Most places we look, our culture is promoting a model of “more.” Many of us live in a flourishing society, where financial growth, professional achievement, and material possessions are highly regarded—for obvious reasons.
We seek more spending to satisfy our constantly growing desire, more information so our minds are always stimulated, more novelty so we’re never bored, and more speed to maximize productivity and minimize downtime.
This year of limited spending felt so good. However, once college debt was paid off and we purchased our first home, I remember feeling the pull of wanting more–even if our annual incomes and new mortgage payments didn’t support that kind of spending.
When More Becomes Too Much
For the last month, I’ve been immersed in a wonderful book by Kim John Payne, called “Simplicity Parenting.” It’s taught me valuable ways to nourish children’s souls, simplify their home environment, and create healthy rhythms and schedules.I’ve taken countless notes and already thought about ways to implement Payne’s teaching in our parenting habits. I’ve also realized that what holds true for children can be true about our lives as adults as well.
Payne says, “Our world is characterized by the 4 pillars of too much.”
- Too much stuff
- Too many choices
- Too much information
- Too much speed
I believe that to avoid the modern-day trap of having too much, we need to learn how the power of less can truly simplify our physical and mental spaces. It’s also important to know our weaknesses when it comes to the four pillars.
For me, this is having far fewer clothing choices in my closet. It’s also leaving more margin in my monthly schedule to devote to homeschooling my daughter, writing for our blog, and spending quality time with my family. It can even mean choosing to shop at a grocery store where there are limited choices of each item, which allows me to make quicker decisions and limit my impulse buying.
I realize that having too much is a dilemma that people in some countries would find unfathomable. I don’t take this matter lightly. How privileged we are to have such needs met, comforts satisfied, and the ability to declutter an entire home and still have enough.
But when we can recognize the areas where we’ve gained “too much” and learn to simplify our habits, spending, and consumption, what we gain is not only more money in our pockets but also more freedom from the overwhelm of clutter and busyness.
How to Avoid Too Much Stuff
Apply the 48-hour rule. Being the gatekeeper of our home, I try to apply the “48-hour rule” as often as possible. Hold off on purchasing an item (unless it’s essential) for 48 hours to see if you still feel the same need to purchase it after that time is up. Chances are you’ll change your mind and decide you were able to manage just fine without it.Too Many Choices
Stick to a meal schedule. Thanks to Pinterest, we have more than enough options of what to make for dinner each night. But why do so many people (including myself) struggle to make dinner planning easier? There are too many choices, which actually overwhelms our decision-making process. Try making a list of your family’s favorite 8 or 10 meals. Stick to making only those meals for a season. It’s more decisive and less costly since you’ll use the same ingredients more often.Too Much Information
Fast from social media. During seasons that I need a break or feel more overwhelmed, one of the first things I do is take an intentional fast from social media. It’s refreshing not to feel pressured to keep up with others’ lives so that I can be more present with those around me during that time.Too Much Speed
Leave more margin. Are your evenings so full that it’s hard to find time for a family meal or an after-dinner walk? If possible, aim to leave a few evenings free from obligations and activities. Limit the number of extracurricular activities the kids are involved in. Make designated time to enjoy life’s free pleasures, like visiting friends and relaxing in nature.Having a lot of something isn’t always a bad thing, but when having too much becomes a source of stress, or we lose contentment for what we have, or it causes us to keep desiring more and more, then we will find more benefit in taking steps toward slowing down, reducing, and limiting what we have.