When I was in Times Square at midnight a couple weeks ago I remember remarking that New York City truly doesn’t sleep. The people, the lights, the noise – it was vibrant, loud, exciting and ultimately tiring. You could walk several blocks from there and the pace slowed down. But, you had to make a choice to leave the busy and be okay with the fact that the busy atmosphere will keep going and you aren’t a part of it.
It’s the same in this digitally out-of-breath never stopping racing through all hours world that we live in. Alerts, options, deals, words, news, strategies, new things – it all comes racing at us at all hours. The information doesn’t stop, the activities pile up, and then we end up out of breath teaching our kids to live exhausted and we lose the beauty in the simple, peaceful moments of life.
Here are 7 Ways to Cultivate Simple.
1. Shut the Media Off. Set designated times throughout the day to shut the media off. Close the laptop lid, make sure the television is off, put the ipods, ipads, nintendo ds, and all hand helds away. And put your phone away. Turn it off. When Hannah was little the advice I would get was to turn off my landline phone for a bit — just a landline. And now? Now the media sources, the chatter of information, is everywhere. We have to be intentional about closing it and teaching our children that it is okay to walk away for just a bit. Set the timer on your stove and keep media off that entire time. There is stillness and power in choosing to silence the noise.
2. Know that there is no ahead. You buy a computer and it’s outdated. The new phone? Last month’s model. You miss a day on facebook and your stream is racing with updates. There really is no getting ahead in social media information. Recognize it. Know that you’ll be behind, and yet there really is no behind or no ahead – it is all just a constant chatter of information. So, instead, pick and chose when to enter and when to exit and know that you set your own rules with regards to digital information. But remember there is ahead with regards to family and relationships. Choose them first.
3. Embrace Conversation. Make it a point to sit down with your kids and simply talk. Go out and get coffee with your friends and talk in real life. Establish family dinner nights and keep them. I know, there are activities that we could do every night of the week. It looks fabulous on paper, doesn’t it? But, often times all those good things propel us into moving faster, and having clipped conversations with those we love, and we lose the intentional one on one family time of dinners and simple conversation. We have only so many days with everyone sitting at our table in our home so we must chose to make those conversation moments a priority.
4. Get rid of Stuff. Most of my own aggravation comes from managing stuff. Cleaning, sorting, donating, organizing, cleaning again, sorting and on and on and on. The amount of stuff within my home is ridiculous, and yet, I go to Target and fill the cart with more stuff to bring home. That saying less is more? Well, it’s true. Begin to carve out space within your home and get rid of extra stuff. Â Create breathing room within your home. Less stuff means less time managing stuff which means more time for your family which means you can breathe.
5. Ask Questions. Constantly ask questions. Do I need it? Does this matter? How will this help my family? Will this give me more time or less time? Just like I write about being awake, and living aware of the gift of time, and part of that means that we are on alert to how we use our time, manage our things, and schedule our day. Ask yourself questions and keep yourself sharp and intentional with your use of time – and this will end up guarding your time and helps you to use it wisely.
6. Start the Day with Quiet. Do not start your day by picking up your phone and checking messages. Do not open your laptop and sit down in front of it while your kids ask you over and over for breakfast. Get up earlier than they do, and create quiet for your day. Pray, journal, write, and start your day with just a bit of quiet. It sets the tone for the entire day. If you have to work on the computer in the morning, set the timer {see point one}, and be diligent in respecting the timer. Your kids, your family, will see you manage your media time and they will learn by your example. Start reclaiming the still found in the morning.
7. Walk. Take walks. And I mean take walks without media – turn off the stream of info and instead take walks where you can experience quiet. Take your kids and converse and embrace the conversation. Walk, and slow down. I guess, that’s the whole thing, this whole idea of cultivating simple in two words – slow down.
I need to remind myself of that daily.
Slow down.
What do you do to cultivate simple in a busy world?
25 comments
We sit out on our deck and listen to the crickets in the evening. Or we have a backyard campfire with smores and giggles with the kids. I do need to find more quiet away from the computer. Thanks for this post!
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I just shared this on “The Hands Free Revolution.” It is the BEST article I have ever read on capturing the moments that matter and catching our breath in a hurried, distracted world. Even if someone just adopted ONE of your brilliant guidelines, the impact on his or her life would be huge. Thank you for inspiring me today! What a gift you have provided the world with today.
Rachel, I shared this w/ my local homeschool group and pinned it under my Fitness board. Headed it: being fit isn’t just about diet and exercise!
thank you so much for this reminder…so true that there is so much happening around us, it is hard to just get away from it all and live the simple life. 🙂
This is a great read! I particularly like where you said, “Your kids, your family will see you manage your media time and they will learn by your example”. I will use that an extra motivation on days were I cave to the media indulgence.
Amazing! Thank you! I’ve been on the hunt for “simplicity” for years. I also find saying NO to activities is so helpful. Do our children really need to be involved in an activity every night of the week? I want my kids to be KIDS, not the most advanced in school or the best soccer player on the team. I want them to be in the backyard during the summer and evenings using their imaginations and creating. I want them to pull out the art supplies to create their newest masterpiece. And I want to share in those moments as much as I can with them!
Thank you for these suggestions. I especially like the one about starting your day quietly. That’s the one I’m going to adopt starting tomorrow (since today has already begun!).
Well said Angee!
It’s interesting that you mentioned “turning off media”…In the last 8 days, I have literally only watched the tv twice 🙂 🙂 It’s actually been really refreshing and freeing up so much time to get other stuff done 😉 🙂 Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 🙂
Being single I find myself bored and alone, so I turn to the phone and computer. I would love to have a family to keep me busy and work on these “get-aways.” Despite that, I still think that I could spend more time in the beauty of nature and get out more.
What a simple list to move life to simplicity. I’ve been reading your blog all summer and enjoying each and every post. As a mom of two year old twin daughters, your ideas of “finding joy” are so appreciated! I just wanted to thank you and encourage you to keep on writing!! ~Michelle
Thabk you!
Thank you so much for this inspiring list! I have been trying day by day to unplug and live in the present with my toddler. It isn’t always as easy as I thought. Some days I get so frustrated with myself and I know that I can do better…these tips are wonderful. Tomorrow is a new day and I know that I can find strength and inspiration from this post.
we cut the cable in our house and only have “tv time” together for Netflix. Instead of “game night” we have “game time” every day and have included the boys in our exercise – walks.
I try to do the “not so fun” stuff 1st to be an example for them to do their chores.
Always an inspiration. Thank you!
i think this is my favorite post ever. such good advice here. PREACH. : )
We have an anchor in every storm! Praying!
Hebrews 6:17-20 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
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So much encouragement. Thank you, Mrs. Martin! I needed to read this. This encompasses all my scattered thoughts and put them into words I was struggling to find. Also, it helped me to see that I’m not alone in struggling to step away from the social media. I make excuses and end up being carried away and occupied with messages, e-mails, and blog reading, that I don’t take enough time to step away and be fully present in each moment and delve into my own art rather than others.
Thank you.
Blessings!
-Madi
Perfect read this morning as I sit with my coffee!
You are so right about the importance of unplugging….I made a change a few months ago that I would not blog on weekends & this summer made it a point to shut down the computer for the day at 3pm.
It’s made a world of difference!
Great reminder….and post!
xo
PS: I miss you.
Thank you again.We try and do these things in our home too but not always as much as I’d like, your writing is a fantastic reminder! x
I’m trying something new recently. I am attempting to do just one thing at a time. Working on being present in the moment, and experiencing what I am doing fully, and not having a divided mind.
I was not able to do this while raising my children; perhaps it is possible? Our youngest is leaving home in about 2 weeks, so the days are really numbered now!
Looking back, I am grateful for: homeschooling all four children, and the time at home that gave us; playing outside and exploring our backyard; that we never had video games in the house; that I raised my children mostly without TV, and largely without a lot of computer time, until they were older. Computers/internet have brought many blessings to us, but I have found it more difficult to manage my time and my younger children’s time since they have come into our lives so much. It can be done; it just takes a lot of intentionality.
I think I am even grateful that my house was not ever super-neat when the kids were home. If I had to choose between the house and working with the children, I almost always chose the children. Yes, my house shows it now! But I do not have regrets.
Wonderful reminders. Thank you, Rachel!
You’ve put into words (exactly!) what has been weighing on my husband and my heart and mind! We’re considering some big changes with our family (of soon to be 8) to be able to really live this way more.
We’ve been saying that we feel called to “live more intentionally” and this is a wonderful list of how we’ve been feeling God pulling our hearts! Thank you for writing this wonderful post!
~ Mara
Every morning we have “hang out time” where my husband and I hang out with our three little kids while we sip our coffee or tea. Sometimes we play a board game or simply sit on the front porch and take in the nature that surrounds us (we live in the mountains).
Sunday’s are our unplugged days where the computer and cell phones are turned off and removed from the living areas (eliminate temptations). It’s amazing how much more relaxed I am when I don’t see my computer.
We also take daily walks in the woods. There’s no cell service where we lived so carrying a phone would be useless.
We pulled the plug on our TV about three years ago and have never missed it. We plugged a cheap laptop into the TV and subscribe to Netflix so we can watch a movie every now and then. We’ve been tempted to turn the satellite dish back on because it was so cheap but we’ve made the conscious choice to not let all the commercialism and mind-numbing aspects of TV into our house. We love it!
I love all your other tips here! I felt calmer simply reading them.
this is good stuff
This is absolutely stunning! Thank you for each reminder. Printed it out & put it up on my fridge. Your insight is a blessing!