Why live simply?
My parents are recent empty nesters. They have a large 3000+ square foot home that has lots of storage and lots of stuff. As my sisters and I left home, my mom decided to really take the empty nester thing to the next level and start getting rid of all the things she doesn’t need or like. She has always tried to simplify our life, but she has really embraced it since we have all moved out. Seeing her beautifully organized closets and attic (Seriously, mom! That is amazing.) Has encouraged me to focus on simplifying my life…again.
When I talk about a simple life, I mean a life that is focused, centered around experiences, uncluttered by extra things and obligations we don’t want. A simple life will look different to every person. For some, it is a minimalist lifestyle. For others, it just means finding a way to lower stress or build memories. Simple = undistracted.
I am still on the journey to simplify my life. And probably will be forever because I tend to get distracted by every little thing I see. Simplifying is a lifestyle change that requires a huge habit change.
What does it mean to have a simple life?
Focused
A simple life means you focus on the things and activities you like instead of being distracted by the items in your home or the mess on your table. Cleaning takes significantly less time, and your schedule is less cluttered by obligations. Basically, you get to step back, choose the best things for you to focus on, and do those things.
Undistracted
I don’t know about you, but when my home, schedule, car, anything is cluttered and disorganized, nothing holds my attention. Not even cleaning and decluttering. My whole world is starting a task, getting distracted, and never quite getting back to where I started. When I simplify, I can accomplish more because I am undistracted by the dishes in my sink or the skirt I want to sew. I get each thing accomplished and am much more productive and satisfied with life.
Uncluttered
Have you ever felt like things are pushing you out of your home? Your couch is covered with stuff and there is no place to sit? Or have you ever felt you are so busy there is no time for you? I hate when my life gets that cluttered. Even when I can cope with it, I have much less joy in my situation. Leading an uncluttered life will allow you to relax more. You have more time for yourself and your family. You can spend your energy on the activities you want to do instead of on all the necessities that pile up when you have too much stuff and too many obligations.
Centered on things you enjoy
I love to hike, camp, explore, craft, write, read…I have a lot of hobbies. That I rarely have time for. When I take the time to simplify, I can center my life around the things I truly enjoy. I actually have time to visit the library or go on a hike with Hubs. Our home runs much more productively with both of us splitting the work and having time to do what we enjoy.
What are your hobbies, your favorite activities, your passions? Have you ever wished you had more time to travel or hang out with your friends. Being responsible means you may never be able to do whatever you want whenever you want, but if you simplify your life, you can do what you like to do much more often. Instead of being caught up in the bustle of work, gym, dinner, TV, bed, your routine can more effectively reflect your passions and priorities. You make time for the things you like to do.
Experiences vs things
If you were to look back on your life from right now, what memories stand out to you? Is it the outfits you wear or the time you spent with your friends? Is it the decorative pillows you keep buying for your couch or the trip you took with your family? For me, experiences beat out things every time. I am not saying I want to get rid of everything and live out of a duffle bag, but I want to spend my money and energy on things that will matter in the future. Volunteering, traveling, starting a book club with my friends…these things will build value to my life and to others’. If I put all my value on buying the things I want, I lose track of the joy that can come from making memories and experiences.
Simple living means you take a step back from the purchases made and ask yourself how they will build value in your life or bless the life of someone around you. If they won’t you may not need that item as much as you think you do. Saying no to things is a habit that takes time to build, but if you put the work in, you can live a life full of rich experiences instead of extra things.
Different for each person
My definition of a simple life will look different than yours. Hubs and I both have a lot of hobbies that have built up an accumulation of things in our home. However, we both love to be creative together, so I will weave and he will paint. Having these things doesn’t mean we aren’t living simply.
When you live simply, you prioritize and take control of your time. Instead of getting swept away by impulse or obligation, you consciously choose what you want to invest your time and money into. Then you take the steps to make that happen. However, since every person has different priorities, each person’s simple life will also look different. Make sure yours fits your personality and priorities.
Why is a simple life better?
I have one career, four side hustles, and multiple hobbies. We also live in a small space with more things than quite fit in there. Along with the books and other things I have stored at my parent’s house, Hubs has a lot of his things in the trunks of our cars. Moral of the story, sometimes every surface in our apartment is a catchall. We are both too busy to spend our free time cleaning. Without simplifying something, I spent all my time unfocused and stressed as I tried to finish my projects for work and keep the clutter down. Some days, I worked from 7am-midnight. I was looking for a way to balance out my work and relaxation.
So I had to ask myself. What is important to me? Once I did that, I began to see the areas of my life that could be simplified. I made big goals for what I would like our life to look like and Hubs did the same. As we compared notes and discussed what we would like our life to be like, a plan began to take shape. We began to cut out things we don’t actually like to do (watch TV, clean just kidding, but decluttering really simplified that, time obligations we were having a hard time fulfilling) and focused on the things we wanted to do. It is still a work in progress, and decluttering our home is a battle we fight every day. But as we began to plan how to simplify our life and take steps to get there, a shift has happened.
Now I have more time to do what I really like which is read, write, travel, hike, and spend time with my family and friends. It is still a process and journey for me, but moving to a more simple life has reduced my stress level and allowed me to find time for the things I love to do.
Instead of getting home from work completely exhausted, I have more energy and motivation because I know I get to do the things I am passionate about.
Ultimately, a simple lifestyle reduces stress and helps you focus on what you find most important in life. It frees up time for what you are passionate about and gives you the freedom to do things you enjoy to do. Who doesn’t want that?
What are the benefits of simple living?
Quality time
Is there something you like to do, but life gets in the way of completing it? If you are like me, you have about six million irons in the fire with none of them hot. Simplifying your life can mean that you have more quality time to spend on a barely hashed out idea. Or it can simply free up time to spend purposefully with your family and friends. When you prioritize what you are spending your time, money, and energy on, you can be in charge which gives you the freedom to spend quality time employed in whatever you enjoy. A good book and cup of tea, anyone?
Less stress
Americans are so stressed out. We pressure ourselves to attain ever higher accolades and allow our schedules to fill with obligations (our children’s sports, that workout class -you know the one I mean, extra work projects, etc). So we purchase things to help ease the burden of our responsibility. Then, we have more things to clean and tidy. On top of that television, social media, and commercials (ew) help prep us for a life of keeping up with the Joneses. It is a vicious cycle that just adds to the stress and strain that already comes with life. Seriously, do you need more stress than your job or your children? No! Simplifying your life can cut out a lot of the clutter and obligations that you find in your life which can immediately allow you to relax, put your feet up, and enjoy your life.
Experiences
My family of six traveled a lot when I was little. My mother was a stay-at-home mom and my dad owned his own business. We didn’t have a lot of money, but my parents were good at choosing to spend money on things they valued. One of those things was travel. Before I graduated from high school I had traveled to five foreign countries and at least ten states. You might be thinking, that is all good and well for you but your parents must have made more money than I do, and there is no way I would ever be able to do that. The reality, though, was that we lived in a very small home. My three sisters and I all shared a bedroom and the whole family shared one bathroom. We didn’t purchase many toys, and if we got new toys, we had to choose which toys we were getting rid of. My parents encouraged us to play. My mom took us to the park and library. We road tripped all over the central United States. My parents realized that the experiences we had would be more valuable than the toys we purchased. Our home life was simple, with minimal obligations that my mother helped us choose because of the value they would add to our life. Were we busy, yes, but we still spent many of our evenings at home playing outside until the sun went down.
More money
When you stop trying to keep up with the current trends and you step away from the consumerist society we live in, you will be able to make more conscious decisions with your money. Instead of buying something you kind of like to decorate the empty wall in your home, wait until you find the perfect thing that you will love and enjoy for a long time. Even if it is more expensive, you will end up saving money because you didn’t burn through a bunch of cheap options that you didn’t really like. You also will find yourself purchasing less. If you make purposeful choices about what you allow in your life, your mentality will shift, and suddenly you won’t need that mug (one of my temptations) or that movie (one of Hubs’ temptations). It will free up your money, and you will feel like you have more.
More time
I cannot tell you how much time I have wasted just trying to figure out a place to put things I don’t even want. Case in point, I have a recipe binder that I never really liked. But, I wanted a place to put all the recipes I clipped from magazines or got from family members. I never really used it, though because it wasn’t something I liked. Then Pinterest became a thing, Ha! Guess what I still have. Yes, even today. But, I have spent a lot of time dusting, rearranging, and find a place for this silly binder I don’t even want. When I clear my schedule of things I don’t even want to do, I have time to volunteer at my church or schedule a lunch date with a friend. When I clear my home of clutter, well let’s just say, it takes less than an hour to dust my home, and both Hubs and I are more motivated to clean. We get it done more quickly and have time to work on our hobbies or cook dinner together. Make the choice to simplify has allowed me to have more time and get more out of life.
How do you live a simple life?
There is no one answer to this question. People define simple living in different ways. One thing that is important to me as I work on simplifying my life is building good habits that help me to continue successfully on my journey. It starts as you make a conscious decision to change the way you are living. You will have to contend with your mindsets and habits that keep you from living a more relaxed life.
The first step is to decide what a simple life will look like for you. Then, as you learn the answer, make small systematic changes in your habits and the way you think. These changes are each baby steps to your new lifestyle. It will take time to change the way you think about your life, but the effort is worth it in the end.
Some of the steps in your journey will be:
- declutter
- organize
- prioritize your time
- identify what you most want to do
- focus on the joy you get out of the things you do
- learn to say no
- set a cleaning routine
How do you simplify your home life?
Declutter
Our homes, schedules, computers, and brains all get cluttered up by stuff. Things that we have accumulated, put somewhere and forgotten about. If you want to lead a simple life at home, you have to let go of stuff. But, this step is not about getting rid of things. It is about only keeping things you love or truly enjoy. Start with things you definitely don’t like. But be strong. Go further than that, and get rid of things you use but do not love. The defining factor of keeping an item should be if it adds value to your life or not. If it does not, then it is just taking up space and time and energy. Let it go. If you would like some tips on how to start decluttering read my post here.
Organize
As you begin to put everything away, make sure you take the time to reorganize. Get some clear containers. Find small containers to fit in drawers. Categorize, fold, label, and put everything away neatly. Every item in your home should have a place. If it doesn’t, find it a home or get rid of it.
Passion
Your home does not need to look like a magazine. It needs to look like your home. We see these beautiful Pinterest images and think, “What if…” But at the end of the day, you and your family have to live in your home. Keep things you are passionate about. Are you a passionate woodworker? It is ok to keep your tools and supplies. Do you love shoes? You can have ‘em. But if you are keeping one large collection, you have to make sure you have simplified other areas of your home. Get rid of the things you don’t like and aren’t bringing value to your life, the things you don’t use or want, the things you might use someday but have had for 25 years and never touched. Keep the things you love and get rid of the distractions that keep you from enjoying them.
How do you declutter, organize, and simplify your life?
So, now that you know that you need to declutter, organize, and simplify your life, how do you get started? That is a big question with a big answer. I would say, start by decluttering. Choose a category of things (craft supplies, mugs, clothes) that you do not feel very attached to. Get everything, and I mean everything, out. Pick up each item. Physically touching each item is important because the tangible contact helps you decide what you think about the item. Decide if you are going keep, donate, or trash the item. If you haven’t started to declutter and simplify your life already, this could be a huge job. It could take time and be physically and emotionally exhausting. Keep your goal of simplifying your life so you can enjoy it more at the forefront of your mind.
I organize as I go when I declutter. As you decide what you want to keep, organize it when you put it away. Using clear containers, boxes, and baskets help keep things categorized and organized in drawers, closets, and cabinets. It is easiest if you store your things in a way that makes them easy to see at a glance so you don’t spend your time rifling through drawers or digging through containers. Your goal here is to make the things you have chosen to keep easy to find and to put away.
Simplifying goes deeper than decluttering. It is a lifestyle shift. Make a conscious decision about what is important to you. When you simplify, you realize you do not need things to make you happy. Instead, you focus on experiences. I have found this to be extremely freeing. Mostly because I don’t have to spend as much time cleaning my house.
How do you simplify family life?
Simplifying your life can extend to more than just your home. It can extend to your family as well. To simplify your family life you can:
Model a simple lifestyle
The decisions you make today affect your family tomorrow. We all know your children are watching everything you do. The choices you make today transfer to what your children prioritize and help shape their lives to be stress free as well. Modelling a simple lifestyle will help your children to know what a stress free life should feel like and build habits that can help them in the future.
Choose your priorities
Sports, school clubs, instruments, after school activities, play dates: kids require a huge amount of scheduling. It is important to show your children how to prioritize. And, let’s be honest, it could help save your sanity as well. Choose your priorities carefully. Talk with your family about how many obligations you can handle and choose the most important ones. I know it is hard when your adorable little one gives you the big puppy dog eyes and say, “I would love to do gymnastics.” But they are already doing soccer, martial arts, piano lessons, and yearbook club. Teach your children that they have limits on their time and have to prioritize what they are doing. Give them a limit on how many activities they are allowed to schedule. This helps teach them how to prioritize what they want and can help teach them to value what they decide to do.
STay less Busy
Make a conscious effort to be less busy. Make family time a priority in your life. How many evenings a week would you like to spend at home with your family? How many evenings a week would you like to be out trying to finish the after school shuffle and juggling dinner plans. If you are stressed and feel too busy, your children probably do too. Clearing your agenda and consciously spending time at home or on down activities with your family will help your children experience the freedom to be children.
Involve your family.
As you begin to make the decisions needed to simplify your life, include your family in the process. If you are starting to declutter, show your children how to make the decisions they need to about their things. Get a buy in from your spouse before you begin to pull out everything in the closets. Teach your family how to reorganize and get their input on how it should be done. As you clear your schedule, take a vote on what things are most important. Of course you and your spouse can have the final say, but including everyone in the process means your family will not only learn the new habits of simple living with you, they will be more willing to join you on the journey.
Reduce Stress
Pay attention to what stresses you out. So, make a cup of coffee or brew a cup of tea to console yourself and make a list of everything that is stressing you out. Then, figure out why. Dig deep and look for the base causes. Once you know exactly why it is stressing you out, see if you can remove some of the stress by simplifying something in your life. When you decide what is stressing you out, be more specific than “We don’t have money.” Ask, “Why?” What can you do to help change this? What can you simplify about your life to solve the problem? Cutting back on what you feel like you need to purchase can change your budget and help lower the stress you feel about it. Of course, this process will not work with every situation, but many of daily stressors we face can be eased by living simply.
conclusion
If you are interested in simplifying your life at all, I encourage you to take the plunge and go for it. Decide what steps you need to take to help build a life that is better for you and your family. Remember, this will be a journey not a sprint. You have to build habits and change the way you think about your life. As you shift your mentality to experiences > things, you will begin to notice that you are less stressed and have more free time to do what you really love. And really, isn’t that what we all want out of life anyway? I know I do.
Please share where you are in your simple living journey. What have been your benefits?