Page 20 - ADU Campus Chronicles

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Faculty

Wellbeing

Less is More - Simplifying Life for Better Living

Fida A. Elhafiz
Instructor of Architecture

Is your life cluttered with too many things and activities, leaving you feeling
overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stuff? ‘Less is more,’ a famous principle
championed by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. This minimalist believed
in stripping away unnecessary details to reveal a building’s essence. His
philosophy extends far beyond architecture, influencing design and even
our approach to life. The concept of ‘less is more’ encourages a focus on
essentials, clarity, and the beauty of uncluttered space.

Reflecting the Concept in our Life

You might ask yourself; how do we translate this concept into our
everyday lives?
In our busy world, we often think that having more things or doing
more activities makes us happy. But this can lead to a cluttered life
and a cluttered mind. Just like a room full of unnecessary stuff makes
it hard to move around, a mind full of too many thoughts can make it
hard to think clearly.
By choosing to have less, we can find more peace and clarity. This
doesn’t mean we should give up everything. It means focusing on
what is really important and letting go of what’s not. This can be our
things, our activities, or even our thoughts.

Clearing Your Mind

Imagine your mind is like a room. If this room is too crowded, you can’t find what you need, and you might
feel stuck. But if you clean up this room and keep only what you need, you’ll have more space to think and
move. This is what “less is more” means for our minds. It’s about keeping our thoughts clear and organized,
so we can focus on what matters most.

Making Life Simpler

“Less is more” can help us in many parts of our lives:
In our homes: By keeping only what we need and use, our homes become more comfortable and relaxing
places to be.

In our work: By focusing on the most important tasks, we can get more done without feeling overwhelmed.
In our relationships: By spending quality time with a few people we care about, our relationships can
become stronger and more meaningful.

Abu Dhabi University | ADU Campus Chronicles Issue 1