6 Ways and Things To Help You Live a Simpler Lifestyle

By living a simple life, you can be more present, experience less stress, and be more fulfilled from the things that matter most. If you’re wondering how to pare down on unnecessary belongings and be more self-sufficient, start by implementing these six steps into your life and from your home.

1. Plastic

Replacing plastic items with reusable alternatives is an incredibly easy way to cut waste from your home and facilitate a more minimalist life. In the kitchen, remove all plastic tupperware and substitute it for glass jars, swap plastic straws for a single metal drinking straw, and invest in a reusable water bottle instead of buying plastic water bottles. In the bathroom, you can make your own toothpaste instead of buying store-bought toothpaste and utilize bar soap instead of the liquid soap that comes in plastic containers.

2. Household cleaners

It’s easy to fall into the trap of buying a traditional, store-bought cleaner for every cleaning need you may have—one solution to clean the tub, another to make your floors sparkly clean, a product for the dishes, and so on. Cut all of the different chemical cleaning solutions and products in your arsenal and swap them for homemade cleaning solutions. A simple, all-purpose cleaner can be made by mixing one part vinegar with one part baking soda and pouring the solution into a reusable metal spray bottle. Use this to clean counters, bathroom tubs, and sinks.

3. Clothes

As much as some of us hate to admit it, we don’t need hundreds of clothing items to be fulfilled. Sift through your entire closet and make three piles: one for keeping, one for donating, and one for throwing away. If you find clothes that have holes or tears, add them to the throw away pile. Any items that you haven’t worn in over a year can be donated. For the rest of the clothes remaining, sort them by the essentials. You don’t need three rain jackets or 20 pairs of jeans. Keep it simple — donate any clothing items that you have an abundance of or sale them at a yard-sale.

4. Appliances

Go through your home and determine which appliances you don’t need (i.e. kitchen appliances that you never use, bigger appliances like a washer or dryer that you want to cut out completely, etc.) and which appliances will likely need a replacement soon. If you have two coffee makers or a couple of mixers, keep the one you like (or use the most) and give the other one away. Donate all of the appliances you don’t need and consider replacing old or broken down systems with energy efficient alternatives if possible.

5. Your bed

This may be unfathomable to some, but sleeping on the floor is a practice that some participate in to alleviate pain, reduce stiffness in the body, and improve blood circulation. If it seems tempting to ditch your mattress and you want to try sleeping on the floor, know that this lifestyle isn’t for everybody. If you’re suffering from a health condition that requires you to sleep on a comfortable mattress, it’s probably best if you keep your bed.

6. Old Items that are of no use to you

Simplify your life and home by getting rid of unnecessary items and green up your home by decluttering.  Items such as magazines, old books, or anything that you have no use for. Books could donated to your local library if they are still in good shape. Any items in your home that aren’t really useful or meaningful to you anymore either donate or give it to someone who really needs it. If the item is broken and can’t be fixed throw it out. Whether it is a book, a garden hose, a lamp, picture frames, or any other household item – if you don’t use but it is still in good shape give it to someone who would appreciate it.  A question that can help you to know if it is time to declutter something out of your life is:  is this item any use to me or have I have used it in the last year?

This article is part of a group of bloggers that I am participating with to help you learn self-sufficient skills, save money, live a simpler and frugal lifestyle.  We want to help you learn new skills, ways to save money, live a healthier and happier life that will help you and your family learn to be more self-reliant. So please check out all the valuable information on Self Reliance Challenge for 2019.

Don’t forget to enter the The Self Reliance Challenge Mega Giveaway to win wonderful prizes worth of $200.

About the author

Marla

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Hi! Thanks for visiting my blog! I believe in living green, organically, and natural in every aspect of our lives. My mission is to help educate you on how to live green, help save our environment and to help you and your family live a happier, healthier life!