Fewer Things Better
Fewer Things Better
Ep. 169 - Summer Series: Too Much of a Good Thing: The Psychology of Stuff
In this episode, we’re digging into the connection between physical clutter and mental overload, and how over-choice can leave us feeling stuck and stressed. We explore how simplifying your space can help your brain breathe, and why sometimes letting go is the best way to feel more in control. We'll look at a few simple, doable ways to start decluttering—your space and your brain—so you can create more room to think, breathe, and just be.
Show Notes:
Episode 31-
Just recently I was packing up some Amazon returns to be sent back. Which, to be honest, is not exactly a rare event in my house. I love the convenience of being able to shop without stepping foot in a store — and yes, that includes the ability to change my mind later.
Recently, Amazon had its annual Prime Day–now this is a masterclass in consumer psychology. There are limited time deals, urgent countdowns, red numbers, and those glorious little percentages off — all designed to get you to act fast.
Now, I’ve worked in marketing and communications for years. I’ve studied behavioral psychology and neuroscience and even spent five years working at Amazon’s headquarters, so I know the friendly tricks to get our brains to act. And yet, I’m a very human human. Show me a 42% discount on something I didn’t even know I wanted? Suddenly, I want to spend $27 to save $11.32.
That’s not a character flaw (says science)— it’s chemistry.
When we see a perceived deal, our brain lights up like a slot machine. That’s dopamine — the neurotransmitter of motivation and reward — giving us a hit not for having the thing, but for the anticipation of getting it. Research even shows that dopamine is more active when we’re pursuing something than when we actually get it. So "Add to Cart" isn’t just a button. It’s a brain event.
But here’s the twist: while past Kristin was high-fiving herself for scoring a deal, current Kristin is now doing laps around the house, packing up returns.
The Bottom Line on Top of this episode is that we already have more than we need — we’re just not great at valuing all that we have.
Part of this is because we live in an accumulation nation. You know what I’m talking about: the junk drawer with 17 pens that kinda work. The pantry with three bottles of ketchup. The shelf of those wishful thinking clothes. Or that corner in that one closet where things from 20 years ago are still silently judging us.
This is more than just clutter. It’s cognitive drag.
Every item we own holds a decision: keep it, use it, fix it, store it, move it. And when those decisions stack up, they tax our brain’s executive functioning — the very system that governs attention, planning, and working memory. This is how small stuff adds up to mental overload.
It’s also part of why we open 27 tabs or buy another phone charger instead of looking for the one we think that we might have lost. We’re tired. And that tiredness? It’s our old pal decision fatigue — the declining ability to make quality decisions after a long session of decision-making. Sometimes I get there by lunch. It’s not weakness; it’s neuroscience - and it’s a regular reality.
So what can we do about this? One simple strategy is called One In, One Out.
I first mentioned this back in Episode 31 when talking about the case for space. It’s the idea that when you bring in something new — a new tech toy, a great pair of jeans, a kitchen gadget — you also take something out. Not eventually - immediately. And it doesn’t have to be a one for one swap, you can bring in something for the kitchen and take out something from another room.
New clothes? Great, let go of something you’ve stopped wearing. A fun, new coffee mug? Excellent, find one that doesn’t bring you joy (or has coffee stains) and donate it.
It’s a built-in accountability loop. And it helps rewire the brain from a mindset of more to a mindset of enough.
And here’s another little brain-friendly trick called This or That
Studies show that people are far more likely to make a decision when faced with two options, rather than a whole buffet of options. It’s tied to something called choice overload. Basically, the more options we have, the harder it is to choose. So when I’m standing in front of my closet, looking at a sea of black t-shirts (of which I somehow own a lot), I just pick two shirts and say “this one or this one.”
Keep one. Donate the other. And then repeat. If I want to keep both of those, I move onto the next ones and say what about these, what makes the cut?
Psychologically, we’re built to feel relief when a decision gets resolved, or when a space gets cleared (cognitive, physical, or electronic). “This or That” and “One In One Out,” helps us get there faster with less friction.
All this said, there is a case for the intentional extras. My partner has shown me the value of doubling down on the things that make life smoother.
Sometimes more is better — especially when it comes to easing future friction. Think of it like this: having tissues in every room. Extra toilet paper in every bathroom. A phone charger in every bag. Backup deodorant in your travel kit. These small, smart redundancies that reduce your daily mental load.
The difference here is intention. You're not buying to chase dopamine — you’re buying to reduce the low-grade stress of always being short on something you actually use.
There’s also something called the “sunset effect” in psychology — that’s a term used to describe how we start to overlook or underappreciate things we see all the time. So that favorite coffee mug or your comfortable hoodie? The stack of books you once read (or you plan to read)? Over time, they fade into the background. They become part of the mental wallpaper.
By introducing rituals like “One In, One Out or This & That”, we’re gently reminding the brain to notice what is already there — to shine a little spotlight on what we’ve got. And often, what we’ve got is already pretty great.
So whether it’s the online shopping cart, your pantry, or that drawer that quietly multiplies a bunch of things, let this be a nudge: more isn’t always better. But awareness? That’s always a win.
And hey — if you need a little motivation to do some editing of your space, I’ll be right there with you. Probably holding a return label.
Until next time, take time to take good care — and maybe take a few things out of your online cart while you’re at it.