simple living – Page 2 – Mind Beauty Simplicity

Today, I’m excited to have Sejal of The Lazy Gal Blog for guest posting on Mind Beauty Simplicity. I hope you all enjoy her suggest simple ways to showcase love to the ones in your life this Valentines Day. If you enjoy this post, please be sure to check out her blog & follow her on social media. All of her links will be down below at the end of the post.

Valentine’s Day is a day for showing someone you cherish and appreciate them. Some people love going all out, and others like being more mellow. This post is for the latter. I know people who don’t like big commotion and being in front of others. Maybe because of social anxiety or other reasons. Here are some simple ways to show your special person why they’re special to you. Not only for Valentine’s day but every day

Cook for them Or Order their Favorite Food

A surprise breakfast(in bed), or just a meal that you know they love. Even a dessert they love, or a cultural dish. If you’re scared about something exploding, you can always order their favorite dish from their favorite restaurant. Or from a place where both of you have good memories.

Make them Something

No one said you have to splurge on a gift. Painting something, taking ceramics classes to make something, making paper roses, etc. A collage of memories, or something else handmade. Putting effort into something like this is appreciated. Especially if you make it of something they like. If they love roses or tulips, you can make a painting for that or make paper versions. There are so many ideas on Youtube, Instagram, Tiktok, and Pinterest!

Buy them something special

If you saw them look at something they wanted but didn’t get, or something that’s been on their wishlist. You can think about getting that. This shows that you really care, and would be a cute surprise If you know they’re a reader, then this post is perfect for you! If you know they love music you can get them merch, concert tickets, records, and favorite singer/band-themed items. Get your partner something that truly shows you know their interests and what they want.

Get something matching for both of you

Matching necklaces, rings, bracelets, etc are all simple cute ways to show your partner you cherish them. I’m not talking about super expensive diamond jewelry, I mean handmaid items. Or matching crystals, designs, and colors. This way you can always have a cute reminder of them, and vice versa. You can also get matching hats or clothes. Whatever you think is best for you and your partner!

Book a hair, spa, or nail appointment

Some caution, if you know your partner wouldn’t like you booking appointments like this, please don’t do it. However, if you know they’ll love a little spa or self-care day, this is perfect! Check-in with their usual salon or nail area, and see what’s available. Both of you guys can even go! Everyone needs a little break, and this would be a sweet surprise.

Write them a love letter

Get them their favorite flowers, and write a handwritten letter for them. It’s such a simple way to express your adoration and love for someone. They can always reread this letter, when they have a bad day or just because.

Love Jar

A love jar is just a little jar with sheets of paper. Now for a love jar, you can make sheets of compliments, inside jokes, memories of a good day, songs, movie or book recommendations, etc. This is such a simple and constant reminder of your love. Grab a paper after a tough day, or when you miss them, and you suddenly feel so much better.

Romantic Picnic

If you want to take the food idea to the next level, then have a picnic! If your partner doesn’t like sitting on the grass, etc, you can always have it on the table at a park. You can go for a romantic walk after, and get coffee, etc. You can buy tea sandwiches and fancy little pastries. Have fun with it, it’s your day too!

write little love notes around the house

This is an expansive version of the love jar. It would be a cute surprise if you hid it around the apartment or house. Maybe even a scavenger hunt for a bigger gift, either way, it’s very simple and adorable. Just paper, pen/pencil, and that’s it!

send them a flower/chocolate delivery

I don’t know about you, but I would love it if someone surprised me with flower/chocolate deliveries. Maybe at work or when they go home, etc. This might be a bit pricey, but if you know your partner is a big romantic, this would be a nice and simple way. Especially if you both are busy, you can show you didn’t forget about Valentine’s day and them!

Conclusion

These are 10 simple ways to show your loved ones, that you love them on Valentine’s Day. Most of these are accessible and affordable to make, which makes great memories. Something heartfelt and really thoughtful is bound to make a great memory for Valentine’s day. I wish you all the best for Valentine’s day, and if you have a valentine or not, I hope you have a great time!

Hey, I’m Sejal! I help people on their journey to become the best versions of themselves. My blog the lazy gal is about self-improvement and has guides, tips, and much more. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram, and don’t hesitate to say hi! Read my newest post and all my other links here!

Collaberations

5 Steps To Living More Intentionally in 2023

January 23, 2023January 2, 2023 mindbeautysimplicity

I’d like to thank Michelle from Boomer Eco Crusader to being my first guest post of the new year! I hope you all enjoy her post on living more intentionally [ which is so on brand with MBS – wouldn’t you say?] & the 5 steps to get your new year started with this mindset. If you aren’t already, be sure to check out Michelle’s blog. I’ll be leaving her details at the end of this post. If you are a blogger & are interesting in guest posting / collaborating this year, please contact me. I’d love to work with you! I’ll be back next week with my own original content.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Hi, I’m Michelle, the boomer behind Boomer Eco Crusader. First, a big thank you to Bee for the
opportunity to share this guest post. I’ve been following Mind Beauty Simplicity for a while now and
Bee’s posts always resonate with me. Despite the difference in our ages, we share a common passion for
simplicity and intentional living.

So, what is intentional living?

In simple terms, it’s about living a life consistent with your goals and values. That sounds easy enough, but modern life makes it difficult.

The truth is our world doesn’t support intentional living. Between the daily barrage of advertising messages, and the constant pressure to be more, do more and have more, it’s easy to get distracted from what matters. Sadly, as our society has become more driven by consumption, our happiness and mental health have suffered. Searching for happiness at the mall, or even with the next raise or promotion, just leads to an endless cycle of never truly being grateful or satisfied with what we have.

It takes courage to step off the consumption treadmill and live more intentionally in a world that constantly tells us to do the opposite. But this conscious choice is the key to peace and joy, two things we could all use a little more of in our lives.

Are you ready to start living more intentionally in 2023? Here are 5 ways to get started.

Know your values

To live a life consistent with your values, you first need to know what they are. Grab a pen and a
notebook and make a list of the things that matter the most to you. Then put them in order of
importance from highest to lowest. If you have more than four or five things on the list, you have some work to do. Intentional living is about focus—doing less, but better. For each item on the list, ask yourself why it matters to you. Then keep asking why. You’ll end up crossing some things off the list. At the end of the exercise, you’ll have a list of three to five core values. These are your north stars, the things that will guide your decision making when life tries to distract you from what matters.

Reset your relationship with material things

It’s hard to be intentional when you’re surrounded by physical clutter. With your values in mind, take a
good, hard look around your home. If it’s filled with things that don’t support your values, get rid of
them. Start with the low-hanging fruit in areas you spend the most time in, and then build from there.
Once you’ve cleared the clutter, commit to being selective about what you bring into your home. Be
mindful about your purchases and buy only items that serve a clear purpose and align with your values.

Invest your time wisely

With physical clutter taken care of, move on to how you spend your time. Time is the one thing none of us can get more of. This leads many people to spend their lives frantically trying to squeeze the most out of every available minute. This “do it all” mentality often leaves them burned out and exhausted, struggling to find purpose and meaning. To make the most out of the time you have available, think of the time you spend as an investment in your values. Before taking on another task, or accepting an invitation, ask yourself if it’s the best use of your time. Does it align with your values? Would spending that time in a different way move you closer to your goals?

Embrace JOMO

Most people have heard of FOMO—the fear of missing out, but what about its younger and brighter
cousin, JOMO?
JOMO stands for the JOY of missing out. It involves consciously choosing to do less and own less, and
shutting out the noise that tells us to do otherwise.

Embracing JOMO can help you enjoy the beauty of your surroundings, and the people around you. And
it frees up time to do things that are important to you—listen to music, read a book, work on a project
or just get outside and breathe fresh air.

Yes, that’s right, instead of worrying that you’re missing out on something, JOMO involves learning to
say no to things that don’t support your values and goals. From deliberately stepping away from
notifications and social media feeds, to saying no to social invitations, JOMO lets you live in the present
so you can take care of the person who matters most—you!

Choose the right influencers

In our consumption-driven society, the term influencer has become synonymous with consumerism and
keeping up with the [ Joneses ] Kardashians. But don’t be fooled. These influencers don’t have your best
intentions in mind.
Take a good, hard luck at your social media feeds. Be bold and unfollow people and companies that
don’t align with your values. Then, find people to follow who share positive messages that support the
life you want to live.

Make this the year you start to ignore outside pressures and live a life true to yourself and your values.
You’ll be glad you did.

about the guest poster / blogger:

I’m Michelle and I live in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, where I’m a blogger, singer, and proud mom of two
young adult daughters. Thanks to my career in the retirement and health benefits field, I’m an advocate
of all aspects of wellness: physical, mental, social, and financial. My blog, Boomer Eco Crusader, focuses
on simplicity, sustainability, decluttering and ways to get the most out of our precious time here on
Earth.

intentional living, Lifestyle

15 More Ways to Simplify Your Life for the New Year

January 9, 2023January 9, 2023 mindbeautysimplicity

It’s the start of a new year, which commonly stands for a fresh start. And one of the best & sure fire ways to see change is to simplify life. And from personal experience, I’ve discovered simplifying can be done in a multitude of categories. Last year, I shared 15 Ways to Simplify Your Life & it received so much praise that I wanted to share 15 more ways for this new year.

pin it for later

Here are 15 More Ways to Simplify Your Life in 2023

1. Create a Vision Board

I find vision boards & collages to be a creative & visual representation of my goals & aspirations. It takes me back to the days where I would spend hours cutting out magazines & making collages that I would hang on my bedroom door or closet. Back then, it was usually photos of the Jonas Brothers or Zac Efron, but I digress. Whether it’s digitally on Pinterest or done the old fashion way, I think vision boards are a fun way to really ask yourself what you want to accomplish or strive for & the new year is one of the perfect times to do that.

2. Downsize Your Digital Footprint

We tend to focus on the physical clutter when we are simplifying our lives & tend to neglect our digital space. In the new year, look through your social media platforms & let go of the ones you aren’t using or ones that aren’t benefiting you. Go through your followers & mute or unfollow those who aren’t inspiring you or are providing a negative pool. I also recommend cleaning up your devices, desktops, files, photos etc to make space for new memories & projects in 2023. If you are looking for specific decluttering tips in the digital space, click here to read 15 Ways To Downsize Your Digital Space.

3. Let Go of Clothing You Don’t Love or Use

I love closet declutters! As we know by the countless blog posts I have about said topic like 30 Items You Don’t Need in Your Wardrobe I find it so refreshing to let go of clothing that doesn’t fit, is worn out, or has simply met it’s expiration date. Make space for new items, a fresh style & one that works with your lifestyle in the present moment.

4. Prioritize Relationships That Lift You Up

Life is too short to place your time & energy on people who don’t deserve it. Focus on the ones who lift you up, encourage & help you grow into the person you wish to be. When we waste time on those who bring us down, we are only hurting ourselves.

5. Let Go Of Habits You No Longer Want to Entertain

Every time I think about this point, I picture people rushing for that gym membership on January 1st. And then by March, they are back to their usual routines. My biggest suggestion with letting go of old habits & striving for new ones, is to be realistic. Take baby steps if possible in the direction you want to be in. Habits are better formed this way then going full force all at once. Whether it’s adding a few healthier options on the grocery list or carving out a few hours in your day being active – these small changes will keep the enjoyment alive.

6. Say No More Often

I talked about this concept in my 11 Things I Intentionally Say No To blog post & I’m reiterating this fact because saying no is so powerful. I used to be quite the people pleaser & thought I had to accept every invitation or request that was presented to me. News flash, saying yes to everything simply causes intense burn out. So, in the new year say no more often & put your self care & rest time above certain things. Pleasing people won’t give you more friends, it only hurts yourself.

7. Learn to Gift More Practically

Living a simple life means not allowing excess clutter to enter your home or someone else’s. I’ve learned to gift & shop more practically by choosing clutter free alternatives. During the holidays, I shared 50 Clutter Free Gift Ideas that can inspire any gift related holiday in the future. I’ve learned gifting practically saves you money & allows you to shop smarter.

8. Shop Smarter

When we feed into consumerism & trends of society, we tend to over shop which can become detrimental to our bank accounts. By living a more minimalist life, I’ve learned I can live without so many things society tells us we should have. I prioritize the essentials & even find cheaper & more efficient alternatives. Not to mention when we shop smarter, we are helping the environment as well [ especially if it’s sustainable alternatives]. Check out this blog post on sustainable alternatives & plastic free swaps here.

9. Slow Down Your Routines

Society makes us feel like we need to be busy all the time. We need to be doing more & productively become faster. This is not the case. It’s actually more productive when we slow down some & take our time. Allow ourselves those breaks so burn out doesn’t fester. One of my favorite things to do is have slow mornings on the weekend or whenever I can. I’ll make a warm beverage & just sit in silence for a few minutes before my day really starts. Instead of rushing through our tasks, we should learn to savor them.

10. Stop Keeping Up With The Trends

You don’t need the new Ugg ultra minis or flair leggings. You don’t need to the newest iPhone if yours is still working great. Only buy trends if you genuinely love it. Otherwise, you are wasting your money on items that will go out of style in a few months or you’ll just get tired of. Stick with classics & buy items that make you happy & fit your style. If certain trends do that for you, great!

11. Lessen Your Screen Time

Downsizing my social media & intentionally choosing other activities other than looking at my phone or laptop screen has helped me stay grounded & relax more often. As a blogger, it’s tough because I’m always in front of my laptop typing away. But I try& schedule in time for reading a good book or spending quality time with family & my husband. Getting lost in good conversation is one of my favorite things & sometimes we can forget that act of connection when we are starring at our phones all the time.

12. Get Outdoors

I want to take more walks in the new year & get outdoors more often. I love going on hikes or just walking through the neighborhood. It’s so healthy to get that fresh air & vitamin d. And I think it’s something we tend to forget. In the dark winters especially, I find short walks to be so relaxing & help me get through the season depression that tends to creep in when it gets darker earlier.

13. Focus on Experiences

Focusing on experiences over material items opens yourself up to making new memories, stepping outside your comfort zone & evolving as a person. I love spending money on experiences & trips over new clothing or makeup now a days. In my honeymoon blog post to Maui, I talked about how the best money to spend in with traveling. And it’s so true. When you let go of the notion to add more clutter into your home & instead venture out and see the world, you are expanding your horizons & getting a taste of what else is out there. And you aren’t creating physical baggage for yourself that will weigh you down.

14. Downsize Your Products

I love simple routines for the efficiency & the quickness. As someone who has rather sensitive skin, I rarely like to experiment with new products & have an array of items to choose from. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” stands true with my lifestyle & my wallet also has thanked me. The concept of decision fatigue can really wear at us & so when we have less to choose from, it becomes easier for us to then focus on the parts of life that matter even more.

15. Live in the Moment

A habit I’m trying to enforce more in the new year is being more present & living in the moment. I think we all tend to live in the mindset of “what’s next?” when we really need to be focusing on the “right now.” How many times do you find yourself scrolling your phone mindlessly instead of engaging in heartfelt conversation? All of a sudden the voices around you sound like the adults in the Peanut specials & you missed every word someone said. Not only is that rude, but you are doing yourself a disservice of escaping from the present moment. Stop rushing your life & worrying about the future so hard. It’s good to plan & have goals, but I think we tend to forget that our future is based on what we do in the present.

How do you plan to simplify your life this year?