Hello and welcome!
Big bump in readership over the past few weeks which is very exciting. My ambition with Fewer Better Things is to share stories and perspectives on how to reduce everything down to genius to increase quality of life, living, and environment.
This could be everything from house, car, travels, technology, relationships to work. Over the past 15+ years I’ve experimented with reduction in the spirit of choosing fewer and better things in life and it has been positively transformational.
The process of how
I’ve found that when I only choose the essentials I free up time, money, and attention for what really matters. But since meaning is subjective and idiosyncratic, I let you, dear reader, focus on the why and the what and I’ll focus on the process of how.
I recently reduced my humble abode, the surfshack I’ve been living in for the past few years, down to the level of what I’d like to describe as very close to genius. In the words of the French writer and poet Antoine de Saint-Exupery:
“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”
And that’s where I am today, with nothing more to take away and the feeling is sensational. Nothing is stored for the future, or kept from the past that is not frequently used. All the clutter is gone, left is the brilliantly useful.
There are several benefits. Frequently used things needs to be of good quality and longer lasting. And better stuff delivers higher and more joyful experiences. Plus when not needed they can have a second or a third life in the circular economy which is good for our environment.
Why less is more
This is how less is more, by freeing up time, money, and attention. Very important in a society that constantly is craving our time, money, and attention for its own benefit; preferable for free to monetize tirelessly with very little or no benefit to ourselves.
“Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is.” – Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea
Over the past week I’ve been planning summer travels and road trips. It’s two areas where I see people overpack a lot. For traveling I don’t bring anything that cannot fit into a 35 liter Patagonia backpack, enough to keep me on the road for years.
Getting ready for summer road trips
For road trips everything must fit into the designated compartments in my Mini Cooper S station wagon (also known as the Clubman) with nothing in the cockpit or backseat. The trick is to reduce everything down to essential everyday things.
Here are a few tips:
Put everything you think you need on your bed; avoid anything bulky.
Subtract everything that you don’t plan to use daily.
Exclude things that is trying to answer questions like: “But what will I wear if I get invited to a party at the principality of Monaco?” If that happens, just borrow.
Think through the most likely use cases, then reduce, reduce, reduce.
Pack everything in designated bags, nothing loose: camping equipment, activity stuff, tech devices, and everyday clothing. Staying organized is important.
I have the smallest station wagon in the world and I can easily fit bike, surf, work, and camping equipment for two adults in the Mini. This is thanks to owning fewer, better made, compact, and light-weight universal things and being really well-organized.
The majority of the stuff that I bring are also things that I use everyday when home by the beach. The exception is some of the camping equipment, like the ultra compact stove and sleeping bags. But bike, surfboard, clothing, and tech are all the same.
Multi-use stuff is better
I’ve learned that if I apply a holistic perspective on the six categories – house, car, travels, technology, relationships, and work – at least 80-90 percent of my things work in all use cases. This allows for fewer, better made, and lighter stuff.
Finally, only use soft bags to make packing car or traveling light-weight and easy. Hard bags and rollers are bulky, expensive, and only optimized for a fraction of the journey while soft bags are much more flexible, light, and adaptable.
Things you should check out
On More: In the book The Molecule of More, professor Daniel Z. Lieberman and physicist Michael E. Long explains what’s behind our desire for more.
Packing light: Here is my ultra-light summer packing list for short and long California road trips; all fitting into the designated compartments in the Mini.
Collapsable water bottle: HydraPak Flux is the daily water bottle to rule them all: at home, on the beach, on road trips, on travels, and at work. One thing is often enough.
About me
I’m a writer, advisor, and speaker on Sustainability Innovation and Green Minimalism. Previously I developed tech products in Silicon Valley and gave talks on Digital Transformation. Today I live a fulfilled and well-balanced life in Southern California.
Love this approach. I used to lay out everything I thought I needed for a backpacking trip and then cut that in half, wait a day or so and see if there was anything else I could remove. I also appreciate you sharing your packing list. How do you generally handle laundry on the road?