Does A Simple & Happy Life Exist?

Simplicity is the essence of joy, and life is about finding beauty in simple things.

Erica Breen Wellness
Writers’ Blokke
5 min readMar 3, 2022

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Image by Ketut Subiyanto via Pexels

Everyone wants to live a happy and simple life, but most search for happiness in the wrong places. We find ourselves stressed and disappointed, seeking happiness in money, fame, and materialistic things. We are overcomplicating things when happiness is tightly tied together with simplicity. A simple life will allow you to reflect and realize what truly matters and what is important to you. Simplicity is the essence of joy, and life is about finding beauty in simple things. A simple life is where you live and learn in a manner that aligns with your dreams and values. Keep reading for tips on how to live a simple life, and slowly in time, you will have more of what matters and less of what doesn’t.

How To Live A Simple Life And Be Happy

There is no straightforward definition of what a simple life looks like and how you should achieve it. It will be different for everyone, but living a simple life starts with peace. This feeling of peace will lead to all areas of your life becoming balanced and maintained. When we are not at peace, our life is unbalanced, and when one thing gets off track, it can indirectly affect others and cause life to get out of control.

Let go of things that no longer serve you

You can’t simplify your life without letting things go. It’s defining your priorities and letting go of things that no longer serve you. It’s clear on the direction you want to go in life and making intentional choices that keep you on this path. By letting go of things, you will notice new opportunities come into your life and see a lot of stress and anxiety disappear.

Savor the Present Moment

So often, we hurry through our days, quickly moving from one activity to the next.This is done out of habit and fear as we live in a society that strives for productivity, and no one wants to be called “lazy.” The reality is that life is simpler when you slow down and savor the present moment. The art of slowing down is a practice, and doing small things daily will help improve this practice. Start creating small pauses in your everyday schedule. Take a deep breath and look outside before you have your first sip of coffee, or close your eyes and have a few moments of silence to yourself before you get out of the car to go to work. The more you prioritize this diminutive, quiet moment, you will start to slowly break the habit of rushing around and instead favor the acts of slow and simplicity.

Mindset

For getting on the right path, you need to make an effort to be more intentional with your choice and mindful of your thoughts. Getting clear on what is important to you and knowing your values will make everything moving forward much more straightforward. Every day we have thousands of small, simple decisions that can help add to these results. When you know your values and have a conscious intent directing your decisions, you will have outcomes that align with the life you are seeking.

Create a Routine

A simple life needs consistency to flourish. Routine and consistency are anchors that keep us from drifting into chaos. Spontaneity is great in small doses, but too much keeps us ungrounded and rocky. Establishing a routine full of consistent habits helps ease the weight of making decisions or getting distracted from things that take us away from our life journey. Think about how much time we waste per day thinking about what to wear, eat, and respond to an email. These things can be helped by having a plan and consistent routine. You can create quieter and more simplicity in your life. This will allow you to have more mental energy for big decisions and make the right choice.

Health

Living a simple life can not be done without focusing on your health. When we are stressed, sick, and tired, nothing feels simple! Prioritizing your health will lead to many improvements, such as increased energy and mental clarity, making your life more straightforward. Quality sleep should be one of your number one priorities. Make sure you get at least 7+ hours of uninterrupted sleep at night. If you struggle with sleep, try eliminating screen time one hour before bed and use an eye mask and earplugs if you are a light sleeper. Start thinking about the food you are putting into your body with prioritizing health. Food is medicine to our body, and when you feed it right, it performs optimally. Reduce sugar, processed foods and instead focus on fresh, whole foods from the earth. Keep exercise simple and full of joy, so you do it daily. Try to walk or joy for twenty minutes each day and find an exercise program that you love. It could be cardio, strength training, pilates, or yoga. Once you start implementing these changes, you should notice a tremendous increase in your overall health, energy, and stress levels.

Connection

Health also means having meaningful relationships in your life. Life is simple and easier to do when surrounded by people we can call and rely on for support. Relationships allow us to feel heard and understood, which nurtures our soul. When we have this type of effective communication, everything in our life will become more simple and more accessible. In a way, establishing meaningful relationships allows our life to become lighter and effortless. It has an atmosphere that encourages empathetic listening and understanding, which promotes growth in the self and others.

How do you find happiness in a simple life?

Prioritize finding joy in everyday things. There is always the possibility that happiness is just around the corner, and you are the one in control. You have the power and the ability to be happy in any action or place you choose. Happiness is feelings of satisfaction and a drive to live a life of meaning and purpose. It’s having solid relationships and helping others in this world. By pursuing happiness, you are growing and evolving on your journey.

Living a simple life with no money enables you more financial flexibility. It reduces the pressure to sustain an expensive lifestyle and shows that you can choose to live with less money. Focus on designing a life that you love and that fits with your values instead of using money as a resource to buy the dream life you think you want. So often, we seek this lifestyle only to realize it doesn’t match our intentions.

Ultimately, you are the only one responsible for your happiness. When we spend time alone, we learn more about ourselves. Our strengths but also our weaknesses and insecurities, and we can grow from these revelations. Spending time alone allows you to dive into your thoughts and realize what truly makes you happy.

Overcomplicating life is neither valuable nor a healthy contribution to our wellbeing. Living a simple life is peaceful and simple living requires balance. Simplicity appears to give each area of life the mindful, intentional attentiveness it deserves. Mindlessness invites chaos, and conscious awareness invokes simplicity. Eliminate all distractions and live a life that aligns with your values and beliefs. Savor the present moment, enjoy the journey and let simplicity be your tool to a happy and healthy life.

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Erica Breen Wellness
Writers’ Blokke

Join me on a journey towards holistic well-being, where fitness, travel, nutrition, & self-care intertwine. Visit ericabreenwellness.com