Simple Living

When it first started, being a “cord cutter” was a rare thing. You were out of place in our culture for not having a cable or satellite tv subscription. Or for the extreme cord cutters, you may have even canceled your landline telephone service. But as the rise of digital services like Netflix took off, […]

Let’s face it, we all have some assholes in our lives. And I’m not just talking about our anatomy. I’m talking about people who are jerks. People that on a regular basis cause us to become frustrated by what they say or do. And while a majority of the people we share this planet with […]

Do you want to know the secret to wanting less stuff? It’s not to stay out of the store. It’s not avoiding all consumer marketing. It’s not even ending your relationship with The Joneses. Ready? The key to wanting less stuff is to own less stuff.  Stuff Begets Stuff I’ve written before about feedback loops, which […]

Become More Mindful – Developing a more mindful approach will allow you to better recognize your thoughts and feelings. Having the ability to recognize emotions will make it easier to distance yourself from negative thoughts. Make Plans – You ever notice how happy you are looking forward to a concert or a weekend trip with […]

It is often quoted that Albert Einstein once said, “the most powerful force in the universe is compound interest.” And while you may be a little skeptical that the father of modern physics really thinks that compound interest is the most powerful force (keep in mind his findings lead to the invention of the atomic bomb), […]

If you have trouble sticking to a monthly budget, you are not alone. Many people find that it’s difficult to start and then keep going with a monthly cash budget. But the benefits of doing a budget are huge. It is the best thing you can do to improve your finances, as well as reduce your […]

I’m definitely a people person. The relationships I have with friends, family, co-workers, clients, etc., are all important to me. And while I value the relationships I have, I also have to ensure that I’m not allowing other people to affect my ability to also live a simple life. In good relationships, the people around […]

Take a pause and think back to your most challenging times in life. Think about the times that you were extremely stressed. The times that you felt hopeless. Or the times that required you to do something you didn’t think you could. These challenges in life are what ultimately define us. Our challenges become our […]

While it has not yet been listed as an official mental disorder by the American Psychiatric Association, Digital Addiction is now under review as  “recommending further research” to fully understand how it effects our lives. A behavioral addiction, just like gambling, shopping, porn, etc., our addiction to our smartphones and internet can have a serious […]

One of the most common discussions I see in the simple living and minimalism communities is the debate on whether or not it’s okay to buy nice stuff. Can you be somebody who is living simply, and still own nice stuff? It’s a complicated topic no doubt. There is a fine line between enjoying a few […]