Do you crave a more simple life?
What are the benefits of a more simple life? I can think of a few straight up- more time for the people and activities I value most, a sense of spaciousness, less stress and anxiety,
saving money, and having a smaller ecological footprint- treading more lightly upon the earth.
I think a key to simplifying is knowing what is enough. It is realising what enough is, and being content with that. After all, when we feel we have enough, we are wealthy, no matter how much we have. The opposite to poverty is not abundance- it is a sense of enough. And that will be different for everyone.
A move toward simplicity is seeing where all the extra stuff, the way more than enough, is adding to stress and taking up time and space, and complicating rather than increasing quality of life.
Modern life has become very complex for many people. However there are many things that are under our control, that we can simplify, organise and declutter, to make space for what we value more. Here are some ideas of areas to simplify:
Lets start with possessions. How much stuff do we have that we barely notice any more, but takes up so much space? Have you moved lately- or does the idea terrify you? It can be a bit shocking to realise how much stuff we have collected. This is a huge area that I will write future posts on.
Finances. FInances can get complicated and messy. Simple systems put in place for paying bills, having fewer bank accounts, storing receipts, can help a lot, especially at tax time.
Paper clutter. What do we do with all that? Is there a filing system in place? Is there a place to put things we want to read later?
Clothes. Even 2nd hand shopping can get out of hand- ask me how I know! Having fewer clothes can make it a lot easier to choose what to wear each day.
Time. Some people are good at managing their time, with or without organisational methods such as lists- others find themselves always rushing and catching up, and doing what they feel they have to do rather than what they want to do.
Housework. Again, some people naturally know how to keep house and do it easily- its a non issue for them. For many of us....we wonder how they do it. It can seem to always be overwhelming, always a sense of messy or disorganisation, or it can take days of super cleaning, only to get messy again quickly. It’s all about forming habits and routines, and I will cover this in future posts.
Work. For many people, work is a daily grind, a chore, and they do not feel fulfilled or that they are doing their heart’s desire, if they even know what that would be. Living more simply can help drum up the courage to take the leap into lifestyle chices that include meaningful and fulfilling work.
For some people, simplifying means moving to the country and living “the simple life”. For most of us, that isn’t an option. With a global movement towards more sustainable lifestyles, it is possible to live more a more simple and ecologically sustainable urban life.
If you feel inspired to move toward a more simple existence, I suggest you start in one area of your life, rather than trying to tackle it all at once. Pick something you feel drawn to. It might be decluttering a room or a part of a room, and keeping it uncluttered, as a haven of peacefulness to rest in while you work on other areas. It is amazing how decluttering one area can spread out, and just laying your eyes on that area can bring a sense of calm.
Or, perhaps you feel inspired to cull your books and magazines, or to finally tackle your finances head on, or create a routine for making healthy meals. Maybe starting a To Do list will help you organise your thoughts and time more efficiently.
Wherever you start doesn’t matter. Just start somewhere and, remember to sit back and appreciate the feeling that a bit of simplicity give you. I warn you though--it can be addictive!
