9 Great Benefits of Living a Simple Life

There are many people who are not that familiar with the idea of living a simple life in today’s fast, ever-changing complex world. Maybe, some of you have never even heard of the term “Simple, intentional Living” before. And then, there are some people who think a simple life is related to having less money and suffering from financial hardship.

To different people, “simple living” means different things. Some would say – living with less or having a decluttered, organized home or living without unnecessary things and people, and for some simple living is living a quiet life in the country.

According to Wikipedia: “Simple living encompasses a number of different voluntary practices to simplify one’s lifestyle. These may include, for example, reducing one’s possessions, generally referred to as minimalism, or increasing self-sufficiency. Simple living may be characterized by individuals being satisfied with what they have rather than what they want. Although asceticism generally promotes living simple and refraining from luxury and indulgence, not all proponents of simple living are ascetics. Simple living is distinct from those living in forced poverty, as it is a voluntary lifestyle choice.”

To me, a simple life is a life that is intentionally lived with grace, purpose, simplicity, loads of positivity, faith, and gratitude. I also love this beautiful definition mentioned in this great book Organized Simplicity: The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living:

“Simplifying your life is meant to make things better, not worse. It’s about choices — about saying no to the things in your life that aren’t the best so that you are free and available to say yes to those things you truly want. ”

What I most love about that quote from the book is that it’s okay to say no to things that you are not fond of, and be available to say yes to those that you love and enjoy.

Add this to your reading list: Organized Simplicity: The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living by Tsh Oxenreider

Benefits of Living Your Life Simply:

There are some great benefits of living a simple life. The journey begins with simplifying your life first. Some of the examples include reducing your material possessions, being mindful of new purchases, downsizing, limiting your time on social media and smartphones, stopping attending social occasions you are indifferent about, eliminating multitasking, and paying off debts. 

Doing some or all of these things can bring you great benefits and happiness.

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1. More Money in Your Bank Account

One of the great reasons for choosing to live a simple life is that doing so will save you money. Since simple living leads you to buying less, you will no longer be spending your hard-earned money on buying, replacing, repairing, maintaining, and storing your stuff. Voluntary simplicity is a lifestyle that minimizes consumption and the mindless pursuit of wealth and material goods.

Most people who choose simplicity over a fast-paced life find that material goods provide far less satisfaction than they ever realized. With that realization, when you declutter and simplify your home and your life, you have made the choice to own less. And when you choose to own less stuff, you usually tend to buy less. Not only can this save you money, but it can also give you more financial freedom to pursue what is truly important and meaningful in your life.

Not to mention, with financial freedom comes peace of mind. Having a few extra thousand dollars savings in your emergency fund or retirement account definitely allows you to rest easy.

2. More Time to Spend With Family and Friends

Wouldn’t you all like to be able to spend more quality time with your loved ones?

A simplified life frees up more time in your schedule. When you stop focusing and spending your time on acquiring and maintaining material possessions, you are more likely to focus on your relationships that can add value to your life. Likewise, spending excessive time on social media or being occupied all the time can mean your important relationships suffer.

If you reduce or remove these things, you are able to spend more quality time with the people who matter to you. You may even be able to reduce your work hours so you are home earlier, can take your kids to the park or local library, help them with their homework and projects, and have dinner together every night.

Also, when your home and your chores take up less of your time and energy, you have more time and energy to invest in your relationships with the people you love and care for! You can give your loved ones more of your time, attention, and energy because you are not busy with unnecessary people or doing meaningless things.

And when you can invest more of your time and energy in your important relationships-simply because you care, those relationships become stronger and grow deeper, and you become happier as well!

3. Less Anxiety and Stress

When you choose to simplify your life, you not only declutter and simplify your home, you also simplify your personal, social and financial life.

You get rid of all those things and people that complicate your life, create chaos and mess, steal from your happiness, fill your life with negativity, and take up your valuable space and time. As a result, you experience less indecision, your life becomes less stressful, you sleep better, and feel more relaxed.

Studies have revealed that a cluttered unorganized environment can cause stress and anxiety in people. By cutting back and simplifying your life, you can remove a significant source of stress from your homes and lives, and lower your anxiety level as well.

4. More Time to do What You Love to do

When you choose a simple, intentional life over a cluttered, complicated one, you will unearth a significant amount of time in your day. You will be free to use this new found time to engage in activities that you truly love and enjoy.

You will have time and space to try and develop new hobbies or explore new exciting things that inspire you such as reading, learning, writing, creating, gardening, traveling, practicing self-care, and appreciating the little pleasures of life. The opportunities are endless and the choice is yours!

As you simplify and declutter your home and life, you tend to become more mindful of your time and priorities. Then you are better able to make intentional choices that align with your values and priorities. You carefully make sure if your time and attention are going where you want them to.

5. Better Health

Living a simple life can also be beneficial to your physical and mental health as research has revealed. The reasons for this could be due to the fact that developing a more simplistic lifestyle often means less stress and increased rest.

These benefits could come from spending more time with friends and family, getting more physical activity, eating healthier food – prepared at home, sleeping better, and changing jobs to find something more fulfilling and less money-orientated. 

Having fewer possessions and not worrying about “keeping up with the Joneses” can also lead to experiencing fewer stress-related symptoms.

6. More Space to Grow

When you choose to live a simple decluttered life, you get rid of the unnecessary or extra stuff from your home that takes up most of your living spaces. You choose to live with only those things that you need, love, and use frequently. You don’t feel cramped in your home anymore.

As you accumulate less stuff, you free up more space for yourself and your family to make room for the things you all love to do and enjoy. Some examples are: an exercise room, a comfortable reading nook, kids’ play room, or arts and crafts room.

7. More Experiences, More Happiness

A simple life leads to long term pleasures and contentment. When you shift your focus from material possessions, choose to live with a few quality stuff, and get rid of the unnecessary distractions, you have the freedom and flexibility to pursue the passions and meaningful interests that add color and value to your life. Naturally, that helps you feel relaxed and enjoy your life more, too!

Also, when we are content with what we have and strive to experience more beautiful and meaningful things, it improves our outlooks on life, and our kids learn to be happy with less stuff, too. They learn that it doesn’t take a lot of toys to have fun or a lot of stuff to be happy. They become more creative and thoughtful.

8. You Become More Grateful

When you deliberately choose to have less stuff, you have more time and energy to value and appreciate what you do have. You recognize that what you have is what you love and what is necessary. When you simplify your life, you make room for those people and things that add value to your life and make your life more enjoyable.

It’s easier to appreciate what you have when it’s valuable to you because you love and use what you own. And when you truly appreciate something, you become grateful for having that in your life.

9. Your Level of Confidence Increases

When your home and your life are in order in a way that makes you feel comfortable and happy, you start to feel more in control and confident as well. Once you start enjoying the benefits of a simple life you have chosen for yourself, it gives you a sense of accomplishment, which makes you feel better and increases your level of confidence.

Final Words

Simple living and happiness go hand-in-hand. Rather than buying and accumulating more and more possessions, consider spending more of your time and money on experiences and creating beautiful memories. They are good for your mental and physical well-being, and your overall personal growth.

Do understand that voluntary simplicity does not mean giving up your hobbies or the possessions you enjoy. It means only owning what you need, use, value, treasure and truly enjoy, rather than blindly accumulating stuff because our society says you should. Living a slow, simple life means living intentionally, on your own terms, and every individual or family can benefit from doing so.

Recommended read: Organized Simplicity: The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living by Tsh Oxenreider

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