I was introduced to this simplicity author, Elaine St James by Leo Babauta of Zenhabits. Being a lazy person who doesn’t like to do cleaning up and organizing, being simple is the best way I think I should head.

I started with uncluttering in early Feb which was during the Chinese New Year spring cleaning period. I took the chance to ‘get rid’ of clothes that I didn’t wear for the last six months. It was a great feeling! Though I didn’t totally throw them away, I put off clothes I won’t be wearing back in the cupboard, sold a few running tees on eBay. My current wardrobe is simply a clothes rack in front of my desktop.

I notice a few changes in me after I take serious view of being uncluttered and simple:

• I reduce unnecessary buying to a larger extent. I didn’t want to add on to the items I already own. I buy things that I really need. I love technology items like laptop, ipod and even iphone. But I convinced myself that my current Fujistu Tablet is working fine so there isn’t a need to get a new laptop. The same applies for ipod and iphone. I just found out yesterdat that my old Zen mp3 player is working just as fine, so is my Nokia E71.

• I throw away (and recycle) things more readily instead of keeping them aside, thinking that ‘one fine day’ those items will be in use again.

As a result of these changes, I feel happier without having to be nagged at for my tardiness by my folks and sister. I can work more effectively with a less cluttered work area. I’m more at peace with myself since everything is in my control again.

I have to thank Zenhabits and Unclutterer for sharing the stories and benefits of simplifying and uncluttering.

I feel good!

To simplify more, I bought the book ‘Simplify Your Life’ by Elaine St James. She shared 100 ways to slow down and enjoy the things that really matter. I totally enjoy the book despite the first section on ‘Simplifying your Household’. I realize that there are quite a handful ways which I have been practicing like:

• Cancel your magazine subscriptions
• Re-think your use of your cell phone
• Build a simple wardrobe
• Get out of debt (I’m glad that I have been using my credit card the correct way all these while)
• Get rid of all but one or two of your credit cards. (I actively use only my HSBC card and I have a Citibank supplementary card seldom use)
• Live on half of what you earn and save the other half
• Reduce your needs for goods and services
• Work where you live or live where you work
• Do what you really want to do
• Work less and enjoy it more
• Include your family in your work life (I get my dad to help me to deposit cheques)
• Make water your drink of choice (I still drink my isotonic 100 Plus after my run)
• Do one thing at a time
• Just say no
• Get rid of your cars (I rethink about my plan to own a BMW)
• Stop making the bed! (I love this)
• Kick off your high heels – and keep them off (Luckily I’m tall so I don’t need high heels)
• Take off your plastic nails and throw out the nail polish (I always keep my nails short, no nail polish as I do bite my nails at times)

I’m going to do what I have read to practice on these:

• Do nothing
• If it’s not working, stop doing it
• Just be yourself
• Get up an hour earlier
• Be in bed by nine one night a week
• Take time to watch sunrise
• Spend one day a month in solitude

Do you live a simple life too? Or are you too busy to appreciate what’s around you? I would love to hear from you, leave me a comment.

Photo Credit: RonAlmog