The Simplicity Habit

Simplicity doesn’t always come naturally. Many of us tend to overcomplicate our lives. We are faced with a thought, a problem, a challenge, or a new opportunity, and our mind goes in dozens of different directions. We are pulled towards thinking of ways that something could go wrong, and the millions of things we need to do for things to go right. Instead of existing in the present, we exist deep within our mind. We ruminate on the thoughts and potential scenarios of our future life, rather than experiencing what is in front of us.

We live in a society where we are told to constantly set goals and go after them with vigor. Of course, this isn’t a bad thing – it’s good to dream big and persevere through challenges to reach your goals! However, this mentality does put us in a compromising position when it comes to living simply. We are pulled towards thinking of, and working towards, the dreams we’ll be achieving in our future. Unfortunately, this can take us away from simply enjoying today. In order to create a habit around simplicity, we need to reconcile these seemingly opposing forces. We have to allow ourselves the opportunity to enjoy simplicity, while still honoring our dreams.

Simplicity allows us to let go of the stressors that are weighing us down.

It allows us to honor the present moment in front of us, and truly enjoy the journey. When we slow down and allow simplicity to become habitual, we can truly appreciate and relish in the experiences of the present moment.

Beyond that, it allows us to look at our life with more clarity. When we are living simply, we can stop overcomplicating our lives. We can look at our life more truthfully, assess the negative stories we’ve been telling ourselves, and replace them with more productive, positive stories.

“I continue to be drawn to clarity and simplicity. ‘Less is more’ remains my mantra.”

– Stephane Rolland

Introducing Simplicity Into Your Life

Simplicity can become more accessible if you introduce a few practices into your life. These small steps can help you live a simpler, more present life. 

•     Set Times to Go Technology-Free: Social media, streaming services, and an endless barrage of emails take us out of the present and put thousands of thoughts into our heads. On a daily or weekly basis, set aside a time where you can go completely technology-free and just enjoy what is physically around you.
•     Declutter Your Work and Home Space: It is easy to get distracted when your work desk is cluttered with files and unnecessary items, or your kitchen counter is stacked with old magazines. Set aside some time to create simpler living and work spaces by getting rid of the things that you don’t need.
•     Say “No” and Don’t Overbook: Take a look at your schedule. Do you have obligations that you’ve said “yes” to that you don’t truly want or need to attend? Start giving yourself the license to say “no” to opportunities that don’t light you up. This will help to declutter your schedule.
•     Be More Mindful of Simple Pleasures: We often zoom through our day, neglecting to acknowledge the simple pleasures that are right in front of us. Enjoy the simple things, such as a crisp fall day, a perfectly ripe piece of fruit, or a kind gesture from a co-worker. Start to become more mindful of these things as you go throughout your day. Appreciate what is in front of you, no matter how small it may be.

We can all integrate simplicity into our lives and live more presently. Even the large life goals we go after with vigor are broken down into smaller simpler steps that build upon each other and require total comprehension before progressing. It’s easy to be harried into hacking and taking shortcuts to just get it done and get to the next step. Simplicity involves a degree of patience and making what is in front of us right now the most important task to be fully enriched. How else can you make simplicity a habit?

Practice simplicity with our Monthly Intentions Program.

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