Living Simply: Colleges are Feeding Mindless Consumerism

Not sure if I mentioned this, but I'm a full-time college student. I carry 5 classes, which is 15 hours of "seat time" and another 30 hours of homework per week. Yes, the teachers all made sure to remind us to expect 2 hours of homework for each in-class hour per week, so 6 hours a week per class. Anyway...

I have been pretty surprised that many of my classes require as a first assignment to be a written essay or speech to the class that has us bring in or display a slide show of OBJECTS that have INTENSE MEANING, or DEFINE WHO I AM, or HOLD THE MOST OR MOST IMPORTANT MEMORY for me. Really???!!! I've had to bring in something I supposedly collect, articles of clothing that are supposed to define me, photo collages of things that describe me...I wish I could get an A by handing in a blank piece of paper, or do a slideshow of blank slides, then give a speech or essay about how things don't do that for me, they don't define who I am, I am not represented by logos and brand names, and oh, for 5 minutes to publicly explain minimalism and intentional, simple living!!! Then I get to sit through classmates' stories about how they value their Gucci sweatshirt, their Louis Vuitton purses, or Michael Kors clothing, watches, etc.

I may get close next week. I told my teacher in public speaking that I'm a minimalist so I won't be able to truly do what she asked. I asked if I could bring in a photo of my capsule wardrobe, explain how I'm a minimalist, and why having a capsule wardrobe is more important to me than two closets full of clothes I've collected for decades. She's allowing it - so we'll see how she grades it.

My English teacher still hasn't graded my photo asking for a collage of meaningful things that describe me and it's been several weeks now. I'll give you the gist of it. Picture a bare metal, mirrored end table, against a stark white wall, reflecting a bible and a glass of water. It looked like a professionally done poster, and better than some of the other students who just piled stuff on a desk without any artistic effort. The glass I wrote is my "the glass is always more than half full" attitude and my faith is the most important thing to me. It's the foundation of my values, thoughts, and how I treat others as I go through this life. Simple. Intentional. Artistic. We'll see what she thinks.

For Communication I needed a slide show of 3 items complete with a detailed story of why those things are important. I brought in 3 baseball items (opening day ticket, season ticket holder pass, and a signed baseball). I turned it around though. I spoke of how baseball brought me and my daughter close at a tough time in her life. My speech was essentially about her and our relationship, while the things were just evidence of experiences we enjoyed together.

Can you imagine asking this in any other country than America? In many countries, the most important things are often the ONE pot the family's meals are cooked in, the ONE pair of shoes given at the right time, or the ONE book smuggled into an area where they are forbidden or not something that people can afford? Such materialism. It's so awful.

So here's a question for you:  If you had to write about, give a speech on, or display a slideshow of THINGS that are important to you, or define you...what would you do? It's hard when you know your memories are in your mind, not "in" the object. I'd love to hear from you on this one.

Living Simply: Now what?

Okay, so if you've decided it's worth living a more intentional, more simple, minimalist lifestyle...and you already get that there's going to be some de-cluttering, the big question is, "Now what?" It looks different for everyone based on personality, where you live, who you live with, the size of your household (you can't magically convert everyone else to your new lifestyle, so don't push them). Here are a few pointers though to get you started with a few baby steps:

1.  Take some scheduled time to figure out YOU. Who are you? What kind of person are you? Have you been doing what's important and what you like to do, or are you following what everyone else tells you that you should be doing? These questions will help you make important changes. Maybe you are right where you want to be, but maybe you know you're not in a good fit. Perhaps examining another field or occupation if it means living the life you know you want. Are you in a job you hate with no chance for advancement? Consider if school would help get you where you want to be. 

2.  What is your personality/temperament like? There are great books out there like Personality Plus, The 5 Love Languages, the D-I-S-C personality book, and more. Figure out what type of person you are as you go forward. Are you the life of the party, happy-go-lucky person? Are you the serious, organized, meticulous, planning type of person? Are you the easy-going person who never wants to be in charge but is happy to be a behind the scenes helper? Are you the take charge leader type? Can you see how knowing that may help you understand the type of job and life you want to lead? 

3.  What flaws in your life or personality might you want to work on to become better? Do you tend to interrupt others? habitually late? Bossy? Stubborn? Disorganized? A few baby steps may be taken to correct some of these things. You're no good to the world around you if you're part of the problem. 

4.  What are your priorities? Who are your priorities? It takes income to survive, and if you have a spouse or family depending on your, then don't quit your job to backpack across Europe. Maybe it's time to get to your kids' practices or games or recitals. Maybe it's time to schedule a once a week, or at least once a month, date nights with your spouse. Maybe paying off debt is the most important thing to less stress and anxiety so you can sleep better at night. Maybe it's all about spending less, buying only what you need and nothing more.

5.  Purge regularly - material possessions, I mean. Keep a box by the door, near the stairs, in the garage, etc. where you and your household can drop things to be donated. Throw out things you don't need as you come across them, like those old magazines you'll never read again. A few times a year (or seasonally) evaluate your closet. Get rid of what either doesn't fit or you aren't wearing because you don't like it anymore. Replace a few key pieces as needed to keep your wardrobe working for you - especially if it's a small capsule wardrobe with under 40 items.

6.  Detach from the objects you own. Giving emotional attachment to things instead of people is wrong, but it's what we're taught. Value people and appreciate them. Memories are in your mind, not in the things.

7.  Figure out what experiences and/or relationships you want to add to your life. Then make an intentional effort to do them and/or nurture them. Maybe it's to develop a friendship with other hikers or fisherman or yoga buddies? Maybe it's to travel with the person you love most? Maybe it's to learn a new skill? 

And don't be afraid to keep experimenting and defining who you are. It's a life-long process. Have fun with it! 

Living Simply: Unexpected Benefits

     There are so many benefits to minimalism and living more simply, but they may be more than you think. Everyone expects the neater home, the cleaner car, less clutter, getting rid of junk drawers and boxes with no idea what's in them. But what about those other benefits you may not be aware of? Here are a few I've found:

1.  Responding vs Reacting - When you're stressed out, there's a tendency to react emotionally or just give others the answer you know they want from you. You don't have time to think things through, balance them against other options, and intentionally decide what to do in any given circumstance. Your day is more even-keeled. You're off the emotional roller coaster most of the time. You're able to give a response to a problem or question and maintain your own priorities.

2.  Improving health - Reducing stress, tension, and anxiety can lead to better sleep, lower blood pressure, lower risks of heart-related diseases. A well balanced life helps you focus on eating better, building in practical exercise to your day or week. Less last minute junk food decisions. Less fast food drive thru trips. Planned meals and snacks more often. In the long run, you may end up much healthier.

3.  Better relationships - Once you intentionally decide how to spend your time, you can choose to be around people that will encourage you, add value to your life, and who mean the most to you. You also get to eliminate those toxic relationships that weigh you down and add stress and anxiety to your world. It's not selfish to protect and nurture your own self in your relationships. Just don't go overboard thinking no one else matters but you. That too has toxic consequences.

4.  Joy - Call it what you want: contentment, happiness, calmness, peace, or joy. It's the feeling that shows up practically every day when you're living the life you know you want to be living.

5.  Freedom -  I have told people that I feel more free than ever before but it's hard to put into words. I guess it's freedom from living the life other people tell me I should be living, freedom to make up my own mind and prioritize according to my purpose, not someone else's. There's also an aspect of money freedom once the debts are paid, and you're spending isn't out of control. That's when a lifestyle of giving back comes into play. You become free (and so does your money) so you can help those in need, or support causes and organizations you believe in.

Have a great week.

Living Simply: Declutter with the End in Mind

Recently I had a conversation with a few women about how their homes are filled with things they've accumulated over the years. Some of them have inherited their parent's things and their in-law's things along the way, too. If those people passed away tomorrow, then THEIR KIDS would end up with their own parents' things, their grandparents' things on both sides, plus whatever their family already possesses. Where does the storing and keeping and hoarding end?

What if instead, we all decluttered "with the end in mind". What if we went through the house, attic, garage, storage locker, spare rooms, and closets, and got rid of not only what we didn't want, but also things we knew our kids won't ever want either? We hold onto things that have been passed down but why? So often, you get to a generation that doesn't want or even like the item, they have no idea who that long-lost relative was, there's no connection. Too often, we try to maintain connections to people through material objects. We tend to think, "If we just keep that old thing that used to belong to so-and-so, we're keeping part of our heritage alive." But are we? What if instead, we keep them alive through stories, maybe a few photographs, a journal that tells who they really were and how they thought about things? If you're holding onto something that your own kids and grandkids don't want, let it go. If it's valuable, sell it. If it's only sentimental, donate it to a favorite cause or charity. Or give it away to someone you know would treasure it. But don't keep it just to keep it. Want to know a secret? The memories aren't really in the "thing". They're inside of you, in your mind, and in your heart.

I see Facebook posts from different antique companies. They ask questions to get comments out of people. They say how beautiful it is, it's an antique, and they ask if you'd want to keep it forever or get rid of it. If it serves no purpose and can't be passed on, then do you really need to keep it? Now if antiques are your thing and you love being surrounded by beautiful old-timey furniture and things, then that's fine. But don't make it someone else's job to sell it all off in a long weekend yard sale for a few dollars just to get rid of it. Enjoy it for a while - then move it to someone who can also treasure it for a while. What else will happen if you do that? You may be able to avoid getting caught up in your emotions of loving it and can avoid paying too much for it. Most people over-pay because of an on-the-spot, emotional decision - and within a few short years, they walk by the precious item without another thought. It just becomes another part of the background.

Maybe you could even ask your kids (this works best if they're already adults) what they DO want to keep when you're gone, you could put a sticker on the bottom of it with their name or something, then everyone is okay with letting go of the rest of it. It's so sad to see family members grieving the worst loss of their life and having to deal with an overwhelming amount of stuff, feeling guilty if they don't keep useless things that belonged to the person. They shouldn't have to deal with something like material stuff. Value people and use things, because the opposite never works.

As you declutter this week, this month, this year, whatever pace you're at...declutter with the end in mind.

Living Simply: Other Blogs on Minimalism

Today I want to add value to your life by simply sharing other people's ideas and blogs with you regarding minimalism and living simply. Enjoy them this weekend!

1.  How Not to Do It All, by Leo Babauta on his blog Zen Habits:

     Zen Habits

2.  Building a Capsule Wardrobe, by Caroline Rector on her blog UN-FANCY

     UN-Fancy

3.  Be More With Less by Courtney Carver

     Be More with Less

4.  Becoming Minimalist by Joshua Becker

     Becoming Minimalist

5.  Practising Simplicity by Jodi (She's in Australia)

     Practising Simplicity

6.  The Minimalists: Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus

     The Minimalists

Living Simply: Saving Money

Part of living a more simple life involves not being stressed out about finances. Not everyone comes to minimalism or living simply on a level playing field. Some start out in lots of debt and need to figure out how to get out of it. The average person comes with some debt, not too much, typically with a car payment, some credit card debt, maybe a loan or two. In some rare cases, a few manage to get here when they are already debt-free. No matter where you're starting, there's things you can do to simplify your life and reduce anxiety.
Here's some money-saving ideas:

1.  Work. If you've got mounds of debt, you need full-time work, or possibly a second part-time job if you can't make ends meet with one. There's the possibility of moving to a better-paying job for some, but I realize that's not always the case.

2.  Living Expenses. Are you in a position to downsize? Take in a roommate (even temporarily) in a spare room? Would it be cheaper to buy instead of rent, or vice versa, in your area?

3.  Monthly Expenses. What can you do to limit your water, electric, phone, and other utility bills? Maybe taking shorter showers would reduce water bills? Turning the thermostat down in winter/up in summer while everyone's gone during the day would save on your electricity/gas/oil bill.  If you're not under contract, you could switch phone plans, for example, we use Straight Talk through WalMart. They have plans from $35 to about $55/month depending on how much data you do/don't use. No contracts, and they use the same towers as Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, and other big name companies, it just depends on the phone usually, and often you can bring whatever phone you already have to the program. You renew each month either automatically on a regular schedule or call in or do it online. It's very easy. You could cut back on your cable/satellite stations. With so much available online and on Netflix/Hulu/Amazon Prime, etc., sports is the only thing you can't find. Local stuff is usually available easily enough through the channel's website and apps.

4.  Cooking/Baking. Making meals at home saves lots of money compared to eating out, even if it's not every day. Every meal in a restaurant will include a percentage of the cost in taxes, drinks are usually $2.50 for non-alcoholic drinks and no limit on those with alcohol. You are expected to tip 15-20% to your server. Desserts are usually at least $5 and ranging up over $10 sometimes, and that's for the average-priced places. A family of 4 could save $50 just in the above mentioned things!

5.  Cleaning Products. You probably have many "free" ones in your home already: baking soda, vinegar, bleach, etc. Another alternative is to purchase them from a dollar store. Usually you can save on things like bowl cleaner, bathroom cleaner, glass cleaner, etc. because the brand name ones are often double or even triple the price.

6.  Groupon. If you want to go out to dinner or to do an activity for a special occasion, try searching places like Groupon.com for deals in your area. Many times you can save quite a bit on something you were going to do anyway.

7.  Work from home. Can you do or learn to do something that you can make money with from home? No extra commuting, no extra lunches, no new outfit for it. Can you bake? decorate cakes? Babysit? Coach? Sew? Do hair for friends and family? Run errands? Walk dogs? Help a friend's business as a part-time bookkeeper? Do taxes for a friend? Give music lessons? Freelance writer or photographer? Clean homes? Plan events? Tutoring? Fitness Coach? Be creative. Whatever you can do or are trained to do, even if you haven't done it in a while, you can use to your advantage and help someone pay a little less for it too.

Once you get the extra money coming in, pay off your smallest debt first. Once that's gone, apply whatever you WERE paying to it, plus a new payment to the next smallest debt. For example, if you used to pay $50/month for a credit card with $500 on it, pay it with every extra penny until it's gone. Then do the same with the next debt, say another card with $1000 on it where you've been paying $75/month but also add the $50 you no longer need to pay the first one. Now your payment isn't just $75, it's $125/month, and will get paid off much faster. Once that's gone, maybe you want to pay off a car or loan. If your payment on it is $200/month, still make that but add the $50 and the $75 from the other 2 that you paid off. Now your payment is up to $325/month until it's paid off. This is call the debt snowball paying off method. You can do this.

Living Simply: What it's NOT

In trying to live a life more simply, I tend to find so many blogs and websites dedicated to the lowest class of 18th century agrarian living. That's just not feasible for most people, and let's face it, it's not even something enjoyable to many people. I want to simplify my life, but not by being a 12 hour a day, 7 days a week farmer with a barnyard of animals to care for and maintain. If some people want to live off the land, quit their jobs, and do that, more power to them, but I don't want people to think that's how it HAS to be. If you hate your job, and want to escape from it all, great. You're living intentionally.
Just know that it doesn't have to be so primal to be a simple life.

What are some more realistic, modern ideas about simple living?

1.  Work at a job or business you love for a reasonable number of hours.

2.  Surround yourself not with only the things that bring you value or joy, letting go of the rest, but not necessarily counting how many items you own. Not everyone wants to own only what fits in a backpack.

3.  Perhaps not buying the newest expensive luxury car, but a reasonable one and still using either public transportation, walking, or biking to save on money and the environment, and getting a little functional fitness in as well.

4.  Cooking a few healthy, homemade meals a week yourself instead of fast food stops and eating oversized, overpriced, sodium and sugar laden restaurant meals every night.

5.  Make time for centering yourself, meditation, breathing, stretching, relaxing your mind and body.

6.  Take time to evaluate your life on a regular basis. What needs are/aren't being met? How are you spending your time? What's missing? Is what you're doing working?

7.  Relationships. This can be as a couple, with friends, being involved in the community, and if you enjoy your work, it could include doing things with your coworkers that you like. No one grows and learns as a hermit.

So whether you live in an RV, a tiny home, a trailer, a rented room in another's house, a dormitory, an apartment, a condo or duplex, or a traditional home, you can live more intentionally and more simply. What that looks like for YOU is your decision. Don't keep doing what you hate simply because you feel pressure to live up to someone else's standard.

Living Simply: When Something Goes Wrong

I want to be serious today. Sometimes life hits us with unexpected obstacles. It may be a cancer diagnosis, a breakup, a spouse asking for a divorce, a child who ended up in jail for breaking the law, an accident that left you in a physical state worse off than before it happened, loss of a loved one, and so many other things.

I won't pretend that in someone else's shoes (or even in my own under those circumstances) the answer is a flippant "everything will be okay", because I know, sometimes it isn't. So what do you do when you first get the news?

The first thing to do is stop. Breathe. Again...You need to take a minute to clear your head. Jumping in without all the information or thinking it through can lead to some seriously bad emotional decisions. It can cause even more anxiety, some of which may not be completely necessary. It can affect those counting on you who may or may not know what you're dealing with today. Where do you begin to work your way through and untangle the mess? I don't have all the answers, but I may have a few ideas that can help in the meantime.

1.  Ask yourself what you absolutely DO have control of. Maybe it's nothing more than your next breath, as when you lose someone you love. Maybe you only have control over what you do or don't say to those around you - and more importantly - to yourself. Don't condemn yourself for things that were beyond your control to begin with! Are there steps to take? Questions to ask? Things that will need to be done immediately? Decisions that must be made right now? Or in many serious cases, there's a waiting period. Isn't waiting the hardest thing to do? Too much time to think up the worst case scenarios and bury yourself in far too many questions simply because you don't have enough information yet. Do what needs to be done right now, and don't let what needs to happen "next" remove you from everything else going in around you today.

2.  Figure out what you DON'T have any control over. If you can muster the strength, can you simply do what needs to be done and let go of everything that won't be possible to fix until some time in the future? Please try to understand that if you're waiting for additional information, or tests, or to talk to someone, don't spend every minute torturing yourself until then. Try to move through the rest of your day until it's time to take the next step. If you're truly in mourning, then you need to take this time processing your thoughts, feelings, maybe find someone you trust to comfort you. All you may be able to do right now is just breathe deeply, over and over, and that's okay too.

3.  When you have more information, then try to work through some type of plan, or step by step list of things that have to be done. Get someone to help so you remember it all. Just don't try to do this step without enough information. Don't jump to conclusions. Don't think the worst until you know for sure what's what.

4.  Lastly, get some support from someone you trust to keep your conversation a secret. Find someone you know has their head on straight - even if that's not your usual best friend, relative, or spouse. Sometimes you need someone who's distant from the situation to see things more clearly. Whether you need advice or just need someone to listen while you unload your feelings, don't go through whatever it is alone. It's a big world with billions of people. There's someone out there that will listen. If not, message me. I'm here.

Hold on, find peace and comfort.

Living Simply: Prevent Getting Sick

This year, we're being told that the flu virus is up over 500% from the norm. Many people who get a cold find it just about goes away, but due to an impaired immune system, they end up with what they think is a "Round 2" of the cold, when really it's things like sinus and ear infections, bronchitis, and other more serious illnesses. If you've been fortunate enough not to get sick (that's no one I can think of), here's a few tips to prevent getting sick. Obviously everyone's immune system is different and is exposed to different things, but these tips will significantly reduce your chances of catching something.

1.  Wash your clothes in hot water and/or bleach (depending on if it's whites, you buy a bleach for colored clothes like Chlorox 2, etc.). Clothing can carry harmful things like salmonella, hepatitus, and other viruses. Most people don't use hot water anymore, and don't use bleach regularly. If you aren't able to do either, dry clothes for over 20 minutes, that can kill germs too.

2.  Disinfect your kitchen sinks and counters with disinfectant wipes (or sprays if that's all you have). Use paper towels instead of sponges or dishrags to clean. Microwave, soak in bleach, or run your sponges through the dishwasher to kill germs.

3.  Use hand sanitizer for your commuting, working, and running errands. You touch the same things many others touch every day, from buses, door handles, elevator buttons, computers, phones, and more to the things like shopping carts, ATM machines, the pay machine keypads at the store checkout counters. Keep your hands sanitized. The people before you may not have been careful at all about spreading their cold germs.

4.  Hang your purses and bags on bathroom stall hooks. Do NOT put them on the floor - don't put them on restaurant floors either! You'd be disgusted to find out how much fecal matter has been found to be on the bottom of the average person's bags.

5.  In restaurants, if you have access to disinfectant wipes, swipe your table and chair. Often the chairs aren't done more than once a day most places.

Living Simply: Joy in living simply

When many people hear the word Minimalism or hear someone talk about living a simplified life, they will often immediately picture someone with unkempt hair, growing their own fruits and vegetables out in the woods somewhere, in a shack that's barely bigger than an outhouse, and nothing inside - like the abandoned shack people stumble upon in movies. Nothing could be further from modern simple living for most people. Here's a way to find JOY in intentional, simplified living:

1.  Don't think about just removing everything from your home or office. Instead, think about what surrounds you that you really love, enjoy, or brings value to your life. What makes it feel like it's truly "your" space? For example, let's say you own 100 movies. Do you find yourself not watching 80% of them? Then get rid of them. Donate, give them away, or throw them out. Do you have a bunch of mismatched dishes and glasses from different sets over the past few decades? Keep what you love and ditch the rest. Too many sheet sets? Keep maybe 1 or 2 per bed, and a spare set for either traveling or unexpected guests. Toss the rest. I had an overgrown collection of baseball stuff from out local MLB team. I kept the pieces I really enjoy and donated the rest.

2.  Check out modern minimalism. Spend some leisure time on Pinterest, YouTube, Netflix documentaries, etc. and see how others are simplifying their life. Even if you never want to be a true "minimalist" you may pick up some ideas or inspiration to create a better, simple life. Figure out what colors, styles, textures, that you love. Figure out what you hate. Make your space reflect who you are.

3.  Seek quality over quantity. Instead of hundreds of pieces of inexpensive, poorly-made items that aren't really bringing value to your life, invest in a few quality pieces, whether it's clothing, furniture, decor, art, etc. so that what you do have is what you love, and it'll last a long time, saving money over the long haul.

It's hard to explain, but once you get a little ways down the road on this journey, you'll discover that you feel less anxiety, have more mental clarity, and you'll begin to really enjoy slowing the pace of your life. Instead of wasting time and money shopping for things you don't need (but are told by advertisers you do), you'll free up both to do more of what you enjoy - getaways, time for friends/family, or just alone time to decompress and recharge. This could turn out to be the best year of your life, a real turning point for the better, if you intentionally make the right decisions in 2018.

Living Simply: No Punishment

I heard someone on a podcast today say that January is "Punishment time in the female kingdom." I think it's not just the female kingdom, I think it often crosses into the male one as well. Think about it. We have 2 major food holidays (or more) at the end of the year, December is when gyms advertise their lowest prices and waive the enrollment fee, then all workout gear goes on sale from Christmas until mid-way through January. Ever go to a gym in January? It's packed, no matter what time you go. Ever see the same gym around March/April? It's much more dead, no matter what time of day you go. This is the time people punish their bodies with wheatgrass shakes, gritty, chalky, protein powders, and restrict themselves to ridiculously low calorie counts. They punish their bodies with extreme measures and the end results:  They made it so hard, so restrictive, that it can't be maintained. What follows is guilt, shame, poor self-esteem, feelings of being a quitter, metabolism gets broken a little more - which is the TRUE culprit of our weight issues. This is NOT a way to live a simple life.
So what would THAT look like?

We talk a lot on here about making daily decisions, intentionally. We recommend baby steps until you're ready to walk, then you can work up to running. What are some "living simply" baby steps?

1.  Stop mixing your carbs & fats, and always center on good protein. America is the worst on this. Our restaurants and typical menus involve mixing fats and carbs, often with little or no protein. Think Macaroni & Cheese. We add a bun to our burgers. We add breading or breadcrumbs to our meatloaf, chicken (before we fry lean chicken breast in heavy oils). French fries are carb loaded and we add them to fatty oil to fry them. Instead of "dieting" where you hate every meal after one or two days, do something you can do forever. Eat what you like, but don't mix carbs & fats. You can have curry chicken in coconut milk with non-starchy veggies, a steak but add salad with a creamy dressing and riced broccoli instead of having a potato or fries with it. Have your meat & cheese sandwiches with mayo on low-carb tortillas or bread instead of regular bread or a big roll. The body can only burn in one direction at a time - carbs for energy or fats for cell growth and stored energy (but too much turns into fatty adipose tissue). You can't exercise enough to overcome poor eating habits.

2.  Add exercise naturally. Take the stairs, park further away, walk your neighborhood (unless you're buried in snow or flooded like parts of New England right now). Once you get into the habit of being active, then add a workout - whether it's at home or in a gym, but don't waste money on a gym if you can do most of the same type of exercises at home. Check online for ideas. Maybe instead of sitting at the movies with your friends eating candy, you could suggest the next outing to be bowling, a nature trail hike, playing sports, or something more active. Exercise is more fun in a group.

3.  Eat out less. There's so many options today even for those who don't know how to cook. There's companies that send you a box full of food already prepped, small sauce and seasoning packets, and step by step instructions. You save time, don't have to make a grocery list, or shop. You could teach yourself to make a few of your favorite dishes, or buy a cookbook that suits your lifestyle and tastes. There's even lots of cookbooks with titles like "10 minutes or less", "3 ingredients", or "one pot meals". Entree aside, think what you'll save in the cost of just drinks, tax, and tipping. You also won't be tempted by suggested selling and photos of desserts everywhere.

4.  Find an accountability partner. This could be a spouse, significant other, family member, friend, coworker, or neighbor. Find someone else who's willing to do things a little simpler, save money, be a little more active, and ask you how you're doing (and what you could improve) on a daily basis. If they live with or near you, that's a bonus. You'll have someone to exercise with sometimes too.

I hope you're inspired to simplify your life, stop the punishment of your body and mind, and don't get caught up in what it seems like everyone around you is doing. They'll most likely not be doing those things 90 days from now, but you will be doing something enjoyable and sustainable for a lifetime. Good luck!

Living Simply: Slow Down

Today I had the "pleasure" of sitting with someone at an appointment that I knew going in was going to take half the day or more. I know we live in a world that hates waiting, hates standing in line, and goes crazy if 60 seconds passes without a text response. So how was I going to handle a 4-6 hour wait? The answer was:  "simply".

I knew I couldn't go anywhere else during that time, and I knew I'd be in a public place so it's not the time to make phone calls. In line with my belief in living simply and intentionally, I planned. I brought a book that I'd been waiting to start. I decided ahead of time that staring at my watch every 15 minutes wasn't going to move things any faster, so I intentionally decided before I left not to look at the time while waiting. What good would that do anyway? It wouldn't change anything externally, and internally it would only drive my crazy. I chose instead to just intentionally let it unfold however it was meant to unfold (although I did pray the night before for things to go smoothly and have the right people in place).

I took the time to "people watch". There were people there from almost every walk of life. Some were young, some were kids, some were very old, all different shades of skin colors and ethnicity. It's so strange when people talk about an entire population in derogatory terms because when you just open your eyes, you see that people are just people (barring the extreme cases, but those shouldn't be how you see the whole group, they are not a correct representation). People are the same. They try to do things to help their family, they come together when trouble hits, they talk about the same types of things, they love their kids, etc.

Once I went from waiting in the lobby to the next waiting area, it was quiet. It was a perfect moment to settle down, clear my head, breathe slowly, and relax. No phone or book distracting me; just watching the few people around us, listening to conversations nearby, not rushing, not looking at the time every few minutes. It was a chance to just de-clutter my mind and slow down.

If you find yourself at an appointment or waiting for something, remember to see it as an opportunity to slow down. It's that break you wouldn't get otherwise in your day. Be intentional about slowing down. Choose to relax instead of sitting there fidgeting being full of anxiety. Life goes by too fast already. Remember to just slow down when presented with the opportunity.

Living Simply: Happy New Year

     Welcome to 2018! You made it through 2017. What will this next year hold for you? What would you like to do better than you did last year? What have you been putting off that you realize that NOW is the time to act? Have you figured out which direction to move as you navigate through the new year? I'm not talking about setting impossible goals or vague "maybe I'd like to..." ideas. Something we can all do to make this year better than last year is to live it intentionally.



     Today, pick a few areas of your life, they can be anything you want to improve, and really consider where you'd like to be this time next year. Maybe for you it's a health goal, something measurable, like to drop a set 20 pounds. It could be that you will choose to park further from the door at work or school to get in extra steps. It could be that you'll start cooking at home instead of eating fast food, maybe once a week to start, and increasing it as time goes on until fast food is a thing of the past. Other health goals could be to get away from sugar, or simple carbs like breads and pasta (not forever, not never, just intentionally deciding that it's for a treat or special occasion instead of your everyday staples).

     Perhaps it's to grow as a person. You could decide to read a certain number of self-help books. You could create a list of the top 10 books you want to read this year and start reserving them at your local library (why pay for them if you don't have to?). Another idea is to take a class in an area you want to know more about:  investing, retirement, real estate, computers, etc.

     Maybe you've decided it's time to move on in your job. There are better opportunities out there if you intentionally pursue them. Will you need more training? Do you have an up-to-date resume? Do you have connections in the field you want to go to? Have you talked to someone who works where you want to work?

     If your thinking you'd like to simplify your life, this blog (among many other stellar ones) have lots of easy inexpensive ideas. Here's an idea that's pretty popular, especially at the beginning of the new month. Play "The Minimalism Game". You get 3 boxes ready and keep them by your door, garage, or hall. On day 1 you find 1 item to "throw out", "donate", or "give away". On day 2 you get rid of 2 items, on day 3 you find 3 items, every day de-cluttering a little at a time, taking barely a few moments. Here's a hint though, for the end of the month's larger numbers, save your books, cds, magazines, DVDs, and other larger groups of things til last. Maybe you don't need quite so many coffee cups, that extra set of dishes, so many utensils, all the stuff in the junk drawer, the clothes you haven't worn in years. Be intentional.

     One last idea for clearing out old clothes:  Turn all hangars around so they're facing the wrong way (with the little hook facing you). For the next month, every time you wear, wash, and put a piece of clothing back in your closet, put it away the RIGHT way, hook facing away from you. At the end of the month, you'll see quickly exactly what you do and don't wear. Whatever you don't, you most likely won't wear anytime soon (with the exception of formal wear, out of season coats, etc). Donate what you don't need.

     I hope these tips help you. Let me know how you're doing with it. 

Living Simply: Simple Changes

Living Simply: Make 2018 Better

     Yesterday I wrote about living 2018 intentionally. What are some things that you could intentionally choose to do, maybe daily, maybe a few times a week, maybe a few times a month, the time frame and frequency isn't the end goal - thinking and living differently is the end goal. You start down a path, making baby steps along the way, and after a while, you find yourself heading in the right direction, having come further than you expected. Here's some ideas to think about for your own life and mindset change.

1.  Make do with what you have - stop trying to keep up with the Joneses. Stop going into debt to
     keep up with what advertisers tell you to buy.
2.  Be content wanting less. Once you let go of the desire to own everything, life becomes simple.
     You go to a museum but don't feel like you need to take it all home with you. It's the same way
     with things. Someday you'll go into stores and think, "I don't really need ANY of this stuff."
3.  Be more creative - plan free date nights, make your own gifts to give others, use what you have in
     new ways to decorate, etc.
4.  Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator - work in fitness without expensive membership
     fees.
5.  Schedule "me" time - no phone, no computer, just let it all go.
6.  Don't text and drive. Seriously, if you're still doing this, STOP IT NOW. Don't think you're so
     unique that you won't cause an accident. Every statistic thought the same thing. It can wait.
7.  Cook more often. Even just one extra night a week saves a lot at the end of the month. The more
     you cook at home, the more money you'll save.
8.  Sign up for a class learning something you've been wanting to know more about for a long time.
9.  Read more - whether it's self-help, marriage/family themed, financial, or fiction to escape.
10. Make eye contact with others throughout your day. Let them know you see them.
11. Eat a vegetarian once (or more) per week - like a Meatless Monday - it'll improve your health.
12. As you run out of cleaners or personal care items, replace them with healthier, more natural ones.
13. Plan time for your friends and family that you care most about. Stop saying you don't have time.
14. Add vegetables to more meals, even if it's just once a day, it'll add up in the long run.
15. Volunteer for something worthwhile - shelter, church, food bank, coaching, etc.
16. Give blood if possible. There's such a shortage. If you aren't phobic about needles, give.
17. Buy local. It keeps the money in your local economy and supports your neighborhood families.
18. Eat less prepackaged, processed foods. All those chemicals are killing you. Switch out for some
     healthier options.
19. Listen a lot more than you speak. If you're a talker, you aren't listening, you're just waiting for
     your turn to talk more.
20. Compliment people sincerely. Look for the good in people and let them know you noticed.
21. Walk instead of drive to close, nearby places - again, adding exercise that's natural.
22. Substitute water for other drinks to become healthier. Drop sodas and fruit juices.
23. Make your coffee/tea at home and save loads of cash at the end of the year.
24. Start a gratitude journal. Write down something you're thankful/grateful for every day.
25. Donate and declutter your space: home, office, garage, etc.

Living Simply: Being Intentional in 2018

   

New Year's is just around the corner. For many, it represents a new start. For some, it's a time of making resolutions. So many people today can't/don't/won't stick to a "resolution", so they just don't bother even trying. What I'm proposing instead is a way to focus on getting to new places in a simple living kind of way.

   

What if you simply decided to live 2018 INTENTIONALLY?

Where resolutions are a set of rules in a way, simply living intentionally is much less formal. There's no focusing on what you can or can't do (for example, a common resolution says you can't eat baked goods or sugar anymore). Intentionally living would be more like making a choice to do something healthy every day to move the ball forward in the direction of being more healthy. Maybe your choices could be to skip dessert one day, to walk instead of watching tv another day, to read something in a self-help book instead of watching a movie, or trying to cook a few nights a week instead of wasting loads more money eating out all year.

     If a resolution is to get debt-free, then the simply living intentional way of doing that isn't about setting spending amounts or setting aside a particular amount each week/paycheck/month - here's why:  If you do, the first time you have a bad paycheck, or your car breaks, or you have unexpected medical emergency expenses, you'll have to blow your resolution, guilt and feelings of failure set in, it's all too black and white, succeed or fail. If instead you work intentionally at getting your debts paid off, it looks different. It would mean that every day, every purchase, you stop to consider the item's value or lack of value compared to being debt free. You would make daily choices to get you closer to being debt-free. You're whole mentality would begin to be aware of your spending and saving habits. You would change your ways, not just have a weekly or monthly task list to pay or save something extra. In the long run, it's changing the HABITS that got you into debt so you can get free. Resolutions are more of to-do lists and they don't usually change your daily habits and get you going in the right direction for more than a handful of times. Most resolutions are forgotten by spring.

     What intentional habits would you like to develop in the next year? Imagine if you made little daily choices, baby steps, but actually kept them up for the next 12 months?! Where will you be this time next year? I can give you some insight...you will have lived intentionally, changed bad habits, developed some new ones, improved the way you think about things, and will be living a more simple life that resembles the goals you intentionally pursued through daily decisions. Isn't that far better than ending the year feeling nothing more than, "I can't wait for this year to end, I blew all my resolutions and I am right where I was a year ago," maybe even worse off.

   

   This year try living simply through being intentional. We'll discuss this topic a bit more next time. In the meantime, think about what kinds of things you'd like to do, become, improve, etc. over the next year.

Living Simply: Christmas Weekend

   

     As we enter this long weekend, many of us will be gathering together for Christmas activities, meals, fun, and events. I want to remind you to live simply as you go through them. Forget the rushing around that's really unnecessary. Focus instead on what's most important - not the gifts, not the shows, not even the "perfect meal"; focus on spending quality time with those you've gathered with this season. If you can't be "home" for Christmas or travel to where your relatives are, make a point to call or video chat with them, even if it's only for a few minutes. If you have a relative you know is alone and lonely this time of year (or a friend/coworker/neighbor), then make just a few minutes to see or call them. It could be the highlight of their whole year.

     Enjoy the homemade gifts, treats, and the simplicity of things. Don't scramble over lists and schedules. Just rest with those you care about most.

     I will probably not blog again until Tuesday or Wednesday so I can enjoy a simple long Christmas weekend with my own friends and family. Until then, enjoy. See you after the weekend for a focused 2018.

Living Simply: Advantages

What are some of the advantages to living a more simple life? Here's just a few, in no particular order.

1.  More peace, less stress. More space, less clutter to stress you out.

2.  More time to rest, play, travel, or whatever you want to do with it. Less time wasted on television, movies, and social media.

3.  More money. Less wasteful spending. Less collecting "stuff". Lower living expenses and bills.

4.  More deep relationships with those you love most.

5.  More intentionality to pursue what's most important to you.

6.  More focus. Letting go of what doesn't add value to your life.

7.  More creativity. Less brain clutter.

8.  More healthy living, whether it's through the time or choice to exercise more, cook more meals at home, eat to improve your health, or just making time to get where there's fresh air and open spaces more often.

Living Simply: Polish Humor

Being 1/2 Polish, I find this funny, and yes, I've eaten all of these...just never all at once, LOL.
Enjoy - especially with your little ones.
It's the Veggie Tales 8 Polish Foods of Christmas.

Living Simply: But Why?

There has been quite a movement towards minimalism, simple living, and just living with less in general...buy WHY? 

People are reading blogs, listening to podcasts, reading books, and downloading ebooks on this topic like crazy...but WHY?

What is it so many are searching for lately?

One of the first things someone living this way will tell you that it's about working less, and needing less, to free up more time to do the important. With less overhead expenses, less frivolous spending, you can intentionally choose to live a better quality of life. They talk about making more memories, having better experiences, and generally being more happy.

Simplicity is beautiful. Clutter looks like disorganization, chaos, and sometimes, the beginning stages of hoarding. Space in your room, office, or home somehow brings with it mental head space. It helps you breathe easier, be more calm, find inner peace. I don't know how else to describe it to others who've never experienced it - it is what it is.

The minimalist wardrobe is sometimes what turns people off. Some love to have multiple closets full of clothes they've hardly ever worn - and often, many they've NEVER worn - with tags still on them. Somehow owning those things make them think they have more choices, but most people will still wear only about 20% of what they have in their closet, and often it's even less than that. It wastes time, brain power, and worst of all, it wastes money. If you could have back what you spent on 80% of your closet items, you'd probably be able to take a nice vacation with someone you love the most, and have a lifetime of wonderful memories. Instead, you have clutter, you can't find "anything to wear" no matter how many things you own. With a minimalist wardrobe, which can be anything you decide, anywhere from say 30 items to 50, you save money, time, and brain power when you get dressed. You get to the point where you either love everything you own, or you donate it. This way, no matter what you pull out, you'll enjoy wearing it. I've been at about 35 items for 6 months now. I still tend to trade out things that have gotten too big or too small for something that will work with the pieces I already own. I don't buy a weird color top that will require me to purchase different pants or skirts, new shoes, and new accessories. I chose a few basic, favorite colors and stay within that palette.

Worry and stress go down when you aren't scrambling between 2 jobs to cover your bills, you worry about how you'll make your next rent or mortgage payment, or how to pay the minimum balance on your maxed out credit cards. Nothing that hangs in the closet or sits on a shelf is worth the stress over paying for it with interest for the next several years! Don't buy what you can't afford. Stop using your credit cards as an additional source of income.

Disconnecting from an overload of social media, along with saying NO to the unimportant things also will free you up to really BE with those you care about the most. You'll have more time to enjoy life.

Maybe as 2018 approaches you could think about how you could trim down your life (if you're not ready to become a full-blown minimalist) and live more simply. More time. Less stress. More intentional living. Less wasted time and money. More peace.

And now you know WHY people choose to live more simply.