Want to know how to live a simple life in a modern world? Here are some easy steps to help you get started on your journey!
Many of us live in a modern world with all of the modern distractions, temptations, and conveniences. It would be great to live out in the country or “off the grid” but that is not possible for many of us!
Living in a modern world includes the physical items and “things” that get in the way of a more simple life, but it also includes the modern mentality that many ascribe to our day.
A lot of people are opening their eyes to the beauty of a simple life and desiring to live a simple life in a modern world. It may be challenging but the good news is, it is possible! I want to share a few tips on how to get started on this journey.
This post is all about how to live a simple life in a modern world.
1. Don’t Compare Yourself to Others
This is probably the most important tip I can give when it comes to trying to simplify your life! It is so crucial to stop comparing your life to the lives of others.
It can be easy to look at things your family and friends own and think, “I need to buy that!” But stop and ask yourself, “Why do I feel like I need to have that item?”
Sometimes it may feel like peer pressure from others as well. When something is on trend it may feel like everyone has something that you don’t. Don’t give in to having to be like everyone else!
This takes a lot of time and practice so don’t beat yourself up about it if you don’t master this in a day. Just stick to your goal and remember that no one cares about what you have or don’t have. Most people are worried about their own lives.
2. Reduce Your Time on Social Media
Okay, I want to say “delete social media” but that might be a little too extreme 😉
Social media has become the norm in our world. Most people have it and are glued to their phones for hours a day scrolling. This is a lot of wasted time and energy. It is not good for our mental health either.
Social media promotes comparing yourself to others. As we scroll, we see other people’s lives, possessions, and happiness and the first thing many tend to do is to compare.
If you have social media, have you ever asked yourself, “What are 3 things that I have learned or benefitted from since having social media?” If you can’t think of anything, it might be time to reevaluate your social media use.
If we want to live a simple life in a modern world, it might be best to limit the time spent on social media to spend more time on things that are good for us.
3. Spend Time Doing What Matters to You
Once we reduce the time spent on social media, we might have a lot of time on our hands! What should we do with this time? I would recommend spending it on things that truly matter to you.
Spending more quality time with friends and family is always a good thing! It is good to invest in people and relationships because they are what truly matters, not material things.
Spend time working on personal goals and cultivating personal beliefs. Spend time getting to know yourself, your faith, and your goals. This is so beneficial for mental, spiritual, and emotional health!
4. Spend Less Time on Your Phone
Let’s be honest, a lot of modern society spends so much time on their phones. Our phones go with us everywhere and have become a part of our daily essentials.
But to live a simple life in the modern world, we need to be aware of how much time we are spending on our phones. I’ve already mentioned reducing your time on social media, but this point goes beyond just social media.
In the last point, I mentioned spending time with family. This is such a good thing to do, but I should mention that we should do this without our phones. It’s so easy to pull out our phones, even when we are in the presence of the ones we love. I challenge you not to do this! It might be challenging at first, but the more you are aware of it, the easier it’ll become.
Spending time on your phone texting, checking random apps, or just going on your phone because of boredom is so common. Can we all agree to change this?! Here are some tips for us to go on our phones less:
- Instead of just texting friends, spend time with them in person! If they live far away, calling or video chatting is a good alternative 😉
- Delete apps that you do not use.
- Organize your phone apps in such a way that is not so easy to go on certain apps.
- Resist the temptation to go on your phone just because you are bored!
- Set boundaries for yourself: no phones at the dinner table, no phones after 9:00 pm, etc.
You are on your way to living a life you’ve always dreamed of! To live a simple life in a modern world, you will have to be intentional and have clear goals for yourself. I hope these tips were helpful to get you started on the right foot!