There is no doubt that we live in stressful times. Wherever we go, we are bombarded with notifications, text messages, emails, phone calls… Face it, it’s a lot to keep up with.
Not to mention drainage. All the things mentioned above never stop coming. We try to ignore it and wake up the next day with twice as much money as we started with.
When we think of a simple life, most of us think of a humble family living on a farm that supports their entire lifestyle. They don’t use technology or rely on it. Instead, they use tried-and-true tactics passed down from generations before them.
Many of us can’t even imagine life without smart devices. Our little world cannot function without it. Living without them is a foreign concept that we wish to embrace, but we struggle to do so.
You don’t have to throw everything away completely; There are small steps we can take to reduce the stress our busy lives bring. Here are three easy ways you can do that.
Accept the mind
We do a lot without thinking too. Even if we are very focused on other things, we cannot focus on the tasks at hand.
Whether it’s one or the other, it interferes with our ability to exist. We worry about what will happen five minutes from now if we don’t eat fast enough, meet a deadline, make a certain amount of money—the list goes on and on.
It’s time to incorporate the act of paying attention into routine activities. Mindfulness, in short, is closely related to awareness. Imagine if you went out with friends. How often do you pick up your phone to check your notifications?
That is not attention. Being mindful would include putting your phone completely out of reach and fully engaging in the conversation you are having.
Your notifications can wait. Even if you wash, pay attention to how you fold the clothes. Let your mind wander. But let it roam around with less stressful things.
Re-expose yourself to nature
Mother Nature misses you! Staying indoors all day is not always good for our physical and mental health. Retrain yourself to reap all the benefits environmental benefitssuch as reduced anxiety, improved mood, and as an alternative to healing.
It’s not about booking an expensive trip to the green—a simple walk in the park will do the trick. Anywhere there are trees, shrubs, flowers, or mountains can soothe your soul.
The next time you’re outside, take a moment to appreciate its beauty. Notice how bright the colors are or how the air smells. You can’t capture that in a photo or video.
Remember to take your time. If you plan to take a relaxing trip, take a notebook with you. Walking not only clears your mind but can also be a source of inspiration. Sit on the grass or on a bench and write down your thoughts in a journal.
Write down how you feel, what you see, what you think. The perfect recipe for a better mindset to make you feel refreshed and recharged. Then, when the day is over, take it a step further by nourishing your body with delicious food and a relaxing bath—you deserve it.
Seek peace
Noise pollution it’s a real thing. Constant exposure to loud, obnoxious sounds disrupts our health.
Big cities, electronics, and music all contribute. High stress levels based on noise alone call for solitude. We all need a quiet place to escape to and allow ourselves to think clearly.
If you can’t find a place, try to find a time when your home is quiet. This may be in the early hours or for me, when the upstairs neighbors are going to bed.
During this time, make self-care a priority. Start by listening to your inner voice. What is your mind and body telling you? Try to control your thoughts so that you don’t waste your peace thinking about stressful situations.
Take a slow sip of your tea, sit in your surroundings, or do nothing—this is your chance to slow down and be alone. This should go without saying but I’ll say it anyway: no phones or other devices at this time.
Embrace the simple life today
This is not about sacrificing the needs of the modern world. You don’t have to go to a farm in the middle of nowhere and start over with your life. Instead, incorporating these simple, basic ways to live a simple life is a great start to relying less on apps for a better lifestyle.