The Simple Life: 9 Ways to Transition Into the Slow Lane
Ready to simplify, even just for a while? The ways to do it are as varied as the complexities of modern life
Grow some of your food. Experiment with minimalism. Travel the country in an Airstream trailer. A simple life doesn’t look the same for everyone. If you’re just getting the itch to live more simply or are already well on your way, see which of these nine simple-living goals appeals to you and then share what makes your life simple (or not!) in the Comments.
2. Have less stuff
Cleaning and caring for stuff can take up a huge amount of time, energy, worry and finances. If this resonates with you, minimalism, or a version of it, might be worth exploring.
First steps:
Cleaning and caring for stuff can take up a huge amount of time, energy, worry and finances. If this resonates with you, minimalism, or a version of it, might be worth exploring.
First steps:
- Start by decluttering your bedroom and take note of whether reducing the amount of stuff in this area also makes it easier to relax at night.
- Set small but concrete clutter-clearing goals and create reminders for yourself to follow through – either write them on a paper calendar or program them into your smartphone.
3. Ditch the car
Does your vision of a simple life involve walking and biking around town, savouring more time in the slow lane? If so, where you live and work may make a difference. Instead of hopping in the car on autopilot, consider whether taking a bike (or your own two feet) is a viable option.
First steps:
Does your vision of a simple life involve walking and biking around town, savouring more time in the slow lane? If so, where you live and work may make a difference. Instead of hopping in the car on autopilot, consider whether taking a bike (or your own two feet) is a viable option.
First steps:
- Explore the neighbourhood around your home and workplace. Challenge yourself to find all the businesses within walking distance.
- If you’re thinking about moving, make walkability a priority in your house hunt.
4. Reduce your carbon footprint
If conserving energy and protecting the environment are top concerns for you, making an effort to reduce your consumption of fossil fuels is a good goal to work toward. While there are many little ways to achieve this, one overarching decision that has the potential to dramatically reduce your consumption is living in a smaller home.
This won’t work for everyone, of course, but in the city, you could opt for a studio apartment or the equivalent smallest workable option for your family. In the suburbs or country, you might look for a cottage, a cabin…
If conserving energy and protecting the environment are top concerns for you, making an effort to reduce your consumption of fossil fuels is a good goal to work toward. While there are many little ways to achieve this, one overarching decision that has the potential to dramatically reduce your consumption is living in a smaller home.
This won’t work for everyone, of course, but in the city, you could opt for a studio apartment or the equivalent smallest workable option for your family. In the suburbs or country, you might look for a cottage, a cabin…
… or even a tiny house with more outdoor space instead of a house with a large footprint.
First steps:
First steps:
- Get an idea of what your current carbon footprint is by plugging some of your household data into an online carbon footprint calculator.
- Pick three small, doable changes to make this month to reduce your household carbon footprint. For instance: swap traditional bulbs for LEDs, compost food scraps and use cold water for washing clothes.
5. Be more connected to nature
Getting out in nature is good for our health, both physical and mental. And while you may fantasise about living in the mountains or by the beach, chances are you can find opportunities to explore natural areas no matter where you live. Of course, if moving closer to a big outdoor recreation area is an important goal, see if you can make that part of your long-range plan.
First steps:
Getting out in nature is good for our health, both physical and mental. And while you may fantasise about living in the mountains or by the beach, chances are you can find opportunities to explore natural areas no matter where you live. Of course, if moving closer to a big outdoor recreation area is an important goal, see if you can make that part of your long-range plan.
First steps:
- Take a trip to your public library or a local bookstore and look up hiking and outdoor guidebooks to your region. Circle three places you’d like to explore and mark the dates for your new adventures on the calendar.
- Take a bird’s-eye view of your community with an online satellite map. Spot the green spaces nearest to where you live, find out what they are and make a plan to check them out.
6. Grow your own food
Growing some of your food, whether in a few pots on the balcony or a large backyard edible garden, can be satisfying in a way that buying from the supermarket never will be.
First steps:
Growing some of your food, whether in a few pots on the balcony or a large backyard edible garden, can be satisfying in a way that buying from the supermarket never will be.
First steps:
- If you’re new to gardening, check out some of our edible gardening guides on Houzz or see if there is a local gardening workshop you can attend to learn some basics.
- Start small. Pick a few quick and easy crops to begin with, like salad greens, carrots and radishes.
7. Travel more
Having ample time off – and the resources to use that time for travel – is a worthy goal, albeit one that can feel hard to reach. While it may not at first glance seem like it, there are ways to make your travel dreams a reality, including renting out your home while you travel to offset costs and finding creative ways to travel on a smaller budget.
First steps:
Having ample time off – and the resources to use that time for travel – is a worthy goal, albeit one that can feel hard to reach. While it may not at first glance seem like it, there are ways to make your travel dreams a reality, including renting out your home while you travel to offset costs and finding creative ways to travel on a smaller budget.
First steps:
- Pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea and grab a notebook: it’s brainstorming time. Write out every idea you have that might allow you to incorporate more travel into your life. Then circle a few that look the most promising.
- Put savings for your travel adventures on autopilot by signing up to deposit a set amount each month into a savings account earmarked for travel.
8. Be more self-sufficient
If your goal is to rely a little (or a lot) less on buying things from stores, your version of the simple life may include some combination of growing some of your food, raising animals and making things from scratch. How far you decide to go is entirely up to you.
First steps:
If your goal is to rely a little (or a lot) less on buying things from stores, your version of the simple life may include some combination of growing some of your food, raising animals and making things from scratch. How far you decide to go is entirely up to you.
First steps:
- Make a list of the aspects of self-sufficient living that appeal to you. Then see if there are any local workshops you can attend to gain hands-on skills and experience.
- Commit to making or growing one thing this month instead of buying it. It doesn’t have to be a massive undertaking: knitting a scarf, making jam and growing a pot of herbs on the windowsill all count.
9. Spend more time with family
Living with multiple generations under one roof (or on one piece of land) – while not for everyone – can be a wonderful way to connect more deeply with family while sharing responsibilities and potentially saving money. Multi-generational living not your cup of tea? There are plenty of other ways to increase connection, including weekly (or monthly) dinners with extended family, planning shared outings and arranging special grandparent-grandkid time.
First steps:
Living with multiple generations under one roof (or on one piece of land) – while not for everyone – can be a wonderful way to connect more deeply with family while sharing responsibilities and potentially saving money. Multi-generational living not your cup of tea? There are plenty of other ways to increase connection, including weekly (or monthly) dinners with extended family, planning shared outings and arranging special grandparent-grandkid time.
First steps:
- Take some time to think about what you want from your family and extended-family relationships. What makes you feel closer? With whom would you love to spend more time?
- If you are considering sharing a multi-generational home in the future, sit down with everyone involved and discuss needs, wants and concerns.
Tell us
Do any of these simple-living goals resonate with you? Share what your version of a simple life looks like in the Comments.
More
Read more eco-living stories
Do any of these simple-living goals resonate with you? Share what your version of a simple life looks like in the Comments.
More
Read more eco-living stories
If your idea of a simple life means less stress, it probably matters less where you live, and more how you choose to live and what you spend your time doing. This might look like small changes – swapping some social media scrolling for more book reading – or larger ones, like downsizing your home or finding a job closer to where you live.
First steps: