Living simply - results

About a month ago I decided to try some activities to simplify my life a little. 

Here are the results on how I got on and what was helpful for me.

1. Simplify my food, cook nutritious meals

This one definitely helped me. I tried to make more meals from the food grown in the garden. I had fresh potatoes, beetroot, courgettes, Swiss chard, carrots and spring onions.
Our tomatoes and pumpkins are coming now and I have already planted more veg for winter. Knowing that I am eating chemical free, home grown fresh food is well worth it. For me, this activity is a keeper!

2. Simplify my wardrobe

This one was a bit more difficult for me. I have clothes of different sizes and seasons. I have lost weight and put on weight and have kept the clothes I love. So, I may not have cleared out as much as I hoped, but I did get rid of some old things and for that I’m proud of myself.

3. Declutter my home

This has been one of my favourite things to do. I have got rid of old furniture that came with the house. I moved furniture around and dug out old treasures to display. I also sold some things online and donated other items to charity shops.

4. Weekly relaxing bathtime

I only managed this twice, but boy was it nice! I added bath bombs and had a glass of wine and candles. It was super relaxing to take time with no distractions to lie back and enjoy the silence. I will be trying to make more time for this one. It’s definitely worth it!

5. Go for a walk outside every day 

As a minimum. every morning I have stood in the garden and looked around and listened to the birds and everything going on around me. I have walked up to our poly tunnel and watered the plants, taking time to inspect the plants and appreciate their beauty. The garden is definitely my happy place. It’s the one place where I can switch off and think only of the task I am doing. I’m glad I have started this little habit of beginning my day in the garden (even if it is raining, I have a gazebo now of course 😊) it’s so lovely to take a few minutes to connect with nature and set my intention for the day ahead.

6. Have one ‘no tv’ night every week

This one has worked only because we have so much going on in our lives. Being honest I didn’t really ‘try’ to do this one. I’m not sure it’s a keeper as we watch tv when we want to veg out or have a laugh at a new movie.

7. Practice daily gratitude 

This one does work. I found it very hard to say what I was grateful each day at the start. I found as the days went on, I could actually put together a nice list. At the beginning I was grateful for my family and friends and that I was alive (which I am always grateful for) but now i find I can go through the day and appreciate all the small moments, like a colleague going out of their way to say good morning and check how I am, to appreciating the coffee that I share with my hubby every mid morning or catching up with an old friend over lunch and hearing about what they have been up to. I don’t write anything down anymore (you may want to) but I think about my grateful moments just before I go to sleep at night.

8. Only buy what’s needed

This has worked, but….. we have actually needed to buy a lot! We have visitors coming in a few weeks from New Zealand and we are preparing the house, so, we have cut down on unnecessary purchases but we didn’t quite meet the brief on this one I’m afraid.

9. Meditate daily

By far, this is the best thing i introduced. Taking ten minutes each morning to sit quietly and just enjoy the time has been wonderful. I have not managed every day, but I am making an effort to do this because consistency is the key I think to calm my mind. When starting this practice my thoughts were all over the place (Buddhists call this the monkey mind), but after several days I learned to notice my thoughts, let them come and let them go without any judgement (why did I think that? How silly! etc).
I feel calmer and less stressed and of all the things introduced, this is the one I will work to maintain going forward.

10. Drink more water 

I need to be better at this one because it really does work.

11. Make a warm cosy home

I have enjoyed this one. Adding cushions and cosy covers to sofas. Adding fairy lights, candles and plants has definitely made our home more cosy. Displaying our treasures, favourite pictures and things that make us smile has been a very satisfying thing to do.

My takeaway thoughts are that this trial was definitely worth doing. I found some things that didn’t work for me, but a whole lot more that do. I hope you all have the opportunity to try this for yourself too. 

Enjoying the change of light in the garden just before sunset.