Simple Living: Less is More
“Life is hardly simple, in fact, it’s often quite complicated.”
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Today we’re kicking off a new series focused on simple living. This is something that you all have asked for, and honestly, it’s one of my favorite things to talk about. Over the last six years (since becoming a mother) I’ve been on a journey of figuring out the art of simplicity. And I believe that embracing simplicity has been key to creating a work-life balance that I love.
Embracing simplicity in your life is all about living with less, so we can enjoy life more. And when I say less, I don’t just mean less stuff. I’m talking about simplifying every area of your life – your home, your calendar, your style, your beauty routines, your finances, your work… all of it! Remember, we need resources like time, energy, and money to meet the demands of the different roles we play in life (e.g., mother, wife, employee, friend, etc.). Without the necessary resources, we are at risk of stress, guilt, overwhelm, and burnout. And there’s nothing simple (or elegant) about that! By eliminating unnecessary things, obligations, and spending, we free up resources to be spent on the things that truly matter to us.
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I can remember it like it was yesterday. I was rocking my son in the living room of our tiny apartment in Tallahassee. I was in the middle of a 4-year PhD program, a new mother, my family lived 15 hours away, and we didn’t have any childcare. Needless to say, I was exhausted and overwhelmed. It felt like I couldn’t keep up with anything. Despite my best efforts, I felt like I was failing at being the mom I wanted to be and failing to meet the expectations in my graduate program.
Flipping through Netflix that evening to find something that would take my mind off of all the things I “should” be doing, I came across a documentary entitled “Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things.” I was intrigued and so I watched it. This was my first introduction to minimalism, or what I like to refer to as “simple living.” As I watched it, I realized this is what I needed to do. I needed to simplify things so that I didn’t feel so overwhelmed by unnecessary stuff. Life was crazy enough as a grad student and a mom. I didn’t need to pile on extra chores or obligations. I set off on a mission to simplify everything. It started in my closet but has become a way of life.
Now, for some of you the term “minimalism” might make you cringe, roll your eyes, or want to reach out and turn off this podcast. But bear with me. Yes, there is absolutely an extreme version of minimalism where people get rid of everything but I’m not talking about that (unless you want to, then that’s fine – go for it!). We are all unique women in different situations, which means that simple living will look differently for each of us. Getting rid of things or saying no to activities that you and your family enjoy would only make life more complicated, or at least less enjoyable, which is not our goal!
My goal for us over the next few weeks is to identify key areas of our lives that can benefit from simplification, eliminate the unnecessary distractions from those areas, and then to establish routines that help us lead simple lives that we love.
So, I want to share a few questions with you to get you started thinking about what it would look like to live simply for you.
Which parts of your life feel overly complicated? What are you struggling with?
How is that impacting your ability to enjoy the things that matter most to you?
Like I said, this is the beginning of a series focused on simple living. I hope to discuss simplifying your home, style, calendar, and more. As part of this series, I will be hosting a 5-Day Closet Cleanout Challenge. Some of your may have done this challenge with me in the spring. But, a key to maintaining my simple living has been cleaning out not only my closet, but also my childrens’ closet twice a year – in the spring and in the late fall. I especially love doing it in fall because it helps us clear space before all the things associated with the holidays make their way into our home.
The challenge will run from Monday November 15th to Friday November 19th. If you’re interested, you can register here. I hope to see you there! I can’t wait to embrace simplicity with you all over the next few weeks.
Have a beautiful, joy-filled week friends!
Is a better work-life balance one of your goals this year?
I’ve created a workbook just for you!
If you’re interested in creating a work-life balance characterized by simplicity, joy, and beauty, why don’t you start by checking out my Elegant Balance Workbook? In it, I help you define what work-life balance looks like for you and share some tips on creating that balance. I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it – Balance doesn’t happen by accident.
What are you waiting for?
Let’s pursue our Elegant Balance together!
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We spend a great deal of time at work. Like Annie Dillard once said, “How we spend our days is how we spend our lives.” I encourage you to look around your office and see what steps you can take to add simple luxuries to your workday because in the grand scheme of things, they will add up and lead to a luxurious life!