I wrote the post, How to Start Living a True Minimalist Lifestyle, a few weeks ago because minimalism has intrigued me. Since then, I have noticed some ways that I have already been living a simpler life. Living simply and creating room for what is important is easier than you think. Let’s look at some ways you can learn how to live simply too.
When I think of living simply, I think of…
- living with intention
- knowing what is important to you and where to put your efforts
- not trying to live a life based on other people’s expectations
My family, my health, and my writing are what are important to me. So I want to create ways to make room for that by simplifying my life in other areas. That includes making decisions based on what is best for me.
A Few Ways You May Already Be Living Simply Too
Food
Dave and I buy the same things and tend to eat the same things every week. We can easily plan our week with the two of us and know when we need to cook meals. We usually have meat and vegetables for dinner, soup, and salads for lunch, and eggs, yogurt, and fruit for breakfast. It makes grocery shopping very easy!
You can simplify your food too. Create meal plans, find a few simple recipes you can rely on, and do a little meal prepping.
I always go through the mail right away. I throw away or recycle the junk mail so that it doesn’t pile up and clutter the counters. My bills go downstairs by my computer to pay, and once I’ve paid them, the invoices go to the filing basket. All my husband’s mail goes in his pile for him to go through.
Mail is one thing that can stress you out if you don’t stay on top of it. It creates chaos by paying bills late, cluttering, and missing important invitations. Find a system that works for you.
Computer and phone
I keep up with my email, text messages, and social media. As a rule follower, it drives me crazy to see anything unopened. I try to limit the times I check my email and social media, and I do not have any notifications set up. This allows me to stay on top of things and not miss any appointments or messages I need to respond to.
This is the same as mail, only it’s easier to ignore because it is not physically piling up on your counter. Every month, take time to clear out your inboxes and clean up some files. Sometimes when I see a friend’s phone with little numbers next to all their apps, I want to grab the phone and clear them out! It drives me crazy, but that’s my problem, not yours:)
Clothes
I did a big purge of my closet a few months ago. I only kept the clothes I wear regularly. The clothes that I go to because they fit and make me feel good. It makes dressing much quicker and easier because I have fewer options.
I’ve talked about this before in another post. Finding some go-to pieces that you can wear for special occasions can simplify your day. It saves you so much time by not having to go through your whole closet and having to rehang everything the next day.
Purse
I do not carry hardly anything in my purse. My wallet, keys, phone, and lipstick. Only what I need for wherever I am going. I read an article with a great idea. Create a mini bag with daily essentials in it. Makeup, aspirin, tweezers, first aid, or whatever else you like to carry with you. It makes it easier to switch purses and to find what you need.
Do you like carrying a heavy purse with everything you could possibly need in it? Try downsizing a little bit every day. Take one thing out at a time. You might not need that deck of cards every day. You don’t have to be responsible for what others might need either!
Finances
As far as the bank accounts go, I check them at least every other day. I know how much we have, and I pay bills regularly. I’ve automated a lot of my expenses.
When you know how much you have, you might not buy something you can’t afford. Then you can avoid the eventual stress of having too much debt.
More Ways to Live Simply
Placing less value on others’ expectations and more value on things that matter to me. We can stress ourselves out, worrying about whether we perform to other people’s standards.
Saying no to things that don’t bring me joy. I know tasks like cleaning, laundry, yard work, making money to pay bills, etc., aren’t joyful, but we have to do them. I’m talking about volunteering for another committee, going to another party, or staying home another night.
“After a while, I wasn’t saying no because I was so busy; I was saying no because I didn’t want to be so busy anymore.”
― Courtney Carver
Planning my week. I want to be more diligent about planning my weeks. Take the time to go over what is happening with my husband to plan all this stuff I am talking about. If we are entertaining at the cabin, I want to ensure I am planning food. Know when I am needed at home and when I have some free time to write. I have been using the Living Well planner this year.
Creating routines. I tend to wake up at the same time every day. I have somewhat of a morning routine, but I want to include more in that routine. For example, if not done in the morning, exercise may not get much attention. Figuring out what my intentions for the day are. What do I want to do? How much time do I give myself and stick to it?
Related Post: How to Set Priorities for a More Focused Life
Household chores routine. I have a friend who cleans her house every Friday after work, so she doesn’t have to worry about it over the weekend. Break up the chores. Clean bathrooms on Mondays, vacuum and mop floors on Wednesdays, or wash windows on the last Thursday of the month.
Taking a half-day to run my errands and catch up on paperwork. I keep a pile of bills, correspondence, and other little computer tasks. Scheduling time for this makes sure it doesn’t keep getting put off. I also keep a list of errands to run—post office, grocery store, bakery, returns, shopping, etc. Make sure I use my half-day to get all that done. If you work full time, plan a couple of hours after work one day.
Keep my workspace clean and organized. It’s important to have blank space to create. I haven’t found my ideal home office setting yet, so staying organized is hard. My goal is to have separate areas or compartments for each aspect of what I’m working on. I enjoy doing this, so I have to make it a priority.
Delegate when you can. We are not superheroes. Sometimes we need a little help. It’s OK to ask. What you are not good at, someone else is; use them!
Living simply and intentionally can…
- reduce the overwhelm by having a more organized schedule
- lessen stress and anxiety because there is a time and place for most things
- help you create an organized, beautiful space to live in
- free up time to spend on what is most important to you
Living simply will look different for everyone. Figure out your priorities. They might be money, health, wellness, or relationships. Set your intentions and simplify your life in everything else.
Live simply in your own way and make the most of your life!
“To realize the soothing power of a simple life is to find the secret of happiness!”
― Mehmet Murat Ildan
What else do you do to live simply? What can you do to create more room for what is important? Comment below!
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