beginners guide to somple living - our inspired roots · 2018-10-20 · more money & less...

The Beginner’s Guide to Simple Living - Mindy Wood !1

The Beginner’s Guide to Simple Living Start a more fulfilling and abundant life today

by

Mindy Wood

PurposefullySimple.com

© 2016 All Rights Reserved


http://purposefullysimple.com

Hi Friends!

The question I get asked most often is “How can I get started living more simply?” and it’s a tough

question because starting a simple living journey can seem…anything but simple. Luckily you don’t

have to do it all at once and, in fact, I recommend you start small instead. Slow and steady wins the

race, so they say.

This book is not just practical tips for beginning your journey (though there are plenty of those!). It

will, more importantly, help you sort through what simple living means to YOU, and how you can

achieve that kind of life.

All the best in your simple living journey,

Mindy

Some of the links contained in this eBook are affiliate links. That means if you click on the link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission that goes to supporting this eBook and free content on PurposefullySimple.com. Thank you!


http://PurposefullySimple.com

What is simple living? As Duane Elgrin, Author of Voluntary Simplicity,

wrote, simple living is:

“Living in a way that is outwardly simple

and inwardly rich.”

Many of us have discovered that, not only can

overconsumption and materialism not provide

happiness, but it’s actively deteriorating our

quality of life, our planet, and our economy. So

what will afford us happiness, contentment, and

abundance? Simple living is the answer.

Often times when people start simplifying they

realize that some commitments, choices, and

possessions are getting in the way of happy,

healthy relationships. Too much stuff makes us


want more and more—the stuff is never enough.

When superficial things like possessions and social

status become our vision of happiness we can

easily become dissatisfied with life and what we

do have. If you only get one thing out of this eBook

it should be this: Get rid of the excess so that you

have time and energy to nurture your

relationships. Once you change your mindset you

begin to be free to chase more important goals

and dreams.

My favorite thing about simple living is that it can

(and should be) different for everyone. Simple

living is about figuring out what your priorities are

and which things are just cluttering up your life.

For me, simple living is:

Treading lightly upon the earth

Doing my best to use fewer resources and make

greener choices.

Taking care of myself

I try my best to take care of my body because my

health is my wealth and without it no amount of

money will matter. Lately I’ve realized I also need

to take care of myself emotionally/mentally/

spiritually as well, which is usually tied to physical

health.

Being frugal

To save money where we can so that we can put

that money towards a greater purpose (paying

debt, saving for retirement, building a business,

donating or otherwise helping others, reaching

goals and dreams etc).

Living with a purpose


Reaching out to others and doing good in the

world.

Living with the essentials…

…and not much more. Having an organized and

minimal space to live in.

Being as self sufficient as I can

Growing and raising my own food, learning skills

and doing things myself, etc.

What is simple living to you?

Your idea of simple living might include traveling,

staying home with your children, homeschooling,

private schooling, moving to the country, moving

to the city, having time for crafts, etc. If you already

have some ideas, go ahead and jot them down.

We’ll get to more brainstorming a little later in this

book.


Benefits of Simple Living Why bother trying to live simply? What’s the point?

Well, the benefits of a simple life are far reaching

and can impact every area of your life. Once you

get going you’ll see a tremendous change in your

quality of life.

Less stress

Stress is such a big part of our lives it’s almost

fashionable. The truth is though, that stress can

cause a cumulative affect on your health, wellness

and overall life. Simplifying can have an amazing

ripple effect. Simplifying reduces stress because

there’s just so much less to do, clean, and worry

about.


More money & less financial stress

When we spend less money because we are

choosing to live with less, we can save more or pay

down debt. Financial freedom leads to personal

freedom and increased happiness!

Less time cleaning

With less stuff and a smaller home you have much

less to clean up, even on the worst days.

Less time working (traditionally)

Needing less money to live on means you can

potentially work less at a job you don’t love. You

can also find more time to work on building new

skills for a job you do love. You'll have more time

to work on what you see as your life’s purpose.

Healthier

Reducing stress, needing less money to live, and

otherwise being less busy gives us more time and

money to investigate illnesses and heal naturally.

Being less dependent on pharmaceuticals means

more freedom.

Reduce waste and impact on the earth

The rate we are consuming materials on this

planet is unsustainable. Learning to live (and live

well!) with less can ensure that our children and

grandchildren can also live, and live well, on this

planet.

Better relationships

Not only will you have more time for cultivating

relationships, but you can be more mindful of your

words and actions and less reactionary. This is

especially important with kids (most of those truly


frustrating times happen when we’re running late,

right?)

Greater spiritual connection

Many spiritual and religious groups promote

simple living as a way to gain true happiness and

spiritual enlightenment. Hindu, Buddhist, Quaker,

Amish, and Catholic are some of the groups that

focus on simplicity. At the very least, spending less

time working, cleaning, worrying, etc. will give you

more time to connect spiritually.


But where do I start? Where you start is going to depend on your own

priorities and what’s going on in your life right

now. Remember, you don’t have to do them all

and you can choose what order you do them in.

Go with what works for you and benefits your life

most right now. The other things can come later.

Keep jotting down anything that strikes a cord as

being important to you.

Time

There never seems to be enough of it! Being busy

is almost a status symbol in our culture so we all,

consciously or not, create busyness. To regain

some sanity and simplify your schedule you have

to be ok with saying “NO”.


What commitments and obligations can you give

up without detracting from your quality of life? Of

course, doing things for other people can and

should be part of our lives, but many of us do too

much out of obligation. Choose the activities that

do the most good, or serve your future life goals.

Doing something because you “should” and being

resentful about it isn’t good for anyone.

• Cut back on commitments. You don’t have to go

to every social event you’re invited to. You don’t

even have to go to most of them. Choose ones

that are meaningful to you (or to someone you

love) and skip the others if you want. Likewise,

it’s great to help friends with projects but make

sure the amount you are doing doesn’t stretch

you too thin.

• Find ways to improve the way you use your time

(like combining errands, grocery shopping once a

week/month, etc).

• Make relaxation a priority in your schedule. Find

time to meditate, read, garden, etc. Whatever

makes you feel at peace, make sure you have

time for it. Without it everything else can

become overwhelming.

• Consider hiring out some tasks. Have your taxes

done professionally, get take-out once in a while,

hire a sitter (or grandma) so you can have an

evening free.

Money

Finances are one of the biggest reasons for

fighting and stress in relationships. It makes sense,


we all need money and, for most of us, there isn’t

too much of it. Financial freedom is attainable

though, even if you are living on one income or

low income. With financial freedom comes more

personal freedom.

• Get a better appreciation for what your money is

worth and how much of your time it took to earn

it. Once I realized how much time I had to work

to pay for that new shirt or extra trip to the

store, I started to rethink my purchases.

• Cut out unnecessary expenses. Subscriptions

and memberships should be the first to be

evaluated. If you use and love them, then keep

them, if they just cause stress and cost money

(like an unused gym membership) get rid of it.

• Get out of debt. Debt is often what holds us back

from reaching our dreams. It’s not easy, and I’m

not fully there yet either. Chipping away at debt

can be fun though. Once you see your balances

going down and have fewer accounts to pay

you’ll start to feel the freedom.

• Decrease your need for money. We all need to

eat but we don’t all need to pay someone to

raise and grow our food. A simple garden is a

first step towards needing less money to live.

Also consider a smaller home, fewer cars, etc.

Health & wellness

Without health we have nothing. Keep yourself

healthy and avoid illness naturally. Conventional

medicine has it’s place, but prevention is always

best.


• Eat a real food diet. Avoid processed foods, too

much sugar (even natural!), and conventional

meat and produce when you can. It’s not an all

or nothing journey. Start small and move

forward.

• Deal with underlying health issues that are

making you feel sick, tired, and crabby. If your

doctor can’t or won’t help you find a new one.

• Avoid toxic chemicals in cleaning supplies,

personal care products, and the environment.

One way to do this is to make them yourself.

• Practice self care. You are more than your to-do

list.

Work

Many people feel overwhelmed and frustrated

having to go to work at a job that is not great, just

for a paycheck? It doesn’t have to be that way.

Getting out of debt, downsizing, etc., can help you

get to a place where you can wait and search for

the right job or spend time volunteering or going

back to school to gain new skills. No. this isn’t for

everyone. Most of us have debt and lack of savings

that hold us back from these options, but if having

a job you love sounds appealing you can make it

happen.

• Focus on financial freedom first.

• Choose work that feeds your soul.

• Work a day job and a “side hustle” and make

your side hustle your real job when you can. Yes,

this is more time consuming but it may feel


https://pronounceskincare.com/affiliates/111

http://www.purposefullysimple.com/diy-tutorials/

http://www.purposefullysimple.com/?s=money

better to know your day job is funding your

“dream job”.

Family Life

Ultimately, love, family, and friends are what

simplifying is all about. Getting rid of the excess so

there’s time and energy for our relationships.

• Choose to reduce screen time. Too much screen

time can make us passive, unfocused, and

unimaginative. Find other things to do for

relaxation and fun and you’ll notice a change in

everyone for the better.

• Begin a family tradition or ritual. Do you eat

breakfast together every morning? Do you play

games together every weekend?

• Get outside more. There is a profound

connection between nature and happiness. Just

getting outside can turn a bad day around

instantly. Make it a regular part of your routine.

• Buy a Smaller home. Our homes take up a lot of

our time, money and energy. Choosing to live in

a smaller home can free them up to be used on

more important things. Also, living in a smaller

space will force you and your kids to learn to

work together, cooperate, communicate, and

enjoy each other (and recognize when you need

alone time!).

Possessions

Sometimes our stuff owns us instead of the other

way around. Downsizing is a great way to clear out


the clutter and focus on the things that truly

matter.

• Learn the basics of decluttering. I follow the

mantra, “Have nothing in your houses that you do

not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”

• Build a capsule wardrobe. They’re all the rage

these days but minimalists have been doing it

for a long time. Choose your very favorite

clothing items to keep and get rid of anything

that you don’t love, is stained or ripped, or

doesn’t fit well. Ideally you want each item to go

with at least 2 or 3 other items.

• Become a 1 car family. Giving up a second car, if

possible, can save money on registration and

maintenance.

• Par down to just what you can fit in your car (or

on your back). Many people have found this to

be incredibly liberating!


http://www.purposefullysimple.com/5-steps-to-a-clutter-free-home/

http://www.purposefullysimple.com/frugal-simple-wardrobe/

Realizing your goals There are a million ways to begin living more

simply but you will get overwhelmed and burnt

out if you try to do them all. You have to decide

what is most important to you.

Be honest with yourself. Don’t worry about what

other people prioritize, they do what works for

them. Be true to yourself and don’t waste your

time pursuing something that you don’t really

want. If you hate cooking, don’t put homemade

food on your list.

Maybe some day that will become something you

want to do (and maybe it won’t) but let’s stick with

what is true right now.


Though your path to simple living will be unique,

many people have two important places that they

need or want to simplify first before anything else

can be simplified. They are: getting out of debt/

living within your means and downsizing

possessions. If you don’t know where to start, pick

one of these two and go for it.

Exercise

Grab a piece of paper and a pen (or a computer)

and write down all of the things that are important

to you. Think about people, places, possessions,

lifestyle choices, and activities.

If you’re stuck, here are some questions that can

help you begin focusing on what is a priority for

you and what isn’t.

• What makes you happy?

• What makes you feel confident?

• What causes the most stress in your day?

• What are your long term life goals? What is your

purpose?

• What are your hobbies?

• What are some things you wish you had more

time to do?

• What are some things you wish you had enough

money to do?

• What do your finances look like? Are you

struggling?

• What is your eating style? take out most nights,

organic home cooked meals, special diet like

Paleo, AIP, GAPS, etc.


http://www.purposefullysimple.com/how-to-create-goals-and-stick-to-them/

• How do you grocery shop? How often?

• Do you like your job? What’s your dream job?

• How does your family vacation? Often/never, far

away places/in state attractions, etc.

• What do you do to care for your health?

(physical, emotional, and spiritual).

• If you had 5 minutes to pack and leave your

home, what would you take?


How to live more simply Now that you know what your priorities are how

can you turn them into actionable steps? Here is a

guide for getting started on your simple living

adventure!

Prioritize

Take a look at your list of most important things

and narrow it down to 3. Some may become top

priority as a default (getting out of debt may need

to come before pursuing a different career, for

example).

Choose one thing

Give yourself permission to start small. I know.

Now that you’ve committed to living a simple life

you want to jump in head first, but this is not the

best way to do it. Choosing to change too many

things in your life will inevitably make it more

complicated. What one thing can you simplify in

your life that will make the most impact on your

happiness and quality of life? Alternately, What

change can you make most easily?

Make it part of you

Do that thing until it is second nature. Make it part

of your daily routine. Own it.

Move onto another thing

Choose your next adventure. Make it part of you.

Keep going.


http://www.purposefullysimple.com/balancing-priorities/

Become a student of simple living

Realize that it’s a journey and that even the most

seasoned simple living enthusiasts are learning

new things. There will always be more to do and

learn so make it part of your life’s journey.

It’s simple…

…but not always easy. And it can feel very

overwhelming at first. Take it one step at a time

and remember to breathe.

Conclusion Pursuing simplicity has changed my life. I am

more ok with what I have, where I am, and what’s

going on right now, than I have ever been. I hope

this eBook has inspired you on your journey to

simple living. I’d love to hear how this eBook has

helped you. If you have any comments or

questions just email me or leave a comment on

my blog.


About the Author

I’m Mindy Wood, simple living enthusiast, writer, wife, mother, and

homesteader-in-the-making. When modern living made me exhausted and

unhappy I began exploring a simpler way to live. From home cooked food to

raising chickens to DIY everything, I’m passionate about helping others achieve

their most authentic and happy life.

[email protected]

PurposefullySimple.com

Pinterest

Facebook

Twitter


http://PurposefullySimple.com

https://www.pinterest.com/purposesimple/

https://www.facebook.com/purposefullysimple

http://www.apple.com

Purposefully Simple

© 2016 All Rights Reserved

No part of this book may be republished, reproduced, copied, or shared in any form without prior written

consent of the author.

An eBook is meant to be the sole property of the purchaser. You may share portions of it with a friend, but

forwarding the entire book or copying portions of it to a blog or website without permission is a violation of

copyright.


beginners guide to somple living - our inspired roots · 2018-10-20 · more money & less...

Documents