Simplicity Is Freedom: Lessons From Carrying My Life on My Back
As much as I love the idea of minimalism, I own way too many items to ever be considered a minimalist.
The day before my husband and I left for our one-year honeymoon adventure, I spent two hours packing the 15 kilograms of belongings that would sustain me for the next year of travel. Walking through the airport, I already felt the weight of my choices—literally. My overstuffed backpack dragged me down, no doubt due to the 14 books I’d insisted on cramming in. I was struggling, and we hadn’t even left the country yet.
Travel has a unique way of reshaping our perspective on life. For me, it’s been a mirror reflecting my privilege and a lesson in how much can be accomplished with far less.
As Leonardo da Vinci said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Stripping away the unnecessary allows you to create space for what truly matters. Travel has been my greatest teacher in this, and I hope my journey inspires you to embrace your own version of a simpler, richer life.
Here are the key lessons travel has taught me about living simply:
Me and the crew: Ruta de las Flores, El Salvador, 2018
1. Excess Will Only Weigh You Down
When you have to carry every item you own on your back everywhere you go, you quickly realize that every unnecessary item is a massive burden. The weight of many belongings literally slow us down, both physically and mentally. Every step feels heavier.
Similarly, in life, our excess possessions act like anchors, consuming our time, money, and energy to maintain.
Living with less, whether on the road or at home, creates space for what truly matters: experiences, relationships, and personal growth. By lightening your load, you open up your life.
2. Looks Don’t Matter
Think for a moment: What did your colleagues wear to work yesterday? Can you recall your friends’ outfits the last time you met? Probably not. The world cares way less than you think about what you’re wearing and how you look.
Travel drives this point home. On the road, no one cares if I wear the same outfit three days in a row. Matching clothes, the latest trends, and accessorizing—all of it fades away. And what a relief that is!
I love how backpacking strips away societal pressures to look a certain way, teaching you that appearances matter far less than we’re led to believe. What matters more is the confidence and kindness you carry with you, not the clothes.
At home, this lesson translates to simplifying your wardrobe. Most of us regularly wear only a fraction of our clothes anyway. Letting go of excess means fewer decisions and less clutter. We’re left with more time and energy for meaningful pursuits.
Big smiles from a simple life: The kitchen of a Nepali home, 2013
3. Simplicity Amplifies Gratitude
Traveling teaches you to appreciate the small joys in life that often go unnoticed in our fast paced, cluttered lives. A simple meal after a long day of hiking, a colorful flower along the roadside, or a heartfelt conversation with a stranger—these moments remind us that happiness isn’t tied to material possessions.
Backpacking, in particular, highlights how little you actually need to feel content. When your “necessities” fit into a single bag, you become acutely aware of what’s truly essential and begin to find joy in life’s simplest pleasures. True happiness can be found in the most ordinary of moments.
4. True Wealth Lies in Experiences, Not Possessions
In a culture obsessed with owning more, travel reveals a liberating truth: the richest lives are built on experiences, not things. Material possessions can be lost, broken, or fade into obscurity, but the memories you create—the breathtaking views, the challenges overcome, the friendships forged—stay with you forever.
For my husband and me, this means investing in travel and adventures rather than random gifts (out of a sense of duty) for Christmas or birthdays. We’ve found far more fulfillment in shared experiences than in any material purchase.
Enjoying the beautiful simplicity of van life, Basque Country, 2025
5. Home Is Where You Make It
When you embrace simplicity, home becomes less about a physical place and more about a feeling, or the people who make you feel at home.
Throughout my travels, I’ve lived in countless temporary spaces, from hostels to homestays. Yet, I’ve always managed to create a sense of home. Sometimes I feel like a turtle, my little backpack is the shell I call home. It carries just a few essentials—clothes, toiletries, a journal, some books, and my laptop. With that, I can create comfort anywhere.
This mindset has helped me feel grounded no matter where I am, proving that a minimalist lifestyle fosters adaptability and peace.
6. Simplicity Is a Lifelong Practice
Everytime I pack for a long trip, I am daunted. How the hell can I fit everything I want and need in one small backpack?
Yet, within weeks, I realize I packed too much. Everytime.
And when I return home to my house full of things, I’m always shocked by the amount of stuff I have. Stuff I didn’t miss.
Of course, the temptation to accumulate creeps back over time. By the next trip, I find myself spiraling again, wondering how I can live without all my stuff. I always have to remind myself; simplifying doesn’t mean you have to give up everything; it’s about focusing on what truly adds value to your life.
Letting go takes practice. Start small: donate a few items you no longer use. Having trouble imagining what to get rid of? Joshua Becker, in his book, “The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own,” recommends an exercise: if you’re hesitant to part with items, store them out of sight. Over time, notice if you truly miss them. If not, you can let them go without regret.
Mat and I, road trip ready, Oaxaca, Mexico, 2023
7. Having Fewer Things Provides More Freedom
Have you moved house before? It can be a nightmare, right? Sorting through the closets, drawers and piles of things you accumulated, realizing how much stuff you don’t need, trying to decide what to do with it. Yup, it’s a headache.
Owning less means fewer headaches. On the road, I can pack my life in under an hour. I roll up my clothes (key tip for minimizing space in a backpack), grab my toiletries, and I’m ready to move. It’s freedom in its purest form.
Conclusion
Living simply isn’t about deprivation; it’s about liberation. It’s about freeing yourself from the weight of excess to make room for the experiences, people, and passions that bring true joy.
Whether you’re traveling the world or staying in one place, these lessons from the road can guide you toward a life of greater fulfillment and ease.
So, start small. Let go of a few things today and see how it feels. You might just discover that less truly is more.
