When we were young life was easier, right? I know sometimes it seems that way. But the truth is life still is easy. It always will be. The only difference is we’re older, and the older we get, the more we complicate things for ourselves.
You see, when we were young we saw the world through simple, hopeful eyes. We knew what we wanted and we had no biases or concealed agendas. We liked people who smiled. We avoided people who frowned. We ate when we were hungry, drank when we were thirsty, and slept when we were tired.
As we grew older our minds became gradually disillusioned by negative external influences. At some point we began to hesitate and question our instincts. When a new obstacle or growing pain arose, we stumbled and fell down. This happened several times. Eventually we decided we didn’t want to fall again, but rather than solving the problem that caused us to fall, we avoided it all together.
As a result, we ate comfort food and drank alcohol to numb our wounds and fill our voids. We worked late nights on purpose to avoid unresolved conflicts at home. We started holding grudges, playing mind games, and subtly deceiving others and ourselves to get ahead. And when it didn’t work out, we lived above our means, bought things we didn’t need, and ate and drank some more just to make ourselves feel better again.
Over the course of time, we made our lives more and more difficult, and we started losing touch with who we really are and what we really need.
So let’s get back to the basics, shall we? Let’s make things simple again. Here are 60 ways to do just that (And don’t try them all right now. Just pick one or two that resonate with you, and begin):
Life is not complex. We are complex. Life is simple,
and the simple thing is the right thing.
– Oscar Wilde
- Don’t try to read other people’s minds. Don’t make other people try to read yours. Communicate.
- Be polite, but don’t try to be friends with everyone around you. Instead, spend time nurturing your relationships with the people who matter most to you.
- Your health is your life, keep up with it. Get an annual physical check-up.
- Live below your means. Don’t buy stuff you don’t need. Always sleep on big purchases. Create a budget and savings plan and stick to both of them.
- Get enough sleep every night. An exhausted mind is rarely productive.
- Get up 30 minutes earlier so you don’t have to rush around like a mad man. That 30 minutes will help you avoid speeding tickets, tardiness, and other unnecessary headaches.
- Get off your high horse, talk it out, shake hands or hug, and move on.
- Don’t waste your time on jealously. The only person you’re competing against is yourself.
- Surround yourself with people who fill your gaps. Let them do the stuff they’re better at so you can do the stuff you’re better at.
- Organize your living space and working space. Read David Allen’s book Getting Things Done for some practical organizational guidance.
- Get rid of stuff you don’t use.
- Ask someone if you aren’t sure.
- Spend a little time now learning a time-saving trick or shortcut that you can use over and over again in the future.
- Don’t try to please everyone. Just do what you know is right.
- Don’t drink alcohol or consume recreational drugs when you’re mad or sad. Take a jog instead.
- Be sure to pay your bills on time.
- Fill up your gas tank on the way home, not in the morning when you’re in a hurry.
- Use technology to automate tasks.
- Handle important two-minute tasks immediately.
- Relocate closer to your place of employment.
- Don’t steal.
- Always be honest with yourself and others.
- Say “I love you” to your loved ones as often as possible.
- Single-task. Do one thing at a time and give it all you got.
- Finish one project before you start another.
- Be yourself.
- When traveling, pack light. Don’t bring it unless you absolutely must.
- Clean up after yourself. Don’t put it off until later.
- Learn to cook, and cook.
- Make a weekly (healthy) menu, and shop for only the items you need.
- Consider buying and cooking food in bulk. If you make a large portion of something on Sunday, you can eat leftovers several times during the week without spending more time cooking.
- Stay out of other people’s drama. And don’t needlessly create your own.
- Buy things with cash.
- Maintain your car, home, and other personal belongings you rely on.
- Smile often, even to complete strangers.
- If you hate doing it, stop hating it.
- Treat everyone with the same level of respect you would give to your grandfather and the same level of patience you would have with your baby brother.
- Apologize when you should.
- Write things down.
- Be curious. Don’t be scared to learn something new.
- Explore new ideas and opportunities often.
- Don’t be shy. Network with people. Meet new people.
- Don’t worry too much about what other people think about you.
- Spend time with nice people who are smart, driven, and likeminded.
- Don’t text and drive. Don’t drink and drive.
- Drink water when you’re thirsty.
- Don’t eat when you’re bored. Eat when you’re hungry.
- Exercise every day. Simply take a long, relaxing walk or commit 30 minutes to an at-home exercise program like the P90X workout.
- Let go of things you can’t change. Concentrate on things you can.
- Find hard work you actually enjoy doing.
- Realize that the harder you work, the luckier you will become.
- Follow your heart. Don’t waste your life fulfilling someone else’s dreams and desires.
- Set priorities for yourself and act accordingly.
- Take it slow and add up all your small victories.
- However good or bad a situation is now, it will change. Accept this simple fact.
- Excel at what you do. Otherwise you’ll just frustrate yourself.
- Mature, but don’t grow up too fast.
- Realize that you’re never quite as right as you think you are.
- Build something or do something that makes you proud.
- Make mistakes, learn from them, laugh about them, and move along.
Oh, and enjoy life’s simple pleasures. They’re free and better than anything money can buy. 😉
Photo by: Luis Fabres
Athul @ Juniorhero says
I liked these tips so much. Thanks a lot and I will follow all of it 🙂 I want to grow up in a planned manner
Kelly says
Hi, I really enjoyed your article, it really makes you think about what is important in life. Take care:)
Kelly
Jhone says
Thanks!
Very nice posting.
Keep it up!
Jhone
Robert says
Thanks, just what I needed! It is so easy to loose sight of the obvious things in life…
Handy Softwares says
Excellent little gems.
Good for everyone!
Lila says
I’ve always found that if I don’t hold on to the things that have hurt me, and I just push them aside, it makes my life a lot easier. Only trouble is that no one else can seem to do that…So i always end up forgiving everyone and never getting forgiven for anything I’ve done…
Jethro says
This was great but it is ironic to me and seems complicated to think about 60 ways to make life simpler ha. Good suggestions though!
Zoe! says
That’s what I need! A couple of months ago I fell in love with a boy, but I cannot stay with him. I start to worry and feel that I’m losing myself. But now I know I’m worried too much and I got my own life to go, I got my goal to achieve. Yes, life is simple, and my life is not all about him, it’s about myself. Just let it go and everything is still continue. I’ll live the way I like, make my world simple and still be true to myself!
roj says
Really like Marc and Angel Hack Life’s ways of life.
Adding two more would not be easy
but would make it perfect.
Avoid killing no matter how small it is and
avoid telling lies no matter what.
Jeffrey says
35. Smile often, even to complete strangers.
Cannot agree more. If you can make a habit of doing this, everything in your life will be easier. And you will feel better.
Even when I am completely aware of this, I still have trouble doing it all the time.
Good list!
Carl Marshall says
Interesting read, thank you for sharing.
Carl Marshall
scott penton says
Awesome, thanks for sharing this list on simplicity. Also, when/if driving, don’t rush/speed to get to a red light. Let the people behind you pass, you’ll catch up to them at the light and it’s much safer for everyone that way.
Jay says
Possible outline to a book? 60 rules of happiness
Ingvild says
Thank you so much!
Jai says
Great read. My friend posted the link to this and I’m glad I checked it out. I felt very refreshed and inspired after this. Will save this. Thanks a lot. Hope you continue putting up great posts for years to come. Take care! Sending lots of good thoughts your way. =)
Jennifer says
Thanks for a great reminder. My biggest step this year is realizing that goes along with #59 is to make stuff. Anything, cooking, crafting, art, a healthier me, writing, just as long as I’m making things I find life to fall more into line with all the items you posted. Great post!
Eric says
great reminder
ASHOK says
This is really something that everyone must read… very koool stuff.. 😀
Jason says
Was a great reminder for me on a number of levels. 🙂
This is a similar post I wrote a while ago called “15 Words of Wisdom I Know Well But Always Seem to Forget”:
http://www.jasoncarr.com/uncategorized/15-words-of-wisdom-i-know-well-but-always-seem-to-forget
JUNIOR says
Amazing, just simply amazing. I like how you wrote everything simple, just like it’s been said if you can’t describe something simple, then you don’t know it (don’t think thats the exact way but, you get the jist) As a 16 year old boy, and going through problems and pain like everyone else, life was knocking at my door yelling and screaming at me to grow up and mature, had no choice but I am realizing now that life is simple, the only thing that changes over time is our hair color, body weight, and wrinkles on our skin. I try and tell people life is simple and that letting go is easier then a lot of them think, but sadly they have had the thought life is all pain and rain and there is nothing we can do about it. Keep doing what you do man, thumbs up.
Los Angeles Life Coach says
Excellent list! Everything that’s being said in the list a great way to live life as simple as it is. It gives you focus and motivation to achieve your goals. Great post! I appreciate it a lot.
Thanks!
Matt says
just happened to stumble upon this. Truly inspired and very needed words. THANK YOU
carameliseo says
Wow! This is simply great!
Amy says
I love this definitely going to share sometimes i would like to say the same thing to people but i can never find the right words..fortunately you have 🙂 ur really helpful and i wish the whole world could read this
Ron K. says
Thanks to my brother for forwarding your post to me. And THANK YOU for writing it. Very thought provoking! I will definately will forward to my loved ones.
For those wanting a smaller list here’s mine:
Fear Nothing . . .
Respect Everything . . .
You Can Do Anything!
B. Lynn Goodwin says
I was going to list the ones I like, but the list got too long. I appreciate how easy it can be to make life simple.
Lynn
http://www.writeradvice.com
Author of You Want Me to Do WHAT? Journaling for Caregivers
Cassie says
I love this list so much that I’m going to challenge myself: sixty days of simple. A new one every day. Thank you so much for this.
Mary Yamada says
All very good tips, but none of them make much of a dent on me unless I meditate first. Daily.
Jill says
Thank you. I really needed to see this. Funny how that happens!
Kerem Bekman says
Life is not complex. We are complex. Life is simple,
and the simple thing is the right thing.
– Oscar Wilde
I like this 🙂
and great list..
Phil McDermott says
Great list, really enjoyed reading through them all, especially liked “Single-task. Do one thing at a time and give it all you got”. This is very timely for me at the moment. Thanks for sharing. Phil
michele says
Guys, we should all rewrite our lives according to these suggestions… thanks.
Rachel says
What a beautiful list and a helpful reminder! I found myself resonating with more than a few. Some of these resonated more than others, but I suspect that will change from day to day.
Thank you for sharing!
Shanti!
Rachel
Curtis Simpson says
I like “take it slow and add up all your small victories”. Says to not try and do it all at once. Peace.
alfinkahar says
your article truly relieves me.yes i think life could be as simple as that, but for everything we heard, saw and felt in our life time they really successfully contaminated our brain. and that wrong mind should be treated well. i feel my life’s getting complicated lately bcause of relationship matter, but i think i’ll try to do some of your tips. 🙂
Amanda says
I love the idea of living simply. Every time I try to complicate things, I remind myself it’ll take twice the time to undo the damage than just avoid it altogether. Keeps me sane! Thanks for reminding me of so many ways to keep what’s important in sight.
Maame Pepraah says
I like to smile often even to complete strangers and all your steps has truly inspire me. Thank you.
santosmarichris says
Very inspiring! I love it!
TroyP says
Great list. It was hard to pick my favorite items, but these resonated with me:
35 – Smile often, even to complete strangers.
36 – If you hate doing it, stop it.
48 – Exercise every day.
49 – Let go of things you can’t change. Concentrate on things you can.
50 – Find hard work you actually enjoy doing.
51 – Realize that the harder you work, the luckier you will become.
52 – Follow your heart. Don’t waste your life fulfilling someone else’s dreams and desires.
Daniel says
I usually shy away from lists this long, but this one is actually pretty good! Thanks!
Oswald says
Excellent post! I like the addition to learn to cook – and cook! I get lazy sometimes…
Jia Jun says
Awesome post!! Thanks for the hard work.
Indeed, life isn’t that complex, but we human make it complex and complicated.
Live life a little bit simple, and we’ll able to enjoy life better. 😀
ZIA KHAN says
AWESOME Awesome post… thanks for sharing it… it actually helped me solve a pretty big problem in my life.
Carsten says
I love this blog and especially this post. You cant meet anyone’s expectations:
Once I showed the ocean to my friend who’d never seen the ocean before. We drove up the hill and stopped at the cliff. And he said: This is it? I was expecting it to be bigger. Even the great ocean could meet my mate’s expectation.
So why should you?
Keep on inspiring me with your blog. cheers, carsten
Craig says
I’m a little surprised about buy foods in bulk. That eliminates the fresh food. If you can and live close to a market, embrace daily shopping (or every second day). It’s a nice break (when there is time) to do some productive shopping and it gives you a real connections to the changing prices, seasons and opens your eyes a lot more to what is out there to eat. Love the post…
?? Jo ?? says
so inspiring….nice job guys! keep it up and continue inspiring yer readers!
Job says
Really inspiring.
Kari says
Truly thought provoking. Loved #54 ‘Take it slow and add up all your small victories’ – Too often I find myself waiting for the next big victory and forgetting about all the small ones during my days!
nicole says
Great list!
I found quite a few things on your list that I can relate to. I will use this advice to simplify my life.
Thanks.
Victor Chen says
Wow, that was a surprisingly inspiring list. Thank you.