Do you feel your home is a mess, you have endless unfinished tasks, money is always not enough, and you are anxious most of the time? Perhaps it’s time to change to a simpler yet meaningful lifestyle. 

Do you know any good thing to show from the current Covid-19 pandemic? I know one.

People want to return to living a basic lifestyle.

Keeping-up-with-the-Joneses is no longer a chosen mindset. Why care about how lavishly others are spending when you and your family are doing what you can to brace yourselves for the imminent recession?

A simple life involves less physical and mental clutter, cost-savings thanks to consciously careful spending, and more time to practice gratitude.

Here are 8 tips to help you make the change to your lifestyle.

Tip # 1: You must be sure you need to change

Have an introspective conversation with yourself before leaping into a different lifestyle. Ask yourself:

  • What do you think of your life right now?
  • What areas in your life would you like to be different?
  • What do you think can be done to change those areas?

Sticking with making a change is easier when you have a good understanding of why you are making the change. Acknowledge your own final decision whether to just do it or not.

Remember two things:

  • It’s your life; you control it.
  • If you want it, then take action.

Tip #2: Declutter / Downsize

Before you can begin to re-build, first you must reduce in order to start with a clear space. This means you need to declutter all areas of your life as clutter can bog you down, distract you from what is important, and create chaos.

Declutter physical stuff

Begin decluttering your home to free up space in your life. Start by setting up 3 empty boxes and label them.

  • Donate
  • Sell
  • Throw/Recycle

Next, make sure everything you have is placed in the correct rooms or space in your home. This may take a few hours or even a day, but do stick with it in order to make the next steps simpler without distractions.

Then, start with one room or space and check each item against the following questions.

  • Is this item broken, faulty, cannot fit? (Have not used or worn it in XX months)
  • Do I still need this item?
  • Is the item still fulfilling a need?
  • Does this item make me happy?

If the answer is “no”, check the condition of the item and place them in one of the 3 boxes.

Move on to the next room or space in your home that needs decluttering.

Eventually, you can find all the items you need, therefore eliminating double purchases. You can donate items to make somebody else happy. You can earn a little sum of cash from selling your unwanted items.

Little by little you will see your home transforming into a stunning, pleasant, and tidy place to live.

Declutter your mind

We all have unnecessary thoughts that bother us. Be careful what ideas you bring into your life and avoid the trap of negative thinking.

Carve time to begin every day intentionally. Set out a journal or mentally walk-through all the things you plan to do. Start out with a mindset that you want to lay out a realistic schedule and an achievable to-do list. Pushing yourself to the limit does not make you a better human, instead it could only increase your stress.

At the end of the day, take time to reflect on what you did, what did you achieve, what went well, what could have gone better, etc. Jot down your thoughts. Separate areas to put positive comments and negative comments. Encourage yourself to see things in a positive light.

With practice, you will eventually have simpler lists with less yet more meaningful activities, and a clearer mind with a positive mindset.

Declutter your digital world

We spend so many hours looking at our computer and mobile phone. With the advancement in technology, in particular social media, it is getting harder to reduce the time away from them.

If you want a happier life, use electronic gadgets with more purpose to ensure their usage will not affect your well-being.

Curate your existing data into more organized folders. Throw out digital trash. Archive important data. Review your social media accounts to unfollow accounts that do not bring positive value to you. Set a schedule on when you use your gadgets and apps.

The overall goal of decluttering is to keep what you need that adds value to your life. It takes some time, but it is alright. Do this at your own pace.

Tip # 3: Are you a yes-man? Do you know how to say no?

To some individuals, it is difficult saying no. We want people to like us, so we give in to their request. But knowing how to say no is an important life skill to master.

Say no to jam-pack schedules, long to-do lists, and bad habits. Mind clutter can lead to mental madness (such as depression), which needs much more resources to handle.

We all have things we cannot say no to. But, we still need to figure out how to organize and prioritize. Our time in this world is short. So do more of what’s you love.

Tip #4: Try a “Don’t Spend” challenge

One thing that can help boost your finances is to create a no-spending challenge.

A no-spend challenge is where you pledge, for a certain duration of time, not to buy something extra. But, you will always have to spend money on the basics. You can limit even that if you prepare well.

Essentially, regardless of the time you choose, you will try not to spend more money than budgeted.

If it is too burdensome, then start by setting a few regulars “zero purchase” days. This method helps you save money and also helps you to realize:

  • What you already own
  • What you really need
  • What you don’t need.

Tip # 5: Practice conscious shopping

Thinking about buying a new vacuum cleaner? Before you spend money, stop and think first.

Ask yourselves these questions:.

  • Is there a reason to buy it?
  • Are you sure you need it?
  • Is the decision to purchase happening when you are feeling angry or sad?
  • What happens when you don’t have it? Would it negatively impact your life?
  • Do you still have an existing item that still works?

These questions will give you clarity and help you decide what to do.

You could also apply the below strategy for mindful spending.

Find what causes you to buy and then just avoid it

You may like to shop and realize that each time you go to a shopping place or peruse through an online shopping website, you’ll presumably purchase something. So what are you going to do? Just try to avoid these triggers or reduce it. Otherwise, you would just keep falling into these buying traps.

Apply the 30-day principle

Give yourself 30 days to reflect before spending your hard-earned money. Often, you realize that not having it would not impact your life.

Set Financial Goals

One good way to learn to live with less is to have financial goals. It changes your priority from spending to saving. For examples, saving money for college, vacation, buying a new car or emergency fund.

Make a Budget

Having financial goals is only the initial step – make plans to achieve it. Prepare a budget. Many statistics showed many families and individuals do not know how much money they spend every month. They let money control them. When the bills come at month-end, there is not enough money to settle all.

Making a budget is important because you will know how much you can spend. You control your money.

Tip #6: Cherish the things you already have

Know what you already have. Be happy about it, so you will want fewer things. Enjoy the nice little things in your daily life. It would surprise you to know that leading a happier and more successful life needs much less than you think.

To survive on a lesser amount, spend time every day writing what you appreciate. Instead of big material products, odds are you would fill your list with tiny, life-giving delights and pleasures.

You will spend your money more efficiently if you are already happy with what you have or need.

Tip # 7: Spend money on life experiences, not material stuffs

Life experiences are way more exciting, fulfilling, and satisfying than any material item that you could buy. Experiences never disappear into the world, but things always do. Long-lasting happiness comes from learning to appreciate experiences.

Materialistic things make us happy, but only for a little while. But life experience shapes one’s identity. The more you rely on things to make you happy, the more vulnerable you will be to life’s hardships. What will you do when you cannot afford to buy things?

Experiences include doing things to make someone happy, whether it is yourself or someone else. You could also explore something different you have never tried before.

Life is short, so it’s best to capture it with memories that last for a lifetime.

Tip # 8: Lend, substitute, DIY, repair, donate, etc.

Create a culture of sharing, trading, borrowing, DIY, or repairing. You don’t have to depend on the supermarket any time you need anything.

You can exchange stuff you don’t need with your friends, relatives, peers, or neighbors who may also have items they no longer required. Not only does this facilitate a healthy association with commodities and use, but it also provides a sense of community.

Conclusion

Educating yourself on how to live with less tied in with changing your outlook on life. When you change your objectives, take charge over your money and notice life’s little things, living with less turns into a pleasant, engaging, and meaningful life.

 

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Do you have any other tips? Do share them with us in the comments below.