Living a simple lifestyle is all about slowing down and enjoying life. In today’s world that can be difficult. Here are some of the things I do to enjoy a simpler life.
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A simple life is thought of as a manner of living in which a person does not own many things or use many modern machines and usually lives in the countryside – according to Merriam-Webster at least.
It’s not wrong; as I look out my window to the countryside I am reminded that that is the type of lifestyle I am working towards every day. The recent purge of my home and trip to Goodwill supports this claim also ha!
This idea of a simple life comes from a time where most people lived like that and it’s thought to have been simpler times. It’s a time when we made more than we bought and spent our days moving instead of sitting at a desk.
In the modern world we live in now, a simple lifestyle is harder to obtain. There is always something to do but rarely do we actually focus because we have so much to focus on. In this world with so much to do, we crave simplicity and a slow-paced lifestyle more than ever.
What I think the definition is missing is that living a simple life isn’t just about living in the countryside with no cell phone; I mean c’mon, I gotta have my iPhone!
In today’s world, it means not depriving yourself of the good things in life, the things that create a connection between you and something you love. It means to add activities to your life that force you to slow down and focus on that connection.
Remember the sourdough craze? There is a reason why people hopped on that trend. In times of stress, we crave comfort and control and there are not many things that are as simple but satisfying as freshly baked bread. Just the smell of it is comforting!
So to make a long story short, why do we crave the simple life? In this modern world, we crave it because deep down we want to slow down, we want to feel connected to life instead of rushing from one thing to another.
When I am concentrated on a project, in the garden, or cooking a homecooked meal I feel like I am meditating. Whatever makes you feel connected to life, do it!
One of the things I love to do to create a simpler and slower lifestyle is canning and preserving. It feels so full circle to me. Growing the foods, harvesting, and spending the day in the kitchen (music on, of course!) creating delicious recipes that will keep for years.
Not only does it give me the opportunity to fill my garden with plants in mind for preserving (I love planning out my garden!) but it helps the environment. More preserving of foods means less consumption and waste, not to mention less plastic!
You do not need to live on a homestead to preserve food! You can easily buy from a farmer’s market and make delicious recipes for canning. I suggest the Ball canning and preserving book to get you started.
more canning and preserving ideas
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE APPLE BUTTER
with warm spices
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE BUTTER
so much better than store-bought!
CANNING 101: GREEN CHILI SALSA
with easy canning instructions
SOURDOUGH STARTER
everything you need to know
Speaking of the garden; planning, planting, and growing my garden is one of the most important things for me to create a simple life. When I am in the garden, hands in the dirt, giving my plants the care they need I am fully connected to momma nature and it slows me down like nothing else.
When we moved to the homestead, the garden was our first big project. We added raised beds and planted everything from tomatoes to pumpkins. By the end of the summer, we had an abundance of foods that we could literally get right outside our door. Does it get better than that?
What I love about gardening, is you can do it anywhere. You don’t need a big garden to grow edible plants. You can create a small herb garden in your kitchen window or have a few potted plants on your porch.
more gardening ideas
GROWING RHUBARB
planting, growing, and harvesting
HOW TO PLANT A TEA GARDEN
full of herbs for your own tea blends
DIY HERB PLANTER BOX
only takes a few supplies!
Gardening may be therapeutic, but a home-cooked meal is so comforting. We have always cooked more than we eat out (especially these days, thanks COVID) but I make sure to cook home-cooked, comfort meals on the weekends. It’s our little weekend treat.
Cooking dinner is one thing, but a home-cooked meal that you put time into, that you have a connection with (grandma’s recipes, am I right!?) are so much more satisfying. When I am enjoying a home-cooked meal, it connects me to the ingredients and gives me the feeling of home.
more home cooking recipes
BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP
with italian sausage and mushrooms
CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP
with parmesan herb toast
ROASTED RACK OF LAMB
with dijon mustard and fresh herbs
ROASTED ARTICHOKES
with lemon herb aioli
Since moving to the homestead I have really started doing things myself. I feel that there is nothing I can’t do without some research and time spent.
Most recently we are building a chicken coop! We purchased plans from Cottonwood Shanty and are starting to build our beautiful coop; follow along on my Instagram story to see the progress.
A fun DIY project or a complete redo of a vintage piece of furniture is so rewarding. There is something about redoing instead of buying new. Just like gardening and food preserving, doing things yourself gives back and keeps a little more out of the landfills.
more do it yourself ideas
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE SCENTED CANDLES
with mason jars and essential oils
HALLWAY REDO
plus tips to decorate a hallway
HOMEMADE ANTI-AGING ROSEHIP NIGHT CREAM
with the powerful rosehip oil
PANTRY REDO
plus pantry organization tips
To me, living a simple lifestyle in a modern world is all about balance. Enjoy the convenience of your iPhone, but take time to connect with your favorite hobbies.
Slow down to enjoy an afternoon walk and give yourself opportunities to give back to the community and the earth. What does living a simple life mean to you?
I have really made it a point to slow down over the past few years myself. I love all of your tips and inspiration on this post. You are so lucky to have such a gorgeous view for your garden. That is truly a stunning shot. I am anxious to dig into some of your recipes and trying a sourdough starter- again. Thanks for all the inspiration!