15 Ways to Move Towards Simple Living and Peace
I’ve noticed true moments of happiness, joy and bliss usually don’t come in the moments where my mind is occupied or I’m getting stuff done. These moments usually come to me once I’ve slowed down for the day and can really focus on enjoying the moment. That being said, in order to have these happy moments we often need to simplify our lives in order to have more time for joy and gratitude and the important things in life. There are lots of little changes you can make that will bring you closer to simple living. I started brainstorming on ways that I’ve simplified my life in the last few years and thought it’d be helpful to share :).
1. Don’t be constantly connected.
Set certain times of the day during which you simply don’t answer your phone. When I started doing this I noticed problems sorted themselves out before I got to them!
2. Don’t even try to sort through all your emails.
In a world of junk emails and email lists, don’t try to keep your email inbox sorted and perfect. This is probably the one that has had the biggest impact on my life so far on the path to simple living. Emails don’t have to be sorted through, just let them accumulate and instead develop a habit to check back once a day or so to make sure you didn’t miss anything important.
3. Only use one social media site and don’t update constantly.
Trying to keep up with multiple social media accounts is painful and too much time on social media can lead to you feeling FOMO and bummed out, since you’re looking at a never-ending highlight reel. In reality, people don’t care about what you’re doing nearly as much as you think they do, and now with all the different algorithms, most of your followers won’t end up seeing your content anyways😒. I deleted one social media account recently which I was frequently overusing and found 0 implications and have saved so much time and energy! Simple living often means cutting things out that might be entertaining but ultimately are only a distraction and don’t benefit you.
4. Sort things out as soon as they enter your home, or the moment you are finished with them.
This is one I’ve always done and is a huge contributing factor to how I keep my space clean all the time! It prevents things from piling up or being forgotten. An example would be when you get home from running errands or getting the mail, put everything away or sort through and take care of all mail before moving on with your day.
5. Create a good note-keeping / reminder system.
Find a good system that works for you so you aren’t, for example, missing deadlines, bill payments or appointments, which lead to lots of wasted time and energy. This should be accessible via all platforms you use regularly, or something you’ll have on you regularly such as a little notebook or your phone. I use a combination of reminders on my phone and a Google calendar and that’s been working great for me for years.
6. Have a few favorite outfits for each occasion and think before buying.
I’m pretty good about only having a small number of clothing items I wear regularly and it makes getting ready for anything super quick and easy (although I am definitely an “outfit repeater” lol). I recommend only regularly buying a few colors that go together, or getting pieces that will go with many other pieces you own. I also recommend picturing what you would wear a clothing item with before purchasing, to make sure you have something to wear it with! If you hate repeating outfits, get some jewelry pieces that you can wear to spice it up.
7. Use automatic services for your banking and bill paying.
This goes without saying that it saves lots of headache and money, since missing payments will cost you! Technology is making it easier and easier for us to practice simple living and I try to implement and use it as much as I can in my life.
Extra tip: If you have an Amazon Echo or have some extra money to spend, do your shopping list through Alexa. This way all you have to do is say it out loud when you think of something you need instead of going into an app. I keep an Echo Dot in my kitchen and the Echo in my room because those are the places I usually realize I need something.
8. Minimize your stress level and prioritize your immune health.
I put this one down because I’ve noticed that as soon as I’m stressed enough or the amount of time I’m stressed per day increases significantly, I almost immediately start having health problems. This leads to time I have to take off, which could’ve been prevented with some downtime and self-care! Self-care first, so that you can fill yourself up and then help others. Simple living means peace and vise versa. Stress brings the opposite.
9. Keep a folder for coupons in your car.
This also applies for anything you’ll need in your car, such as prescriptions that you have to replace monthly, receipts for returns, etc. This one saves time and energy so that you don’t have to remember to grab those things before you run errands.
10. Only own and purchase what you actually need.
When you’re about to buy something, either wait ~2 weeks and revisit it to see if you really want it enough or think about how often you’ll actually use it or if it will just become junk. I’ve stopped myself from purchasing so many things I didn’t actually need this way, just this morning actually! Lol
11. Develop a repertoire of at least five meals that you can prepare in less than thirty minutes.
This is a big one because cooking a major meal takes lots of time and you don’t want to have to eat out just because you’re starving or ran out of time and don’t know what to make. I cook a satisfying meal for myself almost every night in about 20 minutes, which is fun, healthier than eating out and quick!
12. Make an effort to break the habit of being late.
It causes more stress and issues to be late than it does to be a little early. This is one I’m still working on……
13. Buy more than one of the things you always need or frequently need to replace.
This means less shopping trips and stress when they need to be replaced and you can’t make it to the store in time! I buy multiples of shampoo and other shower products that I know I’ll be using again, light bulbs and other household items and even certain clothing items I know I’ll wear frequently, for when they get a hole in them 😉
14. Say no to things that won’t matter or don’t create balance.
You don’t always have to say yes to plans or everything that is offered to you. Sometimes you have to say no to care for yourself and create the life you want. Don’t feel bad, think about how often others around you turn things down if it feels uncomfortable. This is another one I’m still working on but is another step that has brought me closest to simple living and peace since I’ve stopped saying yes to everything that comes my way.
15. Take a few deep breaths, or a few minutes to meditate, when you notice yourself feeling stressed throughout the day.
It will get you out of any thought loops or distractions and back on track. I try to do this any time I start to feel stressed while at work or out, to re-center and bring myself back to a place of peace, gratitude, and happiness. Everything is easier when you’re in a positive, calm mindset.
More Simple Living Resources
For more tips on simple living I highly recommend The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. This book is by Marie Kondo, who developed the KonMari Method which consists of sorting all of your personal possessions into categories and keeping only those things that spark joy. I love this concept and actually have found myself doing this through the years to declutter my space, only keeping the things that make me happy every day!
I also wrote a post earlier this month on Minimalism, which describes a lifestyle that entails minimizing the physical possessions in your life. This is another helpful resource for anyone feeling overwhelmed or wanting more time to focus on the important things. Enjoy 🙂
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