Are you interested in living a simpler life?
“The sooner we remove ourselves from overconsumption, the sooner we realise our truest potential.” Joshua Becker
A few years ago, I embraced what is sometimes known as voluntary simplicity - living a more intentional life where I prioritise providing for my family’s needs as simply as possible, minimising expenditure on consumer goods and services, and instead directing my time and energy towards pursuing other life goals.
Those goals include spending more time with that family, enjoying more fulfilling employment, living sustainably, spiritual exploration, reading, relaxation, and love – none of which rely on much, if any, money.
The notion of living simply is not new - and it doesn’t mean becoming a hermit or a monk, glorifying poverty, never eating out again, or renouncing the advantages of modern science, medicine and technology.
But it does mean making a conscious choice - and effort - to live with fewer things, in the belief that a better life, and a better world, will result.
Living simply in a modern consumer society - where every day we are bombarded with thousands of messages insisting that more is always better - is most definitely an effort.
But by examining my relationship with money and material possessions, the planet, and the people around me, living more simply has helped me to discover the freedom and contentment that comes with knowing how much is truly enough.
If you’re interested in trying to live a simpler life, here are ten things you could try:
Declutter your space: Start small with one drawer, cupboard or room at a time. If you haven’t worn an item of clothing for a year, you might consider donating it.
The one-in, one-out rule: Donate or sell an old item whenever you buy something new.
Pause purchases: Implement a 48-hour rule before buying any non-essential items.
Repair before replacing: Mend clothes or fix appliances where you can to extend their lifespan. I recently discovered the pleasure of darning my running socks.
Buy second-hand: Visit charity shops or online marketplaces, when you genuinely need something. You could also try sites like Freecycle. And if you read a lot of books like me, borrow them from your local library instead of buying on Amazon.
Set digital boundaries: Turn off non-essential notifications, and schedule screen-free hours at the end of the day to help you relax.
Learn to say no: Where you can, decline extra projects or social invites that might compromise your peace of mind.
Protect unscheduled time: Leave some deliberately blank spaces in your calendar for rest and relaxation.
Cook at home: Prep meals using whole, raw ingredients to reduce packaging and cost.
Walk or cycle: I don’t own a car any longer, but even if you do, you can try replacing short car journeys with more active alternatives.