How Simple Living Improves Relationships

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 you can add value to your life. Others should help support you, challenge you, or simply provide you companionship. In turn, you should be able to provide others the same.

When relationships turn bad, however, they can be a large source of stress in our lives. Bad relationships are marked by feelings of dependence, guilt, and unrealistic expectations.

How Simple Living Improves Relationships

I’m a firm believer that you can embrace simple living principles, and still have great relationships in your life. In fact, in a lot of ways, simple living can help improve our relationships.

The act of simplifying your life forces you to also begin prioritizing your life. With a better ability to understand who we are, what we value, and what we need, we are able to foster the development of better relationships.

In some cases, simplifying your life can mean that you have to downplay the relationship of certain (negative) people in your life. In other cases, it might mean that you realize you are not living up to your internal values, and you need to be a better person in your relationships.

5  Simple Ways to Improve Your Relationships

1. Focus on Your Control – Not trying to change things outside of your control is a core principle I use in developing a more simple life. This philosophy extends to relationships as well. I can’t change what other people say, do, or think. Accepting this powerful truth will drastically improve your relationships.
2. Give to Receive – As you simplify your life, you’ll have more resources/focus available to you. We know that the more you give in life, the more you receive. If you want to start getting more from your relationships, start by giving more to them.
3. Don’t Take On Other’s Problems – If you are not careful, other people’s problems can become your problems. Instead of trying to solve problems for people, be there to listen and provide guidance. You are not helping others, or yourself, by trying to do it for them.
4. Intentional Relationships – A big part of simple living is intentional living. Knowing what you value, then taking intentional actions. Consider what your values are, and see if you can take intentional actions in your relationships as well.
5. Set Boundaries – There are some relationships that can be complicated, and not easy to “move on” from. Family and co-workers in particular. For relationships that you can’t control as easily, set boundaries. Most of the time this simply means remembering it’s okay to say no.