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Maya Angelou changed my life with one simple sentence, “We need much less than we think we need.” As soon as I heard it, in my heart, I knew she was right. I need less than I have, and I need less than I think. Think of these as midlife experiments, not minimalist rules. They’re not about being good, disciplined, or deprived. They’re small, practical ways to create space: in your home, your calendar, your mind. And space is where clarity lives. In midlife, that matters because we’re not here to collect more; we’re here to come back to ourselves.

But how could I go about learning this truth? How could I learn how little I need?

I was brought up with the mindset that the more stuff I owned, the happier I’d be. In 2019, I decided to go on a Minimalism journey, so I started decluttering every area of my life and believe it or not, to date, I have parted ways with 90% of my overall belongings. This is, of course, an ongoing journey.

Below I share some of the experiments I tried, which made me realise how little I needed to live well and a more meaningful life.

Project 333

This was the minimalist fashion experiment that changed forever the number of clothes that hang in my closet. More about Project 333 here.

Go TV-free

I don’t own a TV; my daughter has one in her room. I am more than happy with my Google Hub; it’s perfect for my needs.

Halve Your Decorations

For two months, try fewer decorations in your home. You can cut them in half, or one-third, whatever you choose. Choose the least meaningful decor in any room, remove it, and try out keeping only your favourites. See what you think.

I used to have a rather big collection of seasonal home decor, but now the only things I’ve kept are the cushion covers that I swap out every season, alongside a couple of seasonal pieces. Since moving into our small 1-bed apartment in Bedfordshire in November 2024, I tend to invest (IF NEEDED) in decor pieces I can use throughout the year and not just seasonally (apart from my pumpkins and Christmas decorations).

Try a No-Buy Challenge

For just one month, buy nothing but groceries and toiletries, basically the essentials. See if you find the experiment more difficult than you thought or easier than you thought; there are lessons to be learned either way.

Less Furniture

Choose one room in your home and temporarily remove 1-2 pieces of furniture. Move the items out of your way as best you can (if possible). As you do, how does it make you feel to have the extra space in that room? Furniture often takes up more space than we think.

Limit your Make-up Options

For one month, experiment with less makeup. This could mean wearing less makeup on your skin… or just limiting the makeup options in your drawer. Choose the colours you love the best, and see if there’s any benefit to your morning routine and/or how you feel all day long. This is what’s in my makeup bag:

• A foundation
• A concealer
• A cream blusher
• A cream bronzer
• A mascara
• A lip liner
• A lipstick
• An eyeliner

That’s it! That’s all I use and need.

Learn something new

I’ve invested a lot in myself over the last few years; an annual SkillShare membership (get one month free), a lifetime membership to One Commune, B-School by Marie Forleo, Project Next by Tony Robbins & Dean Graziosi, Beautiful You Life Coaching Course by the Beautiful You Coaching Academy and a few other classes/courses. If you are not in a position to invest in courses/memberships, Pinterest is just perfect! I use this platform daily to learn more about topics I am passionate about.

Limit your food storage containers

I bought a set of 7 Airtight Glass Food Storage Containers from Amazon back in 2019, and they’re still going strong.

One place setting per person

We keep one setting per person; this suits our lifestyle perfectly. We do have a couple of extra tableware items for when we have guests.

Hand-washing dishes

I’ve always preferred washing dishes by hand; I see this as an intentional closing of a meal in this way.

Kitchen Gadgets

The truth is that when it comes to cooking, simple is almost always better. We own a frying pan, a small saucepan with a lid, and a sauté pan with a lid. A 2-in-1 food processor and blender, a kettle and a milk frother jug, a microwave and an air fryer mini-oven – that’s it.

A Simplified Meal Plan

I started batch-cooking 3 to 4 dinners twice a week about a month ago, and it has been the best thing I’ve done for Khushi & me in a very long time. There’s no stress when it comes to what to cook every day, and with both of us being leading busy lives, knowing that there are healthy and nourishing meals already in the fridge waiting for us is simply pure bliss.

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If my words have helped you, a small contribution here will allow them to continue reaching the women who need them most. Also, don't forget to join me on Substack, where I share my Love Notes, a gentle pause in your week to reflect, realign, and reconnect in midlife. It’s not just another newsletter; it’s an intimate circle where I offer fresh intentions, soulful prompts, and simple but powerful shifts to inspire purposeful, creative living. Together, we’ll uncover the small but meaningful changes that help you design a life that feels beautifully your own.