This is something I often think about, especially when I see any of the new rapidly advancing technology coming into the world - Do you think in the future there will be communities of people that draw the line at certain technology (like cell phones) and choose not to advance beyond that technologically? I guess you could call it sort of like a modern amish society.

It's probably been close to a week now but somebody posted a website where people were sending postcards to each other on the internet I really like postcard collecting and I'm really trying to get into finding unique postcards from other places If anyone knows what the website was that would be really cool

Hi just to ask how long it really took for people to chose a simple life and deal with burnout?

I'm helping my spouse deal with work burnout and I'm dealing with parental burnout, socially our close friends and family who were our support system they're dealing with health issues so mental worry burnout there too.

I have adjusted so much in our lives.

-downsized nearly all our possessions, we still have a garage full of things I'm donating. A recent house paint job really helped me with this forcing us to really manage what goes back into our house (if anyone needs that kick to motivate themselves- just paint your house!)

• weekends, socialising with others is kept at a bare minimum. For kids birthdays I tactically come 15 min late and leave 15 min early, it's a hack I do to cut 30 min off a 3 hour birthday and please don't call me rude but what is it with kids birthdays now.

• I prioritise rest as much as I can, sleep early, wake early and do my exercise and healthy eating, magnesium bath soaks, face masks daily. My self care is there, my spouse's self care takes a lot longer mentally.

Choosing a simpler life helps immensely. But I hate to ask to those who have found a happy medium managing life's pressures. How long did it take to manage burnout? A happy world would mean we are retired but the reality is, we are not. We both work in careers that serve our communities which gives us a lot of satisfaction and the price is stress. We won't be changing careers for another 30 years unless if we win the lottery lol that is a reality.

How many of you are pursuing simple living alongside a spouse, partner and/or children? Do they subscribe to the lifestyle as well? If they do not, how do you manage to live in a spirit of peace and unity?

Sry just venting

• we have managed to convince our families to only buy gifts for kids under 18 which will save us nearly $1,000. Our budget for gifts is around $150 now! Yay!

• my partner and I don’t have much, if anything, we need and have learned from Christmas past not to buy one another things just to have gifts under the tree

• we are thrilled to decorate and enjoy the festivities but know better than to go buying a whole new buggy full of decor that is stored 11/12 of the year.

• we don’t often host, so we make a point to always take a dish and help clean up afterwards

• we only attend what we can manage & prioritize keeping our peace

• we are excited for the holidays, but are more excited for the slowness of what surrounds the holidays ~ winter hibernation and cozy living as homebodies

Happy Holidays everyone! Prioritize your peace this upcoming season 🦃🎄

I've been dealing with chronic pain for some years now and probably burnout from it as well. Today I was hanging the laundry and touched a new fleece I just bought and never worn. It's really soft and fuzzy. I felt this amazing warm feeling just thinking about wearing it. These are few and far apart, but man did it feel comforting. I hope you all get to experience it.

Something happened yesterday/ today, that made me think.

I have had a stressful couple of weeks with moving and all it entails (while working). There are still many areas in my new apartment that are not done and where stuff is just in disorganized piles. A few months ago, I booked a workshop for today that I was really excited about. Became a little less excited when the invitation mail came, because the itinerary suddenly looked different from the general description that had prompted me to book the workshop.

Either way, I had underestimated the stress of moving and the energy it took, and during last week had found myself wishing the workshop would be cancelled (so I could also get my money back). Fast forward to last night, I came down with a cold and cancelled the workshop (while of course feeling bad about the wasted money and wondering whether I could’ve gone and general fomo). Idk how to explain it, but I feel I should’ve wanted to go more and should’ve gone because it is a good thing to go to a workshop (the subject matter is one I am actually interested in and it would’ve forced me to be outside in the woods). But being sick, while still feeling like an excuse, means I get to stay home and do some of the stuff I want to do here. I guess this is also about feeling bad for being such a homebody.

Here’s what I am currently thinking about: I strive to live simply. But the above situation is a prime example of my fear of myself using something that‘s not really simple living as a means to numb myself.

Truth is, I am often overwhelmed by my job, my stuff, my engagements and have a hard time getting away from my phone or TV for easy relaxation. I know this is not what true simple living is about. But I often don’t have the energy to engage in activities that would nourish me.

What I am asking myself and you is: How do you know when you are truly living simply, in a nourishing way versus numbing?

Eg coming home from work, making sth to eat and watch TV (read a book etc) can be part of living simply for me.

In other cases, it can be a sign that I am overloading myself, when all I can do after work is eat something and consume easy entertainment.

Does anyone know what I am talking about?

When is it numbing behavior and when is it engaging in a simple life?

And: how to I get to the second part there? a

Hey everyone,

I’m reaching out to see how you all organize your days, track tasks, or keep things simple in life. For a while, I was pretty diligent with tracking using three Google Sheets, Google Calendar, and sometimes even a journal to manage my daily and weekly activities. But recently, I’ve been struggling with severe depression, and keeping up with any kind of system has felt overwhelming. Without the motivation to track anything, I’ve felt even more lost and disconnected.

Seeing posts in this subreddit has actually helped spark a bit of motivation to get back on track and simplify things. I’m curious about how some of you approach this. Do any of you keep journals or track progress in specific ways? If so, what details do you record, and what drives you to keep it up?

I’d love to hear about any simple or low-pressure systems that work for you, especially if they’re easy to maintain even on low-energy days. And if you’ve been through a similar experience of losing motivation but finding your way back, what helped you turn things around?

Thanks for any insights or advice hoping to find some ideas to get back to a place of feeling a bit more grounded.

I'm curious as to whether most people who subscribe to simple living are introverts, who appreciate solitude, quiet and the abandonment of a hustle-bustle lifestyle. Not that extroversion is incompatible with simple living, but I am curious and wonder if most of us are introverts. Any thoughts?

I am grateful for being alive today, for being in decent health, for the ability to have time to just sit and breathe.

I am grateful I can practice/study Buddhism and meditate.

I am grateful I can cook for others who live with me and that they enjoy my food.

I am grateful for my loving partner and pets.

I am grateful that I am living in a house with air conditioning, running water, and electricity. I have lived without running water or A/C before in 110 degree Texas heat. Once you experience living without, it is much easier to be grateful for what you have.

I am grateful that my mental health is improving after 10 years of darkness!!! I never gave up, and things are finally looking up.

I am grateful for living a simple life!

Long story short, I have way too much stuff and it’s overwhelming. I feel disappointed for having spent so much money on things I don’t need. Looking back, I could have saved or invested that money instead. Now, I’m in a lot of debt, struggling with my mental health, overweight, and watching life pass me by. There are so many changes I want to make, starting with:

1. Debt: I have a total of $15,075.02 in non-student loan debt. Half of it is from medical expenses, and the other half is from unnecessary purchases and food delivery (Uber Eats and DoorDash). I work a demanding job, and while I was also completing my Master’s, I developed bad time management and stress coping strategies, which led to a lot of overspending. Now that I’ve finished my degree, I want to focus on taking care of myself. I want to aggressively tackle this, so I'm living at home for a bit and got a side hustle that will bring me an extra ˜$800/mo. I also plan on cooking more and find affordable/ free hobbies. My goal is to pay this off in 6 months, before my student loans roll back.
2. Decluttering: I estimate that I could make around $1,000 by selling items I don’t need. The money will go towards my debt. I’d love some advice on the best places to sell specific items, like:

• Books
• Clothing, jewelry, shoes, and accessories
• Musical instruments (I never got around to learning to play)
• Decor
• Electronics

Also any any advice or tips on this journey would be greatly appreciated!

Its more nice and fun when you dont feel you need to hurry up. Ofc that still sometimes happen

So, in the last few years I have been living a simpler life, buying less stuff, quitting my job and going back to school to do a job I like, enjoying a free evening instead of going out, etc.

I like this simple lifestyle, but I also feel like I really need it and can't handle a busy lifestyle anymore. It gives me time to recharge so I can enjoy work and (social) activities more.

Sometimes it still feels like I'm not doing enough or falling short. Maybe it comes from a fear of missing out, because I'm also quite ambitious and a perfectionist. But to be honest, I don't even like the things I 'miss', so that also makes it a bit silly.

Am I the only one who sometimes has a hard time accepting a simple life? Or is it just a natural instinct to still want more?

Edit: You guys are the best! Thanks for all the answers, it was so helpful to read that i'm not the only one in this and I wil use your tips! I know for sure I'm in the right place, but I still have to work on the accepting thingy.

I (26F) have been enjoying simple living for about 2 years now. Taking joy in walking in a park, than a treadmill, enjoying a slow morning, and just not chasing material items. But I'm questioning the why.

I think it's for the environment, I would like to enjoy my sweet time with nature while I have it.

What are your reasons?

My nephew came to visit me so I took the day off from job searching. My little man is 5 and he is the sweetest. He came to hang out with me because we have been missing each other. We went to the park when the sun is setting. The sky was so colourful that he told me there is a giant rainbow attached to the edges of the clouds. We walked, ran, laughed, and had a really good time.

While I had a job, I was stressed. Now I’m in between jobs, I’m stressed, too. This evening, he really showed me what’s being in the present moment. And it’s so nice to be with people who missed you and whom you missed.

I hugged him tight and kissed him many times before we said goodbye.

For me it feels so satisfactory yet so quiet and simple, getting to enjoy time by myself, yet never feeling like I'm half of a person or living half of a life. Many times I've seen at my friends in a relationship and can't help to wonder why getting in so much trouble for sometimes so little reward.

Hello, hope you are doing well! I do apologise I'm not used to posting in subreddits.

I was wondering if you guys have any recipes you'd could share? I know this isnt a baking subreddit but I just KNOW you guys are the type to have the best, comforting recipes.

Hope this is okay!

If you're looking for simple, productive things to do or maybe a little inspiration I highly recommend this NHK series.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEA3jMp5cbc&list=PLFEzXnIQVwV9aBmTgSvkMX8d8RN1OQgPx

I have a 2023 Salem Cruise Lite. There are coaxial connections on the outside. I see the same are inside. Are they connected so that I don’t have to run cables into the unit? Many thanks

I’ve always felt a pull away from societal norms, questioning whether the pursuit of material success—bigger homes, the latest gadgets, or societal approval—actually brings happiness. For a long time, I believed these things would lead to fulfilment, but they often left me feeling more disconnected and stressed. It wasn’t until I began exploring neuroscience and mindfulness that I started to understand why.

Research shows that materialism often leads to lower life satisfaction and increased anxiety. Neuroscience explains this through the brain’s reward system: when we anticipate getting something new, our brains release dopamine, giving us a temporary high. However, as soon as the novelty fades, so does the satisfaction, leaving us wanting more. This endless cycle takes a toll, creating chronic stress and pulling us away from living fully in the present.

Looking back, I see how societal pressures to accumulate more led to unhealthy comparisons and a fragile sense of self-worth tied to possessions. True fulfilment, I’ve realised, doesn’t come from owning more but from living intentionally and authentically.

Practising mindfulness has helped me shift away from this mindset. Simple habits like mindful breathing, journaling, and focusing on gratitude have allowed me to slow down and appreciate what truly matters. These practices remind me that contentment comes from experiences, meaningful connections, and personal growth rather than chasing the next thing.

Now, I strive to live with intention, focusing on what enriches my life rather than what drains it. Choosing simplicity over excess has brought a sense of peace and clarity that material pursuits never could.

What are some simple things or activities of living that are free or inexpensive or may be slightly expensive( but give happiness for years)but give you joy for years to come? For me, one of them is sitting in nature and contemplating.

I currently work in tech but have been slowly converting my tech life to more of an analog life. I ditched my smartwatch for a mechanical watch, started buying books instead of using a kindle, bought dvd/bluray instead of subscribing to streaming, and I drive a 90s vehicle.

Does anyone else do this and how have you successfully converted your tech?

As I think I shared here before, this past year has been a year for me to really slow down, reevaluate some things, and implement some changes I had wanted to see for a while. I’ve really worked to become single task focused instead of always multitasking. I’ve looked for ways to cut back on things that drive my feeling of urgency. I have seasons where this is easier and seasons where I feel prior habits creeping back in. Right now I’m really struggling with being able to be present and mindful. I might be reading, or having a conversation with somebody, or working on a focused task, and I cannot stop my brain from being elsewhere. I’ve worked through a lot of WHY this is happing in therapy so I’m very aware of where this is coming from but I’m having a hard time making changes. I do have ADHD so rapid fire thoughts are a legitimate issue I’ve dealt with for my whole life. I’ve tried a lot of different tips and tricks that help me navigate that (lists, timers, etc). Does anybody have practical tips for improving mindfulness, especially with a simple/slow living focus?

After a long day on campus, I was greeted with their simple loveliness.

Simple living is about giving up on a lot of things... a skill that we aren’t taught about ever. We’re told to “never give up,” that persistence is everything, that anything worth having is worth fighting for. For most of my life, I believed it. I held on—to people, jobs, dreams—all because I thought walking away meant I wasn’t strong enough.

But does everything really deserve that level of commitment?

Take relationships, for instance. I once held onto one that felt perfect in the beginning. Slowly, though, the cracks appeared. Small at first, easy to ignore, and then more and more obvious. Still, I stayed, telling myself, “Love takes work.” But looking back, I wonder if I was holding on out of love or out of fear of letting go.

Then there was my job. It looked great on paper, something I thought I was lucky to have. I stayed through late nights, stress, and burnout, because leaving felt like failure. But the longer I stayed, the more drained I felt, until work itself lost meaning. In hindsight, was that really persistence, or just plain stubbornness?

And places, too. I once moved to a city I thought would be my “forever place.” For a while, it felt right. But as time went on, that initial excitement faded, and I found myself clinging to the idea of what it could be rather than what it actually was. I was so attached to my vision of it that I couldn’t let go, even when it no longer felt like home.

We often stay in these situations because we’re afraid of what leaving might mean. What if we regret it? What if “giving up” makes us weak?

But maybe there’s strength in knowing when to let go. Maybe letting go isn’t failure at all but a way to make space for something that aligns with who we’re becoming, not who we used to be. “Never give up” sounds empowering, but at some point, it starts to feel more like a cage than freedom.

I’m learning that simplicity sometimes means walking away from things that no longer serve us, even if it goes against everything we were taught. Has anyone else here found peace or clarity in letting go, even when it felt counterintuitive?