Ryan Holiday: ‘Everything you own is a responsibility…it needs to be put somewhere’

Ryan Holiday is the bestselling author of The Daily Stoic and Ego Is the Enemy. His work applies ancient Stoic wisdom to modern life, encouraging readers to live with discipline, intention, and clarity.

In a recent blog post, author and Stoic thinker Ryan Holiday reflected on his seasonal tradition of decluttering—not just his home, but his digital life, calendar, and mental space.

“Everything you own is a responsibility,” wrote Ryan Holiday in the post. “Even if it costs you nothing, it still takes up room. It still needs to be put somewhere. It still has to be thought about, cleaned, managed, maintained.”

Holiday described how the physical process of removing unnecessary possessions has a parallel in emotional and mental clarity. As part of his spring reset, he also reviews subscriptions, tightens his calendar, trims digital noise, and limits exposure to information that doesn’t serve his values.

Drawing from Stoic principles, he emphasized that reducing excess allows room for what truly matters—deep work, relationships, and peace of mind. The process is not about becoming a minimalist for its own sake, but about removing distractions that cloud focus and purpose.

Ryan Holiday is the bestselling author of The Daily Stoic and Ego Is the Enemy. His work applies ancient Stoic wisdom to modern life, encouraging readers to live with discipline, intention, and clarity.

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