Twelve Ideas for a Simpler Life

IDEA 1: When you feel enticed to give in to a temptation -- no matter how seemingly small -- express confidence that your life is changing for the better. Smile and say, "Well, that's one burden I won't have to put up with much longer!"

IDEA 2: We all have basic physical needs -- food, clothing, shelter, etc. Advertising attempts to create artificial wants in us and call them needs. Resist the temptation to call "wants" "needs." When shopping, find creative ways to say, "I like that," rather than "I want that."

IDEA 3: Resist impulse buying -- the temptation to satisfy "spur-of-the-moment" wants. When an impulse strikes, wait at least two days. If you still want the item, go back. Examine it again. Still want it? Do you need it? If you buy it after this discipline, it will be a reasoned purchase, not an impulse.

IDEA 4: Leisure is important. Excessive leisure is like too much food. We can put on unneeded weight. Try substituting service -- like volunteering to help the needy -- for some leisure. Both service and leisure help us. Service also helps others.

IDEA 5: Consolidate errands. Unless it's a true emergency, it can probably wait until tomorrow. Don't take your car unless you have three needs (not wants). Can you find a way to share or swap errands with co-workers, family members, friends and neighbours so one person makes one trip instead of three people each making a trip?

IDEA 6: Identify luxuries in your life -- things that we take for granted that we call essentials. Identify six activities this week that we can do a simpler way, without the luxurious machine -- do dishes by hand, hang out clothes to dry, walk instead of driving.

IDEA 7: Examine any resentment you may have at doing "menial" chores, while others may live in "luxury". Consider chores an opportunity to meditate, pray, sing, talk to others, and listen to music. What's the hurry? What else do you have to do that would be more meaningful?

IDEA 8: Try a family meeting each week at the same time, such as Sunday after lunch. Make sure an environment of trust exists so that everyone can speak without fear of ridicule. Write down decisions. Do not rely on memory. During the week, allow any disagreements to cool, if possible, until the next family meeting time.

IDEA 9: After family meeting, have "family fun time," an hour or so to talk, do something together that's not work. Take turns planning the activity and the treats.

IDEA 10: Consider using fewer personal care products, like make-up. Or substitute organic make-up that involved no animal testing. Resist the advertisers who try to make you feel inferior so that you'll buy their product. Remember the fifth Life Principle of Voluntary Simplicity: Non-conform freely.

IDEA 11: For a specified time, share or give-up ways you use your power at home to control -- in the kitchen, with cleaning standards, in the discipline of your children, or the TV remote control. Where does your need for control come from?