One may be the loneliest number, but it also the easiest number to manage.

Stuff: We keep duplicates of our stuff because…

• One might break and I will have a back up.
• What if someone comes over and needs one too?
• If one is good, two or three is great.
• If we only have one, are we good enough?
• More than one will make us extra productive.
• It was a deal to buy more than one.
• If I use one up, then I won’t have to buy another one.

Last time I checked, for those of us privileged enough to clear the clutter, there is no shortage of stuff out there. If something breaks, or runs out, you can replace it. If you only have one, you might take better care of it, use less of it, or put it where you can find it every time.

Like you, I have more than one of most things too. When I challenged that one is enough, you responded more than 100 comments. Clearly you care about living with less. Did you try to live with just one? Will you try?

As part of a family of three, I understand having several plates, glasses, forks, knives, and towels, but why do I need two sets of measuring cups, two rolling pins, or two of the same DVD. I am sure that last issue was because someone gave me a gift, a duplicate, and instead of donating it right away, I held onto it. Huh? Was I ever going to watch the same movie at the same time? I’ve never made two recipes at the exact same time, demanding an extra set of measuring cups. Have you?

Do you have family dishes plus dishes for entertaining? Place mats that you only use for company? Why isn’t one set good enough? What about your glassware? Why does each beverage require a specially shaped glass?

Obligations: we overload our schedules because…

• We don’t want to be seen as lazy.
• We don’t know what to do with free time.
• There’s no time to address the fact that we are overworked and overwhelmed.
• A jam packed calendar means we are important.
• We don’t want to say no.
• Being too busy is better than disappointing someone.

Every day that we have too much too do, we are performing sub par and missing out on so much. Running from errand to errand, and place to place leaves us to tired to enjoy what really matters.

One is Powerful

When you decide to do one thing at a time, that one thing gets 100% of your focus, energy and attention. If you are used to jumping from task to task, you may not know your full potential for accomplishing great things.

Try One

To get a feel of what “just one” is like, live for a week with…

• Just one book by your bed
• Just one water glass for the whole day
• Just one website open at a time
• Just one conversation at a time

If you see big results from one little change, maybe you can apply the power of one to your drawers, cabinets and calendars. Could you live comfortably with even less? If you let go of the fear that you won’t have enough, could you live comfortably with just one?