Less Really Is More

Something shifted for me this year.

Not in a dramatic, life-changing kind of way. More quietly. But strongly enough that I can feel it affecting almost every area of my life.

Lately, I’ve had this recurring urge to get rid of almost everything I own, move somewhere remote in the forest, and live a much simpler life without clutter, constant notifications, or technology everywhere around me.

Realistically, I know that’s not feasible for me. I’m a mother, I work online, and modern life doesn’t exactly make disappearing into the woods very practical.

But I think that urge is trying to tell me something important.

I want less in many areas of my life. Less noise, less stress, less pressure, less clutter, less technology, and less constant input.

The more I pay attention to this feeling, the more I realise how overloaded many of us have quietly become.

We Are Constantly “On”

Most of us wake up and immediately reach for our phones.

Before we’ve even properly opened our eyes, we’ve already consumed messages, emails, notifications, news, social media posts, ads, opinions, and expectations from other people.

We are constantly being told how to improve ourselves, how to maximise productivity, how to optimise our lives, how to parent, how to build a business, and how to “reach our potential.”

At the same time, many of us are expected to be reachable almost all the time.

I don’t think humans were designed for this level of constant stimulation.

A Small Change That Changed My Mornings

A few days ago, I made a very simple decision.

Once I put my toddler son to sleep in the evening, I put my phone away and stop looking at it completely. And in the morning, I don’t check it again for at least the first hour after waking up.

This may sound like a very small change, but for me it has made a surprisingly big difference.

I used to wake up and instantly grab my phone. Within minutes, my brain was already flooded with messages, work thoughts, responsibilities, news, and stress.

Now, my mornings feel calmer.

I wake up, go downstairs with my son, feed the animals, make my matcha, and simply spend time with him without immediately entering the digital world.

The anxiety I used to feel first thing in the morning has reduced significantly.

Nothing about my external life changed dramatically. But internally, it feels completely different.

It reminded me that peace often comes from removing things rather than constantly adding more.

Even Work Started Feeling Too Fragmented

Another thing I’ve been feeling lately is the urge to simplify my work life.

I currently freelance with five regular clients. For a long time, I genuinely enjoyed the variety. I liked wearing different hats and doing different types of work.

And honestly, I still do to some extent.

But recently, it started draining me in a way it didn’t before.

The issue is not primarily time management. It’s the constant mental switching between completely different tasks, systems, expectations, and roles throughout the day.

At some point, even variety can become noise.

I realised that what I want now is not necessarily more opportunities, but more spaciousness. Fewer things competing for my attention. More depth, more presence, and more calm.

The Hidden Weight of Owning More

I’ve also noticed this shift when it comes to possessions.

The older I get, the more I realise that owning more things often creates more stress rather than more happiness.

Because every item we own requires something from us.

It needs to be cleaned, maintained, organised, charged, fixed, stored, moved, or thought about.

None of these things seem significant individually, but together they create mental load.

I’ve started noticing how much lighter I feel after decluttering. Not because I suddenly became a minimalist, but because fewer things simply means fewer things pulling at your attention.

Less to manage. Less to think about. Less visual noise.

There’s something deeply calming about simplicity.

Maybe “Less” Is Not Lack

For a long time, many of us were taught that “more” equals success.

More money. More productivity. More experiences. More growth. More possessions. More achievements.

But lately I’ve been wondering whether a meaningful life might actually feel a lot quieter than what we’ve been taught.

Maybe peace is found in having enough rather than constantly chasing more.

Maybe protecting your energy is more important than maximising your output.

Maybe slowing down is not laziness.

Maybe simplicity is not failure.

And maybe creating more space in your life - mentally, digitally, emotionally, and physically - is one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself.

If you’re currently in a season where life feels noisy, overwhelming, or mentally cluttered, I hope this reminds you that you don’t always need to add more solutions.

Sometimes, removing a few things changes everything.

If you’re navigating a life transition and want support creating more calm, clarity, and stability in your life, you can learn more about my coaching here:

leandraeva.com/coaching