I've been wanting to 'fess up on this one weird thing I do ...

You can all roast me if you want. Whatever. Maybe I deserve it.

My recent "fancy" clothing is a handful of NEW t-shirts — off the rack at Walmart for $5.88, not the packaged underwear type. These are nice t-shirts. Various pastel colors. They last many years.

So nice, in fact, that I wear them after shower in the evening, then go to bed wearing them. Then wake up and... Go out for errands next day in the same t-shirt.

Yep. Just one t-shirt all day, all night, all of next day until the next shower. What you see is essentially my pajama AND my tuxedo just the same when I go to dentist, doctor, grocer's, etc. Simple life.

I'm old enough and semi-retired to the point where I don't give a f*** about fashion. LOL

Oh, and I always wear it inside out. It feels much better with the smooth seams on the skin.

I work an engineering job where everyone at my workplace seems to identify with "the mission". Many seem to work extra hours without pay and while I am able to keep my hours to 40-42 a week, the culture is saturated in this "work is a higher calling" belief.

It wouldn't be a problem for me except I seem to keep getting sucked back into it. Instead of just seeing my job as a job I find myself getting mad when projects aren't moving quickly enough or fretting about how people see the quality of my work.

I want to just do the job and feel more disconnected to it but it's hard. I want to just think about my other interests more. I want my life to simpler.

Any advice or resources? Thank you.

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to share a little something I recently worked on—a cinematic mini movie that captures the simple joy of enjoying a fresh cup of coffee in the warm sunlight. It’s all about savoring those quiet, everyday moments that often go unnoticed.

If you’re looking for a brief escape and a bit of tranquility, this video might just brighten your day. It’s a gentle reminder of how beautiful and fulfilling life’s small pleasures can be.

Feel free to check it out if you’re interested, and I’d love to hear what simple joys bring you happiness. Thanks for taking a moment to watch, and I hope it adds a bit of peace to your day!

https://youtu.be/agSeP1FhUdU?si=qBp64cjfD5EEPzcD

My friend told me a story how she went to an interesting event. From what she told me it looked exiting and she was so excited. And a year ago that would inspire me to go for it, but now my first thoughts were:

oh, boy, that's overstimulating... too much work, and to just get there... what for all this amusement...

I noticed that I do appreciate and enjoy simple pleasures more than bright shining activities, but it also worries me that I am fairly young to not be into it and I do get depressed. So I don't know which one is it.

Hi all,

I am currently at a time in my life where there is a lot of uncertainty about the path that I will take from here onwards. I do not have good prospects as of now, and that make me worry about the future. This has been causing hindrance in my daily functioning. I can hardly focus at my current job because of this.

These days, by default it seems like my mind wavers to the issue about the uncertainty in the future. I do not want to have a mentality like this, but I can't seem to help it. At times, all I can think about is if the future doesn't pan out the way I have it envisioned, I might lose my sense of self, which as I type it sounds ridiculous but that is my current mentality.

How do you separate yourself from your work/job and be content with your life? At times, I tell myself that I have to make some sort of mark in society as a fellow member, which seems to hamper my mental health as I subconsciously put an expectation on myself which I'm afraid I won't be able to live upto.

All this time, I've been focused towards one path in life and when the time has come, I've come to the realization that perhaps I overestimated myself to be qualified for such a path. This has caused me an existential crisis of sorts, where I can't seem to find a purpose to live anymore. No, I'm not suicidal but often times I ask myself if not this path that I had previously envisioned, what else? The one thing I thought I was good at, apparently doesn't seem to be that way.

How can I gain some sense of satisfaction beyond this "goal" that I had envisioned?

Sorry for the rant. I just wanted to get all this out of my system.

I am having trouble regulating my screen time. It's my first year out of university and I was really excited to work on creative projects and get back into my yoga practice.

I just finished my first art installation about a month ago now and I've been so creatively stuck ever since. It's lead me to spend most of my free time scrolling on my phone and playing video games. I've been feeling depressed lately and I'm not sure if this is a result of my screen time, or vice versa.

Don't get me wrong, I love playing video games and I'm not looking to stop completely. I'm just looking for tips to help regulate my media consumption.

Have any of you been trapped in the dopamine loop that these screen cause? How did you get yourself out of the habit? Any suggestions are much appreciated.

Wow, I avoided this book for so long, but I have often heard it's life changing. I feel like I haven't even hit the juice of it all yet, but I've cried at least 30 times. It has changed my life in the most indirect and subtle way, I haven't conciously changed much. But I am up earlier, have been communicating more strongly and clearly, setting boundaries, appreciating small things, getting outside more, and have been getting back in touch with my inner health freak and green thumb. I have been practicing simple living for some months now, so I am also sure some of this is the fruitation of stepping deeper into that and working on myself. But wow, this book has made me have an even deeper appreciation for life in general.

If you work a typical work schedule (8+hrs), what do you do after work? For example, I work 7A to 4P but I notice I dwell on my phone, hit the gym, eat, sleep, repeat. My mental health is alright (could be better) and I’m a single female with no pets or family/friends around all the time. Then I realize if I keep living this way, my life is somewhat dull. I’m wondering what do you all do everyday to give yourself a purpose? Do you spend time alone frequently? Is it with family or friends? Gaming? Reading? How do you give your own life a meaning or a purpose to look forward to after work? I don’t really have a real motivation right now or an eagerness since I’m isolated due to remote work.

I go back and forth about selling all my belongings in the name of simple living. For example, I want to break free from the habit of coming home and plopping on my couch to watch tv, I want to do more meaningful things with my time and not be distracted by stupid things. The next thought I have is I won’t have this problem if I don’t have a couch or tv!

Owning these things is not inherently bad, but I recently deleted all socials and I really love the quiet, and I don’t know how else to achieve that without having the tools that make noise in my home. I don’t think I’m addicted, but I don’t know what to call it.

I hope this makes sense, and that this is the right sub for this. How can I achieve this simple living I desire without going balls to the wall and sell everything I own. And if I do, how can I guarantee that I will actually have peace on the other side of owning these 2 less things.

This is a throwaway acct not because I have anything to hide but people are so weird about post history as if multifaceted people are not allowed to exist on earth

Cabbage is finally ready.

So this morning I was making my way to the park for walking, somewhat tired and dejected after the debauchery of the previous day, but renewing my resolve to continue. After the walk I sat down on a bench and there was this tree right in front. I could truly feel a sense of well-being emanating from this tree. How little it depended upon other things for life. But most of all a sense of being grounded. I felt as as if it was offering me to share in the well-being and healing. I felt great full somewhat even reluctant but it seemed the tree didn’t mind. I sat there for some time and felt a sense of joy and being renewed. I really felt I should share this experience and hope others would also benefit and appreciate the wisdom of the trees.

I feel more at ease and “cozy” on gloomy days. l personally thrive during it. Autumn is just the best time of the year! The rain, coffee in the morning and baking something. What are you favorite things to do when the weather is gloomy? Or do you not like it?

I for some reason have a lot of subscriptions. Partly a family of four and each person has a subscription that they are into.

What’s the best method to just prioritize subscription and lower that down? I wanted to see if there’s a better method than just telling everyone I’m wiping it out

I know, funny title, but what I was thinking is that as I get older, I feel that I enjoy my time just sitting around, yapping with my friends rather than actually doing something.

For example, if I went to a carnival as a kid, I would want to do as many activities as possible. Now, I would rather find a nice view somewhere and yap. Yeah, I guess I am wasting my money going somewhere and not doing everything, but somehow that seems alright with me.

I watched this today and was so touched by the main character’s love and gratitude for his simple but very rich life in Tokyo. Highly recommend! I don’t want to give away too much, but if anyone else watches it I’d love to talk about his routine, the people he encounters each day, the tree, his plants, the lunchtime park, his job, the tic tac toe, his meals… so much to think about. The actor’s facial expressions of gratitude and wonder …

Whilst I couldn’t call myself a true hippie, I definitely have hippie tendencies especially in simple living mode. A love for living in nature, slowness, wisdom and spirituality, organic living, natural living, creativity, whole foods, expression, poetry, love etc.

I'm stuck and i need help. I have a good job and an employer who treats me well but I'm bored of my job. I have been doing it for 3 years now and need to try something new.

I also have a nice family and i have a lot of opportunities to try new things, but i dont. I also failed 3 exams and I don't have the motivation to keep going.

I suffer with depression and I feel like I am stuck.

How to I become more grateful with what i have? I want to enjoy the simple things in life and learn to be appreciative of what i do have. Can you help?

I just wanted to share, I was on Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, Tinder, Bumble, Facebook dating, you name it. As someone who struggles with generalized anxiety disorder, I noticed my mental health had been pretty bad the last few weeks.

I was so concerned with likes, responses, how I looked to the world, what people thought of me, etc. So, today I decided enough is enough and deactivated it all, except for Reddit and YouTube.

I must say….Man, I feel so much better! It may sound silly, but I feel like I’m more free than ever! It feels so good to just have my own space and not be overwhelmed by it all! Especially the notifications.

Now, I’m only calling and texting with a couple friends and family members, but it feels great because those are the real ones in my life!

Long time lurker, first time poster. Sorry if this has been asked before.

So, for about 1.5 years now, I've managed a very simple life. Clothes, for example:

• White shirts and khaki pants for work
• Black tees and blue denims for casual
• 3 shorts and white tees for gym/running

I could do this because I moved away for work, and left 90% of my belongings with my parents. Just came back for a visit and I got emotional at all the different clothes I'd used at different stages of my life which carry memories (my late Grandma's favourite shirts for me, what I wore for my grandfather's 60th birthday, my favourite shirts during college, etc etc).

This is just the clothes. Same for books. Same for hobby projects (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, a complete DIY drone, pasta making contraption, and much more).

While I have been more content and more productive without any of these, and lived an almost monk-like, no-fuss, happy life, I'm tempted to absorb all this back into my life.

Will this undo my "simple living"? Or can it just fit quietly back into my life?

Another thing: I made a clean break from a hugely messy relationship when I embarked on my "simple life". That situation isn't legally solved, but mentally I've undone all the negative effects and issues that resulted. None of the belongings I'm attached to has anything to do with either the soured relationship, or the trauma.

So, people who can see where I'm coming from, please advise, what should I do? Take all e stuff back without consequences, or leave it as it is, and continue an austere, productive life?

Hi everyone, I’m a college student and have been with my boyfriend for a while now. To give a bit of background that I feel like contributes to my way of thinking. I grew up in a very accomplished perfectionist family that basically pits all of us (kids) against each other and I honestly think a part of why I’m so hard on myself and I worry too much is about that. I met my boyfriend a while ago, him and his family is the complete opposite of mine. He is the biggest sweetheart and most supportive person I know to everyone in his life. He is a professional baseball player and currently on the minor leagues, it’s only his 2nd full year after being drafted and last year was really good for him but this year he’s having a bit more of a tough time, yet he still remains very positive throughout it all. I don’t know why I feel the way I do but we are friends with this other couple and this other guy, he’s great and nice too but he just got brought up to the majors. I don’t know why I feel a sense of “damn” when my boyfriend is just as happy as can be and this isn’t even about me or affects me. I hate feeling this way and I hate the fact that I feel like a horrible person that I’m not as happy for them as I should be. I feel like I’m comparing when it’s not even my journey and I would really like to stop doing this because it’s so damaging. My bf doesn’t know about any of this and I dont want him to because I just feel a little crazy and I will admit this should not be normal. Any advice or validation to stop feeling this way would be really appreciated. Thank you.

Hi guys

Just turned 17 today! Very excited, scared, and also a bit sad because I don’t have many people IRL who remember to wish me a happy birthday.

If I could get some advice for starting simple living at this age that would be great. I’ve recently been practicing a lot of gratitude for the little things and found myself being happier day to day. Any other advice for living simply and happily?

Hi everyone! I just wanted to share some positivity about my life, something I'm very grateful for.

I work at a small business pet store in my city, we dont sell any animals, but we have very good, sustainable and healthy pet foods, toys etc. I love that part of it! I love being a sales advisor and actually liking the products!

Anyway, my boss is so nice, she's very chill, we talk about our interests and the shop never has more than 5 people in at a time so we spend most of the day pricing, stocking shelves and saying hello to all the dogs that come in.

I only have to work a few days a week, and get and hour and a half break on my shift, free biscuits and snacks and every saturday we have an event where people bring in their puppies for socialization and I get to sit with them!

Literally paid to play with puppies!

I love my job, my coworkers are humble, down to earth people and the pressure is low. I can work on my own things when its quiet in store too (reading, watercolour, writing poetry).

Just to show that there are good and joyful jobs out there!

Do you guys have/had a job you really enjoyed in the past?

I am currently coming out of a period of survival mode and can slowly feel my nervous system calm down. Suddenly I can sleep again and I have more energy. With that comes the longing for creativity and chasing my dreams. But if I ask myself what they are I go blank. If I contemplate on it I always feel overwhelmed by the endless possibilities and a sense of fear that I will fall behind in life. Plus: I tend to make the goals of others my goals. As a result I don’t allow myself to dream big. I tell myself that a peaceful life is all I want but deep inside I feel something wonderful that just wants to be created. I’ve had that feeling for a long time and it sucks that I can’t bring it to life. Any of you have big dreams or can relate?

Don't you sometimes wish that people around you, including loved ones, can be kept a distance away from you and for as long as possible?

I bet most on this forum want freedom from drudgery of work, bullshit work, meaningless work.

I think Daniel Suskind’s book with the same title as this post is fabulous. It touches on technical developments and displacements in workforce and tries to extrapolate effects of AI on future of work.

A key - and love this point - deficiency in our current education system is that we teach children “how to work” but we don’t teach them “how to enjoy true leisure”

Abject poverty - seems to be a thing of past at least for those who can upskill and work sometime and save / invest for future leisurely time with simple living.

There are more lessons in that book than I can capture in a post here. I hope you all can access it and enjoy it. I would love to know your feedback after you read it.

Thanks a lot.

I have felt utterly powerless in my life these last few years and it’s been all my fault due to my compulsive consumerism, addiction, and laziness.

These last few weeks, I’ve tried to take back a modicum of control in my life and I’m starting with small steps. While they are small, the strides feel massive.

-I have lowered my internet bill, phone bill, and car insurance bills. (Health insurance to follow this November!)

-I am 20 days sober from booze. Yes, I was a heavy drinker.

-Today I went through a huge portion of my clothes and donated 60% of my wardrobe. (Stuff that I haven’t worn in years or didn’t fit me anymore.) I’m going to assess the damage and find quality, second hand items to wear.

• I didn’t buy a damn thing for Prime day

-Gaming less and reading more. (Currently reading Walden.)

• I ditched the office on Friday to surprise and spend time with my family.

Im no where near simplicity, but I’m getting the weight of what feels like the world on my shoulders a few ounces at a time.

Just wanted to share.

I don’t really want for much in life. I’m not asking to be rich or to have all the people LOVE me, although that would be nice, lol. All I’m asking is for comfort in my daily life.

Having ocd ruined me. I can’t relax ever. Everyday is a battle. Im constantly going back and forward so I can’t just make a decision. My behavior is prohibiting me from achieve my goal for peace. And for what? What did I do. Why can’t my life be simple.

This may be my ocd talking but I think that the universe doesn’t want me to have an easy life. This could be magical thinking but honestly it’s starting to seem real. Any time anything good happens to me, my ocd makes it harder for me to enjoy it or discard it completely. I can’t touch anything without washing my hands 24/7, can’t buy things unless I wipe them down or double check for dirty particles and etc… but you get the idea.

The instructive thought makes it worse. It’s what makes me slip into compulsion and then a whole episode emerges.

I hate my life & me .