Since choosing my one little word for 2022, I’ve been trying to flesh out what I really want that to mean in my life. Simple is actually a surprisingly vast, subjective type of word! As I’ve browsed the Internet for inspiration, I’ve seen so many themes: some focus on minimalism, some on reducing their overscheduling, some even see simple as going completely off the grid. While I appreciate parts of each, none of these themes seem exactly right. I’m still brainstorming, but below are three thoughts I’ve made so far:
1 // Less clutter and more visual peace
I am not a minimalist and probably never will be. I love being surrounded by books and photos and beautiful things. But there’s a balance, you know? At some point, that comfortable, cozy feeling can become claustrophobic. The piles of stuff can quickly become overwhelming. The line is completely subjective and different for everyone and I want to explore that for myself this year. I want to find the balance between just enough and too much. I want to teach my children that while it’s just stuff, we also have a responsibility to take good care of our things. I want more visual peace in our everyday life.
2 // Less distractions and more time looking up
My oldest son is a freshman in high school. No event has been more motivating to me to get my Internet use under control than handing him his first cell phone last summer! He is watching his parents and our relationship with our phones. He’s watching whether we’re using it as constant entertainment or as a tool. He’s watching our manners: are we distracted and “just checking one thing” while someone is speaking to us or do we give the person our full attention? Our habits matter! It’s humbling. For me, a simple life definitely means less social media, less phone use in general and more time looking up at my real, everyday life.
3 // Less doing all the things and more slowing down
I used to buy into the idea that if you hustled hard enough, you’d be able to do it all. For years and years, I tried to juggle so many things…and didn’t do a great job at any of them! Now that I’m a little older and wiser, I know the truth is that yes, you can do it all…but not all at the same time. It’s time for a refresher from this post I wrote a few years ago. Constantly feeling like I’m behind is a choice. It’s okay to focus on one thing at a time, even if I don’t get to it “all” each day.
Oh gosh, I feel you on setting the example with my phone. Our boys are in eighth grade currently, and trying to instill in them phone etiquette and self control has been hard, but also really good because maybe I needed those lessons too. hah!
Ashley- I love all of these. So much yes to modeling to our kids that stuff is just stuff – but also take care of our stuff (truest thing ever in a big family).
Can you believe you have a freshman?! Time – what are you all about and why are you so wonderful and also cruel?
It is one of my biggest pet peeves when speaking to someone and they break focus because their device (or watch) pinged. It’s so infuriating and something I definitely want to teach our kids when they get old enough to have phones.
And not doing all the things. Yes. I’m trying to find balance and fumbling over here but really interested in digging more into how to strain out what I want to make time for and what doesn’t serve me in this moment of our life. As always – thank you for the inspiration and friendship on this journey!
XOXOXO