The Joys Of Simple Living: Enrich Your Life (with Less)

All around us, we hear the message that a higher quality of life means more - more things, more space to put our things, more expensive everything, and it all just gets more complicated from there. We understand “simple living” to mean, either: 

a) camping 

b) giving up everything you own to be a digital nomad

c) something so basic that it costs 10x whatever the “regular living” equivalent is. 

When did simplicity become such… a luxury? Just take a scroll through your Insta to see what I mean: you’ll probably find your feed clogged with ads inviting you to spend money on “ritual-essential” like candles, clothes, and a life-changing retreat somewhere exotic (sounds nice!! But is it necessary?). We're always in search of something better, newer, or trendier - or even better, an escape from it all. 

But who said better meant more? And newer meant better?  

The truth is that the things you own end up owning you if you don’t make other priorities. 

In this article, learn how to make room for meaning by enriching your life; with less. And say hello to a simpler, more intentional life! You don’t have to give it all away (I mean, your juicer?) to discover the joys of simple living. In this article, learn about the meaning of living simply and the benefits of centering what's most meaningful to you.

What Does It Mean to Live Simply?

"Simple living" and "minimalism" are hot topics these days. Even post-COVID after everyone stuffed their pantries and ordered a whole bunch of furniture! But the thing is, these phrases are widely misused and overused, leading to a lot of general confusion about what the terms actually mean. It seems like everyone these days is yearning for a more simplistic lifestyle with fewer demands on time, a clean closet, and less stress all around. 

But do we even know what "simple living" actually means?

At its heart, simple living really means finding joy in having less, and focusing on quality instead of quantity. It’s all about enjoying freedom from mental and material burdens.

Simplicity vs Minimalism (Yes, There’s A Difference)

"Simplicity" and "minimalism" are very often misunderstood purely as styles. I mean - think about the simple, clean look of Danish design. Or the controlled geometry of a minimalist painting. But just like that - we’re stuck on the things themselves, without understanding anything about the terms.The truth is, there is a difference between the two terms. Ahem, thank you Merriam-Webster! Here it is:

• Simplicity: the state of being simple, uncomplicated, free from complexity and excess

• Minimalism: a style or technique that is characterized by extreme spareness

Minimalism is, in fact, a style that originated in an artistic movement in the 1960s. The Minimalists of the 1960s originally aimed to give a greater result with less complexity, creating paintings with color fields, meditative poetry and literal compositions of music. Likewise, when applied to our everyday life, minimalism can be seen as a process that aims to minimize physical possessions, but also to streamline your schedule and commitments so that you can do more with less. 

Simple living is, on the other hand, a state of being that focuses on making things easy, uncomplicated, and free from what's unnecessary so that you can truly enjoy life more. 

You could say that simple living is nothing but the desired outcome of minimalism - but it’s also so much more than that.

Benefits of Living A Simple Life

Simple living can bring immense richness to  your life with less effort! Here are a few of the benefits your can look forward to when letting go of your complicated ways:

1. Increase your financial independence

When you start prioritizing what you really need in your life, you’ll naturally spend less money and gain better control over your finances. Helloooo, more money in savings!

2. Focus on your loved ones

When we fill our life with obligations and remain in high-frequency modes of being, we lose touch with the people who ground us the most: our loved ones. Living simply means re-connecting with the people close to you and investing in the joy of contributing to their happiness. What’s better than that?

3. Live a healthier life

Living simply can extend to your diet, too - eating whole, unrefined foods can help lower blood pressure, improve your sleep, and lower your chance of a heart attack and stroke. 

Simple living is, on the other hand, a state of being that focuses on making things easy, uncomplicated, and free from what's unnecessary so that you can truly enjoy life more. 

4. Get better at planning ahead

Let’s face it: most of us have quite a bit of work to do to even approach the IDEA of living simply. It takes careful planning and persistence to shift gears. And planning is a skill! If your default mode involves doing everything all of the time, you’ll need to make clear cleans for how you’ll simplify your approach in the future, whether that’s enjoying the seasonal berry harvest or hosting family members when they drop in to visit. If you frequently find yourself in crisis mode, planning around adverse outcomes can help you to focus on what you can control in these situations rather than complicating things further. And you’ll keep getting better as you go!

5. Save time when cleaning

Obviously, when we start decluttering our space we can truly save time when cleaning, so we can spend more time for ourselves.

How to Live Simply (In A Complicated World) 

Soooo…. This all sounds great! But how do you concretely apply simple living principles in everyday life? Here are some great tips for living simply with the overwhelming complexity of our complicated world:

• Write down a list of realistic goals for your next 3 months, then prioritize them

• Make a list of your truly valuable belongings and get rid of what you don't need

• Challenge your brain and love your space by building custom DIY storage for your most-used areas at home

• Practice conscious buying: every time you buy something new, ask yourself if you have a place for it in your home

• Detach from technology and limit your time online. Watch less tv, log out from Facebook, Instagram, and any social media or online streaming services, set your phone aside for a moment, and carve out time for you, your loved ones, and your favorite activities

• Journal and practice daily gratitude

• Simplify your working life: try to let go of those secondary tasks that never seem to get done and focus on your most important projects instead