5 things that living a simpler life is NOT

I set out to write a blog on what living a simpler life means, but when I got stuck in I found it was equally important to write about what it is NOT. what immediately comes to your mind when you think of simplicity? From my experience so far, I’ve found it’s different for everyone. You’ll have to wait a couple of weeks to find out what living a simpler life IS, but in the meantime, here are 5 things that a simpler life does not have to include.

The good life

  • I’ve rarely eaten any food that I’ve personally grown. Once in a while I find half a fruit on the strawberry plants in my garden but usually the squirrels eat the strawberries before I do. I did once make jam from the blackberries in my old garden (everyone’s got to make jam once, right?!), but that’s also an admission that I had loads of brambles in my garden let’s face it
  • I don’t have, or dream of, an Aga. Believe me, I’ve cooked breakfast for 12 hungry ladies on a hen do before, and cooking on an aga is not simple
  • My elderflower cordial is Belvoir, and my sloe gin arrived with the rest of my groceries from the supermarket

Yoga, vegan food and matcha lattes

  • I went to a yoga class recently and, much as I enjoyed it, it’s not for me. I prefer Pilates. Just because everyone on the internet seems to do yoga, doesn’t mean you have to as well
  • I eat veggie when I feel like it and meat from time to time
  • What even is a matcha latte?!
  • A simpler lifestyle doesn’t have to dictate your food/exercise choices. You do you

Minimalism

  • I always say I’m “minimalish”. I’m endlessly clearing out our home and have been asked in the past “where’s all your stuff?” – in reality I live in a house that’s got a lot of storage and I’m quite organised. It’s quite easy, therefore, to own a lot without it turning into clutter. However, I’m aiming for a time when everything I do own is either useful, sentimental, or I just love it (or in Marie Kondo’s words “it sparks joy”)
  • This year I’m not buying any new clothes (read more here)
  • You don’t have to be a minimalist to live a simpler life. I found that the desire to be clutter free came quite naturally once I had started to simplify other areas of my life but there’s no need to put a label on it

Easy

  • Simple does not equal easy – a common misconception
  • Living a simpler life is also not a quick fix to become happy/contented/fulfilled/empowered…

Dull

  • Quite the opposite. Since I now make a point of saying no to things I don’t want to do or that drain me or that take up time that could be better spent elsewhere, it means I have time and, more importantly, energy to do the things I want to do
  • I’m also now much more happy to just “be”. Whereas I would in the past have found doing nothing very dull, I’m now extremely content to drink my coffee and watch the birds in my garden (you can read more here about my dislike of the word busy)

Tune in soon to hear what living a simpler life means to me. I’d love to hear what areas of your life you’d love to start simplifying – head over to Instagram or facebook to let me know.

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