Striving For A Simpler Life

Life is not simple. It actually takes a lot of work to simplify and calm a busy and hectic life. It takes intentional planning and motivation to slow down an overwhelming schedule. I want to write about simple living today because I have been on a quest for quite some time now to live a simpler life. I’ve had successes and struggles along the way over the past three years of my journey.

April of 2017 I quit a toxic job; a job that was not just fast paced and “busy,” but also one that caused me unnecessary stress and anxiety due to an office bully. The benefits were better than anything I had had before, far better than the benefits of my own family and peers, and the pay was fantastic, but ultimately I discovered that the cost to my mental health, my physical health, my goals and dreams, my creativity, my relationship, and my overall happiness just wasn’t worth it.

When I made the decision to quit that toxic job and I started formulating my escape plan, I had to ask myself not only what I wanted less of, but what I wanted more of. I knew I wanted less stress, to remove myself from the path of a very cruel bully, and to work less at a job that brought me little joy. Instead, what did I want more of? I wanted more creativity, more kindness, more time with friends and loved ones, and more time for the things I enjoyed. Not once did more money or more recognition make it as a possibility on that list.

I knew that as long as I made enough to pay my bills and afford to take care of myself with at least a little bit of savings on the side, that the time I would gain would be worth so much more. That my health and happiness and that of my relationship with my husband (fiance at the time) was far more important. For some, the costs do not matter as long as they reach their highest earning potential and gain recognition from their peers, even at a great disadvantage to their happiness, relationships, and health. Over time that compounds and makes people miserable. You can of course make good money at something that does bring you joy, health, and community, but it is good to distinguish that the goal of keeping up with the Jonses or having a perfect or impressive image is not the same thing, nor is it a replacement for true wellbeing.

That was step one.

It took me a couple months for my mind to slow down and for my body to accept that it was no longer in danger of emotional abuse from the bully at my previous job. Life continued. Sometimes it was so beautiful to be true and other times I truly struggled. I had up days and down days. We planned for our beautiful weddings and struggled through sabotaging attempts by a couple family members. We celebrated milestones and grieved over the losses of loved ones. My photography business and blog both grew and stumbled then grew again. I tried new things, learned new things, and life moved on.

Then it got extremely busy again. The kind of busy that takes over your mind and fatigues your soul. I had to learn how to let go and remove myself from more toxic and painful people and situations. I had to learn to respect, love, and value myself. I had to learn that this would be a pattern in my life until I genuinely raised my self-esteem and self-compassion. I had to care about myself enough to take better care of myself and to keep myself from being caught in these repetitive traps.

A simple life looks very different for many people. For me, living simply means finding more time in my day for what brings me joy. That is all.

For me that means less time working on things that bring me no benefit, less time watching television or being online or on my phone when it does not enrich my life, less time commuting, less time wasted on things that do not serve me, less time speaking to people who want to bring me harm, less time spent on toxic situations, less time spent on negative emotions, less unhealthy meals and habits, and less time feeling lonely.

To achieve more simplicity in my life I’ve been working on my sleep routine so I can have a better nights rest and waste less time in the mornings, I listen to more music, intentionally plan my days, cook more healthy meals, meditate, go for walks, call good friends and plan days to visit with them, spend more quality time with my husband, participate in activities that bring me happiness, and work on the dreams and goals that benefit my creativity and my businesses.

A simple life is about making the time to slow down and appreciate the good. It is about taking yourself off auto pilot and noticing the little moments that can add value and joy to our days. It is about appreciating where we are, who we are, and what we love most. It takes a lot of intention to cut down the noise so we may focus on the beauty right here before us.

How do you strive for a simpler life?