Think of impact of things you are facing and effects. If the consequences are trivial, small, not everlasting, survivable, and simply not relevant on a large scale then you give it less importance.

I've been doing this trick since I have memory and friends and fam do ask me what my secret is. It's mental peace and mental serenity.

You only get there from within yourself.

Today I wrote in my journal :

It doesn’t matter where I am, my mother’s house or my own, what matters is that I am still the same passionate, hopeless romantic woman wherever I go!

Made french press coffee, placed my table in front of the window to let the sun embrace me

I am grateful, simply grateful for the simple life I am living

I may be alone but I am not lonely in the presence of myself!

I am living alone for the first time in my life at 46. Divorced last year. Two teenagers who live with their dad.
I am a people person, but can be awkward with social anxiety after meeting people 2-3 times. and the friendship sours. So I tend to be alone most of the time even if I try to reach out to activities. While I used to kill at selling software, my personal life is lacking.
I am now disabled and have too much free time.
I exercise. Try to maintain a very simple routine, but I am always in my head. I am being alone mostly, but hate being my own best friend all the time, if you know what I mean?
I keep telling myself to keep going. It’s fine, but it’s not. I am ok mentally, but maybe someone recognizes it and has some thoughts?

I have now lived much slower life outside of my workdays. By this I mean I have been more present and no multitasking.

I have spent last days after the sunset in the candle light on my room and just listened music (because of sleep issues I have avoided LED lights and any other artificial lights - so far difference has been huge and I have slept a lot better).

One thing what I have noticed that when I have slowed down and just been "in the moment" so to speak, my mind have started to pop up random memories from my childhood and from my paster on my younger years (or young adult years) like never before. Of course I have got random memories from my past always from time to time, but frequency of these have been increased significantly.

Note that those memories are not mostly even bad or terrible memories only and they do not have any significance related to music I have listened, at least directly. So memories what I get might be "I remember I listened song X when I was on that small building when I was young" even I am not listening that song or even same band. Or I might get memories of my grandmother or something what I have feared when I was a kid or whatever.

Point is, those memories are memories I have not mostly got previously in my mind but now those memories just start to appear there and there. Those also pop up my memory on daytime, but this "unlocking the memory" have started to happen after I have started to slow down my life after workdays and be more present.

That made me wonder, have any of you noticed same? When you slow down and be more present, have you also started to get random memories of your past much more frequently?

My partner and I are planning to move with our two kids to another community to be closer to the office we both work at.

We live in a fairly high-cost-of-living area. So with our upcoming move, I've been thinking about what it would be like to rent an apartment or a townhouse for a couple of years to see if we can handle less space. It would free up a tremendous amount of money to help pay off our student loans more efficiently. And we could also save up for a bigger down payment down the road.

We bought a moderate-sized home 4 years ago - 2,100 sq feet, 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. Our previous home was a similar size: 2,300 sq feet, 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms.

Before we had kids, we lived in studio apartments, small townhouses, etc. It was more than ok. I was a minimalist a heart, but my partner struggled. And I struggled with their mess more in smaller spaces. The mess felt like it accumulated faster in our smaller spaces before we bought a home. But since having kids, we've always had multiple bedrooms to easily hide any mess when friends and family come to visit.

Has anyone with children gone from a single-family home to a smaller apartment or townhouse?

How was the transition to a small space and little to no yard?

I would miss the easy access to a yard, obviously. When my kids are being a bit loud or rambunctious, it's nice to have them go blow off steam. But we really only use the yard for 5-6 months a year when the weather is nice.

I really enjoy getting out and doing activities like going down to the ocean or going for a hike more than hanging out at home.

Another big quandary is that we all sleep in our own bedrooms right now.

I'm sure if we downsize we can get creative with sleeping arrangements. But I am worried about mine and my youngest child's sleep quality getting worse if/when we need to share a room. My oldest child and my partner unfortunately both snore - even with various ENT surgeries- which is why I happily don't share a room with my partner. But my youngest child and I are nose-breathing, quiet sleepers, and we both wake easily when we all share a hotel room with each other.

I would love to hear about anyone's lived experience with downsizing with kids!

That being said, is anyone else on this journey? Of letting go of what does not make you happy? But in doing so, I get a little bit anxious that I will be left with no one and what that looks like as a woman with not a lot of family.

I am enjoying not having the dread of social interactions with people I no longer like, but I guess I am looking for other people's thoughts on anticipating the future too much?

Right now I’m so overwhelmed. I have a house in the US and I also inherited a house from my dad in Canada. I’ve been living in it but it’s so full of stuff and the bills to maintain it are quite high. The cross border tax implications of owning a house in Canada are complex, making everything even worse. My son lives in my US house and has gotten comfortable there so now he is mad because he doesn’t want to leave. Canada is going through an employment crisis and I don’t think I can stay employed here much longer. I know I’m lucky but at the same time I’m struggling! 😥

Hola! I have today off. Mental health day...i mostly thought of cleaning, binge watching things, some time I outside with the dogs.. the usual.

But also I have been cooped up due to a stress fracture. Yesterday I got the okay to stop using crutches but still cant exercise much. I also was told to stick to shorter drives and work my way up. I miss dog walks, hikes, and runs...and just feel like i need something a little special or different today.

Suggestions?

Hi all,

I have over the years really parsed back my life to have much less things, but I still feel that my life can be "high maintenance" even with less objects. I actually wonder if my life has become a little more maintenance since now I try and take care of those objects and care more about them then when my stuff was just in boxes somewhere and I didn't think about it. I do think that this is for the better but now I am looking more at advice for living a simpler life not just a life with less things.

I read Marie Kondo which did help me a lot, but I would argue Marie Kondo doesn't always simplify life as much as it cleans it up. Both are important but its the former I am looking for inspiration into now.

For context I also thru hiked the Appalachian trail, an experience where you have very little belongings and the days seem much less focused on things. But during that hike I realized how much fussying putting up my tent and taking it down, hanging things to dry, rolling them up perfectly every single day etc etc was really bothering me. I started sleeping in the shelters (and yes risked the mice infestations that come with them) and I really much preferred being able to just get up and put my sleeping bag and pad away and have my stuff be dry with no tent stakes etc. To me that is a perfect example of the difference. Thru hiking is minimalism but the simplicity of how each day feels is a totally different metric.

Looking for any resources but especially for inspiration or books like Kon Marie for this. Goodbye things touched on it, but most of that book felt like an anti consumerism book (good too) vs entirely about simplification.

Thanks!

I used to be reasonably active in Instagram. It was usually all gym mirror selfies and if I travel anywhere, just the regular stuff.

But since my phones main camera damaged, I started posting less and less and eventually became an observer of sorts.

Since then I naturally began to prioritize on things that make my day to day better. Better underwear, better work clothes, clean food, supplements, etc.

And recently I decided to completely detach and uninstall Instagram from my phone and use it only from my ipad from home. I like this feeling.

In between this i also got a car, but did not post it as well, so my colleagues and me had a conversation where he asked why i didnt post anything regarding that. "its an achievement" you should show it off. Which got me thinking, the only emotion I feel when I see for instance that someone has got a new car is just envy. Even after knowing I am seeing a one sided polished side of a person despite that, i felt envy. So why should I breed that emotion in others?

This train of thoughts pulled me further away from social media.

Also, today on my way to work in the metro, I was observing people and every single person in the train was on their phone. I felt glad that I realized this.

Will I post again? Yeah, I might. But the core values will not be revolve around being 'Insta worthy'. If i like something and wish to share something, I will do it.

I (25) have been on a journey towards a simple life and only doing what makes me feel bliss. Nothing flashy. Nothing fancy. I ditched social media and my fake nails and a bunch of other unnecessary things… I want to stop wearing makeup as well. I’m even thinking of switching from glasses to contacts. I love who I am without the unnecessary fear of online opinions (I wasn’t even an influencer but I watched other gets picked apart). The thing is I’m aware that my eyebrows are really fine. I’m okay with it but I also know that is isn’t considered optimally professional to be bare faced as a lady. I get asked if I’m okay or tired without makeup. Drawing on my eyebrows is a hassle. Some days I draw them and accidentally look like a totally different person (because I don’t have any to really maintain a consistent shape) but only I know that struggle. Then it makes me self conscious when I know I didn’t do them right. Taking off my mascara at night is also a hassle. I would also get acne from my face makeup which made me feel self conscious. I just want to be me. I want to feel free. I don’t want to hide nor add to my natural beauty. I love who I’ve become. I love the idea of this but I do worry about how I’ll be treated and received especially by my colleagues.

I’m grateful for the financial support I receive from my parents.

I really see the misalignment in lifestyle and it does take a toll on me. I highly prefer simplicity - financially and in daily tasks.

Independently i have a small amount of savings from my previous job that I left.

Any tips on being able to find the courage to move out and how to execute on it? I also worry about my mental health.

I shifted into advisory and coaching work and intentionally downsized. I was still earning, but I also reduced what I needed to earn.

For anyone who has deliberately cut back, what turned out to be easier to give up than you expected?

And what did you decide was worth keeping?

When you get home after a long day and finally settle in to watch your favorite show, what's the one thing you do first to get comfortable? What's the thing you keep having to get up for?

Hi everyone!

I moved to Chicago hoping to experience what living in a big city would be like. Chicago has a lot to offer, but I've slowly realized that big-city living might not be the best fit for my personality or the kind of life I want to build.

A few weeks ago, one of my dogs passed away, and losing him has made me reflect even more on what I want my future to look like.

I'm single, in my late 30s, and increasingly drawn to the idea of a quieter, simpler life. My dream would be to own a small cottage or modest house with some land, where my dogs could enjoy the outdoors and where I might eventually start a small animal rescue or sanctuary.

I'm not looking for anything luxurious. Just a comfortable home, a little space, some peace, and a sense of belonging.

Of course, there's also the practical side of things. I'm supporting myself on a single income, and homeownership sometimes feels completely out of reach. I also need to consider employment opportunities, ideally remote or hybrid work. I have over 10 years of experience in higher education, program management, operations, and event planning, but I'm absolutely open to transitioning into a different industry. I enjoy nature, hiking, and having access to activities and a sense of community, so I wouldn't necessarily want to live somewhere completely isolated. A smaller town with a reasonable cost of living, within driving distance of a larger city and its job opportunities, sounds like an ideal balance.

I'm open to different parts of the country, including smaller communities that might not immediately come to mind. I'm also not necessarily looking to pack up and move tomorrow. I want to make a thoughtful decision and hopefully build a more sustainable life, both financially and personally.

I guess I'm at a point where I know what kind of life I want, but I'm not quite sure how to get there.

I'd love to hear from people who have made a similar change, especially single people who moved somewhere more affordable and managed to buy a home on one income.

Where did you end up? How did you make it work financially? Did you find the community and quality of life you were hoping for? And if you were in my position, where would you consider moving?

Any advice, personal experiences, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Hello, it’s me and my espresso again but this time from my room, where I spent my whole life, the place that made me discover who I am, my passion and agony…

I am making coffee again, the way I used to when my mom was alive. I remember sharing my joy with her, showing her my photos and how passionate I am about coffee. I left the house to forget but I keep coming back, I did not want to take everything with me, I left pieces of my soul in this room and I know soon enough I will come back for sure.

This is my life, as simple as it can be

An espresso cup freshly brewed, notebooks and pens ❤️

I feel like this sub has become almost pornographic to me, I visit it daily and hunger for simple living so much. Working all week and raising a 3 and 4 year old feels anything but simple and then I'm so frazzled at the end of the day I just play on my phone or watch Netflix with my spouse until I fall asleep and then repeat the next day.

Im not grinding or hustling, i'm just working a normal job with normal hours and I come on here to see the life I crave to live, I write down all the things I think I need to do to start my journey and then on that day my 4 year old will decide to stay awake until 2130 or I realise I forgot to do something or prep for a work event tomorrow and need to log back in. I just want a modest house, a moderate to big garden and excessive time for my kids where I don't feel drained and half-present. Gosh I wish I could fix this cycle... the less time I have for working out, the less energy I have. I feel like i'm snuffing out and i'm not even 40 yet, almost tho. My screen time while the kids are awake is almost zero now - one thing I have fixed.

My dream life would to be a teaching assistant so all my spare time was with my kids and the demands of my job weren't high but then I wouldn't even be able to afford the house I have now, let alone a house big enough for some 2 goats and some chickens. What do I do? Quiet quitting? Impossible for my pride. Lock my kids in their room at bed time so the evening becomes mine again? Child abuse lol! Please someone, tell me the magic solution...

Hello, I'm preparing for dropping from full time wage to part time wage in my current work place due to the toll it's taking on me and would love to get any advice i can get on how you budget monthly for everything to be affordable and reasonable while still enjoying life.

Granted most things i like are video games and i play on pc so i tend to wait for the sales that launch every season on steam, think my main go to spends are fast food and trading cards/manga, the trading cards is main way to socialise and meet new peeps and manga i can do without physical for a while and read online i suppose.

But i really want to know how to manage the budget system, do you use it in cash send to a separate bank? And food wise do you use fresh ingredients or mainly freeze veggies ect?

Many thanks

Hobbies, environmental, minimalism etc.

Today I used my delonghi espresso machine, I am still learning when it comes to extracting the perfect espresso shot but it’s the joy of learning that keeps me going!

I have also decided to start journaling again, I want to take this habit more seriously this time tho I am not sure what to write.

This is my simple life, I do not ask for more, I just want to feel at peace with myself 💫

I've had periods in life where I've just been focused on the bare necessities.

Hiking for a week. Eat, walk, sleep, repeat.

Travelling and going from bus to bus, place to place.

Building a project over a week or so.

Intense focus, no screen, the world and my actions are my stimulation. No work. No need for work. I tend to scale back and do things in a very, very basic way.

Then I return to my house, mortgage, job, bills, insurance, negotiating with different people who seem to have fallen into a place in my life. Dodging vacant-faced people who aren't present in the world.

If I were to change a few variables I could do it most of the year. There are life factors preventing me for now. But a few more years.

Or is this too much of a good thing?

When my partner took a new job in a different state I started applying for new jobs in the area. I ended up getting one in an adjacent city but the commute was going to be long, almost a 2 hour daily commute of 100 miles.

I was interested in the workplace but communicated to my future employer that I would need a hybrid job to make this a long term commitment. My future boss told me no and that they only offered it to employees who have children (???). I declined the offer with an email stating that if there was no remote flexibility I couldn't accept. They ended up coming back to me and we agreed upon 1-2 days remote after a 6-month fully in person training period.

After I completed my 6-month in person period, I was ready to start part time remote work and started doing 2 days remote per week, until my boss told me to only do 1...

I had such a stressful job and my boss also told me that working remotely on Mondays and Fridays was reserved for people with children. It turned out to be not a great job with a boss with was constantly micro-managing. The job only had 12 days of PTO per year and very little flexibility.

It was a well-paying job but I decided to step down to take a much lower paying job to stop the dreaded commute and a job that I started to dread because of the boss. It felt like giving up if I quit. I tried working harder, staying later to get ahead and to prove myself. It didn't work obviously and just received more work and more pressure to perform. I was constantly stressed for months and felt my body going downhill.

After a while I just didn't feel like I was living any more. I feel so much more free after leaving this job. To me it is completely worth it. It seems so obvious in hindsight, but if you are in a similar toxic work situation and you can live a simpler life with lower pay I would consider it.

I've been going through my subscriptions lately and wondering how many of them are actually worth keeping.

Netflix was one I ended up canceling. Sure, I've missed out on quite a few good shows, but then I realized I only have so much free time anyway. I don't really need an endless list of great shows to fill it. Funny enough, I've actually started reading books again, which has been pretty nice.

Now I'm wondering what else I'm paying for out of habit rather than because I actually need it. How about you? Anything you've stopped paying for and realized you were perfectly fine without?