Living simply challenge Day 19: Nature

   

When I say the word nature, what do you picture? Beaches? Mountains? Woods? Deserts? Rainstorms? Sunrises and sunsets? You'd be right on any of those because nature can mean different things to different people.

     When trying to live a simple life, it sometimes takes getting out of the city and getting back to nature, even if it's just for a day trip or overnight getaway. I love being close enough to a major city that there's always things to do, experiences to have and share, as well as the convenience factor. I tried living in a very rural area for two years, and although it just wasn't a good fit for us (no jobs within 30 miles, nothing for 3 teenagers to do, getting milk took an hour round trip minimum, etc.) I can still appreciate the beauty of nature where we were.

     Where we live is amazing. We're within driving distance of desert, large city, suburbs with lots of green parks and trees, woods, mountains, rural villages with 100 year old stone ruins, high heat and even skiing in the winter. We're very blessed. Even ocean beaches are just a 6 hour drive or so. Getting away from the stress of everyday living is pretty easy here. You can hike, swim, walk on designated paths, play with the kids in the park, walk through the woods, the options are endless. It just takes a little bit of effort to get out of the comfort zone of the living room sofa. I would bet where you live, you can take in nature too. In the north, there's mountains, woods, lakes, and fields. In the midwest there's lots of country towns and villages filled with corn fields and wooded areas. In the southwest there's deserts and spectacular mountains. In the southeast you have lots of beaches, green parks, and wetland areas. In New England, just getting out to see the foliage in the fall can be a lifetime memory experience. You just have to unplug and get out there.

     So WHY would I recommend nature as part of simple living? Because nature tends to be more quiet, a place to think and listen to your thoughts. It's a place where you can slow your pace and your heart rate while taking in natural beauty that you just don't find in man-made areas. What kind of screensavers do most people use on their computers? Nature scenes. Why? Because it's relaxing to contemplate. The way the sun shimmers off a still lake, the way an ice storm makes a landscape of dead trees look like a crystal work of art, the lush greens, yellows and browns of the earthy smelling woods, the views from mountain tops, the sound of the ocean waves mixed with the smell of the salt and sand, that first cool breeze in the last hot day of summer, that first warm breeze during the last cold day of a long spring...those things DO something to humans. They help us relax, recharge, slow down and appreciate the beautiful world created around us. It helps us remember that living simply is all about this - not the rushing and consuming we see ever day. Nature doesn't ask us to buy anything, nor does it profit by us. It's there for one purpose, to bring joy and add value to our lives.

     Consider a weekend getaway, or even a day trip to get back into nature sometime soon. Maybe your next vacation will be spent camping, or kayaking, or on beaches VERY different from where you live, or maybe an escape to the mountains with long warm sweaters and hot cocoa. I know everyone's always too busy for stuff like that, but if you'll just prioritize and make time, you'll find that little bit of simple living and peace you've been longing for but haven't been able to find.

Simple Living challenge Day 18: Live a Non-toxic life.

     Today's challenge can be very challenging when you first get started, but it truly does get easier as time goes on and people around you realize the kind of person you're becoming...one who avoids the toxic people, situations, and things, and a person who lives more simply.

     Every day we could potentially be surrounded by toxins, and I'm not talking about the poisonous chemicals in our air and foods. So many of us go through life just going through the motions. Then we wake up one day and find ourselves in toxic relationships, situations, and among toxic things. So how do we learn to live intentionally and avoid these toxic things? Let's look at them one at a time:

1.  Toxic relationships - You should intentionally involve yourself with people that add value to your life, and that you are willing to add value to their lives as well. They should bring you joy and happiness, just as you should for them. The problem comes in when we allow toxic people into our circle. Who are the toxic people? They are the ones that are always angry, very hot-headed and in your face opinionated. They're the ones that feel if you disagree with them, YOU'RE wrong, EVERY time. They suck the joy from the room just by entering it. They light up the room when they leave. They're the people in your social media news feed that constantly post about someone who's been abused, an animal that was killed by cruelty, or the nothing but political divisiveness. They're the people that are "takers" and never are the "givers". When you see them your first thought is, "What do they want from me now?!" You have a choice to avoid those people most of the time. Sometimes you're forced to work with them, or sometimes you married them and over time they've changed and become bitter, toxic. Well, I would never recommend a divorce unless it's for abuse, abandonment, or a lifestyle of cheating - so no, this is NOT your free pass to get out of a marriage for "something better". What I AM saying is that you can be living with or working with a toxic person, but it doesn't need to be someone you go out of your way to engage. If it's a so-called friend, neighbor, co-worker, maybe even a boss, choose to free yourself of them to the extent you're able. Don't join in to extra curricular activities with them. You don't have to stop and have a conversation with them just because you happen to come across them during your day. A simple head nod or wave to acknowledge them is sufficient. Save your time for intentional living, your priorities, quiet time to unwind or recharge, and to spend with those you love to be with regularly.

2.  Toxic situations - This one is going to be personal based on your experiences. For an alcoholic who's trying to quit, going to AA meetings, a bar is the last place you need to be spending spare time with your former drinking buddies. If you were a person prone to cheating on your significant other, than stay away from singles places, singles meetings, situations where you'll be paired up with people you'd be drawn to by infatuation. If you're trying to lose weight, stay out of the fast food restaurants and when you grocery shop, make most if not all of your purchases from the perimeter of the store, produce, dairy, and meats. Avoid the middle areas full of junk food. If you know you've spent a lifetime mindlessly shopping and cluttering your life, and you're trying to turn over a new leaf, then stay out of the malls, boutiques, and shops. Go with an accountability partner, with a list of what specific things you need and buy nothing else. If you have an ex-spouse and you cannot be friends anymore, then avoid things where you know they'll be. Yes, it may mean missing out on a dinner party or something once in a while, but the peace you'll gain in the long run makes it so worth it.

3.  Toxic things - Okay, this one is pretty simple and you already know what's wrong for you in your life. It may be recreational drugs. If you're a person who starts their weekend off with thoughts like, "What am I going to drink this weekend?" or you tell people your PLAN is to be DRUNK, you most likely have a problem. It may not be getting in the way of your job yet, but a problem rarely vanishes on its own without being intentional in your choices and attitudes. Cigarettes - who still smokes these days? If you're on the right track with the Minimalist 30 day challenge and have been taking baby steps during this August set of challenges, you should already be less stressed out than usual, and you should be finding a sense of calm by now.

     Avoiding those toxic things in your life will lead to a simple lifestyle worth living.

Living Simply Challenge Day 17: Authenticity

     My best friend lives 3000 miles away and I only get to see her a few hours every couple of years. What makes her my best friend? She knows me. How is that possibly when she's not there to see the day to day things I do or hear what I say very often? Authenticity. We are a completely open, honest, genuine, truthful, open book with one another. There is nothing in my life I can think of that I would ever feel the need to keep secret from her. Now that doesn't mean I choose to share private things, but I don't purposely keep them from her either, we just understand that we respect each other's privacy on things like what goes on in each other's marriage, but if there was a problem either of us wanted to solve in that arena, we're comfortable with each other that she and I are "a safe place" to work things out. No hidden agendas. We want the best for each other.

     So how do you get this level of authenticity with another person? or with those around you? Work. Plain and simple, it takes work. There are a few things that are required to be an authentic person, and no that doesn't include opening up every private corner of your life. It just has to do with being real in the areas that you DO choose to share, or let others view in you.

1.  Be Real:  Unless you're authentic, you'll never find that closeness you want with anyone else. You'll always know deep down you're wearing a mask around them, wanting them to see something different (and often better) than who you really are. Don't live your life like a Facebook profile, only exposing the cropped, altered, popular, "life is wonderful" fake you. (And that doesn't mean FB is where you air all your problems and dirty laundry, those don't need to be all over stranger's news feed either). Just be who you really are when you're with people.

2.  Don't worry about keeping up with the Jones':  If you're read anything about minimalism and simply living, it has everything to do with letting go of this. Who cares what someone else drives, what labels they wear, how many square feet their home is, what school they went to, what company they work for, and how often they travel? None of those things will change YOUR life. They aren't going to pay your bills if you get in trouble, so stop trying to impress and keep up with them. Quit comparing yourself to all the fake people out there. The worst is when you see people in poverty who can't pay their overhead expenses and their car hasn't started for over a year, but they have the newest $700 phone, the biggest big screen tv in the neighborhood, just got back from traveling out of the country, and wear more gold jewelry than Mr. T did in the 1980s. Quit striving to have the most debt for appearances' sake. Live BELOW your means, not just within, and never above. I'm not saying you should look the part of being poor or becoming a deprivationist (I think I made that word up). That wouldn't be authentic either. Just be you and be smart with your money.

3.  Quit looking for sympathy:  Life is hard. Many people who look like they have it all together, like they've "arrived", are really falling apart at the seams, they're just hiding it - but eventually it will be revealed what's really going on. Everyone has problems. Some endure never-ending pain from an injury or disease, some are fighting for their very life and you never even know it. Some have a marriage falling apart, or a family that's split over something they don't know how to fix. Maybe they have adult kids that have gone off the deep end or are in jail or are stuck in an abusive situation and they don't know what to do. People deal with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and lots of other things that make their life hell and it's not obvious on the surface. Don't be one of those people that always has to compare their plight with whatever story they hear. When someone is telling a story of something that happened to them, and you interrupt with things like: You should see what I deal with, that's nothing compared to what I had to go through, welcome to my world, or You think YOU have it bad...this does nothing to make you look good. First, it sounds like you're totally negating what the other person is trying to tell you. Second, you interrupted to say, "Stop talking about you. I want you to focus on ME instead." Third, and this is a bit harsh, but people will think you sound whiny, like it's all about you. How about instead, try being authentic. LISTEN to the other person who may just need to get out their frustration verbally. Then be supportive with a few comments. If after you've validated their feelings and let them know you understand, then you can usually tell them your similar story by starting with something like this, "You know, I get exactly what you're saying. In fact, I remember a time when _____(this happened)____ to me." That's a VERY different approach. Being authentic means being who you are, but not putting on airs to sound like you have it WORSE than everyone else. Be that breath of fresh air for other people. This world needs more heroes, not complainers. And guys, trust me, your wife wants to see the hero in you she knew you already were when she married you.

4.  Don't fake it:  So many times, especially around a new relationship, be it a boyfriend/girlfriend, coworker, or new friend situation, I see people pretend to be or like different things than what's authentic. They hate seafood, but suffer through a sushi dinner to be polite. Be authentic, tell the other person the truth and find a different place to eat that's enjoyable for both of you. Don't be a martyr. If you hate "chick flick" dramas, be honest. Find maybe a comedy, documentary, mystery, or some other type of movie to watch together. If you hate rap music, don't agree to go to the rap concert for hours resenting being there all night, because that will do nothing to improve the relationship. With that being said, you can be authentic about your likes/dislikes and THEN make an attempt to appreciate your partner, friend, coworker's perspective. Here's an example:  I love baseball. My husband doesn't. He hated sports most of his life, he sort of tolerated an occasional game on TV or went to the ballpark with me. Over time, he's learned more about the game and the players and although I understand he won't love it like I do, and I don't plan on trying to somehow magically "make him like it", he will go to or watch a game nowadays with me because he knows it makes me happy, and THAT makes HIM happy. On the other side of that, I'm not into guitars, playing an instrument, nor country music. I do however want to sometimes enjoy our night out together checking out a guitar exhibit at a museum, or listening to some country songs in the car together, or listen to him playing guitar. I'm honest about not enjoying listening to the Blues genre of music. To be fair, I did go with him recently to see a blues group, and my husband had no idea if they were good or not before-hand. I was authentic about not liking it, but I went because it made HIM happy, and that makes ME happy. It's something we both learned back in our days of Dr. Stephen Covey's & Habits of Highly Effective People. Respecting the differences and sharing experiences that we aren't thrilled with is okay if we're authentic about it, then choose to do it because we want the other person to be happy. Just do it with authenticity. Don't pretend and then resent it. Don't let it become something you're upset about in the middle of an argument in the future, and don't constantly state how much you hate it but you'll do it for them - in a martyr type of way - See #3 above.

5.  Be authentic with yourself, most of all:  Here's the toughest part...being truthful with yourself. This isn't the time to beat yourself up focusing on all your flaws. It's also not the time to think you're "all that" and you're irreplaceable at your job. It's time to be truly authentic and real with yourself. Figure out what you're good at, and stick with it as long as it's giving you some kind of sense of purpose, integrity, or brings you joy. Then figure out what flaws you could change. I'm never going to be a great singer, I've accepted that, I don't pretend I am. I don't hate myself because I'm not. I'm just very accepting of where I'm at. If it's important, than be intentional to make changes. This could be through breaking bad habits, creating new good habits, learning how to do whatever it is better. Ask someone you trust to help you get better. Read books (or listen to audio books) on how to improve in that area. If it's something not all that important to you, like singing is for me, then let it go. Don't feel bad or guilty about it. Don't stress trying to improve for anyone else. Just let it go and make peace with it. Be authentic. Decide what talents and gifts you have and use them - preferably to help others, but at least to live a more simple life. Decide what to let go of and quit stressing over it. Change what's important and within your ability to change (like working on people skills and relationships). Be the best authentic version of you.

     I hope now you have a better understanding of what it means to be authentic. Be who and what you are when no one's looking - and if that's not something you're proud of - take the necessary steps to change that. Once you can be YOU, no matter who you're with, where you are, in every situation, you'll be free to live a more simple life. No more pretenses, no more acting, no more having to be on your guard around others. You'll be free to live simply.

Living Simply challenge Day 16: Music

     You're driving down the road and a song comes on that triggers a head full of memories. It may be memories of having fun with friends back in high school. It may be memories of someone special in your life. It could remind you of someplace you were when you heard it for the first time and how much it affected you in that moment. Music is part of our lives, memories, movies, shopping experiences, and more. It's a gift. So what does the gift of music have to do with simple living?

     Every day we have choices to make. They seem small but may really be bigger than we think. What if you listened to the right music to start your day right? It may be classical that helps you start the day feeling invigorated, country to stir your emotions, folk music to get your thoughts going, jazz to just ease into the day at a more relaxed pace, maybe it's hip hop or pop dance music to help you wake up, for some, it's rock music that gets them moving at a faster pace...what type of music is up to you, but let it inspire you however you need it to speak to you. Make a choice what to listen to instead of randomly allowing the noise around you be just noise.

     When you go to work or school, do you choose silence or audio books or music? Whichever you choose, it is your choice, but if you choose music, again, let it be what sets the tone for your day. Let that song stuck in your head be a good one.

     Bring music into your world in new ways. Maybe the next time you're in a store and hear something unique, ask the person working there what it is and download it if it got your attention. I remember doing that with a friend and my kids years ago. We were showing a friend around a touristy area and in one shop we heard very unique music that spoke to us, it was so peaceful and calming, like nothing we currently listened to. When we asked about it, we found out it was R. Carlos Nikai, a Native American who plays a wooden flute. It stirred something in both of us the second we heard it. I purchased his Canyon Trilogy CD (which you can find online or watch on YouTube) and I've loved it ever since. I still listen to those songs at times when I have trouble relaxing. Explore music in unexpected ways.

     Reggae music, I grew up listening to Bob Marley and the Wailers, then after high school I began listening to a local college radio station that played reggae artists like Peter Tosh. I don't know what it is about reggae music but if it's on, even in a grocery store, I can NOT stand still. Within a few minutes of listening to it, even subconsciously, I begin swaying to it. It connects to something deep inside that I don't get from my usual classic rock or 80s metal stations.

     Nowadays I have the same "I have to move" feeling with some of the Latino songs. Songs like Vivir Mi Vida and Dimelo by Marc Anthony. I don't know if it's some salsa rhythm or what but they make me feel the emotion of the song and I feel happy, like dancing. I don't get that in other genres.

     I'm not sure why but I also am drawn to popular songs with foreign lyrics. Even if the song isn't that good, I'm drawn to it. It could be the German version of 99 Red Balloons (99 Luftballoons), Riu Riu Chiu by the Monkees, Seul la Rhune sung half in English, half in Celtic, La Bamba or the Macarena sung in Spanish, it really doesn't matter. I tend to like it for some strange reason.

     Incorporating more music into your life can help broaden your horizons, explore your personality and get to know who you are more deeply. It can even be an intentional way of directing your emotions throughout the day - giving you what you need when you need it. Take some time to try different genres, you may be surprised to find out you like something as bizarre as pirate metal (yes, I went through that phase with Alestorm) and Celtic metal (like I did with Skiltron). Have fun with it. You only get to live this life one time. Make intentional choices to make the most of it and learn to live a happy, more simple life.

Living Simply challenge Day 15: Why Donating is Important

     A quote I recently came across really spoke to me. It said, "Anything you haven't used in the last 6 months belongs to someone else." You hear a lot about donating when discussing minimalism, living simply, and decluttering, but let me give you a different perspective, one from the other side of it.

     Growing up we were poor. Actually, poor would've been a step up. Until you've lived without a way to wash and dry your clothes in harsh winter climates, been without a table to eat on, had to live out of a cooler for months when the refrigerator breaks, spent many days where 3 meals a day was an impossibility, and had to wear hand me downs that were 20 years out of date and you were allergic to the material - but it's all you had - you can't imagine how important your donations are.

     There would have been many Christmases without gifts from my single parent mom if it hadn't been for the generosity of the community donating to the Salvation Army. I had wonderful aunts and uncles that gave me a few gifts when the family gathered on Christmas Eve, but waking up on Christmas morning as a young child with nothing at "home", long before anyone ever talked about minimalism and materialism, it would've been so empty and depressing back then. Seeing that Salvation Army truck pull up and bring us a box (which I wasn't allowed to look through until things were wrapped and under the tree on Christmas)...it made me feel "normal". I already had a lot of reasons to be the outcast growing up. I was in my 9th school by 9th grade. Imagine ALWAYS being the "New Kid". We had no money to participate in anything, especially sports or after school activities. We had no car and my mother had no license for most of my life. My father was often in jail or living somewhere else. We were the house with that big block of government cheese you see in social media memes. Don't get me wrong - I actually don't resent it, I don't walk around saying I'm somehow scarred for life, or a victim, it actually taught me to be creative and resourceful. That's something that definitely came in handy as an adult.

     Fast forward about a decade. I'm now married to a very hard-working man who agreed that the children and their education was important enough to have me be a stay-at-home, homeschooling Mom. That meant sacrifice. A family of 5 living on a single income, mostly in sales which as you can imagine, is either small feast or total famine. We got by okay for years with my resourcefulness to stretch money further, find free or close to free deals on things we needed, and by being okay with not having everything those around us had. But there came a time when the recession was really taking hold. My husband's job was not paying what it used to, and neither were the other jobs similar to his. Customers were holding onto their money, making due with what they had for longer periods of time, just like we were. In my husband's second year on the job, he made about half what he had the first year. We had to do something. He couldn't stop the only income stream to go to school, but I refused to put the kids in public school to work a minimum wage job and have them home alone with no family for hundreds if not thousands of miles away. I went to get a job. I knew I could find something eventually if I could just meet a manager or owner. I have skills, but what I didn't have were clothes decent enough to show up for an interview, let alone a job. That's where donations comes in.

     I went to a few of the Goodwill stores near us. I had to find a few pairs of black pants and a few decent shirts without holes and stains. We had no extra money to do that. I had to skip buying groceries for two weeks just to buy a few $5 items, and hopefully find a few $1 items with the right "color of the day" tag. Many of the clothes I had to pick from either weren't in my size, already had stains or they had frayed edges. It was our only option and the donations people gave during a time when everyone was in need themselves were so minimal, it was very disheartening. I eventually found 2 pairs of pants, 3 shirts, and a job working in a tea house restaurant. Eventually it shut down because of the bad economy, and then we were in real trouble.

     The third year my husband worked harder than ever, and he's very good at what he does. He was always in the top percentages of sales, salesman of the month, etc. but still in the recession, his 3rd year income was now only about A THIRD of what he made that first year. Then they told him he'd have to take a pay cut just to keep his job. It's something all the larger companies had to do to keep their doors open and not have to lay off ALL employees. I found another job, which also ended up closing for lack of income. Thank goodness we had Goodwill stores in our area. Our kids had grown a lot during those last few years and we couldn't afford to keep them clothed otherwise. We had several everyday appliances break and would've been in trouble without the opportunity to purchase (at a significant discount) things others had donated. We even had a time of almost two years where we had no option but to live in a rural area with no jobs and almost no income for about two whole years. Again, it was the donations in the thrift stores that saved us. It's how we got through it all.

     As you're on your journey of decluttering and you think to yourself, "This is in such bad shape. No one will want or need this. I should just throw it away," remember there are families struggling beyond anything you may have ever experienced. They need your donations just to get by, to clothe their children, to buy one outfit to get a job, to buy that old toaster oven because they can't afford to replace a broken stove, etc. What seems old, out-dated, out of style, not the latest technology, just may be the very thing an almost starving, almost homeless family needs. Now imagine if you donated GOOD things you didn't need anymore. How about instead of going to an interview in the wrong sized pants and a frayed shirt, a homemaker trying to enter the workforce could put on a dress that looked fairly new? What about that Dad trying to support his family and now he can interview in a suit instead of stained jeans so he can get the better paying white collar job instead of the one that caused his back problems? What if a single mom could find shoes for her kids that actually fit? Even those trinkets around the house you don't need can help a kid like I was, who felt like the outcast, have something to give someone during a school gift exchange? For about a dollar, they get to feel normal for a day instead of having to sit at their desk instead of in the circle of chairs while the other kids exchange a Secret Santa gift. There's so many people doing without. They need your donations, especially the ones that are in good shape, you just don't need it anymore. Please, if you don't want to declutter your whole house at this point, would you consider donating at least one box of stuff, or a few clothing items, or maybe some extra pots & pans or utensils? People need your help. Thank you.

Living Simply challenge Day 14: Baby Steps

     When I first heard about a living simply lifestyle, and minimalist ideas, my first thought was that it was a great idea. Who wouldn't want a more simple life? Why would people want a more stressful, cluttered, accidental life if they could choose to live intentionally? Then I started to declutter, a little bit, and then it hit me - if I really want to do this, it's going to be a huge change! Do I really want to take on decluttering everything? Or am I maybe just looking for some time savers so the house looks straightened up more often? I had to really figure out if I could do this. When you begin the process, there are some easy baby steps to take, many of which I've mentioned over the past 45 days on here, but as you get on the right track something else happens. You begin to see everything around you through a different lens. Your perspective on things change. The "stuff" you wanted so badly you just had to buy it, suddenly becomes just stuff. Now the lifestyle change seems like monumental projects and doesn't seem to be SIMPLE living at all. You can give up and pretend you never were interested in living a more simple life, but deep down you'll always know you could have had one instead of the treadmill filling you with anxiety every day. Begin with very simple baby steps to make progress, simplify your life, save you some time - but you have to be intentional about doing them. Here's a few ideas to get you started on a neater home, simpler life, less stress, less drama, and a better quality of life:

1.  Make your bed in the morning. It changes how the room looks and feels when it's made up.
2.  When you get undressed, put the clothes in the hamper, laundry basket, or drawer/hangar if that's appropriate. (like you changed your mind about what to wear)
3.  Make a list daily or weekly or monthly with 10 things for which you're grateful.
4.  Put things away after you use them instead of leaving them on tables, shelves, the floor, and other flat surfaces.
5.  Take 15 minutes before bed to put away any last minute things, throw out trash left out, etc. This way you can wake up with a cleaner house.
6.  Set aside a time, like an appointment, to go through your mail every day so it never piles up and becomes a large stack of anxiety. Maybe set up bill paying to be done once a week on a schedule.
7.  Do something to get moving for 10 minutes every day. This could be a brief walk, a short workout, a few minutes on a piece of exercise equipment, stretching, yoga, dancing to the radio, whatever you're willing to do for a few minutes that's better than not moving.
8.  Plan your grocery shopping according to the flyers (or check your local store's website, usually on a Wednesday is when most sales start). Buy the meats, fruits, vegetables, and dairy that's on sale instead of paying full price for items that aren't on sale. You'll save a LOT of money doing that.
9.  Take a half hour after the grocery shopping is done and plan meals around what you purchased. It saves you time because you don't have to think about what to make for dinner each night and you shouldn't have to run out and get ingredients at the last minute because you planned it based on what you already had on hand.
10.  Plan on taking 1/2 hour once a week, maybe on a Sunday, and prep your fruits, veggies, meats, and snacks for the week. Chop your veggies, slice your fruit, portion out your meats (for example, a single person can divide out 4-4oz portions from a 1-lb pkg of ground beef for 4 meals). During the week, tossing together a bowl of rice, pasta or quinoa, a few veggies, and quickly frying up a few cubes or thin slices of chicken will only take a few minutes. Grabbing a baggie full of portioned out berries, nuts, cubed cheese, etc. will save you time during the week.
11. Shut the television off earlier and get some sleep! A good night's rest will feel better than ANY show on tv.
12.  Toss out your hair/beauty products you haven't used in months and probably never will. Now when you look for a specific product, you won't have to sort through so many things to find it.
13.  When you cook, can you make a double batch and either freeze the leftovers or re-purpose them for the next night's meal? This works great with things like chicken breast. Put them in a crock pot while you're at work, slice a few and freeze them, shred a few for tonight's dinner (like chicken burritos or soft tacos), then if there's any left over, cube it and refrigerate it to top tomorrow's lunch salad.
14.  Turn off your cell phone when you're with someone, during dinner, when you're taking a few minutes to meditate or relax (or exercise). Give yourself that 10-15 minutes free from distractions, demands, and drama others want to put on you.
15.  When you're in the store, and you want to buy on impulse, you can either leave your credit cards at home to make buying impossible, or agree to wait until you've thought about it for 24-48 hours. Many times after a day or two the appeal the item had has worn off - especially if you've already decluttered your space.

     So you see, there are small projects, small daily habits, time-saving steps you can start immediately to live a more simple life. Feel free to add to this list anything else that will help your life go more smoothly, be more intentional, move in the direction that brings you closer to your values. Baby steps. That's all it takes. Which ones will you take this week?

Living Simply challenge Day 13: Define your personal style

     Today's post was very late, almost 10 pm, apologies, busy day...

     Now that many of you have begun the process of taking baby steps into living simply or even as far as considering minimalism, it's time to figure out your personal style. If you declutter and simplify your life until all the excess is gone, what's left should reflect who you are, or what's important to you. How can you find joy or usefulness in what you do keep in your world without taking the time to figure out what brings you joy? What is your real style once culture's pressure to consume everything no longer has it's pull on you? How do you begin to figure that out?

1.  What is your personality? Are you outgoing or introverted? Are you action and task focused or relationship/people focused? Are you drawn to simple designs or do you get energized by bright colors and patterns? What truly brings you joy? Is it planning a fun day with lots of your friends having a relaxing party by the pool with music, food, bright colors everywhere? Or is it a day of solitude, all to yourself, surrounded by simple, basic, neutral colors and furniture, planning a day of reading, sipping your favorite beverage, allowing time to think in the space of quiet? Maybe your perfect day is to get out of the house with your favorite person to enjoy doing or seeing something new, just the two of you, enhancing the relationship by sharing conversation and experiences? Are you the type that likes to take classes by yourself, to challenge yourself, or maybe it's to be on a competitive sports team where your leadership skills can benefit everyone involved to reach common goals? Figure out which of these four sounds most like you. It's a good start.

2.  Once you know your personality, what does that mean for your wardrobe/closet? Will it be filled with bright patterns and casual fun clothes? sharp casual and a few business outfits? Will it be natural fabrics that are loose fitting and comfortable? or very intentionally designed clothes with little extras in high quality materials, but are simple in nature? Matching the right materials, fit, and type of clothes will make you a lot more comfortable in your new lifestyle.

3.  What kind of furniture will you have? This could be keeping pieces you already own and love, or buying ones that bring you joy from a discounted or thrift store while donating or selling off the pieces that "aren't you" anymore. Is it the leather oversized sofa with metal stud trim? Is it a comfy, soft country pattern with a ruffled skirting? Maybe it's the ultra modern black slim sofa with metal arms that frees up space under and around it by its design? It could be a traditional sofa with neutral colors and wood framing, arms, and legs. Whatever style, materials and colors suit you, that's the goal.

4.  What about your kitchen? Can you find a place for everything you need to keep and still have uncluttered countertops? Can your kitchen island (if you have one) be free of unnecessary clutter? Will it be something easy to maintain? Can you eliminate duplicate items or find ways to get double use from some appliances or utensils? Whatever works for you at whatever level of cooking and baking you do for your sized household.

5.  Your bedroom should be your sanctuary. Everyone's different. My ideal bedroom would have one small dresser each, our bed, and not much else. In our case, we're going to have 6 people living here with 8 "frequently" so the office had to be moved into our room. However, I chose the smaller of my 2 desk choices. I gave away all but a few books I really wanted to keep. They do bring me joy and I will re-read them. I don't feel like having the desk and laptop in our room is an anxiety inducing thing. It's where I blog, connect with like minded individuals and keep up with my family. If I have to do something on the computer that will be a chore, I sometimes move the laptop to the kitchen table or living room. I still manage to maintain an air of relaxation in our more minimal, more simple bedroom.

6.  Your work space. Again, this will be different for everyone. Your job may be somewhere that you're on shift and don't have a space of your own. But if you work where you have a cubicle or an office (or even just a desk), you can make that space your own. Declutter the excess, organize the necessary, then add your own touches. What's important to you? A family photo? A picture of a place you want to travel to on your next vacation? A calendar marking down the days until you're debt-free or financially stable enough to buy a house? Is there a small token that will bring you joy and be meaningful to you - it could be a plant or something. It could be negative space - just keeping one area in your office free of everything. A place to focus on when you feel overwhelmed. Like an oasis in your desert. Maybe that free space is in a private office and it's where you can take a few minutes to just sit and meditate and breathe when stress is building. Make it your own.

     There are so many ways to make your world reflect your values and who you are. It could be a digital frame with photos of family, friends, places you want to travel to, artwork, photos you've taken and have made into art on canvas (Walmart and other office supply places do that now). You may want to bring color into a black and white room by a simple little green plant in a clear vase. The possibilities are endless. Just remember the goal is to live a SIMPLE life, so don't go buy a bunch of stuff and begin cluttering up your world again. Be intentional with purchases. Sell, donate, or toss out whatever shouldn't be in your space, whatever does not bring you joy, whatever doesn't serve a purpose, whatever you don't like. Surround yourself with a reflection of you, with lots of space free of everything. Simple is truly living.