Simple Living: Just What Is It?

ByMichelle Garrett

Here’s a scenario. You get up in the morning. You eat and rush to get to work on time. At work, you do your job and then leave work to drive and get the kids. You drive the kids to their after-school activities. Once you get home you hurry to make dinner, do homework, get the kids ready for bed, prep for the next morning and go to bed yourself. The next morning, it all begins again. If you are anything like me, most mornings start after you’ve hit the snooze button one too many times because you stayed up a tad too late the night before trying to cross things off of your must-do list.

Simple living focuses on reducing the extras of our lives that can be found in our schedules, material possessions and lifestyle choices. This type of living focuses on needs rather than wants and the needs of others as much as our own. #simpleliving #minimalism

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When asked what they did on any given day, many people will say that they were racing here and there to get stuff done or experienced frustration over not finishing what needed to be done. This seems to be the never-ending cycle of life today for many. Everyone is busy and everything is rushed. Have you ever wanted to simply step off the wheel and do something different?

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Simple living focuses on reducing the extras of our lives

Simple living offers a way to do just that. In basic terms, “simple living” refers to consciously choosing to live a life that is overall simpler. Not exactly living on nothing, but knowing that you can live on less and still be satisfied and happy. Simple living focuses on reducing the extras of our lives that can be found in our schedules, material possessions and lifestyle choices. This type of living focuses on needs rather than wants and the needs of others as much as our own.

This is a way of returning to what is important in your life. Think about it, who will ever wish from their death bed that they could spend more time at work or traveling in their car?  It is the people and the events that shape our lives that matter most and create lasting memories.

Simple Living: Slow Down and Enjoy Life

Simple living involves refraining from excess luxuries

Simple living involves refraining from excess luxuries, caring for our planet and increasing self-sufficiency. Other aspects are living a life that matters by being there for the ones you love, pursuing goals that enhance your life and preserving the environment.

Some of the principles of simple living are:

  • Slowing down to experience life and living intentionally
  • Eliminating debt and being responsible for what you do have
  • Reducing your carbon footprint by being aware of the environment
  • Living on less
  • Living with an attitude of gratitude and separating your needs from your wants
  • Fostering relationships and focusing on the people in your life that matter most
  • Community involvement by sharing your gifts and resources to help others
  • Improving life around you by setting an example for others to follow

Catch up with the series and our other topics:

Part 1: Decluttering Our Lives: The First Steps
Part 2: Simple Living: Just What Is It?
Part 3: 8 Simple Living Practices You Can Start Now
Part 4: Why Adopt A Simpler Lifestyle?
Part 5: Getting Rid of Excess