I thought I’d do a write-up about the lessons I’ve learned the past couple years in an attempt to simplify my life. Here is what simple living means to me. I am happy with the life I’ve created, and hopefully it will help someone out there too.
Work Less, Stress Less
(Disclaimer: I have no kids, car, or debt. Some of this is luck, some of it by design, so YMMV)
- I value my free time far more than money, so...
- I figured out how much money I needed for the lifestyle I want.
- /r/personalfinance - helped me set financial goals (emergency fund, travel, retirement Roth IRA, housing, etc)
- I set crunched numbers, did some budgeting -- and settled on working about 25 hours a week. I can’t even begin to describe the qualitative difference it’s made in my life.
- I have 2 jobs now. One is remote (teaching English online), one is working outside. I no longer spend my Sunday afternoons dreading the week ahead. I get exercise and sunshine every day, and I have no commute. I have time to cook, read, think, relax if I want, create, and work on personal projects.
Be Frugal
Bonus, all of this stuff is friendly to the earth, too :)
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Learn to cook. When I was working full time, I put on a bunch of weight from drinking and overeating (due to stress). I felt like an unhealthy slob and I was miserable. Now, I cook healthy, nutritious, whole (unprocessed) meals every single day for me and my partner. I truly enjoy cooking, it’s like a creative outlet for me now, not a chore.
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Buy Secondhand or Refurbished First: If you want something, try to find it secondhand first. I am a huge fan of refurbished electronics. They come with the same warranty but maybe ⅓ of the MSRP. With time, I’ve built up my wardrobe with high quality, stylish, name brand clothes for a fraction of the cost new.
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Be Patient: Do you NEED a printer, right now, brand new, or can you print at the library and wait a couple weeks for a good deal? Keep browsing Craigslist, Marketplace, or Goodwill.
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Ride a bike: depending on your area, you might be able to go car free (like me), or you can try ‘ car - lite ‘ options, combining car transportation with public transit and active transit (like biking or walking). When I think about where I want to live in the future, I want to live in a very walkable area.
Entertainment: Consume Less, Create More
Maybe you’re not good at drawing or painting (although this is a skill that you can learn at absolutely any point in your life -- Van Gogh was 28 when he first picked up a paintbrush). But having SOME creative outlet is essential for your mental health. If you’re not creating, you’re probably spending your time consuming someone else’s creation. We all need mental stimulation of some kind, so just be mindful of how you’re getting it.
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I’m not gonna knock video games or TV. But it is a general goal of mine to spend more time creating than I do consuming media.
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Diminishing Returns: If I browse my favorite subreddits for a while, I generally enjoy it. I see fresh content in the topics I’m interested in. But when I’m on page 16 of my front page, I’m not really enjoying it anymore.
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The same goes for video games, TV, or other social media. After a couple rounds of a FPS I will notice I’m not really having fun anymore. So what’s the point?
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Consume with Intention: Decide you’re gonna watch a show or play a game or browse reddit. When you notice it stops being fun, move on to something else.
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The Library is free. Countless books, ebooks, audiobooks, CD’s, DVD’s-- all for free.
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Video games: /r/patientgamers
Learn to be happy with what you’ve got
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Daily Gratitude: Every morning, while planning my day, I list 3 things I am thankful for, big and small. It is common advice because it works. Starting your day in a positive mindset helps you appreciate the little things -- and bigger things-- in your life. Are you healthy and happy? Do you have enough to eat? Do you have clean water and a warm bed? What lovely things to notice and appreciate about your life to stay grounded. :)
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/r/declutter - first, be really intentional about the ‘stuff’ you bring into your life. Then, be equally intentional and purposeful about removing ‘stuff’ from your life.
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Don’t deprive yourself. If a thing or small luxury (like fancy coffee) makes you truly happy, then by all means, go for it. Just always take stock of what makes you truly happy vs. what is unnecessary in your life.
That's all I've got for now. Let me know what you think and have a beautiful day.
Submitted March 09, 2018 at 01:36PM by wrongwaydownaoneway http://ift.tt/2FstJep
