Making a conscious decision to living a simple life is half the battle.
Making it actually happen is the real challenge.
Call it the latest fad or the newest lifestyle, but whatever it is people are taking major steps to simplify their lives. They’re learning to live on less, finding ways to be more self-sufficient, but most of all they’re changing their mindset.
Gone are the days of trying to keep up with the Jones’ today people are looking for ways to de-commercialize their lives and reconnect with their families.
Anytime you make changes to your lifestyle you will need to overcome obstacles. Some obstacles you will conquer and some you’ll fail at, but the key is recognizing the signs and being prepared for the battle.
Here are just a few living simple life obstacles you may encounter:
- Temptation – Watch out because the marketing world is your worst enemy. You’re bombarded with countless marketing ads each and every day. Commercials for the fastest cars, the newest technology, the best gadget, or the latest must-have item clutter you mind at every turn. Falling prey to consumerism is one of the hardest battles to win.
- Solution: Tune out these distractions. Turn off the TV and radio and block commercials from your life and if you must watch TV rent movies with no commercials and listen to music channels that have no ads.
- Finding Your Simple – Having a simple mindset is not about changing your life drastically in one day. It’s all about finding a simple balance to managing the things you allow in your life. From possessions to activities, it is all about evaluating those things that are necessary and cutting out the things that clutter your life.
- Solution: Stand back and take a good look at the things that surround you. Do you need to belong to three organization or can you cut it down to just one? Do you need ten pairs of shoes when you can only wear one at a time? Make room for what really matters in your life and cut out the rest.
- Finding Your Happy – Learning to appreciate the simple things in life is the start to having a simple mindset. Coming to the realization that your happiness stems from the people in your life and not your material possessions is the biggest challenge.
- Solution: Take the time to build and nurture your relationships. Spend quality time listening to your children, call your mother and develop friendships based on mutual interests. Learn to find your happiness in people and not material objects.
Changing your mindset to a simpler way of thinking takes practice. It’s applying small changes to your everyday life that will make the biggest difference. Little things, like choosing to turn off the TV and picking up the phone to call your mother, or laying your cell phone down and having a conversation with your child will help you change the way you think about life.
Making these few changes by prioritizing what is truly valuable to you is the easiest way to live a simple life.
Thanks for stopping by!
Tracy Lynn
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Very good advice! I’ll have to think about the shoe suggestion, though! Ha! I have quite a shoe addiction!
Good advice. Too much stuff and too much busy get in the way of life.
I love these tips – because I agree with all of them and am trying to practice them. Two things that I was nodding my head at: 1. Simple is not just physical stuff, but activities as well. 2. An attitude of contentment is a big part of a simpler life style. Best wishes!
Excellent advice, dear Tracy! I live in an area where we don’t have shopping malls or even Wal-Mart. We have a grocery store and local stores. I have noticed when I visit the malls or other big shopping places that instantly I “feel” like I have to have everything the stores are showing off. My clothes are no longer good enough because they are a few years old or I don’t have the latest shoe style….does that make sense? When I walk away from it all I am fine. I am amazed at how quickly my brain starts thinking I “need” to have the latest and greatest. To be honest, I am very thankful I live in an area where I am not surrounded by the new stuff… Thanks for sharing this post – it was a blessing 🙂 And thanks for sharing with Roses of Inspiration.
Good points… it is so important to be content…. and wise. 🙂
Such a refreshing post! 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
What a great post.
I love this! We have been working on simplifying our schedule, our finances, and life in general ever since my youngest child had a depressive episode and has had ongoing battles with anxiety. It was a wake-up call to us about how to live in more peace. I agree it starts with being thankful and aware of small blessings: a simple mindset. Beautiful.
Hello, Tracy. I simplified my life almost four years ago. It was very freeing and each of your tips came in handy. Another one that helped me was to realize that I had everything I needed and so when flyers and advertisements came in the mail I didn’t peek through them but stuck them directly in the recycling bin.
Great post and great ideas. Thanks for sharing at Good Morning Mondays. I especially like the idea of developing our relationships and taking time with our children. “Finding Happy” that’s the way. Blessings.
Hi Tracy,
Your beautiful photo caught my eye over at Stephanie’s, and I had to come over to read all about your ideas on finding one’s ‘simple’, and I have to say, that I, indeed, found some here. Thanks for sharing!
Poppy
Good morning, my dear! I wanted to pop in and let you know that this beautiful post was featured at Roses of Inspiration. Thank you so much for linking up and sharing your loveliness with us. Have a great day!
Thanks for the feature Stephanie…I am going to go check it out right now!
Commercials don’t often bother me too much, but I certainly find that my kids are susceptible to them. I’m glad that they mostly watch Netflix, but there are still commercials within the cartoons they watch. They capitalize on the characters in those show on everything from shoes to toothpaste! So I’ve slowly been teaching them across the years that we have to make better decisions for ourselves than to just buy things on a whim.
Great food for thought here!
very nice, and well written article. Sometimes choosing the simple life is hard, but it is well worth it!
My “simple” at this time is to get rid of the clutter in my home. I have been in my closet several times and continue to get rid of clothes, shoes. etc. I am trying to get rid of 5 or more things most days. Doesn’t seem like a lot buy it’s helpful. There have been many times that i have hauled large garbage bags to thrift stores, too! I’m 67 and realize you can’t organize clutter!!
Good for you! It’s so freeing to get rid of stuff that is just cluttering up your life. I loved your comment… you can’t organize clutter!