Living a Simple Life may be the best way to go, but it can be hard work to stay on track. One way to stay focused is to keep your Simple Life interesting.
When we do something that is interesting, it holds our attention. It makes us want to do it even more. We find we are actually enjoying ourselves and the process.
To keep your Simple Life interesting doesn’t mean you have to add even more things to your day. Instead, it is simply changing the way you do things.
Try these 7 fun tips. Integrate them into your day or schedule. Just be forewarned! When you keep your Simple Life interesting, you may start searching for things that can help simplify your life even more!
Tip #1: Keep Your Simple Life Interesting by Waking Up on the RIGHT Side of the Bed!
Waking up on the wrong side of the bed is often thought (and accepted) as an ancient Roman Superstition. The philosophers of that day and age believed anything referring to the ‘right side’ was considered positive, and anything ‘left-sided’ as negative or potentially evil.
We don’t think of ourselves as inherently evil, but there are days where negativity can consume us. We often just say ‘we woke up on the wrong side of the bed’.
But there are reasons we do wake up grouchy. We didn’t sleep well. Stress heaped high on our plates. Our schedules look like we forgot to turn the water off and our kitchen sink looks like a fountain.
It’s tough some days – I’ll grant you that. But we can also do a few things to help ourselves get out on the RIGHT side of the bed and keep your Simple Life interesting.
Find Inspiration
Start by taping a few Inspirational quotes or Bible verses in conspicuous places. Put them in on the wall next to your bed. Stick them on or beside the mirror in your bathroom. Tape one on the coffee maker.
I have a chalkboard in my kitchen that I use for inspirational quotes. These get changed on a weekly basis. I read them every day, until I know them. And they aren’t just memorized – I do my best to apply them.
Once we are out of bed and moving, the first thing we often reach for is coffee. Then we settle in for a moment to wake up.
Offer Compliments
At the same time, or shorty thereafter, everyone else in the family is wiping the sleep out of their eyes. They are straggling through the house starting their own day. Life is just easier if everyone in the household is waking up on the right side of bed.
To help them start their day on a bright note, start offering compliments. But mean it when you do.
The key to offering compliments is to give positive inspiration and feedback. A false compliment is looked upon as insincere and is thought to have an ulterior motive behind it.
On the flip side, a positive compliment offers encouragement. They also help to build confidence. And they are sincere and shows you find value in the person who receives it.
By offering compliments, words of encouragement or comments designed to build self-worth, first thing in the morning, it may help anyone’s day start out better. It can also help to keep your Simple Life interesting by finding ways to sincerely compliment and encourage those around us.
Coffee with God
From there, we get the kids to school and the spouse off to the office. Once the house is clear, we take a moment for a second cup of coffee. We enjoy the peace and quiet. And we may even take a look at our schedule for the day.
Instead of immediately diving into work, schedule those morning moments a bit differently. Start a morning ‘Coffee with God’ devotional.
This is one of the best tips I have found to help keep your Simple Life interesting. It helps to learn more about not only who God is to you, but also who you are to Him!
During this time, you can read a devotional book, choose a Bible verse you want to ponder, or simply spend it in prayer. If you are under stress, this is a good time to hand it over to HIm.
I have a saying on my refrigerator. It says, “Good Morning!” This is God. I will be handling ALL your problems today. I will NOT need your help…So, have a good day!”
This saying is based on Proverbs 3:5. It is my go-to verse when my life becomes overwhelming. I will admit, it takes some time and practice to give it and leave it with God, but by doing so, it really does help.
Tip # 2: Keep A Schedule
There is nothing that can stir up stress than not having a plan. Few people can successfully traverse their lives – much less just a single day – without having some idea what the expectations are.
Keep your Simple Life interesting and your day running smoothly is by creating a schedule. It doesn’t have to be rigid. Instead, a flexible schedule will allow for changes without creating a stressful situation.
Tip #3: Do at Least One Fun Thing
The worse thing in life is getting stuck in a rut. When our days are filled with nothing but work, routine, more work and more routing, we can get bored and disenchanted with life.
To keep your Simple Life interesting, it helps to break up the routing by doing something fun. It doesn’t have to be costly or extravagant. The key is to just have a bit of fun.
There is a catch to this, though. During your fun time, you cannot think about – or engage in – anything which is currently on your schedule. In other words, set your worries aside. Don’t think about what you still have to do. Don’t ponder something sad, unhealthy, or frustrating.
Instead, just take this time to fully relax and enjoy the moment!
Daily Fun
Here are some ways you can take a few moments to an hour out of your day to do something fun:
- Have coffee with a friend
- Work on a craft project
- Read a book (preferably something humorous!)
- Laugh at yourself!
- Engage in an enjoyable activity, such as a photographic nature walk
Weekly Fun
Getting out of your routine is one of the best things you can do to keep your Simple Life interesting. Break away and schedule at least a few hours a week to do something different.
Here is something you can do for fun on a weekly basis:
- Have a picnic
- Visit a Museum, Art Gallery, Farmers Market, or a Festival
- Take a Day Class
- Pursue a new interest
- Go window shopping and to lunch with a friend
Monthly (or more) Fun
Anticipation is a great way to stir up fun and keep your Simple Life interesting. Knowing you have something to look forward to can put a smile on your face from the time you plan it, and long after you return home.
There is also another positive aspect for planning ahead for a once a month (or once a quarter) time of fun. It means we have do a bit of work to be able to have that time.
There are some activities we want to pursue, but involves at least some cost and travel. It takes some discipline and work to save for the cost. It takes planning to block out the time.
This can make the time even more fun. You know you have worked hard and saved diligently, so there is a sense of ‘earning’ your special time.
Here are a few things you can do on a monthly, quarterly, or even yearly basis:
- Take a camping trip
- Weekend seminar
- Out-of-town festival
- Spend a weekend (or several days) exploring a new city
- Visit a Living History museum
- Take the weekend with friends finding new ways to learn more about a shared interest
- Schedule a monthly game night with friends
Tip # 4: Do Something Kind for Someone Else
You may be surprised to think that doing something kind for someone else is a way to keep your Simple Life interesting. But is can and will.
When you offer kindness to someone else, it helps to make you feel better about yourself. Kindness can be offered in simple ways. A smile and a kind word go a long way to brighten the day of someone else. Letting someone with fewer items in the checkout line go in front of you can relieve their stress.
Random Acts of Kindness (RAOKs) are a fun way to offer kindness. The best kinds of RAOKs are the sneaky ones. If you know someone who is struggling financially (and if you can afford it), go pay their water bill. Send a ‘Secret Admirer” card to someone who is down.
But kindness doesn’t have to be a secret – it only has to be sincere. Taking time out of your day won’t cost you anything. And not only will it lift the spirits of someone else, it will also bring a smile to your own face just by seeing the enjoyment on someone else’s.
Tip #5: Eat Healthy
It doesn’t seem like eating healthy applies to things you can do to keep your Simple Life interesting. However, a healthy body allows you to better pursue those things which are of fun and interest to you.
Without proper nutrition, you not only affect the health of your body, but also your mind. Our systems need a strong balance of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients to keep us in top shape. But the lack of them can make us sluggish, affect our focus, energy, and interest levels.
If you are a snacker, consider swapping those french fries or that candy bar for some fruit or raw vegetables. Even yogurt or cheese and low fat crackers are better for you than chips and dip.
For meals, don’t rely on drive through burgers or delivered pizza. Instead, take time to make a meal plan and learn to cook at home. This allows you to not only prepare healthier meals, but you can also create recipes that your family will enjoy.
This doesn’t mean you can splurge every now and then. If you just crave that burger and fries, learn how to make them at home. Then enjoy every bite. But make it an occasional enjoyment, and not an everyday menu item.
Tip #6: Learn Something New
If you have read many of my posts, you know I am a huge advocate of stretching your wings. Learning something new is the best way I can think of to keep your Simple Life interesting. It helps you to engage in something other than your normal activities.
It is a chance to explore other options, and discover a new layer of yourself. Some things may grab your attention and you will want to pursue them more diligently. Some may just end up being a malady of the ‘Shiny Object Syndrome’ and have no more worth than a torn piece of tin foil.
But no matter what, learning something new helps your wings become strong. They get a little exercise, and are building their strength for the unplanned road which may end in something fascinating.
Tip #7: Indulge in at Least One Passion
Indulging your passions is a healthy thing to do. It gives us empowerment. Our confidence is built up. We experience personal growth and self-awareness. And we become stronger individuals, and learn to overcome our weaknesses.
Passions are something we value. There is an importance we place on them. A sense of purpose is developed, which in turns helps to create the best version of ourselves as possible.
If you aren’t sure what your passions are, here are a few ways to discover them:
- Make a list of things that interest you
- Think about what you are good at doing
- Ask yourself what you LOVE to do
- Ask a friend or family member what your strengths are
Once you have your lists and answers, choose one. From there, make notes of what you already do. Then think of ways you can expand.
If you are good at baking cookies, stretch your wings and learn to bake bread or pastries. If you love the look and feel of fiber, try knitting, crochet or even weaving or spinning. If you love volunteering and are an organized person, go behind the scenes and help to develop a community program.
There are many ways you can develop and pursue your passions. And as you do pursue them, know you are helping you to be the best person you can be!
Keep Your Simple Life Interesting
These are only a few ways you can keep your Simple Life interesting. If you stop and think about it, there are hundreds – if not thousands – of ways to enjoy your life. It just takes some thought and desire.
If you have ways you keep your Simple Life interesting, let us know. Living this type of lifestyle isn’t always easy, so sharing our ideas with each other is a great way to apply all of these tips by having a conversation with each other!
To get the conversation started, just drop your tips and/or questions in the Comment section below. Or join me in my Facebook Group – Embracing the Simple Life. I’ve started a thread there. Who knows? We may just end up scheduling our Afternoon Tea Break around that conversation!
