I Just Figured This Out and it Blew My Mind
I Just Figured This Out and it Blew My Mind
I just figured something out that kind of blew my mind and honestly? I wish someone had pulled me aside years ago, leaned in real close, and whispered it like it was a life hack they didn’t want anyone else to know:
Having less stuff makes me way, way happier.
Not like “mildly more content” or “a little less chaotic.” I mean like genuinely calmer, mentally clearer, and finally not drowning in clutter-induced stress. I’m more focused. I’m sleeping better. I’m not constantly searching for that thing I swear I just saw somewhere. And this one really shocked me actually have time to do stuff I enjoy. Stuff I used to say I didn’t have time for.
And yeah, wild, right? Because I spent years chasing the opposite.
The More = Happy Myth
I mean, more was the goal, wasn’t it? That’s what we were all told.
Bigger house? Clearly you’re winning at life.
Fancier car? Ooh, look at you go.
Newest iPhone, on-trend wardrobe, an Instagram-ready kitchen with exactly the right countertop fruit bowl? Yeah, you’re crushing it.
I was working hard, earning more, and… spending all of it on stuff. Cute stuff, useful-ish stuff, “this’ll make my life easier” stuff, “I deserve this” stuff, and let’s be honest a lot of “I saw this on TikTok at 1 a.m. and thought it would change my life” stuff. Yeah, it didn’t.
Instead, I ended up overwhelmed. Physically buried in clutter. Mentally exhausted. Emotionally drained. And financially… let’s not even talk about it.
Success or Just… More Stuff?
Somewhere along the way, the definition of success got hijacked.
It stopped being about peace, presence, or fulfillment. Suddenly, it was all about how much you had. Watches. Gadgets. The amount of shoes. The size of your TV.
And honestly, I was right there in the middle of it feeling weirdly empty, even though I technically “had it all.”
So I started asking myself the tough stuff:
What does success even mean to me?
If I didn’t post about it, would I still care about having it?
Would this even make me happy if no one else saw it?
And… oof. The answers were uncomfortable.
Because, truth bomb? I realized I was spending most of my time trying to look like I had a life I wasn’t actually enjoying.
It All Started With One Drawer
It started with that drawer. You know the one. Everyone’s got one. Crammed with expired coupons, half-dead batteries, tangled cords from 2013, and exactly 11 pens that don’t work but you keep for some reason.
I emptied it out. Tossed half of it. Didn’t miss a thing.
Then I tackled a shelf. Then a closet.
And with every weird kitchen gadget or impulse buy I let go of, I felt a little lighter. Like, actually lighter. Like, “I can breathe again” kind of light.
The Big Mood Shift
But the real magic? It wasn’t even in the cleared-out spaces, it was in my mind.
I wasn’t constantly thinking about what I needed to clean, organize, move around, fix, or replace. My brain wasn’t on high alert 24/7 anymore. I could sit down and actually relax, not stare at piles of stuff silently judging me.
My weekends stopped being “clean the garage and figure out where to put that random lamp I don’t like but feel guilty getting rid of.” They became slower. Simpler. Enjoyable.
I was reading again. Taking walks. Cooking real food. Having conversations that weren’t interrupted by “hang on, I just need to move this pile.”
Minimalism… But Make It Fun
Now listen — I know the word “minimalism” gets a bad rap.
People hear it and immediately picture an empty room with white walls, one chair, and a bowl of sad fruit.
But this isn’t about depriving yourself. It’s not about giving up joy or living in some weird aesthetic prison where fun goes to die.
It’s about freedom.
It’s about being intentional. Choosing what you let into your life instead of just defaulting to “buy more.”
It’s about figuring out what actually matters to you and not what society says you should want, or what your neighbor has, or what someone on Instagram is unboxing this week.
I still like nice things. I still love a good pair of shoes. I just don’t buy five backups in three colors “just in case” anymore. And when I do buy something? I really appreciate it.
Joy in the Weirdest Places
Once I stopped chasing more, I started noticing joy in places I hadn’t looked before:
A clean countertop.
Wearing the same outfit three times in a week and not caring.
Finding something I forgot I owned and actually loving it again.
A weekend where I didn’t spend a single second in a checkout line.
You start to realize: it’s not the stuff. It never was. It’s the space to enjoy your life.
You Don’t Have to Go Full Minimalist
Here’s the thing: you don’t need to sell all your stuff and move to a tiny cabin in the woods (unless, of course, that sounds like your dream life).
You can start super small.
Pick one drawer.
Choose one shelf.
Ask yourself one question: Do I actually want this… or do I just feel like I’m supposed to?
No pressure. No guilt.
This isn’t a religion. It’s just an experiment.
And the best part? There’s no failure. If you get rid of one thing and feel better — that’s a win.
It’s Not You, It’s the Pressure
Maybe you’re just overloaded with stuff, noise, and pressure to keep up.
Maybe you don’t need a better planner or another productivity hack.
Maybe you just need less.
Less clutter. Less mental chaos. Less guilt about not doing it all perfectly.
Because what you get in return? Is more.
More peace. More time. More freedom. More moments that actually feel like you.
Final Thought (No Sales Pitch, Promise)
Let’s be real: I’m not selling you a decluttering course or a trendy storage system.
I just wanted to share something that totally changed my life, and might help you too.
If you’re overwhelmed, burnt out, or constantly wondering why “success” feels so dang exhausting… maybe the answer isn’t “do more.” Maybe it’s “let go of what doesn’t matter.”
You might be surprised what else opens up.
Because the truth is, I didn’t just declutter my home , I decluttered my life.
And now? I’m living lighter. Laughing more. And finally feeling like I’m not just surviving the day, I’m actually living it.
And that? That’s worth way more than a fancy coffee table or the latest phone.
How does minimalism relate to website management, graphic design and SEO?
Minimalism sneaks into website management, graphic design, and SEO like that one friend who “just came to help clean” and suddenly your entire pantry is organized and you can actually see the back wall.
Here’s how it plays out:
Website Management:
Minimalism walks in, looks at your cluttered navigation menu, and quietly removes 14 unnecessary pages, 6 pop-ups, and that widget you forgot existed. Suddenly the site loads faster, users stop getting lost, and you stop shouting “WHY IS THIS BUTTON FLOATING IN THE WRONG PLACE?!”
Graphic Design:
This is where minimalism shines. It taps you on the shoulder and whispers, “Maybe… just maybe… you don’t need six fonts and three competing color schemes.” It swaps chaos for clean lines, breathing room, and designs that make people say, “Wow, this looks so professional,” instead of, “Did someone lose a fight with Canva?”
SEO:
Believe it or not, minimalism helps here too. Google likes pages that load quickly, make sense, and don’t feel like a garage sale. Strip out the junk, tighten up content, declutter your structure, and boom — Google is suddenly way more into your website. It’s the digital equivalent of putting out fresh towels and nice soap for a guest.
So in short:
Minimalism shows up, takes away all your messy digital habits, and leaves you with a website that looks good, works fast, and behaves like an adult.
Send us an email at aloha@ekahidesign.com