Does your life feel a little chaotic or stressful? Try our simple living tips and tricks. After all, taking small steps can lead to a big difference!
Read on to discover the next 22 tips from our 65 Simple Ways to Simplify Your Life series.
23. Buy less, but better. Invest in a fewer amount of quality products. Why get cheap plastic lawn chairs that break every summer when you could have solid, hardwood Amish-made rockers on your porch?
24. Laugh. Out loud. A lot. ‘Nuff said.
25. Prep ahead of time. The word preparation means getting ready for an event. In other words, don’t wait until the power goes out to get your oil lamp or wood stove. Plan ahead!
26. Learn a new/old skill. Did your grandmother sew or knit? Perhaps she can teach you. Or maybe Grandpa was a wood carver – ask for a lesson on an old-time skill.
27. Tune out. Avoid the 24-hour news cycle, full of stories about tragedies over which you have no control.
28. Be quiet. Sit outside and listen to the sounds of nature. Let your mind wander. Relax.
29. Pick one area. One room, a closet, a dresser, or the junk drawer. Clean it out, thoroughly and thoughtfully each evening, or even once a week.
30. Stop multi-tasking. Focus on one activity at a time. Otherwise, you could be raising your stress level and lowering your productivity, even though you think you are getting more done.
31. Live in the moment. Guilt and worry are two of the most unproductive emotions that we tend to wallow in. Guilt – because it is in the past, and Worry – because it is in the future.
32. Save your loose change. Put it all in a jar and at the end of the year, take a mini vacation with your savings. There could be hundreds of dollars in loose change that is hard to keep track of throughout the year.
33. Clear your desk. At work and at home, it had been said that a cluttered desk is the sign of a cluttered mine.
34. Make a list. All the small items that clutter up our brains (pick up the dry cleaning, call the dentist, return phone calls, etc.) don’t leave room for the big ideas. Get the small tasks out of your head and into a list.
35. Be inspired. By reading uplifting blogs, books and commentary.
36. Find a community. It could be a church, book club, gardening club or parenting group. Connect with folks who are like-minded, and it becomes an unofficial support group.
37. Be patient. A simpler life isn’t easier – it is more fulfilling and satisfying. Give yourself time to learn new habits and retrain your brain to focus.
38. Take a hike. Or a walk. Not only is it good for you physically, the fresh air and deep breathing can clear your mind.
39. Eat slowly. Eating slowly helps you appreciate your food and take a break from a busy day (not to mention, it’s a good way to help you lose weight).
40. Sleep well. Create a nighttime routine that allows you a restful night’s sleep. The restorative powers of sleep are amazing.
41. Stop mowing. At least, stop mowing most of your lawn. Plant a garden or let the woods take over – watch nature instead of a manicured lawn.
42. Eat simple meals. Not every meal needs to have three or four dishes. A hearty homemade vegetable soup contains all the nutrients you need for one meal.
43. Children need chores. They learn responsibility and that they matter as part of a larger group. And having a few extras hands to help is always a good idea.
44. Good enough is good enough. Give yourself a break – not everything has to be perfect.
45. Make it yourself. Cheese, soap, candles, bread, furniture – uncover your hidden talents. And you will love the sense of ownership and pride that comes from making it with your own two hands.
Editor’s Note: Did you miss part one of this series? Click here to read, and stay tuned for the final installment – coming soon!
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Glenda Lehman Ervin is the daughter of company founder Jay Lehman and VP of Marketing. “I love talking to people who are on their journey to a simpler life. Step by step, we are all on the path to a meaningful, satisfying life. We are thrilled that Lehman’s can be a part of that journey.” Glenda lives in a woods with her husband and two children, just a few miles north of Lehman’s, in Kidron, OH. They have two cats named, surprisingly uncreatively, Baby Cat and Girl Cat.
Me and my husband put all our change in a old water cooler bottle and didn’t spend it for 5 years and when he got sick and couldn’t work for a few weeks we used it to pay the rent, utilitie bills and get groceries AMEN