What Does A Simple Life Looks Like?
I have been thinking lately more and more about what a simple life looks like for me. My definition is different than anybody else. I think is because my life is individualized to me. There is such a freedom to acknowledging that. However, it can be much harder to follow through.
When I first starting using planners, I had done a major shift in my life. I went from corporate world to stay at home mom. And even though it was from my own choosing, letting go of the “working mom, working woman” identity was really hard for me. Planners came and helped me find a course to my new season.
Right now, I am back at starting a new season and my planners are back at working over time. This time around is not about losing or gaining an identity. It is more of looking at what I want this season to have and to be for me and my family.
The question which keeps coming up is “What does a simple life look like for me, in this season?” Now with Covid, right now, might be different than hopefully a few months from now. But having this down time is helping me take inventory of the question and process the answers without too much outside noise. Have to look for the silver linings, right?
As of today, here is what I want my simple life to be:
Financial independence - no debts, emergency fund, ability to pay for college for the kids, our ability to pay for our basic living expenses, extra for giving and for traveling. Love traveling!
Learning how to navigate the new relationships with my kids and hubby. For the kids this means transitioning from kids to young adults (and they do have their fierce opinions). For the hubby, we have more time for the two of us without the kids. We are realizing we have changed throughout the years. It is a fun time to rediscover each other.
A day to day routine were I feel I lived on my own terms and doing the things I care for. (This also includes the must-dos for my big picture - I am looking at cooking on this one.) and to not feel the rush and overwhelming feeling in my head. This will allow me to enjoy the sunsets and the everyday small moments.
Reclaiming my creativity -bring out all the books, bring out the yarn, the sewing machine, the stickers and washi tape and anything new out there I might want to learn.
Making my extended family and friends relationships stronger.
I don’t think any of the bullet points above are simple, but I think the simplicity comes in learning to ignore the other noises, the other things asking for my attention. This is where my planner comes in. When I am scheduling my month, my week, my day, I am asking myself, does this fit the simple life I want to have?
Simple doesn’t mean easy, maybe the better word would be a “focus life”, but I like “simple life.” The word SIMPLE to me gives me the focus to why I am scheduling the things on my calendar. It helps me find ways on how I can simplify the process on the must-dos (hello - cooking, laundry, cleaning) and safe more of my energy on the bigger parts (hello - relationships and creativity) and to slow down on the day to enjoy the everyday moments.
What does a simple life means to you?