With the holiday season upon us and a new year just around the corner, it’s a great time to contemplate how to make life simpler. Contrary to popular belief, it's not a rigid way of life that everyone adheres to. While some people may live off the grid and cultivate their own food, others may simply strive for a garage that is less crowded.

Finding beauty in less is the key to simple living, as is prioritizing quality over quantity. Instead of pursuing status symbols or meeting society's expectations, it's about appreciating the things that bring us joy.

It's a way of life that usually involves getting rid of things you don't need and living a simpler, more deliberate life, even if that means contacting a real estate agent to learn what you need to do to sell your home. More or less, a life based on your values rather than your status or possessions.

Reducing the Unnecessary Stuff

At its core, simple living is about using less.

Instead of living your life-pinching pennies or using credit cards because you need to make those essential home repairs before selling your home, you might be able to work less or seek more fulfilling work if you're able to cut out the unnecessary spending.

The "100-Things Challenge" and the tiny home movement are examples of simple living. The focus is on being thankful and content with what you have. Sometimes, but not always, the lifestyle is about eschewing luxury and indulgence.

To live simply, you need to have a home that isn't stuffed to the gills with the kind of stuff that can cause stress. It entails getting rid of anything that is either unused or taking up space. Your prices and cleaning times will go down if you live more simply.

Track Your Expenses

Keeping track of one's spending is advantageous for everyone. The easiest approach to determining when and for what you are using your money is to do this. It's conceivable that you'll discover that you're spending far more money than is necessary. For example, if your family has a second  car that is rarely used, it can turn out to be an unnecessary cost. You could find an alternate way to get to where  you need to go without dealing with the added expenses of car ownership (maintenance, gas, registration, etc.). 

Enjoy Life to the Fullest

Simple living means keeping a simple schedule without obligations that don't make your life better and busy work that only makes you feel like you're getting things done. When our lives are filled with "shoulda, coulda, woulda," simple living generally means concentrating on the parts of your life that you enjoy, no matter how small they may be.

Simple living is about realizing that being happy isn't equated with being wealthy in a world where it is believed that our success and value are determined by the money we produce and how we spend it.

Because consumerism teaches us that there is never enough, it breeds unattainable goals and desires that cannot be realized. Our culture is set up to make us always yearn for the newest gadget, technological advancements, or trends in clothing.

Simplicity Can Bring Peace

A simpler, less cluttered, and less busy life is good for your health in many ways. When you have less stress and eat better, your blood pressure goes down, you sleep better, and your chances of experiencing bouts of anxiety or even having a heart attack go down.

Living a simpler life isn't just good for you; it's also better for the environment because you're using less stuff, eating less meat, and reducing as much waste as possible.

Thank you to Homelight.com for this timely guest blog post. Happy Holidays!