30 Gifts of Living Simply

This week I celebrate my birthday, and as I was thinking about it, I realized how much my life has changed over the past few years, much of it due mainly to living a more simple, minimal lifestyle. The best way I can say it is that living simply is a gift, to yourself and your family. You’ll find 30 of those gifts below. No, I’m not turning 30, but I daresay I am ‘in’ my 30’s and to date, turning 30 has been my favorite birthday, so that’s why I decided on using it.  The gifts below are just some of the ways my family has noticed living simply has benefited us. Maybe you’ll recognize some of these gifts in your own life.

1. Living simply allows you to find more time in your life.
2. Living simply gives space, both physically and mentally.
3. Personal reflection comes more often when you live simply.
4. Spending more time with family is available when life is simpler.
5. Slowing down and really listening to others happens when you live simple.
6. Simple living helps you focus on experiences, not possessions.
7. Living simply cultivates better money habits.
8. Simple living promotes decluttering for a cleaner, roomier home.
9. Simple living promotes the care of your body and exercising.
10. Meditation comes more naturally as you live a simpler lifestyle.
11. When you live a simple life, you are able to enjoy nature more often.
12. Living simply helps us separate our needs from our wants, clearly.
13. Simple living gives us permission to say ‘no’ to too many obligations.
14. Your friends become a higher priority when you focus on the simple in life.
15. Cooking simply and eating simple, natural food comes naturally.
16. Getting dressed is easy with a simple wardrobe.
17. Simple family activities like walks, camping and game nights are fulfilling.
18. Spotting the hidden meaning of advertisements is much simpler.
19. Appreciating the simple things like a flower blooming comes easier.
20. Recognizing blessings is easier when life is simpler.
21. Shopping is no longer your main entertainment when you live simply.
22. TV no longer takes up the bulk of your evenings and weekends.
23. Reading becomes one of your favorite past-times, a simple pleasure.
24. Living simply increases your appreciation of creativity.
25. A simple life helps you enjoy playing with your children, or grandchildren.
26. Taking care of relationships instead of things becomes a priority.
27. You appreciate the moment you are in, realizing life is simply short.
28. Living simply helps you clear all the unimportant things from your life.
29. Helping others becomes much more important as you live a simple lifestyle.
30. A simple life makes room for you to be intentional in all areas.

I could continue on, breaking down even further all the ways living simply has been a gift in my life, but I think you get the picture. This week, I’m extra grateful for my experiences thus far in life, and excited and eager to have more, and to continue living simply while I’m at it!

What benefits have you noticed personally from living a more simple life?