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 […]
19 Simple Ways To Be Happier
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 […]
Compound Effort: A Simple Way To Make Big Changes
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), […]
9 Tips For Sticking To A Budget
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 […]
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 […]
Challenges Are Opportunities
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 […]
7 Ways To Spend Less Time On Your Smartphone
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 […]
Is It Okay To Own Nice Stuff?
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 […]
Chasing Everything, Catching Nothing
There is a common theme amongst driven people. It’s that we are in search of something bigger and better at all times. As we accomplish one goal, we move onto the next. We never stop to appreciate how far we’ve come. We just look at little further down the road for what is next. The […]
The Problem-to-Solution Ratio
You might know somebody that seems to always be having problems. In fact, you probably know a few people like that. Friends, family, co-workers, or maybe even yourself! An interesting number to track, if we could, would be a person’s problem-to-solution ratio. With every problem they complain about, how many of them do they find […]