When you hear the phrase, “Live a Simple Life”, what do you think? Some may think living simply is boring, perhaps lacking excitement, but, actually, this way of living has enormous benefits to our well-being and can increase happiness.
In this day and age, the world is filled with go-go-go lifestyles, crazy tasks, and material desires everywhere you look, especially on social media. Sometimes when life gets crazy, people delete their social media as a “cleanse.”
Honestly, social media can be a really bad place, especically for younger generations who are easily brainwashed into a lifestyle of consumerism or thinking they need to live and look a certain way.
Social media can be a great way to keep in touch with others when used correctly, but it’s important to be smart with it. Ask yourself this question: Dd I need all these social media apps? How do they serve you?
A manageable life minimizes stress and anxiety. We live in an increasingly cluttered world filled with an excessive amount of stuff, commitments, and distractions. By cutting down to the essentials and reducing overconsumption, you’ll create an environment for peaceful living. This allows you to focus on your mental well-being and can make you calmer. It is important to appreciate the present moment and enjoy the little things that make you happy.
Scientists are finding proof that being in nature has a great impact on our brains and our behavior, decreasing anxiety, stress, and increasing our capacity for attention and creativity. For example, when I get stressed out I find that going for a walk really helps me calm down.
Taking time to observe nature could inspire you to focus on a similar way of life and build a connection with the world that surrounds you. You can also improve your physical health by being active and doing things like going for a walk or a hike.
Being in shape and in good physical condition can help improve your mental health, and therefore you are better equipped to live a life in balance. When you incorporate nature becomes a part of your life, you learn to slow down and appreciate the things around you and give attention to what truly matters to you.
Simplicity nurtures relationships. The outcome is that experiences and people become the focal points rather than things like products. Time and effort are available to nourish relationships with family and friends, instead of your mind being taken up with how to have more stuff for how others view you on social media. These relationships bring in emotional support and enrich our lives in ways material possessions cannot do. In addition to that, there should be simplicity in those relationships.
The simplified way of existing is better for the Earth we live on. Cutting down on consumption and making more thoughtful purchases can reduce your ecological footprint. For example, instead of buying plastic bottles, it would be better to buy a refillable water bottle to reduce pollution. This will also play a good role in finances. You can actually save a lot of money by cutting out on buying things you don’t need and focusing on what you truly do need. This includes reducing impulse buys or cutting out your unused subscriptions. By having fewer expenses, it’s easier to avoid debt and increase your amount of savings, so in the case you would need to dip into your savings, you can do so comfortably.
This can add to being cost-effective, such as using less energy and waste. The shift in mindset toward simplicity can bring a more purposeful and satisfying life by putting our actions with our core values.
As you can see, living a simple life includes a ton of benefits that include reducing stress, improving our health, helping develop better and more real relationships, and preserving the environment. In return, this will allow us to live a more happy, meaningful, balanced life.
