Increase Your Quality of Life: Live Simply!

It’s amazing to me the stuff that I accumulate.  Of course I don’t even notice until I’m are in some kind of transition, i.e. moving, renovating, organizing, etc.  Where does this stuff come from and why do I have it?  After a while I start to feel a little overwhelmed with managing it all; where to put it, how to maintain it; keeping it clean, remembering that I have it!  It’s crazy making.  

I happen to be in one of those places right now, hence the inspiration for this post.  I’m pretty sure that I’m not the only one who struggles with the, “space invaders”.  The way that I look at it, the more that I can simplify my life, the higher the quality of life that I can live.  Simplifying doesn’t necessarily mean eliminating but oftentimes that’s the best option.    

Here are some ways that I’ve found to simplify my life and remove much of the self-inflicted stress that creeps in.

Simplifying “Stuff”:  I find myself asking this question quite a bit these days, “Do I really need this?” It’s good to determine the difference between a need and a want.  If I have clearly defined the goals that I have for my life, mentally, physically, spiritually, financially, relationally, etc. then I have a good foundation for deciding whether something will move me closer to or further away from those goals.  For example, I want to read more so for me, purchasing a television and cable would probably lead to spending more time watching TV than reading.  

Simplifying Finances: A good formula for simplifying your finances is to save 10% (or more), give 10% to God and never spend more than you have.  Sometimes this is easier said than done but it can be done.  Oftentimes this has more to do with how much we’ve extended ourselves with our house, cars and toys.  How big of a house do we really need?  How luxurious a car?  Some studies found that Americans typically spend more than they save whereas the Chinese save about 30%, Germans 13% and Swiss 14%.  Try paying cash; it hurts a little more than handing over a plastic credit card.

Simplifying Meals: Keep cooking simple and healthy!  I rarely spend more than 30 minutes cooking a meal and really enjoy cooking.  Preparing meals can be a bit stressful and eating out can be costly.  Look online for healthy meals that are easy to prepare and that you can freeze and save for later.

Simplifying Health: Try committing to 5 minutes of exercise a day.  You’ll be amazed at how much better you will feel if you get out for a walk, do push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups or jumping jacks.  Don’t smoke, drink in excess, take illicit drugs or abuse prescription medicine. Eat small, healthy snacks throughout the day and drink at least 2 to 3 liters of water to stay hydrated.  

Simplify Relationships:  Spend the most time with the people you love; who energize you and who help you be a better person.  Don’t get too caught up in building social capital with virtual friends. Don’t entertain negative people.  Life is too short.  

There are so many things that need simplifying, I feel like I could go on forever, but I won’t.  Maybe I’ll save them for another day.  Do you have any suggestions for simplifying your life?