I just finished reading Simplify Your Life: 100 Ways to Slow Down and Enjoy the Things That Really Matter, by Elaine St. James. It didn't do much for me - but I think that's mainly because I've read enough on this subject that there wasn't much here that was new to me. (There are also a few suggestions I totally disagree with - but the author encourages you to pick and choose, selecting the suggestions that work for you.)
But there were some parts where I really liked the author's way of making her point, and I'll share a few of those.
On deciding to simplify: Several years ago I was sitting at my desk, idly glancing at my daily schedule, which was laid out in a time-management system roughly the size of Nebraska. This binder was bursting with "to-do" lists, phone logs, time-organizers, meeting-maximizers, goal-stabilizers, high-tech efficiency charts, and five- and ten-year life planners. Suddenly, I realized I no longer wanted my life to be that complicated.
On de-cluttering: Remember, the idea is not to deny yourself the things you want, but to free yourself from the things you don't want.
On saving stuff: Every time you start to store something in the back of your closet or in a dark attic, ask yourself, "Do I really want to save this, or will it end up adding to the clutter?"
2 comments:
Hi Jeri, what are some of the things you disagree with? It would be helpful to hear the 'voice of experience'.
Hi Leslie,
I've Freecycled the book, so I no longer have it it front of me to refer to.
But the one I most remember said something like "fire your personal trainer and start walking."
I've never done anything resembling "working out" in all my 56 years - but I was getting tired of seeing "get fit / lose weight" on my list of goals with no progress being made - for years.
So in mid-February this year I did hire a wonderful personal trainer, who comes to my house once a week. (I have to do a lot of work in between his visits.) I've totally changed my diet, I'm able to do things I never thought I could, I feel better than I have in a long time, people tell me I'm looking great - and I've lost 17 pounds so far. And that's with almost no exercise for a couple months, when my mom was in her last days, and the months after that.
Walking is wonderful. Having a personal trainer is very different, and with the right trainer at the right time can be VERY worthwhile!
Yes, it adds some complexity to my life. It's well worth that.
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