Simplify Life to Become Happier
All of us can agree that lying on the beach, hanging out with friends, or doing sports are the best moments of our week. Living a simple life is about doing less and enjoying more. Though when we become adults, we get sucked up in these whirlpools of happenings, and I’m not talking about the big stuff like building a house or business—just going to work, bringing the kids to school, cleaning the house, and trying to fit in some social life in is already hard enough. it can often feel like we’re constantly juggling with too many responsibilities and distractions. With so much going on, it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters and become overwhelmed with stress. However, a growing movement emphasizes simplification as a means to achieve greater happiness – living a simple life can indeed bring profound joy.
How to Live a Simplified Life
The small things add up, and today, I want to talk about how to make our daily lives easier. My husband and I adhere to a couple of rules to ensure we always prioritise activities we enjoy, not just the “must-do”. It’s very simple, get the necessary done before or after work, with or without children, we ask ourselves what would bring us joy today. What activity would make me/us happy today? For us it means going to the beach or the skatebowl, it just sets a different tone to our day.
You might experience days where you didn’t do anything—no sports, no hike, no work, nothing—and you’ll feel completely and utterly exhausted at the end of the day. While there are other days where you worked out, had a long day at work, then came home, did homework with the kids, and went for a long walk with the dog, you’ll feel quite energised and happy about your day. So, living a simple life doesn’t necessarily mean not doing much.
What’s the difference between those two experiences? Well, in the case of activity, it could be two things: you’re more satisfied when accomplishing valuable tasks, but of course, there’s also some play of hormones involved as you will have a higher adrenaline level when being active during the day.
From our point of view, it’s all about minimising our to-do list and amplifying the satisfying things. This highlights that work must be satisfying to live a simple life. Eventually, if you can find peace, joy and consistency in your work, it will make your life a lot easier. This doesn’t mean you need to WANT to go to work every day. It just means that Mondays and other working days are enjoyable, and you can feel happy about small things your job gives you.
Why Simplifying Your Life Matters
When we declutter our lives and focus on what truly matters, we allow ourselves to breathe easier and experience more joy. Simplifying your life can reduce stress, improve mental clarity, and create more room for meaningful activities and relationships. This practice leads to a happier life and enables you to appreciate the small things that often go unnoticed.
Simple Life Rules for Daily Satisfaction
Simple life rules are guidelines that help you live a more intentional and stress-free life. These can include:
- Limiting screen time to reduce digital clutter
- Setting boundaries to protect your personal time
- Prioritizing activities that promote well-being, such as exercise or hobbies
Adopting these simple life rules, you foster a routine that is centered around happiness.
Embrace Minimalism in Relationships
Our relationships are integral to our happiness. Embracing minimalism in relationships means investing your time and energy into the people who truly matter. Avoid toxic relationships that drain your energy and focus on building deeper connections with those who support and uplift you. Quality over quantity is key here; fewer meaningful relationships can bring more joy and fulfillment than many superficial ones.
Relationships play a crucial role in our happiness, and adopting a minimalist approach can help create healthier, more fulfilling connections. Minimalism in relationships also means letting go of expectations. The more you expect from someone, the higher the chances of disappointment. People won’t always act the way you want them to, but that doesn’t mean they don’t care or value you. Instead of placing expectations on others, focus on appreciation—recognizing and valuing what they bring to your life naturally rather than what you think they should be doing.
Surprisingly, when you stop expecting, you often open yourself up to pleasant surprises. People may show their love and support in ways you never anticipated. The foundation of any strong relationship is built on three essential elements: respect, love, and shared joy. When these aspects are present, relationships become effortless and enriching, free from the weight of unmet expectations.
Streamline Your Schedule
One of the easiest ways to simplify life is by streamlining your schedule. Start by identifying and eliminating non-essential tasks. Prioritize your responsibilities and focus on what truly adds value to your day. Consider using digital tools or planners to keep track of your commitments, helping you avoid overbooking and giving you the necessary downtime to recharge.
Basic Personal Finance
Financial stress can be one of the most significant burdens in modern life. To live a simplified life, it’s crucial to manage your finances effectively. Create a budget that aligns with your goals and eliminates unnecessary expenditures. Consider simplifying your bank accounts and credit cards to avoid confusion. Financial peace of mind comes from knowing where your money is going and ensuring it serves your life purpose.
It’s not because you earn more that you need more. Upgrading your life straight after you receive a raise or a reasonable period in business is just straight-out dumb (sorry). Your monthly payments should reflect a lower lifestyle than you can afford. This is the only way to not stress about money ever. So try and always pay the least possible for things like:
- rent or mortgage
- car lease
- Electricity, water and gas bills
- avoid dept at all cost
The Art of Mindful Spending and Feng Shui in Your Home and Closet
One of the most common financial pitfalls we fall into is the impulse to spend as soon as we receive our paycheck. The temptation of new clothes, furniture, or other material possessions can be hard to resist, but this habit often hinders long-term financial stability. True wealth isn’t just about how much money you make—it’s about how wisely you manage and use it.
The key to curbing unnecessary spending isn’t about depriving yourself but about cultivating an environment that naturally discourages excessive consumption. By focusing on quality over quantity and implementing the principles of Feng Shui in your home and closet, you can create a space that brings you joy and eliminates the constant desire for new things.
Crafting Feng Shui in Your Closet and Home
Feng Shui is more than just an aesthetic philosophy—it’s about creating harmony and balance in your living space. When applied to your home and wardrobe, it fosters a sense of calm, reduces clutter, and helps you make more intentional decisions about what you own.
Step 1: Designate the Best Place for Everything
The first step in creating Feng Shui in your environment is organizing your space with purpose. Everything in your home should have a designated place that feels intuitive and functional. Ask yourself:
- Does this item serve a clear purpose or bring joy?
- Is it easily accessible when I need it?
- Does it contribute to a sense of order, or does it add to visual chaos?
If something doesn’t have a proper place, it might be time to reconsider whether you truly need it. The goal is to craft an environment where everything flows naturally, making it easier to maintain a clean and peaceful home.
Step 2: Curating a Closet That Works for You
Your closet should be a collection of pieces that make you feel confident, fit seamlessly into your lifestyle, and eliminate the frustration of “having nothing to wear.” Instead of impulse-buying random items that catch your eye, take a more strategic approach:
- Visualize Your Ideal Wardrobe
- Imagine starting from scratch. If you were to replace your entire wardrobe today, what would you buy?
- Go to your favorite online store and add everything you’d want to own to a shopping cart—but don’t check out! This step isn’t about purchasing; it’s about gaining clarity on your personal style and wardrobe essentials.
- Assess Your Current Wardrobe
- Compare what you currently own to your “ideal” wardrobe list.
- Identify pieces that don’t align with your vision—these are the ones to consider donating, selling, or storing for later trends (since fashion always cycles back).
- Keep only what you truly love and wear regularly.
- Organize for Accessibility and Inspiration
- Arrange your closet in a way that makes getting dressed effortless.
- Categorize clothes by function (workwear, casual, formal, seasonal) to create a more intuitive system.
- Display your favorite pieces in a way that makes them visible and easy to access, reducing the urge to shop for “missing” items.
By carefully curating your closet, you transform it from a chaotic space filled with impulse buys into a collection of items that truly serve you.
The Power of Intentional Living
When you invest in quality rather than quantity, you develop a deeper appreciation for what you own. The desire to constantly shop diminishes because your space already reflects what you love. A well-organized home and wardrobe save you money and bring a sense of peace and confidence into your daily life.
By adopting this mindset, you shift from being a consumer driven by impulse to a mindful individual who spends with intention—allowing you to build wealth while enjoying a clutter-free, harmonious space.
Clean to Happy: Making the Household Easier
There is a direct connection between a clean environment and a happy mind. Dedicate time regularly to declutter your living space. Not only does this practice tidy up your physical surroundings, but it also has a positive impact on your mental clarity. Living in a clean
environment can reduce anxiety and promote a sense of calm, making it easier to enjoy the simple pleasures in life.
Start in the kitchen because what you do in the kitchen will determine your family’s health. The essentials of making your life easier are your meals—keeping them easy but healthy. There are a lot of resources online to make your life easier with well-cooked, nutritious meals.
Let’s not forget the dishes. The dishes are a pain, but it can go smoothly if you establish some well-set rules. When you’re done eating, it goes in the dishwasher, which is our best friend by far. Another rule is to have only one glass during the day. If your glass is dirty, you wash it and use it again. I cannot stress enough how big of an investment a dishwasher is in making your life easier. It will make your evenings more enjoyable and give you extra time to hang out with your family.
Whether you can or can’t afford a cleaning lady, having a set routine is best practice. In our house, the routine is:
- When you come in, put in a load of laundry.
- Clean the bathrooms.
- Dust the house.
- Vacuum and mop the floor.
- Hang the laundry out.
We do this once a week in a household of four people, and it works perfectly fine. The routine helps our family get the basics done and be content that it’s over with for the week. The good thing is that if our cleaning lady finishes earlier, she gets paid the same for fewer hours as long as she does her job well, making her job more enjoyable.
There’s another factor with cleaning: stressing about it will make your life more difficult. We clean our windows and deep clean only twice a year. Why? Because it takes a lot of time, I have better things to do on a Sunday. Eventually, it’s okay if other things aren’t entirely done. At least the house won’t smell bad, and you won’t live in a dusty house.
To make my life more simple, I just don’t care. It’s an attitude and a preference, but if you love doing a deep clean on Sunday, be my guest as long as it makes you happy.
Seasons are for a Fresh Start
Yes, you read that right, and the best way to start fresh is by getting rid of all the stuff that doesn’t belong in the house anymore. Hoarders, I got you here—if you feel like your life is overcomplicated or you “have a lot going on,” try and get all the stuff out of the way you don’t need.
Go over and throw out:
- The clothes you will never wear again, and be honest!
- The paperwork is over four years old and won’t be audited anymore.
- Books you won’t reread and aren’t fun to look at.
- Toys that are for kids younger than your children.
- If you have collections, you need a nice display for them. Without a nice display, the collections are not worth having in the first place.
Less Projects, More Fun
In our consumer-driven society, we often equate happiness with material possessions. However, true happiness comes from experiences, not things. Whether it’s traveling, spending time with loved ones, or engaging in hobbies, focusing on experiences rather than possessions can lead to lasting joy. Experiences shape our memories and enrich our lives in ways that material items never can. The experiences that are the most fun are usually the ones we did not plan, letting the day, the week or the year pass by through unexpected experiences can be a lot more fun than planning everything into the details.
For the people out there who always have projects, business plans or other things in mind, I cannot stress this one enough. I learned this from my husband and am still in the process of learning how to do it better. The less you have on your mind, the happier you will be. Decision-making is exhausting, and if you put yourself up to the task of getting a new job, a new house, forcing a baby in the equation or other things, trust me, it’s a recipe for disaster. Avoid new things in your life like the plague and settle for what you can do today.
Take it one step at a time. If you do things slowly, you will eventually accelerate, as you will have more mental, emotional and financial capacity to buy or create them with ease and grace.
Conclusion: Simple Life Rules
If there’s anything I can sum up this blog post with, it would be a to-do list:
- Financially, understand what you can afford without stressing yourself out. How can you enjoy life but still live below your means?
- Try to get your cooking and dish routine in place.
- Set up your cleaning routine (max three hours a week, if possible less).
- Scratch the projects that are currently not sustainable.
Following these simple life rules allows you to live a simplified life and find more joy and satisfaction in your day-to-day activities.