Simple living is a lifestyle. It is the belief that what we have is enough and there isn’t something “out there” that will complete us or bring us lasting peace. If you’re curious about living a simpler life this is for you.
Many envision farm living as the ultimate simple life, but the farm wives out there will know better. Production agriculture is a business as much as it is agriculture and not immune to the stresses of modern life. I’ve found that actively pursuing a simple lifestyle has given me so much peace and clarity. I’m not a zen master by any means, but I do feel more confident peeling back the layers of who I thought I was supposed to be and do and own. And it is so freeing!
Simple Living Meaning
Simple living can mean different things to different people, but it is generally understood to mean living a life that is uncomplicated. This is typically a lifestyle choice closely related to minimalism, sustainability, and mindfulness. Simple living adopts these principles and applies them to every aspect of life.
What is a Simple Lifestyle
Simple living is somewhat counter cultural in that the ultimate goal is not productivity. Instead the goal is to remove the things that are not essential to your life. Simple living at its best should reveal what is essential to you and the time to enjoy pursuing that.
How to Live a Simple Life
The best way to begin living a simple life is by being intentional. Think of two or three principles or values that matter most to you and begin to prioritize those. For me that is sustainability, family time, and raising well rounded kids. With each decision I make I weigh that decision against these values. Anything that doesn’t align with these values I avoid whenever possible.
What this looks like for us on our family farm is limiting commitments and activities during our busy seasons and intentionally slowing down during the winter months. We do very simple birthdays and holidays, opting for experiences and consumable gifts. We declutter regularly and keep only what we need, opting to fully use and wear out what we have before purchasing more.
I try to purchase second hand and more sustainable options when possible. We cook at home nearly every day of the week and I would love to grow even more of our food at home or source it locally. I’ve found that implementing simple living has relieved my decision fatigue and the mental load of being a working mom and farm wife.
Simple Living With Kids
Living simply with kids is is easier than you might think. We can sometimes fall in the trap of believing a happy childhood requires lots of Christmas gifts, elaborate birthday parties and a new activity every night of the week. However research shows that kids who have fewer toys play more creatively. And we know that kids need plenty of time to rest and even to be bored. Living a simple life allows our kids the breathing room to get creative and use their imagination. It lays the groundwork for resourcefulness and contentedness later in life.
This is not a one size fits all. Feel free to pick and choose the places where simplicity will add to your life. Your family may thrive on lots of activities and clubs, but in that case you probably don’t need a huge playroom and all of the newest gaming systems at home. Look for what seems to complicate life for you and your child and begin to scale those things back.
5 Ways to Live a Simple Life Today
- Start saying no to events, commitments, and new purchases. Only say yes to events, purchases and activities that are 100% a priority.
- Declutter one small space in your home. Choose a spot that you use everyday or is highly visible. Aim to decrease the number of items in that space by 75%. Everytime you use this space you’ll feel so much better and feel energized to replicate it elsewhere.
- Limit distraction in your inbox, social media feed and home. Start by removing one email subscription and one profile on your social media feed. Consider canceling or pausing your tv subscriptions for a month, or remove one altogether.
- Take a moment to live in the moment. No multitasking, just enjoying your breakfast or an afternoon tea for a couple of minutes and notice how much calmer you feel.
- Be intentional. Identify one thing that would bring you peace. This could be removing a stressor or adding time for activities that bring you joy. If you hate waking up to a messy house, spend ten minutes tidying up before bed. If you love being outdoors, make that part of your daily routine. Just ten minutes a day actively protecting your peace will do wonders!
