-By Mark Woodgate
(Personal Trainer, Manager & Owner of Bay Bodyfit Health & Fitness Centre)

• Are you feeling overcommitted?

• Are you constantly rushing from one appointment to the next?

• Are you spending less time with your family and loved ones?

• Do you feel you never have enough ‘me’ time?

• Is your health & fitness falling by the wayside?

• Do you have difficulty saying ‘no?’

• Do you always feel the need to be ‘productive?’

If you said yes to one or more of these questions, it’s time to slow down & smell the roses!

In the fast pace of modern world, an ever increasing number of people are re-evaluating their priorities and opting to work less, spend more time with their loved ones, reduce their material desires and contribute to society in meaningful ways.

Why Simplify?

For some people the desire to simplify one’s life is a natural process. For others it can be triggered by:

* Stress
* Financial hardship 
* Loss of job 
* Lack of time with loved ones Illness 
* Terminal disease 
* Job dissatisfaction / disillusionment with working conditions 
* Divorce 
* The death of a loved one

These events may force us to examine our lives and question our values. Ultimately we decide what is really important to us - what we want to keep and what we need to discard. After all, life is too short to be unhappy! If we want to be happy we need to design a life that is in harmony with our core values and that contributes to our inner fulfillment and wellbeing.

What is Real Wealth?

In today’s consumer based society, it’s easy to fall into the trap of ‘do more, spend more, have more.’ After all, are we not sold the idea that success is about accumulating wealth and acquiring ‘status?’   

There’s no question that our current system is driven by profit. However, the real question is, what price are YOU paying by conforming to this model of ‘economic growth.’   

The allure of possessions and prestige often leads us to work longer hours, (often in jobs that we dislike) and we spend more money on daycare. The end result is the loss of precious time with our loved ones. And at the end of a long day at the office we collapse in an emotional stupor in front of the ‘box’ - only to do it all again the next day!

Just as materialism can be addictive, so can our desire to be efficient and productive. We try to fit as much as possible into our already busy days and often end up neglecting our most important asset, our health & fitness.

We justify to ourselves that by working harder and longer we will reap the benefits at a later date. The attitude is “work hard and sacrifice my happiness now, because sometime in the future I will be happier!”  

This is precisely why many people are abandoning ‘deferred happiness’ in favour of a more authentic and fulfilling life. In other words, it’s about being happy NOW. Similarly, we’re realizing that acquiring material items only produces short lived ‘joys,’ not the lasting happiness we really desire.  

Real wealth is not about how much money, status or power we have, it’s about looking after our mental, emotional and physical health. It’s about being true to ourselves, developing quality relationships and living every moment to the fullest.

Simplicity is different for everyone!

Simple living (also known as ‘intentional’ or ‘mindful’ living) is not about rejecting all material comforts, living in deprivation or poverty. It’s about unburdening our lives with fewer distractions – whether material items, activities or relationships. In essence, it’s about letting go of anything that interferes with a high quality of living.  

Here are some examples of ways to simplify your life.

Moving to a smaller house thereby reducing mortgage and maintenance costs

Renting rather than buying

Reducing working hours to spend more time with family and loved ones

Being a stay at home parent and minimizing childcare costs

Learning to say NO!

Eliminating unnecessary tasks

Cutting back on extravagant spending

De-cluttering

Selling material items that hold no real meaning or value 

Conclusion:

Voluntary simplicity is a manner of living that is outwardly simple and inwardly rewarding.

If the stresses of modern living are beginning to take a toll, now could be the time to simplify your life and devote your time and energy to the things that TRULY matter.