How Can I Live a Simple Life in A Modern World?

Living a simplified life takes both effort and courage. Your family may not understand why you are forgoing a job promotion with a huge pay increase and loads of extra responsibilities. Friends will question why you stopped joining in on conversations on social media. You may find that some may question your sanity as you pay off debt and sell your large home for a smaller one. Yes, choosing to live a simpler life will raise a few eyebrows in your relationship circles. Modern conveniences are supposed to make life easier, but that is not always true.

Modern life is likely to get in the way when you have had enough and decide to join the growing ranks of people aiming for a more simple life. Here are some practical ways you can grab onto the simple life in a modern world:

1 – Remember that living a simple life is your choice. You do not have to live a complicated, stressful life just because your friends and family do. It is possible to choose a different path that aligns with your values.


2 – Opt for a basic cell phone. Consider how many interruptions you have from notifications on your smartphone. They are distracting and force you to be continually distracted. Look for a cell phone with which you can only make and receive calls. The price will be much cheaper and your stress levels will decrease.


3 – Remove social media from your phone. If you keep your smartphone, remove all the social media apps. Sounds drastic, doesn’t it? Scrolling through social media eats much of the time you could spend with family. Learn to only look at social media on your laptop at certain times of day and reclaim some time.


4 – Pay off your credit cards. Debt leaves you a slave to the credit card company. They become a burden when you don’t pay them off each month. Use them only to buy what you can afford to pay off when the bill comes in, not to overspend.


5 – Drop cable service. Many spend over $100 a month on hundreds of channels they never watch. Why do this when over-the-air stations are free and streaming services are incredibly cheap? You can use your savings to pay off your credit cards.

Live the simple life on your terms, not based on what the modern world thinks. Learn to live with some cutbacks, and you will be on your way to a life of serenity.