Tips for Simple Living

Looking to make your life more simple? If your life has become complicated, exhausting and overwhelming, check out these simple living tips for a calmer, less stressful life at any age.

There may be a lot of reasons to seek out a simple life, but the goal is the same: a meaningful way to find balance, peace, and fulfillment in this busy world full of time commitments, digital fatigue, and financial strain.

Often times big events in your life can make you ponder your existence. When that happens, it’s normal to seek out a greater meaning in life or look for a simple life. You want to find ways to make more room for the things that matter most to you.

Some of the concepts of simple living include:

• Finding fulfillment in simplicity
• Reducing stress
• Focusing on the essentials to create a life that reflects your interests, values and priorities
• Creating or fixing for the joy of it
• Embracing Minimalism
• Practicing Mindfulness

No one can tell you what those mean to you. That’s for you to figure out. But here’s a few suggestions.

What Can You Do to Make Your Life More Simple?

Use some or all of these seven simple living tips to help discover the ways you can change your life. Not all of them work for each person, and each person will find meaning in these suggestions in different ways. So pick and choose the things that speak to you and let the rest fall away.

• Pursue a simple life: Living life requires a conscious effort to reduce physical and mental clutter and focus on quality over quantity in all aspects of life. Yet this means different things to different people.
  This might involve cutting back on possessions or time commitments. Others might simplify their lives by introducing a daily ritual like sitting in solitude, watching the sunset, or just being quiet in nature. My personal favorite daily ritual is what I call the “solar recharge.” I seek out the sun, sit, eyes closed, and just let the light wash over me. Nothing restores me more, well except maybe a good sunset.
  
• Declutter possessions room by room: Decluttering is often the first step towards embracing a simpler life. It’s more than just a cleaning; it’s an exercise in identifying the possessions that genuinely add value to your life. If it’s just sitting there, unused stuff can take up an incredible amount of mental clutter as well as physical clutter. Use these decluttering tips to help you make downsize with purpose.
  
• Cut back on commitments: In the efforts to lead fulfilling lives, sometimes people over-commit. To simplify, start by evaluating your commitments. Ask yourself which activities align with your values and bring you joy. For instance, if gardening is therapeutic, and flowers make you happy keep it in your routine.
  However, if attending the baseball mom has become more of a chore than a pleasure, it might be time to step back. This conscious choice of commitments allows for a simpler and richer life in experiences that truly matter.

“We recently moved to Maine, where single-use plastic bags are banned. Therefore, we had to get in the habit of bringing reusable bags when we shop. I never realized how much all those extra plastic bags from shopping added to clutter and stress until we didn’t have them anymore. Even if I move to another place, I don’t think I will give up my habit of bringing my own bag.”
— Leah Ingram, Southern Maine on the Cheap.

• Journal to uncover personal priorities and goals: Journaling is a powerful tool for self-discovery. It can help you articulate your goals, reflect on your life and make decisions that align with your true self.
  For example, writing about your day can reveal patterns in what brings you joy or causes stress. This understanding can guide you to make changes that simplify your life.
  
• Embrace home cooking: Home cooking is a delightful way to simplify your life. It allows you to control what you eat and connect with creating nourishing meals. For instance, preparing a simple vegetable stir-fry from scratch ensures you’re eating healthy. It brings the satisfaction of creating something with your hands.
  Engaging in simple cooking practices, like fermenting vegetables, can be a joyful and fulfilling hobby, connecting you more meaningfully to the food you eat. You can also use a garden planner to create a kitchen garden to provide fresh veggies for your homemade meals.
  
• Use AI and technology wisely: Digital Fatigue. Screens are everywhere and they can be incredible tools for simplifying life. ChatGPT, for example, can help you organize your thoughts, plan your weekly menu or even learn new hobbies. These tools, when used wisely, can streamline routine tasks. Doing so may free up time to engage in activities that bring joy and simplicity to your life. But you may be at risk of overdoing it, and that’s where digital fatigue come in. Monitor screen time, limit your access to the internet, and be sure to give yourself daily time offline. This is a balancing act we should all be striving for in our lives.
  
• Spend money mindfully: Mindful spending is a key component of simple living. It’s about making intentional choices with your finances, focusing on buying necessary things or truly bringing you happiness. Consider making repair a part of your life; learning to fix things is one of the best ways to stretch your money and build self-confidence.
  Before you buy-buy-buy understand the essential tools needed for life and try to stick to that list. This approach simplifies your financial life and fosters a more thoughtful, sustainable and intentional lifestyle.
  
• Create a relaxation routine: This is where you incorporate a relaxation routine into your daily life, which is essential for simple living. Relaxation could be as simple as setting aside time each day for a cup of tea in silence, practicing yoga or reading a book, taking walk, sitting in the sun. Really it can be whatever relaxes you.

These moments of relaxation are vital for unwinding and reconnecting with yourself. A relaxation routine may help to reduce stress and enhance overall well-being.

Adopt some or all of these seven simple living tips to take the first steps toward a more balanced and fulfilling life. Remember, the essence of simple living lies in slowing down, finding beauty and joy in the ordinary and making conscious choices that align with your values and life goals. As you look towards a new year, weave these practices into your routine and watch as your life becomes more relaxed and peaceful.