Falling in love is a bag of mixed emotions. We get excited and apprehensive. It feels ‘ooey gooey’ and tense. We know without doubt, and then we question. And that’s just with a person. When you fall in love with a Simple Life, all the same things can happen, and then even more.
Fall in Love with a Simple Life -It’s a Little Like Dating
It may be a popular television program, but in real life, very few people actually get married at first sight. Instead, they go through the normal channels of meeting, getting to know each other, and carrying it through from there.
When you fall in love with a Simple Life, it is a very similar pathway. You ‘meet’ it (learn the definition), get to know it (dream), and then see how it fits.
Before You Fall in Love with the Simple Life…
Before you dive in headfirst, it helps to test the waters. Choose an aspect or two, try it out, and see how it works for you.
Your first step may be to dream. Put yourself in Time Out, think about what appeals to you about living a Simple Life, and put those aspects on paper.
Think of it as a dating site. Before you ‘Click to Meet’, you are going to look over all the candidates, their credentials, likes, dislikes, and more.
Choose One
Once you have your dream list made and a list of potential aspects of living a simple life, choose one thing that appeals to you most. For the next 30 days, work on that one item.
One of the basics of living a Simple Life is finding ways to reduce the busyness in your daily and weekly schedule. Take a hard look at your planner. Is there at least one entry which can be eliminated? What about combining several, which will in turn save a few moments or an hour in each day?
For instance, if you have no choice but to go to work, instead of waiting until the weekend to run errands, choose one evening after work to go grocery shopping. You may even incorporate your lunch break to do the ‘short’ errands – dry cleaners, office supply store, etc.
A second basic tenet of a Simple Life is spending more time with family. Instead of everyone scattering to the four winds this weekend, plan for family time,
There are so many things you can do together:
- Movie Night
- Have a Picnic
- Create a Scavenger Hunt
- Plan and cook a meal together (be sure to include dessert!)
- Building Project (a Bean Bag Toss would be a great thing to build/paint/play!
Did you Fall in Love with a Simple Life a Little Bit More?
When you successfully integrate one aspect, take a moment to stoop and consider how you feel about adding these new habits you’re your lifestyle. You also need to take the time to pat yourself on the back for a job well done.
It’s okay if you had a setback or two. It is also okay if you decide you don’t like that particular aspect after all. Instead, just choose a different one and try again. Here are just a few of the many facets that may just help you fall in love with a Simple Life:
- Family
- Homemaking
- Community
- Friends
- Gaining Control of your Finances
- Frugal Living
- Gardening
- Handicrafts
- Cooking Meals at Home
You May Not Fall in Love with a Simple Life Overnight
Just be aware – you won’t fall in love with a Simple Life overnight any more than you would fall in love with a person. Yes, there may be an instant connection, but that isn’t necessarily true love.
Living a Simple Life may sound easy, but it isn’t. A lifestyle change is a big decision. It takes dedication, work, and focus. As you incorporate the different aspects into your own daily life, you will begin to find that it is easier.
Especially if you started your Simple Life with slowing down and choosing your priorities. By removing much of the busyness from life, you find you will have more time for doing things you truly love and want to do.
You will also discover, or rediscover passions that have long since lain dormant. Just the idea of being able to do something you love yet haven’t been able to find the time for can give you a feeling of freedom.
Once you do fall in love with a Simple Life, you may find that you now have a greater sense of purpose. By having your priorities in order, it is easier to focus on those things.
You will no longer feel the need to add ‘filler’ to your days. Instead of being busy to relieve boredom or to keep up with society’s idea of a ‘perfect life’, you can choose a lifestyle, spending habits, and priorities that fit with what you love – not what someone else says you should love.
Learn How to Fall in Love with a Simple Life
Need a little more help in learning about living a Simple Life? It may help to start with A Simple Life Notebook. This downloadable product is filled with most everything you need to know about living a Simple Life.
These are the categories in A Simple Life Workbook:
- Designing your Own Definition of a Simple Life
- How to Dream
- Planning
- Putting your Finances in Order
- Home & Family
- Gardening
- The Craft Room
- Starting a Home Business
- Faith & a Simple Life
- In the Community
Each section has worksheets, checklists, a Daily Challenge and more to help you get started and help you become the person you were meant to be.
Are You Ready to Fall in Love with a Simple Life?
Then the first step is to figure out what is holding you back. And once you find that out, it is time to spread your wings and fall in love with a Simple Life!
