12 Tips for Simple Living

12 Tips for Simple Living:

1: Pay bills immediately.
As long as a bill is hanging out there in the unpaid category, it occupies mental space.

2: Bring a mug to work.
Instead of going through stacks of single-use disposable cups at work, bring your own ceramic mug. Same goes for a water bottle, plate, silverware and any other frequently used items.

3: Spend time outdoors.
Whether it's sunny or overcast, step outside every day to reconnect with nature.

4: Celebrate your victories.
In the rush of our lives, too often we allow our "mountaintop moments" to pass unnoticed.

5: Pay in cash.
Identify a personal spending trouble spot and shift to a cash-only policy.

6: Save your "petty" change.
If you buy a bottle of wine for $9.19, pay with a $10 bill, then put the 81 cents change directly into your piggy bank or an old glass jar.

7: Empty your trash.
Staring into an overflowing waste basket makes you feel bloated, while an empty receptacle signals that your slate has been cleared, and you're ready to move forward.

8: Turn on the ceiling fan.
They provide a soothing, low-level whir (the white noise can help you sleep) and reduce cooling bills in the summer and heating bills in the winter.

9: Hang clothes outside.
I was overjoyed to rediscover in middle age that my childhood chore of hanging clothes on the line was actually pleasurable.

10: Buy used.
It costs less and cuts down on packaging waste, thus reducing your carbon footprint. Second-hand or consignment shops are great places to find clothes, kitchen equipment and even furniture.

11: Disconnect and reconnect.
Take time every day to disconnect from electronics. This will open the way for eye-to-eye contact and genuine engagement.

12: Stop and chat.
When you're out for a walk in the neighborhood, or in a supermarket line, make small talk. You will find that "small talk" isn't small, but big and meaningful.