If you have decided to simplify your life but you don't know how to start, this post is for you! If you have already set on the simplifying path - jump right on in, we love company!
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| Photo: kanelstrand |
What is simple living?
Simple living is an attitude to life that will help you live more sustainably, more deliberately and more happily. Among other things, simple living includes: - Identifying what is most important for you and eliminating everything else.
- Doing what inspires you and being with the people you love.
- De-cluttering (be it your mind, your everyday life or your virtual life).
- Single-tasking and learning to diminish stress.
- Striving to live frugally by wanting less and buying only what is necessary.
- Slowing down and being actively present in the moment.
- Living a healthy life.
- Striving to be green and sustainable as much as your surroundings allow.
- Enjoying the simple pleasures of life.
- Simplifying your goals, tasks and expectations.
- You are way to deep in debt.
- The clutter around you is overwhelming you and is keeping you away from taking the right decisions.
- You have grown apart from your loved ones and even yourself.
- You are stressed out.
- You rarely do something for the fun of it.
- The time you spend on the Internet is way too much and way too disorganized.
- You are multitasking any time, anywhere.
I know all this may seem overwhelming but I assure you, there is nothing complicated in living a simple life. You don't need to withdraw from the world and seek a retreat to be able to achieve simplification. On the contrary, simple living is about engaging more fully in the world, but with a changed list of priorities. Simple living makes place for the really important things in your life and helps you appreciate more fully what you have and who you are.
The Simple Living Pledge
To help you re-evaluate your priorities in life, I invite you to take The Simple Living Pledge and participate in the discussions on Kanelstrand. Together we can grow much faster! I am looking forward to your insights, advice or your general thoughts on simplifying.
Let's do this together!
Together we can make a difference in a fast-paced, thick-skinned world.
We can walk the path of conscious living by being the human beings we
are, by embracing our weaknesses and turning them into strengths. We
can live a simple sustainable life without going to extremes.
This is so true...we have been trying to simplify things over here lately. I think we all need to slow down. I want to have the time to enjoy my children without being stressed.
ReplyDeleteI wish you to make as much time as you need! All it takes is for you to decide!
DeleteWhat beautiful photographs you have chosen for this post!
ReplyDeleteNow I am eager for strawberry season!
Thank you! Wild strawberries are the best, aren't they!
DeleteI had been attempting to make inroads toward simpler living across several years, but it hasn't been until the past couple years that I feel like I am finally beginning to make some true progress. Living more frugally has been a necessity as I work on building my small creative business rather than return to the corporate world after a layoff 2 years ago. Slowing down and enjoying simple pleasures has been a source of inspiration for my creativity and energy for my soul. Living a healthy life has become more important than ever after recently surviving cancer, and I suppose if I can find a silver lining in the otherwise frustrating side effect of "chemo brain," it's that by losing my adeptness at multi-tasking, I've become better at single-tasking which has helped me improve focus and observation. Striving for a greener, more sustainable approach to living is the contribution each of us can make to ensuring the best possible future for our children and our world. You can definitely count me in on your simple living pledge and on continuing to participate in the community you've created here on your blog, Sonya.
ReplyDeleteSlowing down is also very challenging, so I can understand why you see improvement only as of late, Lisa. Add to this the surrounding world, which does its best to make us believe that we should be over-active, extremely busy and most of all buying... it is disastrous and it takes a very strong willpower to go against the flow in this case. I love it that you have found your way and learning to live with less. You are right, striving for a sustainable and slow life is the most important thing we can do for ourselves and our children. Thank you for your support!
DeleteBeautiful! Although I feel like we live quite simply compared to a lot of folks we know, there are still many things I want to simplify. I still find myself being stressed and not having time to do all the enjoyable things I want. Reading this made me realize I need to make a few changes to help slow us down instead putting off making those changes. Thank you for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Annie. I've found out that as far as simple living is concerned, we shouldn't compare to others because it is counter-productive and so subjective. But you are right, simplification is a long-life process and I am so happy to be able to share and learn via this blog.
DeleteGreat post! I realized I needed to simplify when I was getting overwhelmed with moving back in with my parents, having too much clutter, and feeling stressed. Just last weekend I went through everything I owned, donated a ton of stuff, and literally simplified everything. So far I'm feeling much better- we don't need huge spaces to live happily, and more & more I'm living up to that!
ReplyDeletehttp://iffoundmake.blogspot.com is my new site!
You are so right, Angela. I wish more people could declutter as easily as you!
DeleteLovely timing! I have moved to a small studio and love it...only 3 rooms to take care of and create my orbs. My mind however still races around the track...that is my biggest challenge right now. I so look forward to your posts and am delighted you have a newsletter now...wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to comment! I think that simplifying takes time and you will see, as the months pass how your mind will calm down influenced by your surroundings. I am looking forward to more interaction with you.
DeleteGreat post and thank you so much for sharing. This year my life is about just that, simplicity, doing what I love and acting upon that. I have always been aware of what no longer serves and live a sustainable life as I appreciate and take care of the environment around me and peace of mind is very important to me as doing what I love and am inspired by. For the past year I have been donating items which no longer serve to others who are in need of them or will appreciate them more. I love being in the present moment and am open to new opportunities. It is delightful to be alive and be ignited by what one loves and enjoy the simple things for they are the most enjoyable and satisfying. Thank you for a great post. In my new website I will include your pledge xx Best wishes to you
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your inspiring thoighhts, Anna. I hope that you are spreading the word about simplifying your life and are encouraging more people to take the first step on that road.
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