From 900 SQFT to 4 SQFT

How Minimalism Set Me Free: From 900 SQFT to 4 SQFT

Let’s start by saying that people thought I was crazy!

Leaving behind a fully furnished 900-square-foot apartment to live out of a suitcase? They asked if I was okay. If I had lost it. But over a year later, here I am! feeling light, happy, unattached, and for the first time in my life… free. I mean truly free.

My apartment wasn’t massive, but it was big enough. I had everything I thought I needed: a cozy setup, cute decor, an overstuffed closet full of clothes I rarely wore, and all the “normal” things—bookshelves, a couch, a bed, dishes, a blender, a bunch of kitchen gadgets I barely used, sentimental items, art, cables, boxes filled with miscellaneous stuff I didn’t even remember owning, and those “just in case” jackets for every climate. These are just a few things to name.

And still I felt weighed down.

Something in me knew that all that space, all that stuff… wasn’t it. So, I did something wild. I packed my life into one suitcase. Just 4 square feet.

That’s it.

And what I discovered shocked me: I didn’t need most of what I had.

Letting go wasn’t easy. Every item had a story, a memory, a reason to stay. A gift from someone I loved. A shirt that reminded me of a time. A book I “might read.” I kept asking myself, do I really need this? Or is it just taking up space in my life and in my mind?

The process was overwhelming. It was honestly one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Getting rid of my things, no matter how “minimalist” it sounds, wasn’t some lighthearted purge. It felt like peeling off layers of identity. Some days I just sat in the middle of my stuff, frozen by the weight of decisions. But I kept going. And even though I didn’t realize it right away, the reward slowly revealed itself over time. At first, I wasn’t sure I made the right choice. But as the weeks passed and I started living with less, I felt something shift. I began to feel light. Clear. Free.

Now I travel with only the essentials. A capsule wardrobe made of good-quality clothes that work across multiple seasons. All the colors in the capsule match effortlessly, and I can create up to 30 different outfits with just a few pieces. One warm jacket, a hoodie, a few breathable shirts, a few light pants, shorts, and swimwear. One pair of good boots, sandals, and sneakers.

And my backpack? It holds laptop, phone, camera, mic, chargers, my notebook, a book I’m reading, and a pen I actually like. It’s all I need to create, teach, meditate, write, and grow my online business, Sahra Healings, from anywhere.

No one can ever guess that I live out of a suitcase.

The thing is, minimalism isn’t about owning nothing! It’s about owning what actually matters. It’s about intentional living.

Before, my apartment had so much stuff, but so little clarity. Now, I have very little stuff, and more clarity than ever.

Minimalism didn’t just change how I pack; it changed how I live, think, and breathe. It made my meditation practice deeper. My yoga more grounded. It brought my holistic lifestyle into full alignment.

Meditation helps us stay present. Yoga helps us align. Minimalism helps us clear the noise. Together, they all say the same thing: let go of what doesn’t serve you, and reconnect with what does.

Through this lifestyle, I learned the value of non-attachment. In holistic living, attachment to stuff, emotions, and identities creates suffering. By letting go of material clutter, I also dropped emotional baggage. And in that space, I found peace. Presence. Purpose.

It took me some months to adjust. I had to train myself not to buy things impulsively. At first, it was hard; I’d catch myself browsing for new clothes or gadgets out of habit. But the more I stuck to this path, the less I craved anything. Now I rarely even feel the urge to buy something I don’t truly need. I feel full. Not in a material way, but energetically full.

And the best part? The world became my home. I now move through life with flow and freedom. A couple of months in Thailand between the mountains. A couple in Vietnam, soaking in the beaches. A quiet season in the desert of California. Some time between Europe and the Middle East, following the sun or the stillness, whatever I feel like. No stress. Just the freedom to move wherever my heart leads.

Minimalism gave me back time, clarity, and mental space. And science backs this up. Studies show that clutter can increase cortisol levels, the stress hormone, and reduce focus and sleep quality. On the flip side, minimalism has been linked to improved well-being, higher productivity, and even stronger decision-making. Living simply helps your nervous system regulate, calms the mind, and gives you more space to focus on what matters most, which is your purpose, your health, and your joy.

Now, my days are simple and full. I don’t miss my apartment. I don’t miss my shelves. What I have now can be carried, worn, used, and loved. I’m not tied to things, I’m connected to experiences. To presence. To the now.

And this is exactly the heart of my course Meditation as a Lifestyle. Minimalism gave me the external freedom, but meditation gave me the internal freedom to hold it all together. In this course, I guide you through the same practices that helped me simplify my life, find clarity, and create more peace in my everyday routine. It’s about making meditation practical, approachable, and part of your daily flow. Whether you’re traveling the world with just a suitcase or living in one place and craving more balance.

So if you’re thinking of decluttering, of going lighter, start small. One drawer. One box. One mental shift. Don’t wait for the perfect time. Do it with intention. Be honest with yourself. Ask: Is this helping me grow, or is it just holding space?

And remember, happiness is never in the things. It’s in how you live, love, breathe, and just be.

Minimalism didn’t just change my lifestyle. It redefined what freedom means.