Living the Simple Life
The most sophisticated approach is often the simplest. It's a paraphrase of what Leonardo da Vinci said.
When we make the deliberate decision to adopt "voluntary simplicity," we simplify our lives. We have the option to simplify our lives in whatever way we see fit. We should think about creating a work-life balance, appreciating the finer things in life, being present in the moment, taking our time, and slowing down, among other things. No matter what we decide, it should bring us greater happiness and calm.
For what reason should we think about downsizing?
In contrast to the current state of affairs, ours will be a quiet, ordered existence, focused on the fundamentals rather than unnecessary frills. We're going to take it easy and put an end to our frantic way of life. We'll calm down when we have some time to ourselves. We shall have a life full of happiness, fulfillment, and significance. Though everything in life is transitory and subject to change, we will prioritize our efforts and allocate our resources accordingly, rather than waiting for a crisis to arise. We're going to get rid of the unnecessary stuff that's always getting in the way. If we stick to our budget, we won't have to worry about getting into debt. We commit to living in the here and now, without dwelling on the past or the future. Work, love, family, leisure, physical fitness, and spiritual development will all find their proper places in our lives. We shall be liberated from everything that holds us back from enjoying the wonderful life: bad circumstances, burdensome responsibilities, and negative people. We'll be able to do what we want with our lives, completely freely.
What can we do to make things easier for ourselves? For simplicity's sake, we need to strike a balance between job and personal life. We need to schedule in time for our jobs, our loved ones, our friends, our hobbies, and our spiritual practices. Insights from the field of positive psychology have shown us how to enhance our quality of life. There are three roads we must travel: Having sex, going on a vacation, and dancing with a hot girl are all great ways to add some fun to our lives. It's important to step off the "hedonic treadmill" Pleasure is temporary, so we need to find a way to be happy that lasts longer.
Learn to be fully "engaged" in life by doing work that you love, spending time doing things that make you happy, cultivating deep relationships with friends and loved ones, and working for your personal goals.
To achieve work-life harmony, it is essential to give our lives deeper meaning and direction. Helping others, growing in our spirituality, and becoming more religious are all ways we might accomplish this goal. We need to look for significance in things other than ourselves. Ultimately, it's about going beyond one's own "self."
Eliminating the need to multitask will greatly improve our efficiency. Multitasking is difficult and wastes time. Our ability to focus is taxed when we try to do too much at once. We can finish the current project first before starting another one. Instead, we should make it a habit to focus on a single undertaking at a time. We can increase our output if we focus on a single task at a time. For instance, you may read a book in peace and quiet, away from the noise of the television and the phone. Taking things one step at a time will simplify your life since you will only have to concentrate on the one task at hand, rather than juggling multiple ones at once. Attempting to multitask is like trying to follow the instructions of six people at once.
When we get rid of excess stuff, our lives get easier. Books, CDs, and magazines can all be organized, among other things. Giving away or selling your gently used wardrobe. Getting rid of unwanted subscriptions. Rather than stacking up your read newspapers, you throw them aside. We are cleaning off the tables and counters. Purging the attic, the basement, and the cupboards. To avoid losing your keys, you can hang them on a hook instead of putting them down somewhere they won't be found again. Getting your vehicle cleaned and arranged. Instead of letting unused furniture, appliances, or other household items take up valuable storage space, consider selling or donating them.
Taking control of our money and stuff allows us to streamline our lives. If you must use a credit card, only spend what you have on hand and pay off the entire balance at the end of the month. Create a plan and stick to it. Put money aside for when you really need it, not just in case anything bad happens. Saving $1 per day, for instance, results in $365 saved after a year. Consider canceling your newspaper subscription if no one reads it and the premium cable channels if no one watches them. Plan your supermarket trips around sales by perusing circulars. If there is a certain kind of cookie that you buy every week, and they happen to be on sale, it would be wise to stock up. Pay attention to your necessities and put off wants as long as possible. Spending money on "extravagances" is something to be avoided. Do you need that extra pair of shoes, when you already own 20 pair? Think in terms of "enough." Reduce your spending on non-essential items.
If we turn off our phones, tablets, and Internet, our lives will become much more straightforward. Distractions are commonplace when using digital technology because of their complexity and the need for sustained concentration. Please refrain from using your phone for texting while behind the wheel. Stop talking or texting and just take in your surroundings as you stroll along the street. Stop listening to your portable music player inside your house. Don't multitask; put away the tablet when watching TV. Don't interrupt your conversation with a friend to answer your phone. After a long day, put away the phone and chill out in the evening. Spend some time unplugged instead of constantly checking your phone.
When we slow down, we may simplify our lives. Consequently, it is imperative that we schedule some downtime. We each have the luxury of an hour a day to ourselves. The two of us can relax by taking in a good book, some tunes, or some quiet thought time. We can start a daily power walk or yoga practice to become in shape. There are jobs available to us that won't keep us working late at night and on the weekends. We can arrange some downtime for thinking and remembering. We don't have to be constantly active; sometimes it's enough to just "be."
My philosophy of minimalist living centers on two basic tenets. Modesty should be the first rule you follow. Simply put, I try to stay away from extremes. I'm not the type to scale cliff faces or jump out of perfectly good airplanes. I don't go gambling or go swimming in the lake by myself. When I overindulge in alcohol, I always regret it the next day. Cigarette smoking can lead to serious health problems like lung cancer and emphysema. If I make it a practice to eat until I am stuffed, I will gain weight and increase my risk of health problems. If I drive too fast along the highway, I'll probably get pulled over and ticketed. As I've seen firsthand, the road to disaster is paved with extremes. Troubles tend to complicate everything. In times of crisis, life can be difficult.
The second piece of advice I live by is to never put off until later what needs to be done now. There is a tendency for emergencies to escalate into major problems. They add strain and complexity to one's life, leading to feelings of being swamped. In the 1980s, while reading Stephen Covey's excellent book, The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People, I stumbled upon this principle. There is no shortage of situations in which we need to take decisive action now, rather than waiting for it to escalate into a crisis later. For instance, make sure to swap out the smoke alarm's battery before it dies. Don't find out you forgot about something until it's too late. Have your car serviced regularly. Don't sit around hoping for a roadside breakdown in the middle of nowhere. In order to avoid a painful toothache, it is important to visit the dentist regularly.
Everyone's free to keep their lives as complicated as they choose. The decision to simplify one's lifestyle is an individual one. Most people who adopt this mindset find that their lives become less chaotic and more predictable as a result. The majority of people also report that their lives have been simpler as a result. There is less that has to be done, less that weighs us down, less that takes up precious time and energy and keeps us from focusing on the things that really matter if we want to have a meaningful and happy life. In my experience, I have found that a more minimalistic lifestyle leads to greater overall happiness and contentment. We waste our lives worrying about little things, as Henry David Thoreau put it. The key is to "simplify, simplify, and simplify."