Originally published in mindbodygreen
My family of three lived out of a single suitcase and two backpacks as we traveled around the world for seven months.
It turns out, some things you can completely go without, and some things you can MacGyver for yourself as needed with a garbage bag and some duct tape. We can not only make do with less, but it actually makes life more enjoyable. There’s less decision fatigue about what to wear, you don’t find yourself running around looking for something you know you put somewhere, and you feel free and nimble to roam the world.
When I returned home, I was tempted to resort to old habits (owning every gadget, ordering something I thought I “needed” on amazon at the drop of a hat), but instead I got rid of possessions and made do with less. It frees up your life. When we own less clutter, the energy flows more freely through our homes, we feel less tied down and overwhelmed, and we even get less distracted. It gives your mind and your home the space to be a canvas for insight and creativity.
We all need so much less than we think.
