I moved into my house at college with just two boxes. I had nothing. So I called over the girl next door to hang. And now, she’s my wife. Imagine if I wimped out on asking her to hang and just resorted to entertaining myself with my stuff!
Jesus lived with less stuff because He knew what it meant to care for the truly important matters of life. If you want to create more margin in your life to do the same, I suggest you start with decluttering your space.
Photography by Mikaela Hamilton