Simple Living

In my early 20s I was a huge fan of bodybuilding. I would go watch the Mr. Olympia competition each year, study the top pro’s workout routines and diets, and try to mimic them in many ways. The one thing I decided to never do was take hormone altering drugs, as my idols did, because I always felt it was too extreme. I’ve found that many niche hobbies and lifestyles, when taken to the extremes, are unhealthy and unsustainable.

Minimalism is one of those niches. I follow people online, try to mimic some of their ideas for living simply and with minimal possessions, etc. But I do not take it to the extreme.

Here are a few ways we have found that we can live simply, without going to the extremes.

Possessions

Possessions is likely the first thing that comes to mind when people think of minimalism. A tiny house, one chair in the corner of a small room, plain white walls, one pair of shoes and a single set of dishes.

That’s not minimalism, or at least, that’s not what minimalism has to be. We have two kids, 4 and 2, and dog; we have more toys than we know what to do with sometimes; we all have a pretty normal amount of clothes and shoes; our garage has 2 cars and a bunch of bikes, scooters, and other toys; our shed is filled with yard tools.

To us, minimalism is about getting rid of the items that we don’t use and avoiding purchasing items we are unlikely to use. About once per month we will go through all of our clothing, toy bins, and miscellaneous drawers and throw out or donate the items we feel no longer suit us. It might only be a shirt or two, but over time it makes a difference. To keep down on toy clutter, we will “hide” infrequently used toys in storage bins until one of the kids asks where that particular toy is – then we will exchange it for another rarely used toy. Occasionally we’ll donate used toys that we feel our kids are no longer interested in or have outgrown.

Hobbies

Hobbies is another area where we are able to practice simple living and minimalism. I have found that as you get older, hobbies become more and more expensive, in time, money, and energy. Therefore, I have found it to be beneficial to minimize the number of hobbies that I delve into and simplify the ones I stick with.

I love motorcycles and bicycles. They are both exhilarating, I love the wind in my face, the inherent danger, the adrenaline, and everything about being on two-wheels. In the past I have owned multiple motorcycles and multiple bicycles.

I had a road bicycle for long road rides, a mountain bicycle for the local trails, and a single-speed bicycle for biking around the neighborhood with the kids. A touring Harley for long road rides, a dirt bike, an adventure bike… What I found was that even when I had multiple choices, there was one that I would almost always gravitate to when going out for a ride. The others would just sit in the garage unused. Today I own one motorcycle and one bicycle, and they completely satisfy my needs for those hobbies.

Another thing to consider with hobbies is whether they are long-term or just a phase. With social media it can be easy to see someone doing something that looks like fun and desire to get into that thing too. Consider borrowing, renting, or improvising before spending your hard-earned dollars on hobbies that may not last.

Calendar

The last area we focus on when intentionally simplifying our lives, is our calendar. Our calendar is usually empty. There might be a weekly dance lesson, swimming lesson, or soccer practice. We might have a date night or a family gathering listed on our calendar. But most nights, of most weeks, we are not scheduled to do anything. This leads to a lot of freedom and the ability to make or change plans as we wish. It allows us to say “yes”, when appropriate, to our kids’ random requests to go to a park, ride bikes, or go to the local splash pad. It allows us to say “yes”, if we want to, to a late request to hang out with friends or family.

We have seen that many people, especially those with young children, have an innate desire to fill their calendars with activities just about every hour of every day. Constantly on the go, constantly entertaining the kids with expensive activities, rarely able to make a late adjustment to their plans. This is not freedom, this is not simplicity, this is chaos.

The end result of simple living should be savings. Saving money because you aren’t buying unnecessary things. Saving space because your living area isn’t bursting at the seams with stuff. Saving your mental health and sanity because you aren’t running from event to event without a second for yourself. Simple living helps avoid living paycheck to paycheck and minute to minute; it allows you to control more of your time and money, leaving freedom to live a life for inline with your values.