Simple living encourages you to cut through the clutter and make room for what’s really important. Instead of wasting precious energy paying for, storing and maintaining so much stuff, why not eliminate the things that are unnecessary?
If less sounds good to you, ask yourself a few questions:
• Why do you hold on to things that you don’t
need, use or even want anymore?
• Are you truly happy being surrounded by
all your stuff? Do you like cleaning it, organizing it, moving it?
• With fewer things, could you move to a
smaller home? Get rid of your storage unit?
Let go of the cleaning lady?
• If you stopped buying more and sold some
of your excess possessions, what could you
do with the money? Could you pay off debt?
Travel? Donate to your favorite cause?
• Why are you running from place to place?
Are all those errands and tasks really necessary? What would happen if you did less?
Could you cross a task or two off without
your world ending?
• What do you really want to do that you
always put off because you don’t have time?
Would you like to volunteer more? Try a
new sport or hobby?
• You don’t have to simplify everything all at
once. Changing just one habit can make a
big difference; so try taking baby steps to a
simpler lifestyle.
• Reduce the amount of “stuff ” in your home.
Cutting back allows you to focus on what
you have and can also keep you from buying more you don’t need. Consuming less is
a key step toward a sustainable lifestyle. As
you shed your stuff, you’ll have more energy
and focus for “life,” and you’ll free up time
to do things you really want to do instead of
worrying about taking care of and accumulating more.
• Do one thing each day. Pick a drawer, closet,
or shelf that’s driving you crazy, and work
on it for at least 10 minutes. By focusing on
doing one little thing each day, you’ll move
closer to the simpler life you’re seeking.
• Drop one commitment. Think about all the
things in your life that you’re committed
to doing, and try to find one that you can
let go. Is there something you dread doing?
Something that takes up time but doesn’t
give you much value in return? Decide
today to drop that commitment. Make a
phone call or send an email, and let the
appropriate people know that you need to
stop. You’ll feel relieved, and you’ll free up
some time and energy for something that’s
more important to you.
• Schedule more time. Simplify your life by
doing less, but scheduling more time for
each task. If you normally allow 15 minutes
between appointments, schedule 30. If it
normally takes you 30 minutes for an errand, give yourself 45 minutes. Eat slower,
drive slower, walk slower, work slower.
Savor the slowness and the calmness that
comes from not hurrying.
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