Baby Steps Toward a Saner Life
For a little bitty word, “simple” can be big-time daunting. The mere thought can conjure up ideas of hand-cranking appliances and whittling your own kitchen table. Or, it can make some folks think of giving away all their possessions and wearing burlap for the rest of their lives.
If you’re interested in the idea of living a simpler life, but aren’t ready to retire to a convent or monastery, consider taking some baby steps toward simplicity.
You might:
Choose one room to make into a sanctuary, and leave everything else as is.
Pick one day a week to cut down on the activities and commitments in your life.
Find three things in your closet that you can give away and never miss.
Make a list of the job responsibilities you could do from home, just to get your brain rumbling.
Learn how to make one easy dinner, and then fall back on it a couple of times a month. (I like making a pizza with ready-made crust, and my mom loves to do eggs for dinner on easy nights.)
Schedule in time to do nothing but breathe. Sometimes 10 minutes is enough. (You can spare 10 minutes, right?)
Find one good place to keep your keys and put them there every time you come home.
Set a Gmail account and archive every conversation you’re done with but want to hang onto.
Brainstorm ways that you can go “incognito” for a period each day, where you disconnect from the phone and computer. (You may need to create a special code with your family for true emergencies.)
What are some other good “baby steps” the average person can take to live a simpler life? Add in your ideas below!
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This post has 21 comments
September 30th, 2008
This is a nice list Sara! The one room sanctuary really sounds like a great way to start toward simplicity at home. This is one worth me looking into more, thank you.
One thing that works for me is taking time to get out into “nature”. However that may be. Sometimes it’s tent camping. Sometimes it’s a bike ride. Sometimes it just a hike through the woods behind our house. Whatever it is, it’s feels simpler being out there in nature for me. It’s like many of the constraints that can grab hold of us in normal life are gone - money, possessions, time commitments, etc. It’s just good for my soul…
September 30th, 2008
I like when I read your posts and realize that I already do some of the things you suggest.
I always put my keys in the same place when I get home. But one day a few weeks ago, I couldn’t find them. I went crazy looking for them. It was very nerve racking.
Guess where they were?
Between the couch cushions. They had slipped out of my pocket before I put them away in their spot.
Chase Marchs last blog post..Chase March - on a podcast!
September 30th, 2008
I like your idea to unplug from tv/internet, also get rid of a few things. Learn to say no to people so your time is your time. Not always, obviously do things for others, but being afraid to say no when you want to is a surefire way to feel a wee bit more insane for me. Also, for me, exercise is a big one.
Emilys last blog post..Your Stuff Is Talking About You
September 30th, 2008
These are great points, Sara.
I think that we can be put off doing things or making changes because we look at the ‘whole picture’ instead of taking bite-size chunks.
I guess, for me, the main thing to do is to give yourself small, achievable goals which stretch you but are not impossible.
One sure way to guarantee failure is to set targets which are way too demanding. I appreciate that goals should be ambitious, but too ambitious and you just invite failure.
And, the most important thing is to reward yourself for achieving that goal… That makes the baby steps become huge leaps
September 30th, 2008
How about cooking or preparing something on the weekend that can be used in multiple ways during the week? My wife will make a HUGE salad, then we can eat it over a few days. Cook some chicken fingers to put on top for Monday, a little taco meat on Tuesday, some shrimp on Wednesday … and you’re eating pretty healthy too.
September 30th, 2008
I still use my hand cranking appliances when possible and when it makes sense to do so to keep tasks simple. I usually end up saving time, enjoying the experience more, and sometimes even incorporating some exercise when I’m using these basic tools. The following are some examples -
Use the snow shovel instead of the snow blower when there’s only a couple of inches on the driveway.
Use a broom instead of a shop vac or blower when it’s a small job/area that needs to be cleaned.
Use a hand held screwdriver instead of a drill with a screw bit attachment when you’re only working with a handful of screws.
Grass shears instead of my weed wacker for small jobs or touch up.
Hand saw instead of table saw for small jobs or rough carpentry.
There’s a time and place for gadgets and power tools so I’m always thinking about my options before starting the task.
September 30th, 2008
these are great ideas & i’m going to print this list and try and do a few of these things tonight.
A good thing to do is a day of batch cooking. freeze meals for easy nights.
or :
clear off one cluttered surface you pass by regularly in your home . I’m going to do that TONIGHT!!! thanks
September 30th, 2008
Hi Sara. Putting keys in the same place has become a habit for me. They leave my hands as soon as I walk in the door to rest atop the refrigerator. And, Gmail is awesome for keeping email organized. Great list. Disconnect from the tv would be another suggestion.
Davinas last blog post..Free Spirit My Ass!
September 30th, 2008
I have the room, I journal and meditate there every morning. Will be heading back in there this afternoon to write.
I agree with Lance, getting outside often does the trick. I don’t need anything but the great outdoors - whether at the beach or the mountains, to put a smile on my face and give me a feeling of simplicity.
Stacey Shipmans last blog post..Allowing Room for “No”…From Someone Else
September 30th, 2008
Stop thinking for a minute or two.
It can be on the tram, bus or in the elevator. It can even be just before inserting the keys into your car.
Stopping has an incredible simplifying effect.
Jarrod - Warrior Developments last blog post..Continuous Improvement: Plan and Reflect Daily
September 30th, 2008
I’m a big believer in baby steps.
So, while “Find one good place to keep your keys and put them there every time you come home” may seem like a small step, the daily ritual of frantically looking for the keys is a huge waste of time and energy. It’s a baby step that definitely improves quality of life.
September 30th, 2008
Lance: Thanks! Nature is so key. I like camping as a baby step–it’s a way to remember that there’s life and happiness outside of the connected world.
Chase: Haha! Your story made me laugh out loud, because I’ve had the exact same panic. It sucks, but it’s good for a laugh later, right?
Emily: You are so much more on the exercise train than me, but I think you’re right. It’s a time to free yourself and let your mind go.
Scott: Like you, I think there’s a fine line between ambitious and shooting yourself in the foot. The hard part is finding it.
Ron: Yes, yes, yes! Anytime I can get two dinners out of one prep, I’m so thankful on the second day. I like your method of mixing it up; I can’t imagine I’d bored with that much variety.
Mark: Yes–taking the time to think of the simplest solution is a huge step toward being simple. It’s actually one that I should take more often.
NeimanMarxist: Woo-hoo! Glad you got some inspiration from this. I haven’t tried batch cooking, since the initial cooking kinda scares me, but the payoff would be awesome!
Davina: I’m torn on disconnecting from TV. My husband and I have a lot of fun watching and discussing certain shows, but there are certainly other things we could be doing.
Stacey: Ah, your morning sounds wonderful… Mind if I copy it?
Jarrod: Freakin’ brilliant. Seriously. Not trying to squeeze the most out of every moment is a good thing.
Vered: Amen! Removing the frenetic moments is as important as adding in calm moments. I can’t imagine how much the tone of my day would change if I had to hunt down the keys every morning.
October 1st, 2008
My weeks are packed with a full-time job, business, household responsibilities and self-care (working out daily is a MUST), so keeping the house as decluttered as possible helps with meal prep and clean-up. This is not the most economical thing in the world but one of us picks-up healthy take out about once a week for dinner. That makes a huge difference and gives me time to do other things around the house.
I need to take out more time for myself though. It seems like I find tricks to save time only to fill it with other things I need to do (ie: preparing more efficient meals just so I can do more work in my study).
Lately, I’ve been going to the farmers market once a week on my way home from work. I stop at a coffee kiosk and order an espresso (they have the best local, organic coffee). The barista serves it in a ceramic cup. I COULD ask for it to-go, but usually decide not to. This kind of forces me to stay a while, relax, sip my coffee and actually have conversations with other people before heading home.
I need to do something like that more than just once a week for 15 minutes.
Carlas last blog post..LA Times: California launches broad effort to control hazardous chemicals
October 1st, 2008
Cap your day with 4 questions …
1. What did I learn?
2. What did I improve?
3. What did I enjoy?
4. What kind act did I do?
Basically, it’s about counting what counts.
J.D. Meiers last blog post..If You Want to Learn Success, Study Success
October 1st, 2008
Carla: I really like your idea of not taking something to go. Sometimes we have to trick (or force) our bodies to slow down. Sitting down and pausing for a meal or a snack is probably one of the best things we could do. And I know exactly what you mean about saving time just to find other ways to use it up. Sigh…
J.D.: You have been on a long streak of leaving awesome comments. No exception here–this would be a good list for me to keep as a bookmark in my bedside reading. Thanks for the idea!
October 1st, 2008
Definitely agree with the sanctuary room. My new sanctuary in the house I just moved into is my basement. I have my drums, guitars, keyboard, computer, windows soundproofed, privacy, and I can be as loud and creative as I want! Also, it lets me have my alone time. So important…
Simple Sapiens last blog post..I Am Moving
October 2nd, 2008
I’ve never thought of the Gmail idea - good one!
It may sound silly, but not using plastic bags makes my life simpler. I carry around a reusable bag (that’s folded nice and small) in my purse so I don’t need a store bag for everything I purchase. The result? I no longer have two drawers crammed with plastic bags that pop out onto the floor every time I open them (the drawers). Now I have two drawers for more important things and no longer spend time picking bags off the floor!
Laurie | Express Yourself to Successs last blog post..Helpful Habits
October 2nd, 2008
Hi Sara - these are great tips. I’ve started to do a couple already - including the easy meals. Stuart is away this week so I’ve actually let the kids have oven chips and burgers - we rarely have either.
And also I’ve been selling stuff I never use on ebay. It’s amazing the junk you gather that you don’t remember you’ve got.
Also - I’ve been trying to meditate each day - it certainly helps me to think more clearly.
October 2nd, 2008
I’ve always kept my life simple because I need “moodling” time, time for reflection. My greatest tool is my Possibility List. It’s like a To Do list without the pressure. I look at the list of things on the list and do the ones that feel right at the moment. If something really needs to get done it will feel right to work on it.
I’ve never been status or money oriented, and I’ve never bought into the idea I should use all of my potential, not be mediocre, etc. I want to make my little corner of the world more loving and friendly. My basic philosophy is
“Stay curious and open to life. No matter what happens keep learning and growing. Find what you love and find a way to share it with others.”
That works for me.
Jean Browman–Cheerful Monks last blog post..Creating a Sacred Space
October 2nd, 2008
Cath,
I’ve been blessed with a husband who likes simple food. He loves a one-dish main course of vegetables, meat/chicken/or fish, mixed with some rice or pasta. We cook almost everything in the microwave, which has the advantage of being the most environmentally friendly way of cooking. Thank you for reminding me of how lucky I am. After all these years I sometimes take it for granted.
Jean Browman–Cheerful Monks last blog post..Creating a Sacred Space
October 2nd, 2008
Jack: A whole basement? That sounds awesome! Do your best to preserve it and keep it purely for creativity and enjoyment!
Laurie: Oh, trust me–that idea doesn’t sound silly at all! Carrying a reusable bag is a habit worth creating–a perfect baby step.
Cath: Thanks! I’m also working on working in the meditation. Is there any particular method that’s working for you?
Jean: “I’ve never bought into the idea I should use all of my potential.” This is fascinating stuff! I’d love to hear more about how this plays out for you if you want to drop me a line (or add it in here). My mom actually has a similar philosophy; happiness is about actually being happy, not doing what’s supposed to make you happy.
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