“A few strong instincts and a few plain rules suffice us.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson
Life can get complicated. Full of friction.
We can choose to live another way. A simpler way.
We can construct a simplicity framework around what we do and how we choose to live. A lens through which we can see the world, unobstructed by the noise that surrounds us. A tool we can leverage to design the lifestyle we wish to live.
What would such a framework look like?
It could start with something as simple as two lists. One list of things we want to remove (or reduce) from our lives, and a second list that contains things we wish to make space for.
I offer the following ideas to help give you a running start.
Need Less:
- Busyness and busywork
- Rushing
- Stress/worry/anxiety
- Toxic people and/or negative energy
- Debt
- Clutter
- Confusion
- Comparisons
- Spending on things that do not bring joy
- Regret and recrimination
Need More:
- White space (time for reflection, time for hobbies and passion projects)
- Self-care routines—time to reset and recharge (meditation, box breathing, a long walk, spa/massage—many ways work)
- Connected time with those we care about most (turning up fully present and invested)
- Time for travel and adventure
- Positivity
- Movement practice (strength training, walking, hiking, yoga, swimming—lots of options here)
- Work that excites us, that we can find meaning in
- Living in the present
- Acts of kindness
- Gratitude
Such an approach, if we get it right, is simple but powerful. It can really serve us. It keeps us accountable and focused. It also acts as a guide to help bring us back to clarity and calm.
Build your own simplicity framework. Invest energy in building personalized “need more” and “need less” lists. Commit to designing a life you wish to live. Fill that life with what (and who) matters most. Remove the rest.