Beech Tree News Network

Sometimes we wish for a simpler life. Andy Griffith said, “Things have changed so much. People walked away from the simple life we had in the ‘20s and ‘30s…” (https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/simple_life). Many experience feelings of stress or feeling run down. Yet, some people believe there are ways to simplify life and avoid those feelings.

Leah Eigenbrod wrote an article entitled “20 Ways to Simplify Your Life: Save Time, Reduce Stress, and Focus on What Matters,” published in The Modern Woodmen magazine (Spring 2019, pp. 18-19). The author listed twenty practices that could help one move toward a more balanced life. Some of those practices included the following:

•Your Day – Plan your meals.

•Your House – Purge.

•Your Technology – Step away (example: no phone in the bedroom).

•Your Finances – Automate payments.

•Your Mind – Schedule alone time.

Wondering how friends and family might choose to simplify, I asked them: “What advice would you give to someone who wanted to simplify his or her life?” Their responses are listed below:

•Learn to say no when necessary.

•Get rid of things you don’t love, use or for which you don’t have a purpose. Declutter your life.

•Stay off social media (if on it, make it brief). Don’t worry so much about what others think. Do unto others as you would want done to you. Don’t live outside your means financially. Pray, pray, pray and make your own family and home your priority.

•Is that even possible? Is there a cave we can all live in? I would say get rid of unnecessary drama in your life with family or friends, get rid of all cell phones, internet, TV, radio…. But who wants to do that? I really don’t think we can simplify our lives without going back 75 years.

•Clean out closets and cabinets, and get rid of all the stuff your kids will throw away when you die. Avoid impulse buying, don’t commit to events/favors that don’t bring happiness or the feeling of helping others, live in the moment being aware of everyday beauty, and be thankful for your blessings.

•This week the best way to simplify my life would be to avoid people altogether.

•I would advise everyone to get the daily devotional book Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. Read it each morning, and apply it to your day.

•Decide what you want your life to look like. Make a list of what you’re involved with or working on. Stop doing things that don’t align with what you want. Start doing things that fit with your “vision” of your life.

•My “simplification” has been to hire a house cleaner. I stayed stressed because I was so busy at the kennel, and when I would try to relax in the house at night, I would get terrible anxiety because the house was a wreck!

•Realize what you want is not what you need. You may want stuff, but think about what really makes you happy: peace of mind, family, living within your means, being satisfied with what you have today. Do not worry about the unknown. Do not live to be the Jones family. Live the Serenity Prayer, and live in the moment.

•Less electronics.

•Trust in God.

•Keep your finances in order. Don’t go deep in debt for anything unless it is a necessity, and then make sure you can afford what you choose to buy. Don’t count on the same income over the years. Try to save money and then make purchases. Make sure that you have extra money after all of your total monthly payments are made. If you cannot afford something, don’t put it on a credit card unless you are sure that you can pay it off when the bill comes due. 

•Put down the technology and walk away. Social media can be just as troublesome as it is wonderful. Creating an image is far more tiring than living in the moment and choosing not to worry about the number of followers or likes an individual has.

•Put Christ first and don’t focus so much on material things and having/doing everything your friends do. Focus on yourself, your family, and making memories. 

•I have no advice. I haven’t found a method yet.

•Don’t overdo debt. Be content with what you have.

•Learn to say no. You are only one person.

•Delete or deactivate social media.

•Don’t have pets and rent instead of owning.

•Pray a lot, limit social media, and stay on a budget so you don’t buy things just to “keep up” or have more stuff.

Willie Nelson said, “Freedom is control in your own life” (https://awakenthegreatnesswithin.com/30-inspirational-quotes-on-taking-c...). In my opinion, we might simplify our lives through prayer and by making smart choices regarding time and finances. I don’t believe leading a balanced life is an easy goal, but I do think the benefits would be worth the effort.