Back to basics...

Recently I've been thinking about simplifying life...I revisit this thought at least once a year when I find life overwhelming, such as when I've loaded my plate to full.  Or, perhaps it is when I feel clutter has creeped in and causing to much work.  Sometimes it is due to the influx of the world in my life...electronics, smut, crappy food, etc.  I love when my mind is feeling this need to purge...I buy less...eat better and say no often.  I found this great list of ways to simplify...of course they are all common sense items, but sometimes it is nice to be reminded that living simple does not need to be hard.

1. Cut out everything but what you really love, use and enjoy.

It is time to do an honest appraisal of all the stuff cluttering up your life and your finances. Take an inventory of all your activities and possessions. Get rid of everything that causes you even an ounce of stress. If you aren’t using and enjoying it, then sell it, donate it or trash it!

2. Evaluate your stuff and activities based on three factors.

When you are trying to decide whether to keep something in your life or get rid of it, evaluate these three things:

Does it demand too much of your money?
Does it demand too much of your time?
Does it add enough value to your life to keep it?

Generally, your initial reaction or gut instinct is the best action to take. Don’t deliberate too long. Err on the side of back to basics living!

3. Reacquaint yourself with the joy of simpler living.

It is likely that there was a time when you lived a much simpler life than what you have now. You were less busy, had fewer responsibilities and your life wasn’t cluttered with so much stuff. Chances are you were just as happy or happier then than you are now. Why not seek pleasure and satisfaction in the simple joys of life again? Take this opportunity to explore if you can be happy with less.

4. Organize your personal finances with a budget.

How much money do you really need to survive and create a good life? Where does all your money go every month? A budget will help you answer these questions. It will return a sense of control to your finances that you may not have experienced in quite some time. Living on a budget is liberating and will reduce stress. Need help getting started? Check out this list of brilliant budgeting resources!

5. Stop buying things you do not need and pay off your debt!

We need to differentiate more clearly between our wants and our necessities. We seem to get confused. I’ve been guilty of this. I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve struggled with how to stop buying things I don’t need. Over time, I’ve had to retrain myself. As a result, my wife and I have frugaled up our finances and paid off our debt. Being debt-free is awesome! I now believe that being debt-free is the path to financial success!

6. Be more content with what you already have.

We often become discontent when we compare ourselves to others. We see other people that seem to have more than we do and we start thinking we need more. However, more is usually what robs us of the very happiness we seek. It steals our joy and makes us a prisoner to debt and obligation.

7. Focus your time on significant activities.

A great deal of happiness in life often comes from the knowledge that you are spending your time on things that have purpose and meaning. It isn’t always about the bling! In fact, many of the people that report the highest levels of happiness often have very little in terms of material possessions. However, they do spend a lot of time with family and friends. They invest themselves in relationships. Focus on creating significance in your life!

8. Take care of your mind and body.

You can’t truly have a good life without good health. It is paramount that we take care of ourselves. This means eating the right foods and getting some exercise. In addition to our physical health, we should also pay attention to protecting our mental health. We need to exercise our brains and take steps to reduce stress. These efforts will pay some of the biggest dividends that we will ever receive.


So...my first thoughts are...

I've been wanting is a clothes line, lol, I know, not necessarily simple...in fact, I'll probably hate it. But I so crave hanging certain things outside in the sunlight and fresh (ahem) air. Time saver, not so much...energywise it can't hurt. If nothing more I can throw some sheets or towels out there.

Number two on my list is eating better, again. So easy to slip back into the convenience of the crap we are offered. I quit counting calories in March...and it shows, sigh.  My plan is counting calories...cook more and make wiser choices.  I know it works...it was working, until I let my guard down.  Battling the bulge is not easy...it's an addiction and just as difficult to overcome as any drug addiction would be I'm sure!

Number three is continuing to clear out this clutter...I'm definately going to contiue to utilize the love it, hate it and do I use it rule.  That's been working pretty well...next room is my closet.  I started that mess a couple of years ago...had everything pulled out and being worked on.  Then my brother-in-law and his wife came for a visit and guess where all the crap found itself?  My closet is pathetic...truly.

The finances are in good shape thanks to Dave Ramsey.  We'll continue to plug away to the goal we've set.

Activities are at a minimal and I just need to remember that we can't do it all...nor do we need to.

For now that's a good start...too much more and I'd start feeling that simplfiing wasn't all that simple.