When Owning Less Still Feels Like Too Much

Read time: 3.5 minutes

Have you ever found yourself looking around your home and thinking, “We have everything we need, so why does it still feel like too much?”

It’s a common dilemma that many people experience — in fact, this topic has come up in conversations between Alexius and I recently, and it got me thinking, and that’s when I knew I had to talk about this.

So today, I want to dive into why this happens and what we can do about it.

We’ll look at this situation from two perspectives and break down the steps you can take for each while still working toward the big picture (and honoring your goals).

Understanding the Feeling of “Too Much”

Before we can find a solution, we must understand where this feeling is coming from. What is the root cause?

Generally, it boils down to two main reasons:

1. Overwhelming Visual Clutter
2. Misjudging Usefulness and Necessity

Let’s unpack these.

Overwhelming Visual Clutter

If you feel like you still have too much stuff despite having only the items you need, it might be because your home feels visually cluttered.

This can create a sense of chaos and overwhelm every time you look around or make a mess from everyday living.

Now, our initial gut reaction in moments like this is to hope and wish for more space — an extra closet or a few more drawers that we can stuff things into.

Wouldn’t that be nice?

While thoughts like this may temporarily pacify our clutter frustrations, the daily reality would be very different.

When we open that extra closet or drawer, we’ll likely still feel chaotic and overwhelmed, so more space is not the best solution.

Instead, here’s what you can do: 

• Improve Storage Solutions: Rethink how you currently use your space and look into better or more creative storage solutions. This is not an invitation to buy cheap, clear, stackable storage bins (especially if you don’t need them).

  We must remain aware so we don’t “organize” things we will never use. Improving storage could mean using spaces in your home in non-traditional ways or investing in furniture with built-in storage.

• Create Cohesiveness: Aim for a cohesive look in your home. This doesn’t mean everything has to match, but finding a unifying theme that aligns with your style makes a huge difference. When your space feels harmonious, it can reduce the visual noise that contributes to feeling overwhelmed (and cluttered).

• Clear Surfaces: Keep surfaces like countertops, tables, and dressers as clear as possible. Now, you still have to live in and enjoy your space, so don’t go to the extreme and aim for emptiness.

  Even if you’re not ready to declutter everything, having clean surfaces can significantly reduce the feeling of clutter. The #1 thing you can do to kick-start this change is remove the dumping ground.
  
  

Misjudging Usefulness and Necessity

Alternatively, you might feel like there’s still too much stuff because you’re not using items as often as you think. This means it’s time to reassess what you and your family truly need.

Here’s what you can do:

• Reevaluate Necessity: Pay attention to what you and your family use daily or weekly. Sometimes, we think we need something because it’s useful, but we rarely use it.

  Just because something is useful doesn’t mean you need it in this current season of your life. Things change over time, and if you’re not regularly reevaluating, you’ll quickly find your space filled with useful things that you’re not using. A great place to start is asking yourself, what are my core values, and what kind of life am I striving to create?

• Adjust Your Decluttering Criteria: How are you currently deciding what to keep vs. what to let go? Without a solid framework, it is easy to start justifying items you use occasionally as something you must hold onto “just in case.”

  So consider whether your decluttering filter is doing the job as well as you expect it to. If not, try a different approach.

• Family Involvement: If you share your space with someone (roommates or in-laws included), get them involved in the process. Discuss what’s important to each person and work together to create a space that everyone loves and feels comfortable in.

  Keep in mind that open communication fosters accountability. So, if the entire household agrees to live without something, that support will help ease the adjustment (because everyone is going through it).

Remember, this journey is about creating an environment that supports your core values and brings you peace. If at any moment you feel like you still have too much, explore why. Get to the root of it. Discover what’s changed, and then decide which adjustments you need to make.

Keep pushing through it, my friend; you’re not on this journey alone!