Living a Simple Life
For people overwhelmed by the pace of modern life, there is a growing movement to shed stuff and simplify.simple life It’s not just a way to make goat cheese omelets or to find the most efficient mop and broom system that traps lint in hard-to-reach places—it’s about finding a life that’s truly satisfying, one that makes you want to get up in the morning and go out into the world and spend your time wisely.
But what does it actually mean to live simply? Allison Glock talks to a few devoted followers and finds that it’s not about giving up possessions entirely, nor is it about sacrificing pleasures such as fine food or a good book.simple life Instead, living simply is about creating a life that’s meaningful to you and your family, where you have the time to enjoy the things you love and to be a more generous person in your relationships.
Historically, proponents of simple life have embraced a social ethic that stresses hard work and self-control, plain living and civic virtue. They have argued that a society in which bounteous resources and relentless work ethic are paired with enlightened restraint can be a model for the entire planet. This ethos is at once conservative, appealing to traditional religious values and classical notions of civic virtue; liberal or even radical in its assault on corporate capitalism and its ethos of compulsive consumerism.
What’s more, there are many different kinds of simplicity, and each is personal. For some, the goal is to live as a minimalist, for others it’s to become more mindful of their spending and possessions. Yet for all its variety, the essence of the simple life is an animating vision of moral purpose that nourishes ethically sensitive imaginations.
Simplifying with the goal of becoming as minimal as possible will prove to be as empty as dieting to be as skinny as possible, because it’s not sustainable. But if you simplify to create a life that excites you to wake up to and focuses your energy, space and attention on the people and experiences that matter most to you, then you’re on to something.
The key is to remove all of the extraneous distractions that complicate your life. That means getting rid of unnecessary clutter, cutting down on overworking and the endless errands that come with it, and refusing to sign up for any more activities than you really have to. It also means refusing to let your fear of missing out (FOMO) lead you to say yes to every opportunity — it’s OK to turn down the newest technology and say no to more events or activities. In fact, the most important part of simple living is learning to say no, so you can prioritize your needs.