Five Ways to Have Less and Enjoy More
(The following is a post from Sara, author of the always thoughtful blog, On Simplicity. We quite like Sara’s practical and life-affirming approach to the complexities of hyper-material modern existence, and we’re sure our loyal readers will too.)
A while back at my blog, I asked my readers for their definitions of simplicity. Many included the importance of having less, but enjoying more. When it comes to actually giving stuff up, though, it can be easier said than done. In that spirit, here are five ways you can make it easy to enjoy a life with less stuff.
1. Use what you do have.
Go through your music collection and make a playlist of forgotten favorites. (I love doing this!) Pull a favorite book off the shelf and give it another read. Pull a passed-down antique out of the closet and give it a place of honor. Using and enjoying what you do have gives you a feeling of abundance that’s incredibly uplifting.
2. Keep a list of free and fun things to do.
You could take a photography walk, teach the dog a new trick, snuggle with a loved one, incite a family wrestling match, write bad rhyming poetry, take a nap, or dance to the radio. The more items you can dream up, the more fun you have at your fingertips.
3. Start seeing empty spaces as packed with freedom.
Celebrate every empty shelf, bare wall, and exposed square foot of flooring as the ultimate victory. If freedom equals happiness (or at least a big component of it), then not having something just brings you closer to your personal nirvana.
4. Engage all five senses.
Don’t just put on your shirt in the morning. Take a second to feel the weave, to take in the color, to smell the freshness (it is clean, isn’t it?). Okay, you don’t have to taste it, but you’re starting to get the idea. Same with your food. Don’t just eat it; savor the smells and sights of a delicious meal. By packing the mundane with meaning, we create a luxurious lifestyle out of nothing at all.
5. Make a list of the things you get in return when give things up.
My list includes freedom, peacefulness, and room to think. Keep the list at the bottom of sock drawer and reference as needed. It’s a powerful reminder of exactly why I’m not filling my drawers with endless new things.
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3 Comments to Five Ways to Have Less and Enjoy More
Great post! My wife and I have been trying to adopt a philosophy of “under consumption” over the last few years. We aim to buy less, but of better quality. So if we want something, we save up for the better quality, more expensive, longer lasting version. If we still want it when the funds are ready, then we get it. That is the theory at least…
It is a work in progress, but in general I think it is a great approach to life in a land of abundance. It is so easy to pick up “junk” on a whim and then end up throwing it out, or worse, storing it in a closet when you find that it doesn’t really serve the purpose in your life that you thought it would.
Thanks for the post.
Adam
Thanks for running this! The concept of having less and enjoying more continues to drive me.
I agree with Adam, that so much stuff turns into junk in many ways ,i>because it is so easy to get. There’s no work or value attached to it.
Nice article. I really liked your take with #3. It’s a beautiful way to enjoy spare time.