What’s the Point of Living Simply?
Simple living can be hard work. You’ve got to say “no” when it’s easier to say “yes,” ignore the marketing messages being thrown at you from all angles, and find meaningful ways to fill your time. Just because it’s simple, that doesn’t make it easy, though. So what’s the point?
I’ll be honest: the point, for me, changes from season to season, and even week to week. I find new challenges, new drawbacks, and new inspirations each day. There’s one underlying reason, though, that shines through everything.
By living simply, I can manage complications and still enjoy life.
That’s it. Sure, I save money and free up time. But in the end, simple living is sane living for me. On the craziest day, when I’ve got to keep a few dozen plates spinning, I can manage. By living simply, I keep my baseline craziness to a minimum. Since I don’t stretch myself to the limits on a regular basis, I’ve got more bandwidth when those kind of occasions arise. One small issue gone awry doesn’t have the power to ruin my day or destroy my appointment book. I’m much better able to take things in stride than in years past.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve still got moments when I just have to stop and laugh or scream from sheer frustration. Still, I take a lot of comfort in the fact that when I come home, my simple life will provide a perfect cushion. I don’t have to cook a gourmet meal, deal with relationship issues (don’t worry, give us time…), or balance a jam-packed schedule.
The point of simple living, for me has got to be:
A soft place to land
A wide margin of error
Room to breathe
Lots of places to find baseline happiness in each and every day
I’ve got to say, it’s worth every sacrifice I’ve made.
What about you? What is the point of living simply for you? I’d love to hear other folks’ reasons for slowing down and breaking free.
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This post has 28 comments
January 12th, 2009
Intentionally getting rid of our car almost 8 years ago was about doing our part for the environment, sure, but it was mostly about the very things you are discussing in this post.
In order to follow our creative dreams and live the peaceful, calm life we both wanted, cutting back on expenses has been the best thing we ever did.
But it goes beyond dollars. Getting rid of our car makes us think more about everything we DO and everything we BUY.
Recently, I wrote about this issue, comparing being car free in this culture to being a monk: it forces you to live outside of but within the culture, and the benefits are too numerous to count on the social, political, personal, artistic, emotional, physical, communal, and global levels.
Blisschicks last blog post..MysticBliss: Those Wacky & Wonderful Irish!
January 12th, 2009
Living Simply has made my life as a parent a LOT more enjoyable and carefree
Mayas last blog post..Preparing to Believe in Yourself: The Science of Ditchiness
January 12th, 2009
Because I can breathe. I found I needed to simplify when my schedule and my life were so chaotic (full of good-intentioned things)that I was stressing over things I should’ve been enjoying. I am slowly learning that less is so much more.
Nicki at Domestic Centss last blog post..Anatomy Of A Thoughtful Person
January 12th, 2009
Hey Sarah,
For us, the original reason for living simply was to make sure that we did not have to use daycare for our daughter. Along with the need to pare down our schedules so that one of us was always home with her, we also needed to pare down our expenses and live more simply.
Getting out of the rat race and not “having to keep up with the Jones” is a continual process of renewal which seems to bring ever deepening rewards in addition to the original goal. I’ll have to think a bit more on exactly what it means to me and how it has improved my life so far (I’m far from living as simply as I could…).
Cheers,
Adam
Adam Steer - Better Is Betters last blog post..Will Smith doesn’t need The Magic Hundred!
January 12th, 2009
We do it simply because it’s simpler. For us it’s much more rewarding and we can enjoy the fruits of our labor, not by buying stuff, but by enjoying what we do have. I think it’s because we’re not always trying to find the newest and latest and greatest things.
Living simply gives us the opportunity to slow down and enjoy life.
Susys last blog post..So Long Ago: Tulips in Bloom
January 12th, 2009
For me, it’s about raising my children right. Simple living means more time doing things like walking in the woods, cooking together at home, making up inventive games.
I went into parenthood thinking it was all about buying the right gear, arranging for the right lessons and making sure our kids were wearing the right clothes. Turns out all that is (usually) required is to slow down, breathe and be in the moment with your child.
It’s harder than it sounds, but like you said - we can keep baseline craziness to a minimum.
January 12th, 2009
“Since I don’t stretch myself to the limits on a regular basis, I’ve got more bandwidth when those kind of occasions arise. One small issue gone awry doesn’t have the power to ruin my day or destroy my appointment book.”
I couldn’t agree more. What I’ve learned as a general rule is many things take about twice as long as you estimated them to be. All the more reason to have that extra bandwidth and remain sane.
January 12th, 2009
Good points Sara.
Having fewer things to deal with gives us more time to deal with them when something goes wrong or takes longer than expected.
It also gives you more time for the things you enjoy.
Simplicity also helps me to relax. I like having fewer things, but ones that mean more to me. When I’m at someones house that’s cluttered, I get antsy.
January 12th, 2009
Living simply frees up time. Time to spend with loved ones. Time to experience the richness of life. Time to have fun.
kathys last blog post..I Sleep, You Sleep, We All Sleep | How Sleep Improves Your Life
January 12th, 2009
Hi Sara,
Nice post! I used to pack appointments back to back and it was so stressful when one ran late. Now I restrict myself to at most one appointment in the morning and one in the afternoon. Lots of buffer, or as you say, margin of error.
In the end, I get less done, but more done at the same time, if that makes sense.
Daphnes last blog post..Book Review: Microtrends - The Small Forces Behind Tomorrow’s Big Changes
January 12th, 2009
I’ll rephrase your question and ask “what’s the point of living as complicated as possible”
Complicated things can be stimulating and exciting (like a hard science problem), but if everything is complicated then everything is a challenge and nothing is unique.
That’s why living with simplicity allows me to appreciate success after a complicated effort.
Patrick
veryevolved.com
Very Evolveds last blog post..Why it’s hard to change bad habits, and what you can do about it
January 13th, 2009
A love that expression about a simple life providing a “perfect cushion”.
For me, a simple life has to do with stripping away all the distractions and pointless effort and worry that get in the way of being truly, sustainably happy.
And what a sad comment on the modern world that simplicity can be difficult!
Frisky Librarians last blog post..Bump
January 13th, 2009
I agree, a simple life helps me cope when trauma occurs. On a smaller scale though, simplicity takes away most of the common frustrations that used to eat away at my everday soul - looking for something in a cluttered house, being late, getting angry at the traffic, feeling out of control and like I was swimming against the tide. It was so tiring.
Now I always have time for people, for myself and for the important things - and like David Y, a cluttered house upsets my equilibrium!
Carolines last blog post..I BAKED BREAD!
January 13th, 2009
I find by living simply there is far less complications that actually need managing. Most of them sort themselves out.
Jarrod - Warrior Developments last blog post..Progressing Everyday: Do Something
January 13th, 2009
I realize that living simply is not quite as easy and may seem to require a lot more effort right upfront. Nevertheless, I agree with you that it is a better way to go. The more stuff I put on my plate and the more clutter I accumulate makes me more flustered. I also like the idea of having the time and space to allow for more margin of error.
Evelyn Lims last blog post..Ideas For Soul Growth In 2009
January 13th, 2009
I think that’s the real key … grow yourself from a firm foundation.
J.D. Meiers last blog post..Avoid the Intelligence Trap
January 13th, 2009
Living simply is an ongoing thing for me. While we live more simply than many we know, I still see much room to improve. It’s so easy to fall into the materialism trap and once there, it’s hard to go back to simple. The thing I love most though, is the fact that stress levels go way down. We enjoy…simple…things more.
Easy? No. Worth it? Absolutely!
Debs last blog post..CVS, Part 3 and My Last CVS Trip
January 13th, 2009
I’m still in the process of trying to learn to live more simple. What I am hoping to gain from it though is more quality time with my children and my husband and less stress in my life.
Rebeccas last blog post..Jan 11, Curious George Crib Bedding for a Curious George Nursery
January 13th, 2009
Living simply means being able to answer the questions of what I want right now versus what I think I need in the future.
Ravens last blog post..When You Should Hire a Temp Worker for Your Business (And When You Shouldn’t)
January 13th, 2009
What a thoughtful post!
There are so many reasons, or maybe results that come from living simply. But one that stands out in my life is that it clears up the fog to help me see that the most important thing in life is relationships. When I’m constantly chasing this ‘ideal’ that I think I have to be then I’m only thinking about myself and how other people see *me*. By living simply, I change that perspective and start actually *seeing* other people. When I’m at peace and have a safe place, I can much more easily share a safe place with those who need it and that is a goal and a reward all wrapped up in one.
January 13th, 2009
“By living simply, I keep my baseline craziness to a minimum.” I love that sentence. For me simple living is all about peace. I love the peace it affords us. And it’s been great for our kids too.
Vals last blog post..2008 reflections
January 13th, 2009
It is it’s own point. It makes life simpler. How do you define ’simple’? The reciprocal of the number of items you own?
My bills pay themselves electronically so that I don’t have to worry about them. Same for retirement contributions. My small apartment doesn’t take long to clean. I don’t own a television or listen to the radio and as such I don’t have to try very hard to avoid advertising and its influences.
I cut out all the things that I don’t want or need to do, or I automate them so that I don’t have think about them. This leaves my mind clear to think about things I actually care about.
What is simplicity? It’s lack of distractions so I can spend my time and energy on the things that matter to me.
I’m not a regular reader of this site, but got here via an interesting chain of links, and I’m having a hard time grasping it’s goal. You know what’s simpler than reading or writing about “simplicity”? Not doing that. Focusing on the things that matter to you instead. Simplicity as a goal in and of itself actually complicates your life with the effort and attention you expend focusing on it.
I know this is horribly critical, but looking over the few most recent articles on this site, I see a bunch of lists with happy-feel-good things like, “Give in to a craving!” and “Take a family picture” or “Focus on the five senses”. These things are all fine, there’s nothing wrong with them, and they’re probably fun or soothing, but they don’t make my life simpler. Practicing meditation, as an example, does not free up my time and attention for the things I care about, unless meditating is a thing that I care about (it’s not). Simplicity - removing the extraneous to focus on the important.
Surfing the internet and reading blogs is enough of a distraction already, but it’s something I allow myself. I make time to expose myself to new ideas and viewpoints, but the ideals espoused by this blog’s title seem contradictory to its content, so I’m really not sure what to think.
January 13th, 2009
What’s the point?
Well, at the moment I have two little (and wonderful) daughters, 2 and 6 yrs old…and they are only young once! I cherish every moment with them - without distractions, just me and them.
Christophers last blog post..Don’t Quit Poem Video
January 14th, 2009
@ Tyler: a simple life means different things to different people and obviously for Sara, sharing what works for her is important to her and she’s made a difference in other people’s lives to encourage them to find out what works for them. It may not fit into your idea of simplicity, but it’s her blog so she kind of gets to make the rules on that one.
January 14th, 2009
I love this, I have been moving forward to living simply day to day, I work at home and I focus on my family and I first…Then life and this comes from creating the space! Great post!
Matthew Clarks last blog post..Today’s Financial Times
January 31st, 2009
I think what gets me is that my old friends and family think I unhappy, depressed, not successful, a failure or some combination of the above.
But, I am happier, not depressed, freer and feel more successful than I did when I made a lots of money yet was in debt up to my ass.
I retired (early) and poor but not helpless. I own my house, my car (drive 8k a year), my computer…. What else do I need? A Wife? A Purry Cat? Thats about it.
Once you start shaving parts of your life you don’t need you will be surprised at how little you really need.
January 31st, 2009
10 years without a cell phone or a PDA
Savings 15K to 25K
I love that look, you don’t have cell phone?
Note:
Seeing four people in a bar at a bar table ALL talking on their cell phones, but not each other. Sounds like Fun!
April 6th, 2009
Fir me I live how I want to me lifes to short to care about wat people think about u a man once toldme every one in the world is a lil fd up and when ur young u thisnk it’s just u so for every one who realizes that it’s ok to be a lil fd up and u let ur freak flag fly and just have fun being u lives a good and healthy life but for those who don’t realizes this live boring and meaningless lifestyles
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