Can having material things really make your life happier or more enriched? Do all your “things” give your life more meaning? No, not really.

Materialism may reassure you by allowing you to think about your good job and salary, wonderful home, and the other things that make you feel “successful.” You’re not able to change, and everything seems to be done by habit. The only skills you develop will be to reinforce the way things are, the life that makes you feel safe.

Change requires you to muster courage and trust that you don’t need all those “things” that everyone seems to want. You can be comfortable without some of those things and get the feeling that your life is more on track.

How to Teach Yourself that Less is More

1. Spend less money.

Look over your budget and make cuts where you can. If it’s something you may like but don’t need, let it go. Spending responsibly will also mean less clutter.

2. Less materialism means more time for what matters to you.

When you have fewer belongings, you’ll focus naturally on experiences, rather than “stuff.” Enjoy activities that have real meaning for you.

3. After you let go of extra things, reorganize your home and your life.

Purging drawers and closets means you have a chance to reorganize your space. This is great for your mental health, too. Start one room at a time so you don’t become overwhelmed with the reorganization.

4. Live free from consumerism’s “buy me” attitudes.

You won’t have to worry about keeping up with all the latest trends anymore, after you let go of materialism. This allows you to prioritize what really has value to you, and you won’t ever want to go back to the way you spent money before.

How can lightening your load make your life easier?

1. You will find more time for what matters.

Letting go of things you don’t need or have feelings for will give you more free time. Enjoy those things that mean the most to you, like:

· Spending time with family and friends

· Going to the gym

· Paddle-boarding

· Running on the beach or local paths

2. You’ll reduce your debt.

Even if you have a comfortable salary, you could still have been plagued by debt before you lightened your load. When you’re not concentrating on buying the newest things that everyone is spending money on, you’ll be less tempted by those things. You can be satisfied with what you have and forget about keeping up with the Joneses.

3. You’ll learn more things about yourself and your family.

Letting go of materialism strips away things that are not necessary. You can then focus on learning more, both about your family and yourself. Without clutter in your home, and having too many unneeded possessions, you will discover feelings, thoughts, talents, and skills that you never knew you had. You’ll have a stronger sense of meaning and purpose to life that was missing before.

4. You’ll get more restful sleep.

You’ve probably spent nights lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, and trying not to look at your cluttered closet. When you let go of unneeded material items, you’ll be at lower risk for sleeping problems like sleep disturbances and troubles falling asleep, since your bedroom will be less cluttered.

5. You’ll reduce your stress level.

Living a life with a lightened load reduces the stress you feel in life. Your possessions won’t get in the way, like they may have in the past. You won’t be worried about having the car, house or belongings that were needed, in your mind, to impress people. You’ll no longer stress about wanting more things and instead feel gratitude for the things you have, because they mean more to you.

Letting materialism go doesn’t mean you have to scrimp and get by with as few things as possible. Rather, it means deciding what is needed to make your life more joyful and fulfilling. By lightening your load, you can have more time, less stress, and be free from being chained to consumerism.