By Paige Reist | Posted: July 21, 2018
“I do believe in simplicity. It is astonishing as well as sad, how many trivial affairs even the wisest thinks he must attend to in a day; how singular an affair he thinks he must omit. When the mathematician would solve a difficult problem, he first frees the equation of all encumbrances, and reduces it to its simplest terms. So simplify the problem of life, distinguish the necessary and the real. Probe the earth to see where your main roots run.”
― Henry David Thoreau
Henry David Thoreau was famous for his transcendental writing, his revolutionary political views, and most of all, his simple, wholesome approach to living. He was a solitary, nature-loving abolitionist, ate a mostly vegetarian diet long before it was popular in the west, and believed in the power of balance, moderation, and reasonable restraint.
National Simplicity Day was conceived in his honour, and is celebrated on Thoreau’s birthday--July 12th, 1817. Here are seven easy ways to embody Thoreau’s simple approach to living in the bustling, busy world of today.
1. Explore the natural world.
Thoreau was a passionate advocate for spending time in the natural world. An expert canoer and hiker, he wrote thousands of words on the beauty, spirituality, and importance of nature to the human soul. It turns out that Thoreau was onto something― nature time is essential to your health, happiness, and mental well-being.
“I love Nature partly because she is not man, but a retreat from him. None of his institutions control or pervade her. There a different kind of right prevails. In her midst I can be glad with an entire gladness.”
― Henry David Thoreau
2. Embrace solitude.
Being alone can be scary, but it’s an essential component of happiness. Filling your time with social engagements, work responsibilities, and meaningless errands doesn’t make you a more productive, powerful person, but can actually prevent you from knowing yourself and what you want out of life. Solitude helps you simplify by helping you understand who you are, what matters to you, and how you can achieve your dreams. Thoreau lived alone for much of his life, and credits his solitude to much of his fulfillment.
“I love to be alone. I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude.”
― Henry David Thoreau
3. Put away your phone.
Our phones are incredible machines, but they’ve also got incredible powers of distraction. We even take our phones to the bathroom, because heaven forbid we get bored while we pee! Give yourself a break from the constant stimulation of your smartphone and let your mind wander for a little bit. The less time you spend engaged in technology, the less prone you’ll be to overwhelm, distraction, and restlessness. Simplicity is just a power button away.
“The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.”
― Henry David Thoreau
4. Take some time to just breathe.
Sudarshan Kriya is a powerful meditation technique that lets you sink into a place within you that is still, calm, and peaceful. Developed by renowned spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar as part of Art of Living’s Happiness Program, Sudarshan Kriya is just one of many meditation techniques that you can draw upon to simplify your life and quiet your mind.
“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment.”
― Henry David Thoreau
5. Declutter your surroundings.
You might have heard of the Konmari method― a radical decluttering technique that promises amazing results for your mental health and clarity. Living and working in organized, visually calm spaces can increase concentration, spark creativity, and give you the ability to let go of the past, all wonderful things for living simply.
“Do not trouble yourself much to get new things, whether clothes or friends… Sell your clothes and keep your thoughts.”
― Henry David Thoreau
6. Get clear on who you are
Self-discovery is a big undertaking, but one that is essential for simplifying your life. Once you know your values, skills, talents, goals, and areas of growth, all of the peripheral noise tends to fall away. You start paying more attention to the hobbies, relationships, and aspirations that matter to you, and less attention to those things that are less essential to becoming the person you want to be. This streamlining naturally helps you simplify your life. One fantastic tool that you can use to learn more about yourself is the Enneagram, a personality test designed to help you grow and thrive.
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Life the life you’ve imagined.”
― Henry David Thoreau
How are you spending National Simplicity Day?
Paige Leigh Reist is a lifestyle writer and the blogger behind thewholesomehandbook.com.
