Embracing a Simple Lifestyle

In today's world, we're constantly bombarded by the busyness of modern life, it's no wonder that many people are embracing a simple lifestyle to find peace and fulfillment.

The allure of simplicity is not just about decluttering your physical space; it’s about creating a lifestyle that prioritizes what truly matters. By embracing the concept of simple living and diving into a simpler lifestyle, you can transform your everyday life into a more intentional, rewarding experience. 

​Lifestyle Choice

Simple living is a lifestyle choice that encourages minimizing material possessions and focusing on what brings true joy and satisfaction. It's the little things. It’s about making conscious decisions that align with your values and priorities. We are all different. We are going to choose to focus on different things.  This can be a constant battle. This doesn’t mean giving up all luxuries or living without needs; rather, voluntary simplicity means using creative ways to make room for the most important things in your own life. 

Benefits of Embracing a Simple Lifestyle

Reduced Stress: A clutter-free environment can improve our mental health. Now we may never get to the point where we have no clutter but if we can even decrease clutter, it can impact our lives. By removing extra physical and mental clutter, we are left with less stuff. This permits us to better focus on what’s important.  

One issue in my home is things that are left out of place. For example, if I braid my granddaughter's hair in the living room which has better light than the bathroom, I might later find a brush, detangler, and hair ties on the table next to my recliner that I forgot to put back in the bathroom.

This is a form of clutter and is a distracting to me. Finding a place for the things I use every day and returning the item to the correct location after I use it is an easy way to give me the mental space to focus on the next thing I need to do. 

Financial Freedom: Simplifying your lifestyle often means spending less on non-essential items. Impulse purchases can hinder our ability to reach larger financial goals.

Taking small steps can be the best way to meet larger financial goals. Better financial health and less stress related to money management can allow us to focus on what is important to each of us.

I have not reached financial freedom yet, but it remains a goal of mine. I take small steps to keep moving forward down the path. 

Greater Fulfillment: When you focus on what truly brings you joy, rather than chasing after more material possessions, you can find more satisfaction in everyday moments and experiences.

This is a good reason for embracing a simple lifestyle and can make a huge difference in how we feel at the end of a long day.  I remember sitting on my deck once admiring the calming view and realizing it was the first time I had found time to do that in months. I was working so many hours outside of the home that I had not enjoyed something as simple as sitting on my deck for a long time. After all what good is having a beautiful deck and view if I never have time to enjoy it? 

The Joy of Simple Living

Homemade living takes simple living principles and applies them to your daily routines. It’s about crafting, cooking, and creating things from scratch. 

Why Opt for Homemade?

Personal Touch: Homemade items are often infused with love and care. Whether it’s a batch of cookies or a hand-knitted scarf, the personal effort and creativity invested in these items make them special.

I still have an afghan that was handmade by my mother-in-law many years ago. I use it every day and it reminds me so much of her. Homemade meals are another way to add a personal touch and often taste so good. It does not have to be fancy.

We have found that using food grown in our garden can help decrease our grocery costs, is healthier, and tastes better. 

Quality Control: Making things yourself allows you to control the quality of the ingredients that are used. For instance, homemade cleaners can be made with natural ingredients, avoiding harmful chemicals. I make a DIY Foaming Hand Soap that works well, is inexpensive, and is not filled with harsh chemicals. 

Homemade meals can be made with simple healthy ingredients such as fresh vegetables and do not include preservatives and chemicals. This is one way to control the quality of our food.

Skill Development: Engaging in homemade projects can be incredibly rewarding. You’ll learn new skills and techniques, and experience a sense of accomplishment from creating something with your own hands.

Continuing personal skill development is so important. When my husband did some remodeling in our 120-year-old farmhouse, he was developing new skills. He is by trade a brick mason, yet there was no brick to repair in our old farmhouse. He had to develop the new skill of drywall hanging to complete the required repairs.

Easy Steps to Embracing a Simple Lifestyle

Declutter Your Space

Start by evaluating your belongings. Keep only what you use and love. Less stuff can sometimes be better.

I used to keep and store an item I used once a year. Now I borrow that item from another family member and do not end up storing the item for the other 364 days a year I do not need it.

I try to declutter frequently. I usually choose a room at a time to do this decluttering. Most of the time I do not have hours to accomplish this task, so I take whatever time I have available and try to address one area in a room.

Not too long ago I had 30 minutes and managed to empty 3 dresser drawers and remove clothing items that were too small or that the kids did not wear any longer.

Decluttering in increments means I have less to clean and store. This helps lead to an overall less cluttered home. The process of decluttering your space can be therapeutic and help set the foundation for embracing a simple lifestyle.

Start Small with DIY Projects

Try making simple items at home. Start with something manageable like homemade bread, candles, or bath salts. These small projects can build your confidence and creativity.

I regularly find delicious recipes online to try out. This is one way I express my creativity. Meal planning is a project for me. I am always trying to find the best ways to meal plan effectively and efficiently. I want to prevent food waste and be mindful of the cost of food. Next to my mortgage, my food budget is my next biggest expense. This is an area I am always trying to simplify. 

Learn and Experiment

There’s a world of knowledge out there about simple homemade living. Look for tutorials, join local crafting groups, read blog posts, or take classes to expand your skills.

Social media can be an effective way to learn more about simple living and choosing the handmade option when it makes sense. Learning about and then practicing new skills can lead to learning new skills.

You have to be willing to learn and fail at times. I know this from personal experience. I have tried new recipes that flopped. Sometimes I have continued until I have mastered a process and at other times I have moved on to different tasks. I feel a deeper sense of accomplishment when I have to work to learn a new skill. 

Prioritize Quality Over Quantity

Whether it's the clothes you buy or the food you eat, choose quality items that will last longer and bring more satisfaction.

I read an article years ago about a capsule wardrobe. This was a concept that appealed to me. I have casual clothing items and business dress options. My business dress wardrobe covers work, entertainment, and church events.

I choose simple clothing that is not overly trendy. I tend to keep my clothing for years. For me, a simple uniform of dress pants plus cardigan-type jackets or sweaters paired with a colorful top makes life easier.

This makes it simple for me to dress quickly and I do not have to ever give much thought to what I am planning to wear. This helps me get ready quickly and without investing time in agonizing over what to wear.

I would rather take the time to preserve my garden tomatoes instead of buying out-of-season tomatoes from the grocery in the winter. I have noticed a difference in the quality of my canned tomatoes compared to the commercially canned tomatoes from a grocery store. Do the home-preserved tomatoes take some time? Yes, they do take extra time to preserve but the taste is not comparable. 

Embrace Mindfulness

Incorporate mindfulness practices into your daily life and daily routines. Making a conscious effort to be present and intentional in your activities can enhance your overall experience of simple living.

I try to do this when I am having a conversation at work or with my family. I try to remember to turn my ringer off so I won't be interrupted when I am in a meeting or talking with someone. There are some instances when you must leave your phone ringer on. That is understandable.

If I do not practice mindfulness during conversations with others, my mind will wander and I will become distracted. This is not respectful to the other person.

When I think about mindfulness, I try to remember how I would feel in a situation. This can be as simple as treating people as you would like to be treated.

At the end of each day, we have to be able to look back and be aware of what we have accomplished. Some of my accomplishments are small, but even small accomplishments are still important to me.

I start each day with a morning routine that helps me begin each day with a plan. I try to be very mindful about my expectations for each day. Do I have disappointing days? Of course, I do. While I try to practice mindfulness every day, some days I am more successful than others. If I have a day that might be considered a failure, I try to do an honest evaluation. I determine what I did well and areas I can improve on. 

Conclusion

Embracing simple living and homemade practices can significantly enhance your quality of life. By reducing clutter, focusing on what truly matters, and engaging in DIY projects, you cultivate a lifestyle filled with purpose and joy. Remember, simplicity is not about perfection but about making thoughtful choices that enrich your life.

As you embark on this journey, you’ll discover that the greatest rewards come from the simplest concepts. We do not always need more to be happy, sometimes what we already have or even less than what we already have can create more satisfaction in our lives.

As you work toward embracing a simple lifestyle, remember what this looks like may differ from person to person. Please consider ideas that others have implemented which have led to greater satisfaction but remember at the end of the day to take a deep breath and plan your best life.

That might mean more quality time with your family. That might mean a completely different way of life. Embracing the simple lifestyle can be accomplished in a multitude of ways.  There is no simple living guide we can follow, but we live in a world where many educational resources are available to help answer almost any question we have. 

So why not take a step today toward a simpler, more fulfilling life? Start with one small change, and watch how it can transform your daily experience. One small change can help pave the way to bigger changes.