Ways to Live a Simple Life
There are lots of people who dream of simple living. They picture spending their days sitting by a lake or living in a mountain cabin and enjoying nature. In reality that is not for everyone. There are things we can do to begin living a simple life.
Instead, choose things that can keep you in the modern world, but still make life easier.
What is Simple Living?
Cutting back possessions and living a less hectic lifestyle. Not a strict lifestyle that everyone follows the same way. Some live off grid and off the land. Some just want a less cluttered home and others just want a less hectic schedule.
It is about finding quality over quantity. Value things that fit our lifestyle and make us happy and not chasing societal expectations. Consumerism doesn’t make you happy.
Simple Living is a lifestyle that includes cutting back, reducing your possessions and living a simpler, more intentional life. A life more important to you and not by status or stuff.
Simple Living means a simple home that’s decluttered, not overflowing with junk, that is often a cause of anxiety and overwhelm. If it’s not useful or just takes up space, toss it out.
Ways to Live a Simple Life
Living a simple life brings freedom, peace, and joy and reduces stress. These are a few of the ways to simplify your life and get you started toward slow and simple living and a happier life.
Where to Start Living Simply?
All of these ideas can mean different things to everyone. There is no right or wrong. Start where you are comfortable and feel like beginning your journey.
Starting Your Simple Life Journey
When starting your simplifying journey, it’s important to get clear about your goals, values, and priorities. Knowing what you value will help you decide what you want to keep in your life and what you can let go of.
Sometimes it’s tempting to fill our calendar simply because you don’t know how to say “no” or you have FOMO, or Fear of Missing Out. You sign up for everything because it all sounds good or fun. And maybe it is all good or fun, but when you get serious about your values and goals, you learn to say “no” to even the good stuff that isn’t aligned with what matters most in your life.
Start with one thing at a time. Do one thing different every day. Simple Living means different things to everyone. If clutter in your home is where you want to start, then start with one section or room at a time. If your schedule is where you would like to start, then go over it and see where you can start saying no. Start small, but start.
Simple Diet
This can mean buying local or finding ways to reduce waste. It can also mean living off the land or growing a garden in your own backyard, becoming more self sufficient. Focus on protein, vegetables and low carb foods. That is a great start to a healthier you.
Simple Schedule and Simple Home
Packing our calendar with obligations that don’t add value to your life can bring more stress instead of peace to our days.
Simple living means focusing on what you love…hobbies, family, friends. Culture says our success and value is determined by the money we make, simple living is realizing that being happy and content with what we have is enough. Consumerism creates impossible ideals that will never be met. It’s never enough. Society is always wanting more…the next model, upgrade or new season fashions. Opt for a less materialistic life.
I like and want nice things. I just don’t want everything and I don’t want them to own me. I love my home full of friends and family and not of stuff.
Simple Tips and Ideas on How to Live a Simple, Happy Life
1. Quiet the Digital Noise
Digital and electronic devices are incredible tools, but also a source of stress. Dangers of social media are well-documented to include anxiety, stress, depression, loneliness and envy. There are strong links between online time, teenage bullying and suicide. Hours in front of a screen can lead to the erosion of communication skills, empathy and the ability to concentrate.
Things to do to quiet the digital noise.
Unsubscribe to newsletters you don’t read.
Dedicate a time of day to reply to emails.
Remove social media apps from your phone or turn off the notifications.
Take a regular digital detox. Enjoy life on the weekends without the digital world.
Don’t sleep with your phone right next to your bed. Enjoy a quiet morning before grabbing your phone.
Erase apps you don’t use.
2. Watch Less TV
Cutting back TV/Netflix/Hulu means fewer ads and less materialism. It also means fewer films that depict unrealistic lifestyles.
Unwinding with a good series may be relaxing, but it can also leave you unmotivated and tired. Limiting TV time leaves space for reading, meditating, podcasts, our favorite hobbies and getting outdoors in nature.
Also, limit your news intake. The news will just make you anxious about current events. Be in the know, but don’t let it control you and cause emotion. We can’t control everything and the media can take over your emotions.
3. Live within Your Means
Don’t spend what you don’t have on things you don’t want or need to impress people or keep up with society.
Change Your Mindset!
Online shopping or any shopping is a temporary happiness.
Be grateful for what you have. Don’t obsess about what you don’t have. This way you are more likely to enjoy life’s simple pleasures. Write a gratitude journal to help you really appreciate what you already have.
Don’t give in to social pressure…especially around the holidays. Simple Living is a lifestyle. This is your choice or journey. Don’t let friends and family pressure you to live life their way.
Invest in experiences. This will put material things in perspective. It’s just stuff. Stuff to clutter up our lives, homes and leave for our loved ones when we pass on. We can’t take it with us when we leave this earth. And none of us live forever.
4. Declutter Your Home
Simple living is a journey. It means different things for different people. Decluttering and organizing your home will help physical possession serve you instead of overpowering you. I enjoy nice things, just not “all the things”. Less is best…Less to clean, less to pick up, less space to take up, less money spent. It gives you a renewed space, peace and weight off your shoulders.
- Start small and keep expectations realistic.
- Start with something simple-a part of the closet, one drawer or cabinet. Donate, Toss or Sell.
- Get rid of one item per day.
5. Appreciate the Little Things (Gratitude)
Writing down what you’re grateful for is a powerful practice that increases your happiness and helps get rid of feelings that your life isn’t good enough.
When you’re always bombarded with social media posts and ads, it’ easy to feel a lackluster comparison. Comparing yourself or life to others, whose seem to have it altogether, will bring low self-esteem, comparison and shopping splurges to fill a void. Don’t compare your journey to others. There is only one you! Be who our Creator, Lord and Savior, Created you to be.
Practicing gratitude helps appreciate life’s small pleasures. You will become more aware of everything you have, become calmer and more patient and will far less likely to envy others.
6. Embrace White Space
The importance of doing nothing is underrated.
We are pushed at work for high productivity and this can trickle down into our personal life. On weekends we are uncomfortable sitting still and we fill every minute with activities or entertainment. We also push this on our children, filling up their time with sports and activities.
Letting yourself or kids experience boredom has surprising benefits. It lets our minds wonder and gives space to ponder new ideas.
I hope these tips help you to start a journey of mindfulness and gratefulness and what a simple life means to you. If you like what you see subscribe, share with a friend or share it on social media. Email it to a friend who needs to read this.
Other links you might like:
0 Comments