The Art of Enough: How to Stop Chasing More and Enjoy What You Have

I used to be a More Person: more stuff, more projects, bigger goals. I collected more gadgets that promised to simplify my life but mostly just filled my kitchen cabinets and closets. If there was an upgrade to be had, I wanted it. I wasn’t greedy (at least not in the Scrooge McDuck sense), but I was perpetually convinced that just a little bit more, a bit better, would finally unlock my productivity, or that elusive sense of arrival.

Then we got ready to move to the woods.

Turns out, packing your stuff for storage in between homes, and preparing to move to a fresh, new home gives you a new perspective. Having all that stuff hits differently, especially when those boxes are filled with random stuff from your last home and your old cottage as well as future craft projects that you swear you’re going to get to (but you know you won’t).

The More Trap

We live in a world where More is marketed as the solution to everything. Tired? Buy supplements. Bored? Try a new hobby. Feeling a little aimless? Here, take up meditation and sourdough baking and learn Italian simultaneously while training for a marathon. More goals, more stuff, more hustle is supposed to equal happiness/fulfillment/joy.

I’ve recently discovered that More rarely satisfies. Because every More has a next level. The minute you get there, the bar shifts. You buy the house, then you want all new stuff to fill it. You hit the goal, then set a new one. You lose five pounds, then think maybe ten more would really make the difference.

The problem isn’t wanting better; it’s believing better is somewhere other than where you are. You can be perfectly content where you are and still want to improve – I guarantee though that More isn’t going to get you there on its own.

What Is Enough?

Enough is that sweet spot where you have what you need, you’re content with what you have, and you have things you want to accomplish that don’t make you feel like you’re chasing something perpetually out of reach. It’s not about settling or giving up on growth. It’s about finding contentment inside the life you’re living right now.

For me, Enough looks like:

• A kitchen with tools I actually use (no more spiralizers lurking in the back cupboard).
• A daily routine that includes work, movement, quiet time and a tidy kitchen at the end of the day, without being crammed edge to edge.
• A closet that isn’t crammed so full that my sweaters spill out every time I open the doors.
• Dreams and goals that inspire and challenge without overwhelming me.

When I Knew Enough Was Enough

I don’t know about you but I’ve had a few DEFINING moments in my life. These aren’t the “got my first job” or “got married” kind of defining moments but moments when you just know that this changes everything. I call this OHHHHHwareness – like awareness but stops you dead in your tracks and you go “OHHHHHHH … got it.” 

I knew enough was enough the moment I closed the trunk of my jam-packed car with my second (and probably not last) load of donations before our house got listed. I realized that the car was packed with craft projects I’ll never do, or do again. There was a bin full of craft paint, another full of beads I’d grown tired of, some yarn I didn’t like the feel of, artificial flowers, fabric, as well as decor items that worked at our rustic cottage but not in our home etc. etc. etc. I mean, who the heck needs a Big Mouth Billy Bass that we got at a yard sale because those people didn’t even want it?! 

I was suddenly done with buying or keeping for future maybe’s. I realized that the psychological cost of keeping all this stuff far outweighed the monetary cost of buying it again if I ever wanted to. Let’s face it, that craft paint would probably dry up before any possible future grandchild would get their hands on it anyway.

Does this OHHHwareness stop me from impulse shopping or getting stuff I don’t really need? Sadly, not quite yet. I am more aware of what I’m doing and more often than not, I refrain – or at least delay – the purchase. And sometimes I find myself needing a thing just two weeks after donating it. ARGH! Sometimes I shake my head as I purchase another and sometimes I make do without. And I still – often – find myself surfing Amazon or Facebook Marketplace – for what I don’t know. I can definitely say though that I’m more content with Enough than I was with all the stuff in those boxes and bins. 

How to Find Your Own Enough

I’m not an expert at Enough yet but I’ve learned some things that might be helpful if you’re looking to simplify/enough your life: 

1. Start by Noticing Too Much

What feels heavy in your life right now? Where are you chasing or consuming out of habit rather than genuine desire?

Is it your schedule? Your social media feeds? Your closet? Your garage? (If your answer is “my entire life,” take a deep breath. You’re not alone.)

For me, the lightbulb moment was realizing that I was donating stuff I just bought a couple months ago. Plus, I noticed I was spending my precious weekends dusting or organizing stuff I didn’t really care about – now that’s a special kind of madness.

2. Define What Matters

Once you spot your Too Much zones, get clear on what actually matters to you. Not what Instagram says should matter. Not what your sister or neighbour says should matter. What matters to you.

Do you value free time? Simplicity? Creativity? Comfort? Make your Enough serve those things.

3. Learn to Sit With Discomfort

Here’s the un-fun part: Enough sometimes feels weird. You might feel guilty for not striving harder. You might feel anxious when you leave a store empty-handed. You might wonder if you’re lazy or missing out. Sit with that. Let it pass. Remember: growth isn’t always about adding more. Sometimes, it’s about creating space for what matters to grow naturally.

Me? I’ve spent a lot of brain power wondering why I don’t feel like the sell-out I think I should feel like because I’m not striving and consuming like others do. I just can’t get there. Now I have to figure out how to be okay with that. Did that make any sense at all?! 

4. Romanticize Ordinary Moments

One of the simplest ways to feel like you have Enough? Notice and enjoy what you already have. Morning coffee on the porch isn’t just caffeine consumption; it’s a ritual. Folding laundry isn’t a chore; it’s a moment to appreciate soft towels and clothes that fit your life. 

I’m not saying every task is a joy. I’ve yet to feel content or fulfilled while scrubbing the toilet. But finding small pleasures in everyday routines reminds you that life isn’t waiting on a future purchase or achievement. It’s happening now.

5. Create Gentle Boundaries

Enough needs protection. That might look like:

• Saying no to extra commitments.
• Limiting social media that fuels comparison.
• Shopping from a list, not from boredom.
• Creating a work schedule that leaves room to breathe
• Letting impulse things sit in your online shopping cart for a few days before deciding to purchase or not.

Boundaries don’t make you selfish. They make your Enough possible.

My Life After More

Since moving to the woods, I’ve slowed down in ways I never expected. My goals have shifted from big career aspirations to smaller, soul-filling pursuits: writing, gardening, walks in the forest. I still dream. I still grow. But I’m not chasing more for the sake of more.

Do I still buy things I don’t need? More “occasionally” than I’d like to admit. But now, when I feel the itch to upgrade or add, I pause and ask:

Will this truly improve my life, or am I chasing the illusion that more is better?

Sometimes, Enough is the upgrade I needed all along.

How about you? What does Enough look like in your life? Drop a comment below and share your thoughts. I’d love to hear what you’re learning as you step away from More.

P.S. This article does not apply to books. You can NEVER have enough books! Most of mine are on my Kindle reader now though. 

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