There may be those who make sudden and drastic lifestyle changes, quiting jobs and selling houses, moving forward rapidly in their pursuit of a dream. For most folk, simplifying life isn't that speedy or smooth. It really is taking a step at a time, one day at a time.
Here are five baby steps toward simple living:
1. Cut the splurge buys. Yes, this means eating breakfast at home and not buying fancy coffee. No Starbucks except as a special treat.
2. Organize your weekly errands. Make a list of your errands (bank, post office, etc.) and do them all at once, planning your route to maximize your time and minimize your fuel expense.
3. Investigate free events in your community. These can be rewarding for members of the whole family, and lotsa fun. Check out the local paper and the public library website.
4. Respect your Sundays. For Christians, Sunday means church and usually, a nice lunch afterwards. For everyone, there is wisdom in taking this one day of the week as a day of rest. The big family meal on Sunday is a wonderful thing, everyone gets a chance to catch up with the others. Especially when everyone works together in cooking the food.
5. Rethink fashion. Scrutinize your wardrobe and ask yourself how much you really need designer togs and to the extent that you do, why? Simplifying life means stepping aside from the Fast Track, the Rat Race, the Keeping Up with the Jones approach to things. This doesn't mean sacrificing quality, it means taking your fashion sense to a whole new level.
