z e n h a b it s : b r ea t h e

impleLivingManifesto:72Ideas
toimplifYourLife
implicitisthepeakofcivilization.Jessieampter

Y L O A A U TA

Asimplelifehasadifferentmeaningandadifferentvalueforever
person.Forme,itmeanseliminatingalluttheessential,eschewing
chaosforpeace,andspendingourtimedoingwhatsimportanttoou.

Itmeansgettingridofmanofthethingsoudosooucanspendtime
withpeopleouloveanddothethingsoulove.Itmeansgettingridof
thecluttersoouareleftwithonlthatwhichgivesouvalue.

However,gettingtosimplicitisntalwasasimpleprocess.Itsajourne,
notadestination,anditcanofteneajourneoftwostepsforward,and
oneackward.

Ifoureinterestedinsimplifingourlife,thisisagreatstartersguide(if
ourenotinterested,moveon).

ThehortList

Forthecnicswhosathatthelistelowistoolong,therearereallonl
twostepstosimplifing:

1.Identifwhatsmostimportanttoou.
2. liminateeverthingelse.

Ofcourse,thatsnotterrilusefulunlessoucanseehowtoapplthat
todifferentareasofourlife,soIpresenttooutheLongList.

TheLongList

Therecanenostep--stepguidetosimplifingourlife,utIve
compiledanincompletelistofideasthatshouldhelpanonetringtofind
thesimplelife.Notevertipwillworkforouchoosetheonesthat
appealandappltoourlife.

Oneimportantnote:thislistwillecriticizedforeingtoocomplicated,

especiallasitprovidesaunchoflinks.Dontstressoutaoutallofthat.
Justchooseoneatatime,andfocusonthat.Whenouredonewiththat,
focusonthenextthing.

1. Makealistofourtop4-5importantthings.Whatsmostimportantto
ou?Whatdoouvaluemost?What4-5thingsdooumostwanttodo
inourlife?implifingstartswiththesepriorities,asouaretringto
makeroominourlifesoouhavemoretimeforthesethings.
2. valuateourcommitments.Lookateverthingouvegotgoingonin
ourlife.verthing,fromworktohometocivictokidsactivitiesto
hoiestosideusinessestootherprojects.Thinkaoutwhichof
thesereallgivesouvalue,whichonesoulovedoing.Whichofthese
areinlinewiththe4-5mostimportantthingsoulistedaove?Drop
thosethatarentinlinewiththosethings.Articlehere.
3. valuateourtime.Howdoouspendourda?Whatthingsdoou
do,fromthetimeouwakeuptothetimeougotosleep?Makealist,
andevaluatewhetherthereinlinewithourpriorities.Ifnot,eliminate
thethingsthatarent,andfocusonwhatsimportant.Redesignour
da.
4. implifworktasks.Ourworkdaismadeupofanendlesslistof
worktasks.Ifousimpltrtoknockoffallthetasksonourto-dolist,
oullnevergeteverthingdone,andworseet,oullnevergetthe
importantstuffdone.Focusontheessentialtasksandeliminatethe
rest.Readmore.
5. implifhometasks.Inthatvein,thinkaoutallthestuffoudoat
home.ometimesourhometasklistisjustaslongasourworklist.And
wellnevergetthatdoneeither.ofocusonthemostimportant,andtr
tofindwastoeliminatetheothertasks(automate,eliminate,delegate,
orhirehelp).
6. Learntosano.Thisisactualloneofthekehaitsforthosetringto
simpliftheirlives.Ifoucantsano,ouwilltakeontoomuch.Article
here.
7. Limitourcommunications.Ourlivesthesedasarefilledwithavast
flowofcommunications:email,IM,cellphones,papermail,kpe,
Twitter,forums,andmore.Itcantakeupourwholedaifouletit.
Instead,putalimitonourcommunications:onldoemailatcertain
timesoftheda,foracertainnumerofminutes(Irecommendtwicea
da,utdowhatworksforou).OnldoIMonceada,foralimited
amountoftime.Limitphonecallstocertaintimestoo.amewithan
othercommunications.etascheduleandsticktoit.
8. Limitourmediaconsumption.Thistipwonteforeverone,soif
mediaconsumptionisimportanttoou,pleaseskipit(aswithanof
theothertips).However,IelievethatthemediainourlivesTV,
radio,Internet,magazines,etc.cancometodominateourlives.Dont
letit.implifourlifeandourinformationconsumptionlimitingit.
Tramediafast.
9. Purgeourstuff.Ifoucandevoteaweekendtopurgingthestuffou
dontwant,itfeelsseriouslterrific.Getoxesandtrashagsforthe

stuffouwanttodonateortoss.Heresmguideondecluttering.
Heresapostonstartingsmall.Moreonpurgingelow.
10. Getridoftheigitems.Therestonsoflittleclutterinourlives,utif
oustartwiththeigitems,oullsimplifourlifequicklandinaig
wa.Readmore.
11. ditourrooms.Oneroomatatime,goaroundtheroomand
eliminatetheunnecessar.Actasanewspapereditor,tringtoleave
onltheminimum,anddeletingeverthingelse.Articlehere.
12. ditclosetsanddrawers.Onceouvegonethroughthemainpartsof
ourrooms,tackletheclosetsanddrawers,onedrawerorshelfata
time.Morehere.
13. implifourwardroe.Isourcloseturstingfull?Areourdrawers
sostuffedthecantclose(Imtalkingaoutdresserdrawershere,not
underwear).implifourwardroegettingridofanthingoudont
actuallwear.Trcreatingaminimalwardroefocusingonsimple
stlesandafewsolidcolorsthatallmatcheachother.Readmore.
14. implifourcomputinglife.Ifouhavetroulewithtoomanfiles
andtoomuchdisorganization,consideronlinecomputing.Itcan
simplifthingsgreatl.Readmore.
15. Declutterourdigitalpackratter.Ifouareadigitalpackrat,and
cannotseemtocontrolourdigitalclutter,thereisstillhopeforou.
Readthisguidetocuringourselfofthisclutter.
16. Createasimplicitstatement.Whatdoouwantoursimplelifeto
looklike?Writeitout.Morehere.
17. Limitouruinghaits.Ifouareaslavetomaterialismand
consumerism,therearewastoescapeit.Iwasthere,andalthoughI
haventescapedthesethingsentirel,Ifeelmuchfreerofitall.Ifou
canescapematerialism,oucangetintothehaitofuingless.And
thatwillmeanlessstuff,lessspending,lessfreneticism.Readmore.
18. Freeuptime.Findwastofreeuptimefortheimportantstuff.That
meanseliminatingthestuffoudontlike,cuttingackontimewasters,
andmakingroomforwhatouwanttodo.
19. Dowhatoulove.Onceouvefreedupsometime,esuretospend
thatextratimedoingthingsoulove.Goacktoourlistof4-5
importantthings.Dothose,andnothingelse.Readmore.
20. pendtimewithpeopleoulove.Again,thelistof4-5important
thingsproalcontainssomeofthepeopleoulove(ifnot,ouma
wanttore-evaluate).Whetherthosepeopleareaspouse,apartner,
children,parents,otherfamil,estfriends,orwhoever,findtimetodo
thingswiththem,talktothem,eintimatewiththem(notnecessarilin
sexualwas).
21. pendtimealone.eethislistofwastofreeuptimeforourselfto
spendinsolitude.Alonetimeisgoodforou,althoughsomepeople
arentcomfortalewithit.Itcouldtakepracticegettingusedtothe
quiet,andmakingroomforourinnervoice.Itsoundsnew-age,I

know,utitsextremelcalming.Andthisquietisnecessarforfinding
outwhatsimportanttoou.
22. atslowl.Ifoucramourfooddownourthroat,ouarenotonl
missingoutonthegreattasteofthefood,ouarenoteatinghealth.
lowdowntoloseweight,improvedigestion,andenjolifemore.Read
more.
23. Driveslowl.Mostpeoplerushthroughtraffic,honkingandgetting
angrandfrustratedandstressedout.Andendangeringthemselves
andothersinthemeantime.Drivingslowerisnotonlsafer,utitis
etteronourfuelill,andcaneincredilpeaceful.Giveitatr.
Readmore.
24. epresent.Thesetwowordscanmakeahugedifferencein
simplifingourlife.Livinghereandnow,inthemoment,keepsou
awareoflife,ofwhatisgoingonaroundouandwithinou.Itdoes
wondersforoursanit.Readtipsonhowtodoit.
25. treamlineourlife.Mantimeswelivewithunplanned,complex
sstemsinourlivesecausewehaventgiventhemmuchthought.
Instead,focusononesstematatime(ourlaundrsstem,our
errandssstem,ourpaperworksstem,ouremailsstem,etc.)and
trtomakeitsimplified,efficient,andwritten.Thensticktoit.Heres
more.Anothergoodarticlehere.
26. Createasimplemail&paperworksstem.Ifoudonthaveasstem,
thisstuffwillpileup.utasimplesstemwillkeepeverthinginorder.
Hereshow.
27. Createasimplesstemforhousework.Anotherexampleofasimple
sstemisclean-as-ou-gowithaurst.Readmore.
28. Clearourdesk.Ifouhaveacluttereddesk,itcanedistractingand
disorganizedandstressful.Acleardesk,however,isonlacoupleof
simplehaitsawa.Readmore.
29. stalishroutines.Theketokeepingourlifesimpleistocreate
simpleroutines.Agreatarticleonthathere.
30. Keepouremailinoxempt.Isouremailinoxoverflowingwithnew
andreadmessages?Dothemessagesjustkeeppilingup?Ifso,oure
normalutoucouldemoreefficientandouremaillifecoulde
simplifiedwithafewsimplesteps.Readmore.
31. Learntolivefrugall.Livingfrugallmeansuingless,wantingless,
andleavinglessofafootprintontheearth.Itsdirectlrelatedto
simplicit.Hereare50tipsonhowtolivefrugall.
32. Makeourhouseminimalist.Aminimalisthousehaswhatis
necessar,andnotmuchelse.Itsalsoextremelpeaceful(notto
mentioneastoclean).Morehere.
33. Findotherwastoeminimalist.Therearetons.Youcanfindwasto
eminimalistineverareaofourlife.HereareafewIdo,tospurour
ownideas.

34. Considerasmallerhome.Ifouridourhomeofstuff,oumightfind
oudontneedsomuchspace.Imnotsaingoushouldliveonaoat
(althoughIknowsomepeoplewhohappildoso),utifoucane
comfortaleinasmallerhome,itwillnotonlelessexpensive,ut
easiertomaintain,andgreatlsimplifourlife.Readaoutdownsizing
ourhomehere.
35. Considerasmallercar.Thisisaigmove,utifouhavealargecar
orUV,oumanotreallneedsomethingthatig.Itsmore
expensive,usesmoregas,hardertomaintain,hardertopark.implif
ourlifewithlesscar.Youdontneedtogotin,especiallifouhavea
famil,uttrtofindassmallacarascanfitouorourfamil
comfortal.Maenotsomethingouregoingtodotoda,ut
somethingtothinkaoutoverthelongterm.
36. Learnwhatenoughis.Ourmaterialisticsociettodaisaout
gettingmoreandmore,withnoendinsight.ure,oucangetthe
latestgadget,andmoreclothesandshoes.Morestuff.utwhenwill
ouhaveenough?Mostpeopledontknow,andthusthekeepuing
more.Itsaneverendingccle.Getoffthecclefiguringouthow
muchisenough.Andthenstopwhenougetthere.
37. Createasimpleweekldinnermenu.Iffiguringoutwhatsfordinneris
anightlstressorforouorourfamil,considercreatingaweekl
menu.Decideonaweeksworthofsimpledinners,setaspecificdinner
foreachnightoftheweek,gogrocershoppingfortheingredients.
Nowouknowwhatsfordinnereachnight,andouhaveallthe
ingredientsnecessar.Noneedfordifficultrecipesfindonesthat
canedonein10-15minutes(orless).
38. athealth.Itmightnoteovioushoweatinghealthrelatesto
simplicit,utthinkaouttheopposite:ifoueatfatt,greas,salt,
sugar,friedfoodsallthetime,ouaresuretohavehighermedical
needsoverthelongterm.Wecouldetalkingearsfromnow,ut
imaginefrequentdoctorvisits,hospitalization,goingtothepharmacist,
gettingtherap,havingsurger,takinginsulinshotsougettheidea.
eingunhealthiscomplicated.atinghealthsimplifiesallofthat
greatl,overthelongterm.Readaouthowtosimplifoureating
haits.
39. xercise.Thisgoesalongthesamelinesaseatinghealth,asit
simplifiesourlifeinthelongrun,utitgoesevenfurther:exercise
helpsurnoffstressandmakesoufeeletter.Itsgreat.Hereshowto
createtheexercisehait.
40. Decluttereforeorganizing.Manpeoplemakethemistakeoftaking
acluttereddeskorfilingcainetorclosetordrawer,andtringto
organizeit.Unfortunatel,thatsnotonlhardtodo,itkeepsthings
complicated.impliftheprocessgettingridofasmuchofthejunk
aspossile,andthenorganizing.Ifoudeclutterenough,ouwont
needtoorganizeatall.

41. Haveaplaceforeverthing.Age-oldadvice,utitstheestadviceon
keepingthingsorganized.Afteroudeclutter.Readmorehere.
42. Findinnersimplicit.Imnotmuchofaspiritualperson,utIhave
foundthatspendingalittletimewithminnerselfcreatesapeaceful
simplicitratherthanachaoticconfusion.Thiscouldetimepraingor
communingwithGod,ortimespentmeditatingorjournalingorgetting
toknowourself,ortimespentinnature.Howeveroudoit,working
onourinnerselfisworththetime.
43. Learntodecompressfromstress.verlifeisfilledwithstressno
matterhowmuchousimplifourlife,oullstillhavestress(exceptin
thecaseoftheultimatesimplifier,death).oafterougothrough
stress,findwastodecompress.Herearesomeideas.
44. Trlivingwithoutacar.OK,thisisntsomethingIvedone,utman
othershave.ItssomethingIwoulddoifIdidnthavekids.Walk,ike,or
takepulictransportation.Itreducesexpensesandgivesoutimeto
think.Acarisalsovercomplicating,needingnotonlcarpaments,
utinsurance,registration,safetinspections,maintenance,repairs,
gasandmore.
45. Findacreativeoutletforself-expression.Whetherthatswriting,
poetr,painting,drawing,creatingmovies,designingwesites,dance,
skateoarding,whatever.Wehaveaneedforself-expression,and
findingawatodothatmakesourlifemuchmorefulfilling.Allowthis
toreplacemuchoftheus-workoureeliminatingfromourlife.
46. implifourgoals.Insteadofhavinghalfadozengoalsormore,
simplifittoonegoal.Notonlwillthismakeoulessstressed,itwill
makeoumoresuccessful.YoullealetofocusonthatOneGoal,
andgiveitallofourenerg.Thatgivesoumuchetterchancesfor
success.
47. ingle-task.Multi-taskingismorecomplicated,morestressful,and
generalllessproductive.Instead,doonetaskatatime.
48. implifourfilingsstem.tackingaunchofpapersjustdoesnt
work.utafilingsstemdoesnthavetoecomplicatedtoeuseful.
Createasimplesstem.
49. Developequanimit.Ifeverlittlethingthathappenstoousendsou
intoangerorstress,ourlifemightneveresimple.Learntodetach
ourself,andemoreatpeace.Readmore.
50. Reduceourconsumptionofadvertising.Advertisingmakesuswant
things.Thatswhatitsdesignedtodo,anditworks.Findwasto
reduceourexposureofadvertising,whetherthatsinprint,online,
roadcast,orelsewhere.Youllwantmuchless.
51. Livelifemoredelieratel.Doevertaskslowl,withease,paingfull
attentiontowhatouredoing.Formore,seePeacefulimplicit:How
toLiveaLifeofContentment.
52. MakeaMostImportantTasks(MITs)listeachda.etjust3ver
importantthingsouwanttoaccomplisheachda.Dontstartwitha

longlistofthingsouproalwontgetdonetheendoftheda.A
simplelistof3things,onesthatwouldmakeoufeellikeou
accomplishedsomething.eethisarticleformore.
53. Createmorningandeveningroutines.Agreatwatosimplifourlife
istocreateroutinesatthestartandendofourda.Readmoreon
morningroutinesandeveningroutines.
54. Createamorningwritingritual.Ifouenjowriting,likeIdo,makeita
peaceful,productiveritual.Articlehere.
55. Learntodonothing.Doingnothingcaneanartform,anditshoulde
apartofeverlife.ReadtheArtofDoingNothing.
56. ReadWalden,Thoreau.Thequintessentialtextonsimplifing.
AvailaleonWikisourcesforfree.
57. Goforqualit,notquantit.Trnottohaveatonofstuffinourlife
instead,havejustafewpossessions,utonesthatourealllove,and
thatwilllastforalongtime.
58. ReadimplifYourLife,lainet.James.Oneofmfavoritealltimeauthorsonsimplicit.Readmreviewhere.
59. Fillourdawithsimplepleasures.Makealistofourfavoritesimple
pleasures,andsprinklethemthroughoutourda.Listhere.
60. implifourRfeeds.Ifouvegotdozensoffeeds,ormorethana
hundred(asIoncedid),ouproalhavealotofstressintringto
keepupwiththemall.implifourfeedreading.eeHowtoDropan
RFeedLikeaadHait.
61. utsuscrietoUnclutterer.Proaltheestlogonsimplifing
ourstuffandroutines(alongwithZenHaits,ofcourse!).
62. Createaneas-to-maintainard.Ifouspendtoomuchtimeonour
ard,herearesomegoodtips.
63. Carrlessstuff.Areourpocketsulging.Considercarringonlthe
essentials.omethoughtsonthathere.
64. implifouronlinelife.Ifouhavetoomuchgoingononline,here
areafewwastosimplifitall.Articlehere.
65. trivetoautomateourincome.Thisisnttheeasiesttask,utitcan
(andhas)eendone.Iveeenworkingtowardsitmself.Articlehere.
66. implifourudget.Manpeopleskipudgeting(whichisver
important)ecauseitstoohardortoocomplicated.Readmorehere.
67. implifourfinanciallife.Articlefromafinancialplanningexpert
here.
68. Learntopacklight.Whowantstolugaunchofluggagearoundona
trip?Heresanarticleonusingjustonecarr-on.
69. Useaminimalistproductivitsstem.TheminimalZenToDoneisall
ouneed.verthingelseisicing.
70. Leavespacearoundthingsinourda.Whetherthere
appointments,orthingsouneedtodo,dontstackthemack-to-ack.
Leavealittlespaceetweenthingsouneedtodo,soouwillhave

roomforcontingencies,andoullgothroughourdamuchmore
relaxed.
71. Liveclosertowork.Thismightmeangettingajoclosertoourhome,
ormovingtoahomeclosertoourwork.itherwilldomuchtosimplif
ourlife.
72. Alwasask:Willthissimplifmlife?Iftheanswerisno,reconsider.