Simplicity is going to be a big theme in many people’s lives in 2013. Just you watch. UK magazine The Simple Things recently interviewed me on how I make my life simple and it appears in this month’s issue.
If you don’t get around to grabbing it, how about I help you out. These are a few of the ways I keep my life simple, as I shared with The Simple Things:
1. I stick to my morning routine. It’s probably the best thing I do for myself all day – it sets me up and sets me off with a “feel” that I want from the whole of my day. I wake naturally and drink about a litre of warm water while I get dressed. Then it’s straight out the door to do exercise. I exercise every day, but it’s not a militant thing and I don’t push myself. It might just be a 20 minute walk and stretch. I do yoga, swim, walk or run once or twice a week. I mix it up according to the weather and my mood. The “doing it every day” bit is what counts. That way I don’t deliberate with myself whether “today is an exercise day” or not. Less options in the morning is very key. Studies show we have limited decision making energy – also that decision making depresses us – and that it’s best to “auto pilot” our mornings as much as possible so we can eliminate as many angsty choices. I then meditate for 20 minutes. Then shower and eat…usually eggs or a smoothie made of whatever greenery is in the fridge with some lemon and ginger. Then I sit down to work.
2. I meditate. Meditation “forces” me to connect with the simplicity of “what is”. I’m a very cerebral person and the simple act of sitting and getting really – let’s face it – bored, brings me back to what it’s all about.
3. I don’t go to the shops. I grew up on a farm, which was more a “subsistence living experiment”. Everything was minimised and recycled. It very much instilled a visceral abhorrence of waste and consumerist culture. We simply didn’t go to the shops and as an adult I’ve come to realise that this very simply idea – just don’t go to the shops – is perhaps the most effective approach to having a simple life. It eliminates temptation and empty desire. And it saves time and forces more creative ways to use up leftovers and what you have at hand. It’s amazing what meals you can concoct even when you think you’ve got nothing in the kitchen. My whole family is just effortlessly minimalist…not to make some pious point, but because it’s just simpler!
4. I ride a bike. It’s just so efficient and elegant. I can get door to door, with no parking issues and no grid-lock in less time than it takes to drive, most of the time, plus I get my exercise in at the same time. Oh, and I also get my clearest thinking done while I’m riding.
5. I find special places to relax and think. Particularly on mountains. I love heights, heat and rocks. When I live in cities I commit to getting out bush every weekend for a hike and to just sit on a hill. I’ve done this for years.
6. I don’t eat sugar. It makes me happier and healthier living without it. There were the obvious changes: I lost weight, I stopped getting 3pm slumps and my moods became more stable. But the big thing: I became less obsessed with food. I now eat 3 times a day only and I eat proper, full meals happily without the guilt that women often bring to eating.
If you’re wanting to read the article, the magazine is out in the UK, and will be available in Australia from Feb. The Simple Things have also generously offered readers of this blog a special six month subscription to the magazine for just $52.56*. If you’d like to subscribe, simply click here.
*Limited time offer: ends January 31.
What keeps your life simple? Let’s get a list going.
I love this – I read it in the magazine too, and my favourite line of all was “just don’t go to the shops”. Genius. To keep my life simple I also try to give money away, cook real food, sleep enough, eat with my neighbours regularly, and stay thankful for the little things…
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Great suggestions Sarah. I really second a good morning routine.
And as for the shops–when you do go–support local businesses as much as possible. That is my current game plan and I do not miss chain shops at all!
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Beautiful interview Sarah. I agree with you 100% on simplicity becoming the theme people shape their lives around in 2013. I’m a HARDCORE simplicity enthusiast, life just flows when we keep it simple. I guess that’s why I blog about it to demonstrate the benefits of living a simple kind of lifexx
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January 19th, 2013 at 9:09 pm
Hi Tegan,
Am interested to know your blog for Simple Living. If its an open blog can you please let me know the website address?
Sara
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Gardening keeps me sane- its such a simple yet rewarding activity. It feels wholesome and relaxing. I have a small space, mostly restricted to pots and a portable garden bed (I rent), but I grow lots of herbs and veggies. It cuts down the need to go to the shops, and allows me to just work with what I have- just like your farm, but on a smaller scale!
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Standing in a paddock on a sunny afternoon brushing my horse as I watch her chow down on her food – there’s not a single soul or sound around but for the slightness of the wind in the trees…. grounding, simple and blissful
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I never go to the shops either. The only shopping I do is food shopping and that’s way more fun then “useless stuff” shopping!
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I love your point about getting out of cities to connect with nature, but I like places that are dark, cold and deep. How quaint, we are opposites!
I do enjoy your first point also. Zooey Deschanel once said, ““In an ideal world no one would talk before 10am. People would just hug, because waking up is really hard.” And I totally agree! Mornings are tricky! And I think we need less decisions to be made all round, not just in the mornings. And hug more!
I decide what to do the night before. If I am feeling good, I will get up at 6am and walk. If I am feeling fragile and in need of sleep, I will plan my walk in the evening after work and sleep in instead. I have regular yoga classes. I eat the same breakfast every day. It’s mostly laziness but I’d like to think there is some motivation in there for the spiritual simplicity of a more Spartan life.
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I just returned from holidays where I spent three weeks on my own, renovating an old shack near a beach. I walked everyday, surfed, I ate whatever I could scrounge up, I didn’t go to the shops – not even for food. I had a few friends drop in for ‘overnighters’ and a bottle of wine. I woke up naturally and watched the dark circles under my eyes disappear.
I have been back at work for four days now. It is amazing that it takes so long to recover but such a short time to return to the ‘zombie’ I was before I holiday’d.
I would love to find a way to live a simpler life, but with a teenager; things just ‘gotta get dun!’. It is the sacrifice we all make for our children. No regrets, just wish I could have it all!
Stay happy and well Sarah, I follow your journey with the best of wishes (and sometimes with not a little envy).
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I love your morning ritual! I enjoy hearing what everyone else does to get their day in gear. Mine wouldn’t be the same without my morning prayer, reading, and journaling. Spending time with the divine reminds me to live my day for my creator and not sink into the things that don’t matter. A nourishing breakfast and a glass of water are musts as well!
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Hi Sarah,
This chicken looks fabulous! I just tried to cook pasture raised chicken this evening and kinda overcooked it. First time I cooked chicken since being vegetarian, so hopefully it will get easier!
I have a question about xylitol sweetened chocolate. Is it wise to give chocolate up altogether in the initial phase?
I found a raw chocolate bar in the UK that only uses xylitol as the sweetener and comes in small 22g bars. I was hoping they might be okay in place of the usual 85% dark chocolate, but not sure whether to wait until after the first 6 weeks or so?
Thanks,
Great book and fabulous blog.
Claire
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Oops, thought I posted my comment on the chicken recipe post – apologies if that made no sense!
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January 18th, 2013 at 1:20 pm
Ha ha Claire! I was so confused by your comment, before I read your correction. I was all like, “WHERE IS THE CHICKEN?!!”. Hahahaha.
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Well one of my ways to keep things simple is to have a box in the office (or a basket, or cardboard bag) and I put items in there to go to Vinnies. Rather than leaving a big clean out for one day, I try and regularly put things into this box that I am no longer using, but I know someone else would probably love.
So this week’s haul includes a candle (it has a scent that I don’t like) clothes that I am unlikely to wear this summer, a small wall hanging that’s never gone up, fry pans that I don’t use and a toiletry bag – because I have another 6 in my drawer.
Then when I think of it, I just have a small box to drop off to Vinnies.
I saw this called an ‘outbox’ on a blog and it helps keep my life simple and less cluttered.
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March 18th, 2013 at 12:22 pm
LOVE this idea! I’m gonna start this today
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Thanks Sarah, i always get al ot from reading your blogs and i look forward to the Friday news letter.
This post has hit home with me beasue i have been really trying to get into a routine in the morning, excercising 3 times a week, but i have nver told myself what 3 days to do it. I agree with the decision making, it really gets me down. I will try excercise every morning and see if that helps me.
Crossing fingers!
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All about the simple, right here.
My main simplicity staples are my morning and evening rhythm, getting solitude – for creating, writing, reading or just being – every day, and looking after myself. Water, good food, good sleep, exercise, loving, playing and fun. Beyond that… meh.
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I’m new to your blog, but I’m enjoying it so far. Thank you for a great post on simplicity. It’s something I strive to embrace in my everyday life.
My resolution for this year was to meditate—I love it! It really does center me and puts me in a better frame of mind for the day. It’s a chance to shut off the thoughts going through my head.
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I’ve recently started a morning and evening routine. These are a couple of things that happen everyday, week in and week out (e.g. load of washing in the machine before I shower in the morning, nuts/grains/lentils soaking before I retire to bed etc). It just makes things simple. I know what to expect and the house runs smoothly. I’ve also returned to doing a sun salutation every morning. It takes only a couple of minutes and makes me feel alive and awake ready for the day. It also stops guilt (e.g. I haven’t done any exercise lately) because no matter what, I do that one small thing and that makes all the difference.
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You are my hero. I love everything you say; I just need to start walking your walk.
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Fantastic article and very timely for the new year. I am going to make my life simpler this year. I love the morning ritual and know that when my mornings are all set out the night before, I wake up feeling so much better. just knowing that I am ready for the new day without having to think is so great in reducing daily stress!
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Love this article Sarah! I’m a BIG believer in simple and healthy living. I love getting out the beach to be near the freshness of the ocean. It’s cleansing, refreshing and a great place to meditate too!
Thanks for your inspiration!
Rachel X
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I love this article and you look just beautiful Sarah. I love the less is more philosophy and you are right about it being a big thing in 2013. On my goals…especially when it comes to my two kids – they don’t need THAT many toys!!
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Og I really love this article about you and that magazine just made me feel really at home at once.
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Hi Sarah, Could you share with us a few recipes for green smoothies? I struggling to find the right blend of veggies that has a nice consistency and tastes good! All the recipes I’ve found so far include fruit or are made hairy from ginger and celery!
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[...] join the overflowing plastic-box drawer in the kitchen? I really love Sarah’s advice in her post on living simply: don’t go to the shops. Seriously – shop less, want less, have less, live more. [...]
Hi Sarah, I am bit confused about the total sugar on the side of the pack. If it says carbohydrates per 100gms are 68.9gms and sugar is .6gms in a packet of polenta is that an ok thing to eat or not.
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[...] P.S. I’m not the first or only one to write on the importance of morning ritual; places I go for inspiration and ideas include here and here and here. [...]