When the benefits of a simple life outweigh the life we find ourselves living, it's time for a change. Did you know two-thirds of Americans say they are likely to seek help for stress? Did you know fifty-four percent of Americans are concerned about the level of stress in their everyday lives? While it's true stress affects everyone, and not all stress is bad, we do have the power to control the stress in our lives. Three years ago, my son moved to China. His life in the states had become too burdensome. He was experiencing physical side effects, and he needed a change. Not just a change of scenery, but a change of lifestyle. His life as an educator had left him overburdened, over-stressed and desperate for a simpler, more adventurous life. Although it took me quite a few Continue Reading
The Simple Life Project: A 30 Day Action Plan & Formula for Success
We are 5 weeks into our Simple Life Series, and I'm so excited about this week's project! I don't know about you, but I've tried several different systems for simplifying, and each one leaves me either overwhelmed from the enormity of tasks or bored because the system just doesn't work for me. Creating a simple life shouldn't be difficult, time-consuming or overwhelming. Instead, I believe the process should create momentum and satisfaction. It doesn't work for me to go room by room, piling all of my stuff in one place and sorting through it meticulously. Not only is this method a bit overwhelming, but it also makes progress difficult to measure. I don't like clutter, so creating a huge pile of clutter to sift through creates more anxiety and frustration. I prefer the way of Continue Reading
5 Simple Life Habits to Inspire a More Than Enough Mindset
I've known since a very young age that I don't like clutter, and I don't need a lot of things to make me happy. If you step into my life, you'll find I'm not a huge collector of anything, and even the teapots my mother passed down to me are nestled in a storage container instead of on display. Clutter, whether in small spaces or large doesn't make me feel comfortable or cozy. And although I'm far from a minimalist, I definitely thrive in open, calm spaces. As a child, I remember visiting my grandparent's home where every inch of the kitchen table was occupied with knickknacks, the cupboards overflowed with a mishmash of plates and cups, and each surface seemed to have more than enough items vying for a place of significance. I'm sure much of the clutter I remember had sentimental Continue Reading