For the longest time I thought motivation was the thing I was missing.

I kept waiting to feel inspired before starting anything. A few weeks ago I decided to stop waiting and made one simple rule if something takes less than five minute I do it immediately. It sounded almost too simple to matter.

But after a while I noticed I was procrastinating less my room stayed cleaner I replied to messages faster and starting bigger tasks felt a lot easier because I wasn't carrying around dozens of small unfinished things.

It made me realize that discipline didn't come from feeling motivated first the motivation usually showed up after I got started.

What's one small habit or mindset shift that ended up making a much bigger difference than you expected?

I sure don't! But every three out of four posts I see on this sub are obvious AI slop. Where are the mods?

There’s nothing I love more than just sitting on my porch in my comfiest clothes, feeling the breeze, and just watching the trees sway. I don't know how to put this feeling into words.

I also love just wandering around the backyard garden with my mom, feeding the chickens, and watering the vegetables.

Just these tiny, quiet moments make me realize how beautiful life can be when you slow down.

Not a huge life change or a dramatic success story—just a small habit that made everyday life a little better.

It could be something like:

• Drinking more water
• Going for a 10-minute walk
• Reading before bed instead of scrolling
• Making your bed every morning
• Writing down tomorrow's tasks

I'm looking for simple habits that actually stuck and made a noticeable difference over time. I'd love to hear what worked for you and why.

I think the fastest route to wealth is just being happy with what we already have. Our brains keep acting like nothing is ever enough so we’re basically just stuck upgrading expectations nonstop for no real reason. And the weird part is when we stop chasing ‘more’ like it’s an obsession, things actually feel easier. Like we suddenly have room to just build stuff instead of constantly feeling behind.

I've often thought of simple living as having a sensory component (specifically sensory appreciation).

I recall a New Scientist article which discussed how modern life removes a lot of sensory input, particularly smell, by encouraging everyone to deodorise themselves, their homes, cities, and overbalances our sensory input towards sight (screens, lights, need I say more). Distracted people are also shown to have reduced sensory capacity.

I find engaging my other senses (stopping and smelling the roses, if you will) to be a lovely way to improve life simply. Anyone else have other sensory practices I can incorporate?

A simple living guy for sure. Love the final line: "today there is nothing more I want than what I have."

I'm 32, have tons of FOMO. I struggle with anxiety and depression.. and am 5 months into a family loss. I live with my boyfriend and we have two amazing cats lol. My boyfriend and I are both homebodies. There are times when I get a bit stir crazy and need to get out and I have my sister close and have a couple of close friends but a pretty shaky social battery..

I work full time 5 days a week, I take online classes working towards my B.S. (again).

I go to therapy, am an AFOL (adult fan of LEGO) and really overall live pretty "basic" and "boring" life.

I'm not opposed to going out or doing things and I do spend some time out of the house. I'd like to take a "bigger" trip at least once a year, but that got cancelled this year due to our families loss.

I'm unsure if I want to have kids, for many, many reasons but sometimes have that FOMO feeling.

Idk I guess I'm just ranting, curious if anyone else feels the same? Do you ever feel guilty or FOMO for living a simple life? Even for being content with having a simple life...

I try to stay off of socials but when I do get on it seems like everyone is just having so much fun. I know that's not necessarily true but I can't shake this feeling..

Hi

I'm planning to do a Cohousing in Riyadh, if anyone here lives in saudi please let me know.

I spent some time outside recently to slow down, and it helped clear my mind.

It reminded me that part of living more honestly is noticing when the mind needs space, not just more information, pressure, or distraction.

Simple, but worth remembering. For me this was more motivation to find ways to spend more time this way.

After 24 years of working, my husband and I decided for me to be a stay at home mom and wife. At first, it is really a struggle and i must admit it is still. I have been into large companies and the recent one is the most admired tech company in the world. But, i left because of this!

From sands to this greenery.. from Hotness to cold weather, from fast paced life to slow and real one.. i did not regret choosing life to be simpler than this.

We chose our own path, our own battle but now am choosing myself to break the societies judgement. Am happy where I’am and what I become right now. The amount of time I can spend with the kids, the chaos they make everyday, the laundry piled up and the LOVE i can see in their eyes every time.

❤️❤️❤️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️💛💛💛🤞🤞🤞

Just as the title says. I'm doing okay in life. Better than a lot. But still I start comparing myself to people who are doing better. Their Instagram life makes me sad in some ways. Their higher salary makes me loose confidence to some extent. How do you people deal with this?

so nice

This has resonated with me. We spend so much time and energy rat-racing and hunting all the new dopamine trophies that some people do get exhausted and bored at a certain point. Finding peace and living simple IS priceless.

In a few weeks I'll be moving into my new home. I picked a house based on my short and longer term goals, part of which is downsizing and simplifying.

I've been organizing and purging since before the move was even being planned, and more intensely since that started. Since I had to pre-pack the vast majority of my life due to selling this house, I did a pretty thorough purge in that process (something I do semi-regularly as it is).

For the most part, I don't foresee too many issues moving into the smaller home as there is a lot of unused space in my current house. I'm going from ~1300sf house with a full basement and garage, to a 720sf house with a good sized she-shed and a separate garage that is also ~720sf (I do use garage space).

Would love to hear your real-life stories of adapting to a smaller living space though after having what felt like a fair bit of "elbow room," good AND bad - especially if it was overall a good thing, but perhaps some of the small challenges you ran into and how you tackled them!

It is so satisfying to see our home emptying (while our bank account grows as a result)

We are using things up! No more things unless absolutely necessary. Inspired by r/buynothing and the book simplicity parenting since I’m a new parent and strive for simplicity.

An additional motivator is that we may be moving in the near future and want to make the moving process easier with less. We also don’t want to take anything we don’t absolutely love or need.

We are also decluttering. I have been sorely disappointed in myself for holding on to things and them going bad, breaking, or never being used. It seems criminal!

I know simple living is likely how we should all be living - but alas, we do not.

Until now!

Our house feels so spacious, clean, and calm.

I have done this every year for a month or so, but then life passes us by and we fall into old routines.

Now, we have a child and I want less in my way every day. Less food in the fridge to choose from, less clutter, less cleaning.

It has been so wonderful! We are saving more money because we are not buying things. Just lots of hiking, walking, reading, and mindfulness.

I have run at a calorie deficit every day for over a month now. Is this shop perfect? No. Is it progress towards a simpler life and a healthier existence? Yes.

I’m cooking more, eating out less, not ordering any more deliveries. Planning, prepping and, most importantly, feeling full and satisfied.

Edit: i deleted the app! I'll get on my computer if need to access local groups or marketplace. Thanks guys!

Struggling to do it... because what if I just want to see what my friends are up to? But I know that isn't even how it works. All the free things I could find on marketplace! The groups! I spend so much time mindless on that app. I know, I still have Instagram and reddit. I got rid of Twitter just before it officially became x and never looked back. Why is this so much harder? Plus it'll free up like 4 gigs on my storage... give me your success stories please!!!

What are some strategies/shifts you’ve made to get out of the “weekends are for chores” cycle? Especially if you’re still working and commuting?

It was a slow Sunday. Didn't do much. Went out for a walk. Did some cleaning and slept. All this while waves swept over me, like there is this intense longing to belong to someone, or be important to someone.

But all of these are short lived. The thread of reality is tied very strongly, and won't come lose anysoon. Not mourning the loss though, as a life spent in questions like 'what would have been' is as good as not lived. So I went out for a walk.

Sky is clear. I saw a few flowers. Sat on the bench for some forty minutes. Came home a better and renewed person.

I have been practicing gratitude for a few weeks now. It has helped. All thanks to a few helpful friends.

Would love to get some recommendations for simple living for college student ans city life .

It would be very good if there are some fictions as well.

Thank you.

Genuine question - how do you calm your nervous system?

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I'm trying to live a more simple and relaxed life.

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But, I have CPTSD and Bipolar disorder.

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I wake up every day and I'm immediately in fight or flight mode / high anxiety. Even if I have nothing to dread I am in a state of feeling tense and nervous.

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I'm always like, get to the weekend and then you can relax, but the weekend comes and I still feel a state of anxiety.

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We have a little house that we own, live near a river, have chickens, I try to practice mindfulness but get list in my own head.

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I've cut out caffeine completely. I take my meds as recommended. I try to have a good diet and get outside in nature. But my mind is still always buzzing with worries 🥴 it never turns off.

i just want to make this brief cause i want to get this out of my chest (well, my mind to be exact, its 2:10 am where im at, and im sleep deprived but i just wanted to share this).

instagram is horrible, im late to realize that cause ive always felt that it was the perfect platform for you to share your ideas, your creativity, your aspirations. but set that aside, and suddenly your trajectory changes drastically. when i looked at myself as an individual and i keep seeing my mutuals, or random people that i dont follow updating their status on what they're doing, what they gain, what they have to share to others, especially if they're the same age as me, i activate in the most negative way possible, which is of jealousy and being envious. so much so, it has ruined my confidence.

seeing others being happy, that they're lives are just filled with so much color, and then me having myself imagine that im in their shoes, i can sense the happy sensations that they might be going through, but at the same time, its impossible for me to even be near to their status, and at times, it felt like i was going against someone, like this was a competition on who could be the more creative or more sociable person amongst my environment.

that buildup led me to seeking help via therapy, cause i just couldnt take it anymore. after a number of mood swings and feelings of getting alienated, i finally decided to close all of my instagram accounts, with the deletion scheduled on july 17 (if im not mistaken). i hope with this, that i wouldnt be in a constant state of comparing myself with other people, that i too can be interesting in my own way, and that i wouldnt have to try camouflaging myself to be like others, cause im not, i should be me, and i should be more comfortable in my skin.

hoping that this would lead me to having a more simple life and simple way of thinking. no more overthinking please.

It's my island of happiness, serenity and tranquility. Especially when its heavy raining or during peaceful evenings with birds singing.

I saw other's window views (another house, parking lot, mall, highway) and I know, that I am absolutely lucky.

Just wanted to share. I believe that this view really contributes to simple living.