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HOW TO LIVE CONTENTLY WITH LESS

Sometimes it’s hard to watch others around you with 52-inch screen TVs, the latest fashions and thousands of vacation pictures to the Bahamas. Although “things” are nice to have and vacations offer good memories, you can live contently with less and still be happy. In fact, you may actually be happier!

How to live contently with less stuff

Image via Shutterstock

HOW TO LIVE CONTENTLY WITH LESS

LEARN THAT “LESS IS BETTER”:  When you have less, there is less to clean, less to search for and less work to be done. Having less “things” can make life more enjoyable all around. You will find with accumulating less, you will actually have more money and more freedom.

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS:  Everyday that you wake up and are breathing is a blessing. Count your many blessings every day to remember the good you have.

REMINISCE OFTEN:  Think back in your life about the good things. Reminisce on fun times with your family and friends.

REMEMBER THE BAD TIMES:  Sometimes it’s good to look at where you came from. Look at the bad times and see how far you’ve come. Imagine a life with no debt and less stress.

CONNECT WITH OTHERS MORE OFTEN:  Spending quality time playing games, talking, and enjoying company is far more rewarding than having more things. When you have less stuff, you have more time.

ENJOY THE SIMPLE THINGS:  Take time to enjoy the simple things in life like the beautiful arrangement of flowers in your flower bed, the soft trickle of the rain on your roof, and the peace of a walk in the park.

DELVE INTO YOUR BRAIN:  When you have less stuff, you have more time to learn. Take that time to read a good book, take a walk or just enjoy the peaceful atmosphere around you.

DO MORE FREE THINGS:  From movies in the park to a family picnic in the backyard, make more memories instead of buying more things.

LOVE YOUR LIFE:  This is your life and you have done the best you can with it. Love yourself, your family, and love your life. The more love you give, the happier you will be.

I always say that I feel how my house looks. If my house is full and cluttered, I feel full and cluttered. Getting rid of things helps me to feel more peace and I want others to feel content with less too.

You really can live contently with less. Remember, there are many people who are far less fortunate than you are. If you have what you need, people that love you, and great memories, then you have a great life. Enjoy the simple life!

You may also like this post on LESS TOYS, HAPPIER KIDS:

Less toys, happier kids? Today on mommymoment.ca we discuss this. Does less toys equal happier kids?

Girl image via Shutterstock

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Soozle

Tuesday 3rd of May 2016

I love this post! I recently did a little volunteer work when I was in Mexico where I spent some time in the slums (read houses made of cardboard and plywood, no running water in parts). One thing that REALLY stood out to me was when a young woman (maybe 21) who spent her days scrounging at the dump for anything of value was given a bar of hotel soap - she walked away smelling that bar of soap SO deeply as if it was the worlds most expensive perfume..

My heart dropped that I realized I was not as appreciate of the small things in life.. It really humbled me and made me realize I need to learn to appreciate what I have - because I ultimately am way more fortunate that so many out there.

Jody @ Mommy Moment

Tuesday 3rd of May 2016

Thank-you for sharing that. We really are blessed.

Amanda Fontaine

Monday 2nd of May 2016

Great article Jody, thanks for sharing.

Jody @ Mommy Moment

Tuesday 3rd of May 2016

Amanda, I am glad you liked it.

sabina Edwards

Monday 2nd of May 2016

We said, do I want it? or do I NEED it? mostly you want things, you don't need them to live your life. For myself, my kids always came first, even their future!! I put money into resp's and we have always been a min wage income family!! Both kids are grown up and moved out and I think the fact that we did have less then their friends, has helped them as adults ( and believe me, not everyone puts their kids needs first, I have seen first hand people smoking and drinking, in the many years we worked for my parents in the small rural hotel business they had.

Jody @ Mommy Moment

Tuesday 3rd of May 2016

That is good advice. I sadly think that sometimes people get confused about wants and needs, many people think they really do need things.