When we were young life was easier, right? I know sometimes it seems that way. But the truth is life still is easy. 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 fundamental ways to do just that. And don’t try to tackle them all at once. Simply pick one or two that resonate with you right now, and focus on them:
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. Take a daily walk. Eat some veggies.
- 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 20 minutes earlier so you don’t have to rush around like a mad person. That 20 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 from any needless drama.
- Don’t waste your time on jealously. The only person you’re competing against in the long-run is yourself. Focus on making progress and celebrating it.
- 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 long walk instead.)
- 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. Get them off your plate.
- 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’ve got in short bursts.
- 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 grandmother. Then set boundaries accordingly.
- Apologize when you should.
- Write things down.
- Be curious. Don’t be scared to learn something new.
- Explore new ideas and opportunities that have the potential to make your life easier in the long run.
- Don’t be shy. Network with people. Meet new people. Learn from them.
- Don’t worry too much about what other people think of you.
- Spend time with nice people who are smart, driven, and open-minded.
- Don’t text and drive. Don’t drink and drive.
- Drink more water and tea when you’re thirsty, and less of everything else.
- Don’t eat when you’re bored.
- Exercise every day. Simply take a long walk or commit 30 minutes to an at-home exercise program.
- 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.
- Listen to your heart and intuition. Don’t just let others decide for you.
- 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.
- Always do your best. And realize that your best may change from day to day.
- Build something or do something that makes you proud.
- Mature, but don’t grow up too fast.
- Realize that you’re never quite as right as you think you are.
- Make mistakes, learn from them, laugh about them, and move along.
Oh, and enjoy life’s simple pleasures — a long morning stretch, a quiet afternoon, a pink-sky sunset. They’re free and better than almost anything money can buy. 🙂
Now it’s your turn…
Anything you’d like to share with us?
Which point above resonated the most?
Angel and I would love to hear from YOU in the comments section below.
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Andre says
Isn’t it amazing that as we grow older, and supposedly wiser, how much we complicate our thought lives.
Much of what you’ve stated above is about what we perceive people and things to be.
When we were young our little voice was untainted by the mistrust and deceit in the world. Our thoughts were simple and our lives were ones of seeking fun, laughter and enjoyment. We still seek these things but our thoughts are filled with suspicion about life and people.
Roll on the simple life and our youthful thoughts as well.
Maya says
Good one. My two cents for making like simple again: Pay attention to the life in and around you, don’t just hurry through to the next thing. (It’s way harder than it sounds).
Kris @Krazy_Kris says
Such a great post – I just happened upon you through the FB yesterday too… Funny how that happens! I love #44 – I just spent several hours with old and new friends, grown up professional smart women and was reminded what how important that is. Life gets sooooo busy, and for me, I forget to take time in sharing with people, building something, and celebrating the small victories. Thanks so much for the reminder.
Ken Montville says
Great guidelines for life. And they seem like common sense things but it’s surprising how many are ignored by the masses.
farouk says
Skimmed through them. I like them all but especially number 57, makes a lot of sense to me right now:)
Craig says
I especially appreciate: “Exercise every day. Simply take a long, relaxing walk.” My dad had a heart attack last December. I hadn’t been taking care of myself, and his heart attack was really a wake up call. I’ve since lost 65 lbs, and started exercising. It’s amazing the difference it can make in your life on so many different levels. Thanks for this post.
Emmalee says
Many of the numbered points remind me of the strategies in the book I am reading for the second time “Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff… and it’s all small stuff.” by Richard Carlson, Ph. D. I enjoyed reading this article, thank you for writing and posting!
Monique DiCarlo says
Wow! Thank you so much for this great post. First I thought this is pretty complete and simple, then I realized I could add 2 cents! Go tent camping a few times a year and be in nature as often as possible 🙂
Namaste, Monique DiCarlo
Jennifer says
Thanks for a great reminder. My biggest step so far 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!
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
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.
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!
Chloe says
A great post!
Every day I have been thinking a little more like this, I would like to add one more simple suggestion which makes life much easier which I learned recently.
Do not try to make people’s decisions for them. It’s tough to watch someone make choices you believe are the wrong ones, but they have to grow and learn too. Otherwise the outcomes in their life may overly complicate yours too.
Thanks! 🙂
Richard says
Just turned 70 and I’d say this is great list, to which I might add: 1) forgive; 2) set goals that evoke passion, and don’t give up on them; 3) don’t procrastinate; 4) learn to accept your own mistakes as okay and inevitable — you are only human; 5) love animals, or learn to if you don’t already, by starting with a golden retriever.
David Cleroux says
There’s a lot of good counsel and wisdom in your presentation, and thank you for that. I guess for the most part, it all boils down to what King Solomon had to say in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 “There’s a time for everything”: and I think you covered just about the whole subject. Now it’s simply a matter of putting each in it’s proper perspective. That’s where wisdom comes in. To me what matters most in that regard, is being loving in decision making.
Personally I feel that I can do better with communicating, as I’m more apt to respond to a communication than to initiate one which takes a little more reflection on my part. Thank you again for all the positive input. Hugs.
Ramji Yadav says
#50&51 says find hard work… … And doing hard work makes one luckier. So, love your neighbour and love your enemy as well. Eschew desire and hatred as well to live peacefully and happily. Thanks M&A for wonderful collection to reflect on to be simple like a child once again.
ASHWINI BM says
Lovely post
Makes lot of sense….
Thank you 🙂
Robin says
Loved loved loved all your articles I’ve read so far. You are both very thoughtful and wise.