What are you willing to give up to live a simple and stress-free life?
That was the question that came to my mind the other day as I gazed at my office shelf sifting through a thousand tabs open in my mind. It was a difficult question to ask, but I couldn’t deny the necessity of it.
Growing older, and hopefully wiser has required the wilful doing away of things that no longer serve me and embracing the things I need for the woman I wish to become.
You can probably relate.
When the minimalist movement began a couple of years ago, many jumped on board for aesthetics, some seeking validation, but the truth is: simple living isn’t about the trend. It’s about the trade-offs. And the trade-offs are real.
True simplicity asks something of us. It invites us to unlearn, to release, to redefine what truly matters.
What Is Simple Living?
Simple living is the intentional choice to remove the unnecessary so you can focus on what truly nourishes your soul. It’s not just decluttering your home, which is one key part of the equation, but the decluttering of your mind, your calendar, and your heart. It’s choosing peace over pressure, depth over distraction, and alignment over approval.
It’s about coming home to yourself, to the freedom and liberty within yourself.
Thirty Ways to Live Simply as a Woman Over 30
1. Be clear about your primary goal.
What is your true desire, and why does it matter? Let this clarity become your compass.
2. Start your day with prayer and meditation.
Begin with stillness. Anchor yourself in something greater than the noise. For me, my morning prayers have been Godsent, literally.
3. Read daily.
Feed your mind with words that uplift, stretch, or soothe you.
4. Avoid gossip.
Speak life. Choose words that heal, not harm. I get the allure of gossip and the illusion of closeness it pretends to give but I know this is hollow and meaningless.
5. Enjoy your own company.
Your presence is not lacking; it is a gift. Savor it!
6. Speak less.
Leave room for mystery, mindfulness, and meaning. But more so, leave room to listen to what’s going on in your heart.
7. Give without expecting anything in return.
Let generosity be your default posture. Try not to make your relationships transactional.
8. Buy less.
Shop with intention. Let every item in your life serve a purpose or bring joy. Marie Kondo advocates that we curate our space with the things we love and actually need. Let this be your default setting when it comes to shopping.
9. Save a percentage of every income you receive.
This is non-negotiable. A little discipline today creates freedom tomorrow.
10. Don’t get attached to material things.
Everything you own is either supporting your life or distracting from it. Keeping this perspective saves you from greed and unnecessary heartache in the future.
11. Be comfortable saying no.
Protect your peace. No is a full sentence. Always is and always has been.
12. Quality trumps quantity.
Listen, as we grow older, we need to understand the importance of quality items. One beautiful piece is worth more than ten mediocre ones.
13. Invest in experiences.
Moments make memories; things rarely do.
14. Be open to learning new things.
Stay curious. Stay teachable. Learn as much and as well as you can.
15. Nurture your sense of humor.
Laugh at yourself often, it’s disarming and divine.
16. Smile more often.
Light spreads. Be the spark, you never know how your smile can change the very trajectory of another person’s day.
17. Drink more water and less soda.
Choose what energizes and heals you. Start small but make it a daily habit.
18. Count the cost before you decide.
Every “yes” carries a cost. Choose wisely.
19. Batch your work tasks.
Flow over frenzy. Structure breeds simplicity.
20. Tell the truth.
Honesty lightens your emotional load, make this a lifestyle practice.
21. Walk more often.
Let the rhythm of your steps reconnect you to life. Walking is one of life’s greatest gifts. It has so many benefits that it requires its own post.
22. Dance and sing.
Joy don’t require permission. Find time to enjoy the moment, to do silly and heart nourishing things.
23. Check in on your friends.
Relationships require presence, not perfection.
24. Spend quality time with your family.
These are the irreplaceable moments.
25. Don’t hold a grudge.
Forgiveness frees you more than it frees them.
26. Learn to cook easy meals.
Nourishment can be simple and sacred. You are more likely to stick to a healthy menu when you learn to cook simple and easy meals.
27. Create a minimalist wardrobe.
Choose pieces that reflect your essence, not just the trend.
28. Write it down.
Thoughts untangled on paper become clarity in your mind. “Write the vision and make it plain.” (Habakkuk 2:2)
29. Make time for the things that matter.
If it’s not a priority, it’s a distraction. Learn to focus on the important over the urgent. The Eisenhower Matrix explains this so well.
30. Be grounded in your beliefs and values.
Let your life be rooted, not reactive. Create a vision statement for your life and let that be the guiding force for your decisions and actions.
How to live a Simple Life
Simplifying your life doesn’t mean shrinking it, it means shaping it to reflect who you truly are. It’s not about less for the sake of less, but less for the sake of more: more meaning, more peace, more room to breathe and just be.
So ask yourself again: What are you willing to let go of in order to live a life that feels like yours?
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