We’re a society that’s always wanting more.

Which leads to doing more.

More work, more activities, more responsibilities, more stuff.

All of the “more” can make us constantly feel busy and productive and “on” and yet… disconnected and unfulfilled.

Enter essentialism.

About five years ago I was feeling the strain of doing more so I could have more. I had a big job, a big house and yet a longing for something more…meaningful.

When I picked up the life-changing book Essentialism, by Greg McKeown, it changed the way I look at things.

McKeown defines essentialism as the art of discerning between external noise and internal voice. “Our whole society has become consumed by the undisciplined pursuit of more,” he explains. “The only way to overcome this problem is to change the way we think—adopt the mindset of only doing the things that are essential—and do it now.”

Wow, permission to focus on only those things that are essential to our wellbeing and our highest dreams.

Yes. Yes, I’m definitely on board with that.

As I “essentialized” my life and my schedule, this new mindset began spilling over into my life at home as well. I've always been organized, but I still had a lot of stuff for a single person in a home that was too big for me.

On the other hand, I'm not a minimalist - I like the comforts of rugs, pillows, books and plants too much to join the true minimalist camp. I admire the principles of minimalism - to own less in order to gain the freedom to do more of the important things in life - but I think sometimes it can become an obsession in and of itself. Yet another thing to DO.

So instead, I’ve adopted essentialism at home.