As technology has proliferated over the past 2-3 decades it seems that life has only gotten more complicated and not more simple even though this was the original idea of advancing technology. Being so connected with the world has inadvertently caused us to have too much of nearly everything. There is too much comparison, too much to choose from on Netflix, too many clothing choices online, too many songs on Spotify, too many accounts on instagram to follow, too many news outlets and stories to read, too many people giving advice on social media and the irony of the whole thing is that while there is too much, the quality of it all has rapidly diminished.
That is why I think so many of us crave a more simple life, because it can be more fulfilling than one that is full of never-ending cycles of trends, news stories, cheap clothing, subpar food, etc. When one is consuming on that kind of level it is not surprising that they find life to be tedious, tiring and unfulfilling. The idea of “simple living” has been around for many decades, but nowadays it seems we often find ourselves in the trap of the non-stop too much-ness and we can feel the quality of our lives suffer from this modern day construct. However, there are some things that can practiced to help live a more simple, better quality life.
-Less Choices = Better Choices
One does not need endless choices to make a good choice, they only need less, but better choices. This is why I love to shop at Trader Joe’s for example for my groceries nearly every week. They do not have isles and isles of various foods, instead they have a few selections of a few types of foods. When shopping at Trader Joe’s there are not ten brands of chicken broth for example, you have just two, regular and less-sodium. Their food quality is also better than average too as they would need to be in order to grow their business as they have. Find a few stores and brands that are tried and true for you so that you do not need to endlessly search for things, you will know where the best quality is and therefore it will contribute to the overall quality of your life. Some of my favorite brands are Trader Joes (groceries & flowers), Caudalie (skincare) Merit and Ilia (cosmetics), and Banana Republic, J. Crew, Madewell (clothing).
-Visit Physical Stores
While the advent of online shopping was meant to make our lives easier, I sometimes find the opposite to be true. When I go online to find something that I am looking for that’s not specific like a black pencil skirt, I can easily come up against 10,000 search results. Not to mention that I cannot tell what the quality and fit will be when ordering online as well. While a store’s sizes in theory should fit, I can say from experience that I have tops from sizes extra small, small and up to medium. When I go to a physical store I can inspect the products I want to purchase, try them on, feel the material and also not end up in a state of analysis paralysis from too many options. This simplifies my search and also ensures the quality that I am looking for.
-enjoy simple pleasures
There is a reason why simple pleasures helps to create a simple life and that is because they provide moments of respite for us during our daily lives. Time to indulge in a simple pleasure is necessary for us to maintain a good quality of life. They relax us, clear our minds, re-energize us and gives us something to do besides scrolling on our phones. While I love to sporadically visit social media, I try to stay off of it as much as possible as so many studies have confirmed that visiting social media causes the average person to have anxiety or depression after so long. Simple pleasures helps us to fill these open times for us in a quality way. Some of my simple pleasures are an evening tea time and magazine, reading a book in my cozy chair or outdoors, sipping a coffee first thing in the morning, putting together a jigsaw puzzle, coloring, or even blogging. All of these while simple, enhance the quality of my daily life.
-less space = more time
No matter how much income we may bring home, it is my goal to live in a smaller home whether renting or buying. Smaller homes are not only cozier, but they save so much time in maintenance and upkeep. There is less space to clean, less stuff that it needs to be filled with, less surfaces to keep clean and clutter free, and all of this equates to more time (to enjoy those simple pleasures). Some people may find that they need larger spaces if they have kids and we all want to honor what is right for us. But when there is less space to fill in a house there is more quality time to fill in your life.
-less, but better
This can translate to about anything in our lives and it is a pillar for my own personal lifestyle. I do not have many things, but what I do have is of great quality. This also relates to having less to care for and maintain as well. It’s not even about being a minimalist, it’s about having just enough for what you need. For example, a small group of trusted friends, a quality meal of healthy (and less processed) food, a few beauty and cosmetic products, enough clothes for variety and lifestyle, enough supplies for beloved hobbies and interests, a few favorite mugs you love to use, etc. With just about any category in life, always try to keep things less, but better.
-a simple schedule of things that interest you
Part of what has made life so complicated in this super-connected world is that anyone and everyone can reach you at nearly anytime. And with that can come many invitations for things that can easily start to fill up a calendar. It is important to be able to discern what you really to show up for. There will be times when replying no to an invitation is appropriate. It can be hard for many to say no though as it feels like a rejection that stirs unpleasant emotions inside, but one cannot fill their every available hour with obligations as this will surely lead to burnout. Show up for what is important to you and politely decline the rest with a sincere thank you. When your schedule reflects back to you the things that are important and the things that excite you, you feel as though you chose a future of quality and not quantity.
-create a simple, quality style
Clothing seems to be a place of contention for most as it pertains to quality. In the age of shein where one can purchase a whole dress for $6.00, it can be tempting to fill a closet because it will feel like we will always have something to wear. Then the irony eventually sets in that you do not have anything to wear because nothing looks good. Creating a simple style and implementing the less but better technique will ensure a closet of quality. You will want to start investing in better clothing pieces when you appreciate how it looks and feels. That does not mean that one needs to pay hundreds of dollars for a single item. Stores such as Banana Republic, J. Crew, Madewell, Ann Taylor and Quince (for cashmere and silk) are great options for quality pieces for a smaller investment. They also regularly run sales where you can surely get items for even less, but are still quality.
-Eat simply for better quality health
Eating well is a lifelong investment in the quality of our lives. Food has such an impact on our health and happiness as serotonin is created in the gut. Food can give energy or drain energy and it all depends on what was consumed. It’s only been a few decades since ultra processed food came into the everyday lives of people and the consequences are hard to miss. When food is simplified back to its natural form the quality of life improves significantly. That’s not to say that this should be a perfect practice as I too enjoy things such as a take-and-bake pizza, a bag of chips with sandwich or french fries with a burger, but these foods are consumed in moderation. Food is vital to a good quality life and simplifying meals into delicious dishes of lean proteins, roasted, sautéed or steamed veggies and light carbs and fats will keep us in a good quality life of energy, health and vitality.
Shelia Hopfensperger says
This really resonated with me…I’m currently trying to edit and reduce all the “stuff” in my home and life. Thank you for this!
ThePetiteTresor says
You’re welcome, Shelia and thank you for reading today’s post. Reducing stuff can be a tedious task, but it is worth the effort to help create a simpler life with more ease and quality.
Kelsie says
This was such a good post! I admire and miss the old days before things like social media became everything to people. I still like it in moderation, but it’s really taken over! What are some go-to grocery items you find yourself buying regularly? I enjoy upgrading that part of my life and always find grocery purchases inspiring. 🙂
ThePetiteTresor says
I miss the old days too when social media played just a small part in our lives. I also try to keep it in moderation too, that’s the best way to interact with social media for better mental health.
For groceries, some of my go-to items are things like asparagus, broccoli and cauliflower for steaming, leeks, garlic, sprouted bread, peanut butter, shallots, steaks like filet mignon, chicken breast, salmon, scallops, beans, cheeses (of course), bananas, apples, brussel sprouts, pastas, rice….i may just have to do a whole post on this one, but these are items that are almost always on my shopping list.
Thank you for stopping in and reading today’s post 😊