Living Simply: What would you tell YOU?

Let's take a few minutes today to really think...knowing what you know now, as you're working towards either minimalism or just a more simple, intentional life, after you've begun decluttering and getting rid of so much stuff you've accumulated mindlessly over the years...what would you tell your younger self if you went back in time? Maybe something like this?

1.  THINK about your buying habits. Figure out what are impulsive, emotional wants and what are actual needs. There are so many better things to spend your money on than just the clutter and material junk that advertisers and store sale signs tell you to buy.

2.  BE CREATIVE. Can you borrow the book, music, or movie, or get it from the library instead of buying it? (Especially textbooks for college!), Can you buy top brand clothes from a discounted store like an outlet store? Ross, Marshall's or TJ Maxx? Have you considered Goodwill for basic items like bakeware or electronics?

3.  Think about EXPERIENCES. Instead of always buying things for yourself and others, what about purchasing experiences instead, full of lifelong memories and opportunities for strengthening relationships? Instead of a sweater, purse, movie, shoes, music, etc., what about buying theater or movie tickets? restaurant gift cards? bowling gift certificates? tickets to an event, concert, sporting event, or trade show? how about an overnight stay at a bed and breakfast?

4.  Don't buy more than you need, especially CLOTHING. Most people wear the same few items and never touch 80% of their closet's contents. If it doesn't fit anymore, donate it. If it's out of style, toss it. If it's stained or has holes that prevents you from wearing it regularly, throw it out. If it's a style that doesn't really suit you, give it away. Stop hoarding stuff you'll never wear.

5.  Be INTENTIONAL with your time. Don't waste time doing things you hate. Instead, create more time to do what brings you joy or adds value to your life. Spend it with those you love instead of scrolling on your phone or sitting on your computer all night. Why watch a movie alone when you can watch with friends or family? Make time to get away, breathe fresh air, fellowship with others.

Now that we've gone through this little thinking exercise, imagine what your older self would say to you NOW. What will your wiser self tell you to change? How or in what areas would your future self tell you to start growing? What will your older self tell you to do today so your future is even better? Then start today taking those baby steps to move you toward the direction you need to go, for you. May you also enjoy the journey.

Living Simply: Quotes

Today, enjoy these sayings and quotes about living a simple life:

“It is desirable that a man live in all respects so simply and preparedly that if an enemy take the town... he can walk out the gate empty-handed and without anxiety.” 
― Henry David Thoreau, Walden

“Well, all I need is the air I breathe and a place to rest my head.” 
― Hal Leonard Publishing Company, OneRepublic: Dreaming Out Loud

“Arranging a bowl of flowers in the morning sun can give a sense of quiet in a crowded day - like writing a poem, or saying a prayer.” 
― Anne Morrow Lindbergh

“Forget about the money for a moment. Lose yourself in the wilderness, listen to the music of the softly blowing winds, feel the rain on your bare skin, let the mountains take the burden off your shoulders.” 
― Kiran Bisht

“The simple life is an authentic life.” 
― Kilroy J. Oldster, Dead Toad Scrolls

“The greatest life is the joy of contentment.” 
― Lailah Gifty Akita

“Real luxury is not working like a maniac to take an expensive vacation--it is living a life you enjoy every day.” 
― Kathy Gottberg, Rightsizing * a Smart Living 365 Guide to Reinventing Retirement

“When the living gets unburdened with needs and desires, the life becomes simple and easy to carry.” 
― Shashi, Songs of the Mist

This next collection I especially like because they come from what we would think of as a more simple time, some over a century ago, yet just as fitting today, if not more so...

1948. Jackie French Koller. “There are two ways to be rich: One is by acquiring much, and the other is by desiring little.”

1947. Linda Breen Pierce. “Simplicity involves unburdening your life, and living more lightly with fewer distractions that interfere with a high quality life, as defined uniquely by each individual.”

1943. Tenzin Palmo. “One of the advantages of being born in an affluent society is that if one has any intelligence at all, one will realize that having more and more won’t solve the problem, and happiness does not lie in possessions, or even relationships: The answer lies within ourselves. If we can’t find peace and happiness there, it’s not going to come from the outside.”

1940s. Duane Elgin. “The intention of voluntary simplicity is not to dogmatically live with less. It’s a more demanding intention of living with balance. This is a middle way that moves between the extremes of poverty and indulgence.”

1940s. Richard Foster. “We really must understand that the lust for affluence in contemporary society is psychotic. It is psychotic because it has completely lost touch with reality. We crave things we neither need nor enjoy.”

1899. Edwin Way Teale. “Reduce the complexity of life by eliminating the needless wants of life, and the labors of life reduce themselves.”

1886. Mies Van Der Rohe. “Less is more.” 

1879. Will Rogers. “Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like.”

1836. Anna C. Brackett. “We go on multiplying our conveniences only to multiply our cares. We increase our possessions only to the enlargement of our anxieties.”

1834. William Morris. “Have nothing in your homes that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”

Living Simply: Evaluate

How do you know if you're on the right track with simplifying your life? Here are a few ideas:

1.  Have you figured out what's most important to you? Keeping the roof over your head may seem like a practical goal, but what's important enough to you that you wanted to make a change in the first place? Is it to declutter your home? Is it to ease work anxiety? Is it to improve your health and add peace to your life? Is it to pursue a new career or hobby you "never had time" to chase before? Is it to simply spend more of your time with those you love most - like your spouse or significant other, your kids, or your closest circle of friends? Figure that out first. It's like the blueprint to figure out what fits into that "goal" (I hate to use that word from corporate America, but for explanation purposes it fits.) and what to remove from your life.

2.  How do you spend your time at work? Do you say yes to things you should say no to? This can be work-related or even just the after-work "join us for drinks" sessions you may want to drop/add depending on what you figured out in #1. 

3.  What about how you spend your time every day? Are you habitually late? Always too early? Do you climb into bed knowing too much went undone but you know you moved up a few levels on your favorite PC or video game? Do you climb into bed knowing you did all the important things intentionally, and so you don't have to feel guilty about the few things you did to unwind? Know where your time goes.

4.  How's your home life - busy or relaxing? Every day may be different, but in general, is it too busy at home or have you been able to make it into your retreat? Are there things you can delegate? Are there things that you really could let go of because they're not as important as your #1 values? Drop what you don't need. Include what's important. Find your balance.

5.  Have you decluttered your media? If you're storing things you'll never really need, let them go. If you have thousands of emails and an overstuffed "recycle bin" on your computer - time to let it go. Are there files from years ago you no longer need? Do you carry around apps with you that don't serve your intentional simple living plans? Delete it. Stacks of photos in a drawer? Scan them to a thumb drive.

6.  Have your shopping habits changed? Do you still mindlessly purchase things you see or do you now find yourself going to stores for something specific and being okay to wait on it if they don't have it? I've been in about 8 stores looking for a comforter or quilt that fits our bed (ordered a queen but coming from another country, it's the size of a U.S. full one, so it's too short and it drives me crazy every day. I won't buy one just because it's cheap, or "it's all they had". I will wait until I find the right one, at the right price, that brings me joy. 

7.  Are you working towards a healthier life? Are you eating at least a little better than before your journey? Are you getting in some walking or functional exercise? Getting fresh air now and then? Doing something physical instead of sedentary (think bowling instead of sitting at a movie eating junk)? Even if you can't stay on a totally healthy routine, can you eat just one off-plan meal a day? Or cut down to just one cheat day a week? Decide what your health is worth to you, and go earn it.

8.  Peace. Do you have it? Remember to take small breaks throughout the day to clear your head, get a change of scenery (even if it's just a walk from your cubicle to the bathroom). Are you getting to bed earlier enough that you can rest before having to wake up in the morning? Make time to recharge. Make time to rest your mind and your body when they need it. You'll end up more productive in the end. 

Hope this helps. Have a great week!