6 WAYS TO USE SIMPLE LIVING THE RIGHT WAY
Have you ever found yourself feeling rushed, exhausted and trying to keep all the pieces in your life together?
Our modern way of living has now consisted of finding your grind, hustling so you don’t miss out or just being super busy.
Maybe you’ve found that in all your business, you still can’t see the results from all your hard work.
I began to think on simple living a few months ago, when trying to clear off a huge amount of debt that I’d accumulated.
Before the lockdown, I would pick up several part time jobs; waitressing, coffee shop barista, amazon delivery driver. I guess you could say I was working hard but probably not smart?
Once we entered lockdown, I got laid off from all my part time jobs apart from delivery. First devasted but equally relieved that those long exhausting days would allow me to rest.
And that’s what I did.
Aside from doing my full-time job, I learned to spend more time with family, take more walks in the park, try out new exercise regimes, listen to podcasts, try online dating and just explore different passions I had.
This didn’t mean I wasn’t intentional with my goals, it simply meant that I also made time for things that brought me joy.
So, in this post, I’ll cover a few ways you can find the beauty in simply living.
1. Make time for the small mundane tasks
It’s easy to focus on the big things we want to achieve that we neglect the little things that make us feel happy.
Do you have a room that needs a bit of tender love and care?
Are you looking to declutter a space in your home but never find the time?
Are you holding back on completing those small to do lists, like cancel all unused subscriptions? Maybe you want to make the most of exploring your town?
For some, these tasks can be left for when I get time but finding time for them in your busy schedule can make you feel productive and at ease.
I’ve been reading Make Time by Jake & John and learning to schedule time for my highlights, however big or small.
You’re essentially making a commitment to yourself that you’ll get that done and decline any other commitments that are not a priority.
2. Take time to pause & reflect
Taking the time to pause all the hustle and grind can be difficult.
It’s good to stop and check in to see if your goals are still in alignment.
Are you still pursuing the dreams that God has placed in your heart?
How are you serving others in your community and could you do more?
You can reflect by either journaling in a quiet space or going for a walk.
In a study by Aziz, Mahboob & Saleem on reflective practices, reflective writing was found to increase your self awareness, critical thinking and resilience. It engages one in the process of deep understanding and continuous learning (Jorwekar, 2017).
You can practice reflective writing through journals, blogs, vision boards and more.
What are some of the ways you like to pause and reflect?
3. See the value in family
We can often place too much focus on our friendships and romantic relationships that we miss the value of how important family is.
This can be bittersweet for some, especially if you live by yourself in a different country. However, you can schedule in some time to call, face-time or visit family members. Sit down together at meals, laugh at funny videos online or debate on the latest topics in politics or culture.
In my early years of travelling and living abroad for a few months, I found that my family has stayed consistent, available and supportive.
And if this is not the case for you, I pray and hope that you’ll see brighter days.
4. Remove un-neccessary clutter
It's been said that a "clutter free life is a simplified life" - Albert Einstein
When you remove possessions or materials that don’t serve a purpose in your life, it allows for a clear free-thinking space.
Of course, you can adopt minimalism, but it’s important to realise that there is beauty is letting some things go.
When we let things go, it shows that material possessions don’t control or have power over our decisions.
What clutter can you remove from your life today?
5. Realise that the latest thing out there doesn’t bring happiness
Yes, you might look cool with the latest smart watch or with the number of followers on your page but these are temporal lasting satisfaction.
Simple living chooses to not focus on the new things out there but to make space and time for God and others.
This is not to say they are bad, but if we place our feelings on whether we are keeping up with the trends, it can distract us by trying to maintain that lifestyle.
Choose to be content with what you have and work hard with patience to accomplish all your goals and dreams.
“Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough” - Oprah Winfrey
6. Go offline
Take a break from social media once in a while.
The constant demands to try out the latest new thing, pursue a different passion or career can be exhausting and draining.
I’ve found that the less time spent checking what others are doing, helps to reduce feelings of comparison and the thought that I’m missing out.
You’ll begin to work at your own pace, create things because they bring you joy and without worrying about what others will think.
You'll find time to explore new activities you can do rather than constantly streaming online.
You can try things like;
Learn a new skill
Bake some lovely cookies that can shared with others
Check in on a few friends
Travel locally
Donate or volunteer at a local charity
Hope you'll find these useful and begin living a simpler life.
I'd love to hear more if you have any other ways you find beauty in simply living.
Lots of love,
Annette