How to live a simple life?
Simple living is a lifestyle focused on prioritizing essential needs, minimizing material possessions, and finding contentment in the present moment. By focusing on what truly matters in life, you also reduce stress and improve overall well-being. Here are 11 things you can do to start living a simple life.
Be mindful of what you want
Possessions get accumulated over time, so the first step is to slow down the influx of things. Try to understand why you want what you want. Ask questions like "How would this item make me feel?", "What would this item help me achieve?", "Can I get this feeling or function from something else, preferably that I already own?". The most common non-essential reasons to want things are to impress others (status), feel a sense of belonging (lack of identity), or fill a void (insecurity). Be intentional about what you want, and don't use material things to mask a deeper problem.
Appreciate what you already have
When was the last time you picked up an item you own and go "Wow, I love this!"? It's not uncommon to buy things, use them once or twice and forget about it. This is especially true for clothing for most people, and this is why "throwaway fashion" is a growing business model. By intentionally appreciating what we have, we remind ourselves of their existence and perhaps recognize that it's not another item that we need.
Consider selling or donating things that no longer add value
Have you seen Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix? It's a show about decluttering and its life-changing effect on people, I highly recommend it. Spend some time going through the house, closet, storage etc. and consider selling or donating things that no longer add any value to your life. Keep only things that "spark joy".
Stop exposing yourself to ads
Marketing and advertisement is such powerful brainwashing mechanism that can change our behaviours. There's a reason why companies spend a huge chunk of their money on marketing because it works! It's so good at convincing us to buy more things and spend more money on things we didn't even know we needed. So one way to reduce possession is to reduce or eliminate your exposure to ads. You can't want what you don't know about, so the fewer things you know exist, the less likely you'll want it.
Declutter the mind
As important as it is for us to reduce material possessions, it is also important that we declutter our minds of emotional baggage. Recognize that just because they don't have a physical form, they can still weigh us down. The decisions we make and stress are very much influenced by our past. Meditation, talking to a friend or seeing a therapist are good ways to help you clear your mind, identify past traumas, and current behaviours, and be more self-aware.
Practice gratitude daily
Take a moment every day to recognize all the great things (and people) that are currently in your life. Gratitude is one of those practices that has consistently been shown to improve overall well-being, relationships and happiness. This fortifies our contentment at the present moment, reducing the likely hood of hedonistic behaviours.
Do not compare
Comparison robs you of joy, and the opportunity to discover your own self. Recognize that everyone is on a different journey, going through different struggles despite the external image they portray. We only see what's on the surface and never the reality behind the façade. By comparing yourself with others, you are essentially involuntarily racing against their journey, and neglecting your own. Love yourself for who you are, embrace your differences and celebrate your individuality.
JOMO instead of FOMO
FOMO (fear of missing out) is one way to surely make yourself more busy than you need to be. By wanting to always be on the scene and not miss out on the action, you rob yourself of the limited amount of free time you do have. So turn the fear in FOMO into a joy to turn it JOMO (joy of missing out), freeing up some valuable time for other things.
Make time for yourself to be in the present
Most of us have busy lives and don't take the time to smell the roses and reflect. Simple living is as much about living off the essentials, and reducing consumption and possessions, as it is about being content and present. Take some time for yourself to be in the moment instead of constantly worrying about the future or chasing after the carrot. You don't even need to be doing anything, it can be as simple as sitting at the park watching people walk by.
Take care of your body
It is crucial to take care of your body physically and nutritionally. Exercise can help improve your mood and confidence through body positivity. While eating healthy can have a big impact on your overall well-being! More and more research is pointing to a relationship between your gut health with your mood and mental health. Not only that, eating a healthy diet (of more plants, less red meat, processed food etc.) is also beneficial for the planet and your wallet! It's a win-win-win.
Recognize what is enough
Last but definitely not least; recognize when is enough. It is an important mindset to cultivate in an insatiable society that is always chasing after more, and craving for more. More money, more things, more power, more status, more beauty, more, more, more! It's actually quite exhausting and induces so much unnecessary stress in life. Knowing where your line of enough is can guide you on your journey to living a simpler life.