“Where’s all your stuff?”

That’s often the first question my fiancée and I get asked when visitors enter our Vermont home.

The second thing they say? Some version of, “It feels so calm in here.”

Backstory: We moved here in 2020 during the pandemic (from NYC). It was an incredible opportunity to declutter and intentionally design our space. Now we can’t imagine living any other way.

Here’s what we learned: Minimalism isn’t about having nothing. It’s about having only what matters.

SUPERHUMAN SCORING

In every edition of System Sunday, I assess the featured system across four superhuman dimensions: impact, setup, maintenance, and aesthetics.

Unlike your typical product review, I focus on factors that influence personal growth. Get to know the evaluation system.

Impact (10.0/10)

Minimalism is the disciplined pursuit of less. And it works for three powerful reasons:

• An uncluttered space cultivates an uncluttered mind.
• Less stuff helps you escape the hedonic treadmill—the endless chase for more without any real rise in happiness.
• Fewer possessions mean more freedom. When you own less, less owns you.

If that sounds appealing, the next question is: How do you actually get there?

Setup (7.0/10)

Getting started means making some tough calls about what stays and what goes.

Three questions make it easier:

1. The Joy Test

Marie Kondo was onto something: “Does this spark joy?”

If not, let it go. The inevitable result? An environment that makes you happy.

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2. The Endowment Check

We naturally overvalue our possessions (behavioral economists call this the endowment effect). 

Counter it by asking: “If I didn’t own this item, how much would I pay to get it?” Usually, the answer is “not much.”

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3. The Museum Filter

One of the best pieces of advice I got from a mentor:

Think of your possessions like curating a museum. What you exclude is just as influential—if not more—than what you include.

So, ask yourself, “Would I want this in my museum?” Act “as if” you’re a curator, and it becomes surprisingly easy to start curating.

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Maintenance (6.0/10)

Most people declutter, then gradually accumulate again.

To stay minimalist, manage two flows:

• Control Inbound: Choose quality over quantity. Purchase less, but love every single item more. Be ruthlessly selective about what enters your space.
• Control Outbound: For every new item you bring in, donate, sell, or toss one you already own (the 1 In, 1 Out Rule).

For tougher calls, try the Least Recently Used Principle from Algorithms to Live By. Remove whatever’s been untouched the longest. Past usage is a strong predictor of future behavior.

Maintenance isn’t always easy, but it’s absolutely worth it. You’re not just managing stuff—you’re creating space for the life you want.

Aesthetics (10.0/10)

As Steve Jobs once said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

BRINGING IT HOME

TL;DR: 

1. Declutter to get to baseline
2. Control inbound: Quality > Quantity
3. Control outbound: 1 In, 1 Out Rule
4. Enjoy equilibrium 

Your environment is either adding clarity or adding complexity.

Make minimalism your path to clarity.

All systems go,

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