When my daughter was in high school, she attended a friend’s sweet 16 birthday. The friend had just received a brand new car for the occasion, and on the way home, my daughter was unusually quiet. Then she began to talk about why she was upset. It’s not that she wanted a car, exactly. It’s that she didn’t know when she could ever afford one. She knew she’d have to save up for a car herself, but she also needed to save for college, and then after college she’d need to save to pay off school loans, and . . . and . . . and . . . she’d be OLD before she’d ever get ahead.
I talked to her a bit and reassured her that the situation wasn’t quite that dire. She eventually calmed down, but I understood her anxiety. It’s not that my daughter is materialistic; she isn’t. Nor am I. Not too much, anyways. But financial insecurity is a legitimate challenge for many of us. It’s only in the last few years that I’ve gotten ahead, and I’m definitely OLD by her standards.
Financial anxiety isn’t the only reason many of us get stressed, but it’s a big one. It has certainly been a driving force behind many of my choices to downscale my possessions, including my home, and reduce my cost of living. Creating a more minimalist lifestyle has kept me calm during times of financial stress, such as my current unemployed status. Don’t get me wrong—simplifying or becoming a minimalist will solve all your financial problems. However, it can help you manage the problems as well as your emotional state better.
Money isn’t the only issue that challenges our sense of peace. Family, friends, and love relationships (or a lack thereof) may cause stress, insecurity, and discontent. Prioritizing and simplifying can reduce some of the stress in these areas. You can’t pick your family, but you can choose who to spend more time.
Do you have friends who bring you down or put you down? Haven’t we all had so-called friends in our lives who don’t bring out the best in us? Why are you holding onto them? Do your social media friends truly add value to your life? Take a hard, objective look at who is worth keeping in your life. Prioritizing the right relationships will bring more peace of mind.
Time and energy management also effect our stress levels. How often do you catch yourself saying you’re too busy or tired to do something? We certainly hear it from others; in fact, when asking how someone is, the answer nowadays is often “Busy!” (note: “busy” does not answer the question of how you are, just how much you’re doing).
Simplify your schedule and obligations. Stop treating life like a race on a treadmill. Just don’t do it. Just say no. Cut back everything to a minimal schedule, at least for a month, and see how that feels. You can always add back activities, but when you do, do so mindfully.
Life is full of challenges, and too often we needlessly overcomplicate our lives. Simplifying isn’t always easy, especially at the beginning, but you will eventually notice the difference in your stress levels. Learning to manage them in a calm, mindful way helps us get through them. As for my daughter, her years of living simply as a graduate student paid off and she has a good job. She managed to buy a car in her late 20s, so not that old, and yes, she’s much calmer.
KEEP CALM AND SIMPLIFY
RESOURCES
Babauta, Leo Essential Zen Habits: Mastering the Art of Change, Briefly
Carver, Courtney Simple Ways to Be More with Less
St. James, Elaine Living the Simple Life: A Guide to Scaling Down and Enjoying More
The Minimalists Minimalism: a Documentary About the Important Things
For more resources, go to this page: Resources
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Terrific post. I meant to comment on a previous post and how much I appreciate you putting your thoughts and writing out there. It’s great to find other like minded souls stumbling through the interweb universe.
Thanks so much, Becky.
Yep! Money talks but it doesn’t implies you have to listen to it. Money should be an useful tool, not a blind guide.
True, but so often we react emotionally instead of logically to money issues.