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Simplify Your Life: 100 Ways to Slow Down and Enjoy the Things That Really Matter
For everyone who is overwhelmed by the increasing demands in their lives, here is the ideal guide for slowing down and finding peace of mind. In separate chapters covering career, household, health, social, finance, and personal affairs, this thought-provoking book offers one hundred proven, practical steps for creating a simple but elegant lifestyle.
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
May 1st 1994
by Hyperion
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The book has an impact on me and I have practised some of the ideas and it has simplified my life.
Top on the list of 100 ways is: Reduce clutter in your life
Start by going through your wardrobes and then move on to your bookshelves, drawers, around the house and do the same at your office.
The rule is simple, if you have not used or referred to the items you have kept for a year and more, then they are not worth keeping. These items can be disposed. If you have items that you think is of use to...more
Top on the list of 100 ways is: Reduce clutter in your life
Start by going through your wardrobes and then move on to your bookshelves, drawers, around the house and do the same at your office.
The rule is simple, if you have not used or referred to the items you have kept for a year and more, then they are not worth keeping. These items can be disposed. If you have items that you think is of use to...more
She has 100 practical suggestions to simplify your hectic lifestyle. Her thinking clarifies my thinking on why some people are sooo busy! Because they make their lives busy. I've seen people who make their lives more complicated, dramatic, going from one crises to the next. It makes me wonder if some people actually enjoy running around like a headless chicken!
She explores each aspect of our lives and makes suggestions on how to get rid of the fluff, to give you more time to do the things you re...more
She explores each aspect of our lives and makes suggestions on how to get rid of the fluff, to give you more time to do the things you re...more
I requested this book by accident, while searching for another book on the topic of simplicity. It wasn't quite what I was looking for, which made me tempted to give it a poor review. But I can't really blame the book for my own expectation. So, in all objectiveness, setting aside starting out on the wrong foot: I give it 2 stars.
There are different definitions of living simply and each person has to figure out what that means to them. For the most part, St James sticks with a stress reduction m...more
There are different definitions of living simply and each person has to figure out what that means to them. For the most part, St James sticks with a stress reduction m...more
While a large portion of Simplify Your Life: 100 Ways to Slow Down and Enjoy the Things That Really Matter seems to apply to people who have money to spare, there are a few ideas that the average Joe could use.
One way I was able to simplify my life while reading this is by doing what I loath and skipping parts that didn't really apply to me. Like getting rid of your gardener, your cook, your personal shopper. There are a lot of ways people like me already live the simple life. Then there were a...more
One way I was able to simplify my life while reading this is by doing what I loath and skipping parts that didn't really apply to me. Like getting rid of your gardener, your cook, your personal shopper. There are a lot of ways people like me already live the simple life. Then there were a...more
This book had about 3 really good tips in it; the rest, as far as I was concerned, was total bunk. I am sure it would be useful for the target audience, but I realized as I read it that I am NOT the target audience!!! This book was obviously written toward rich, workaholic 90s era yuppies. I kid you not, in one part of the book St. James brags that her methods will help you get rid of "your gardener, your cook, your housekeeper, your organization consultant, your personal shopper, your psychothe...more
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I like the book because I found out that my life is fairly simple. There are things suggested in the book that we are habitually doing and there are certain habits that needs improvement. It is just good to know our family have a simplified life and we just need minor improvements to make it more fulfilling and healthy.
The author's intention was to share what she learned and applied in her aim to simplification. These were the tips and tricks she learned along the way for her own satisfaction.
M...more
The author's intention was to share what she learned and applied in her aim to simplification. These were the tips and tricks she learned along the way for her own satisfaction.
M...more
I thought this book was chock-full of great ideas and tips to not only to help simplify a hectic life, but also to learn to enjoy life more and make more time for yourself and your family. I wrote down 25 things that I plan to start doing immediately and I'm already excited about the changes I know will happen. Plus, it was consoling and confirming to read #98: Stop Making the Bed (which I found funny that it was in the "hard-core simplicity" section).
Reading this book will give you a new sense...more
Reading this book will give you a new sense...more
Feb 13, 2011
Carrie Marcotte
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
four-star-books,
spirituality
I got this years ago when I was doing something similar for a New Year's resolution. I found it so easy to follow and so logical, that I have since then encorporated a lot of the recommendations into my everyday life. It's written in simple one or two page chapters and you can do the chapters as you see fit in your life. It starts off simply, in your own house, such as 'reduce the clutter,' 'cutting down the grocery shopping' and gets to 'get rid of your lawn.' It moves into life-style, finances...more
I requested this book from the library because it's the basis for a team that I love on SparkPeople. It was okay but not wonderful, in large part because I already do most of what St. James recommends. There are, however, one or two exercises that I do want to sit down and complete, just to put parts of my life in better focus.
I'm currently reading the next in the series of 3 books (as I said, I didn't dislike this one, just found it somewhat superfluous) and am getting more out of it. I'd recom...more
I'm currently reading the next in the series of 3 books (as I said, I didn't dislike this one, just found it somewhat superfluous) and am getting more out of it. I'd recom...more
This book was too simplified!
Out of 8 chapters, I only felt that I could take away something from the section on Health. And then there was the traditional "Clean out your clutter."
This edition was printed in 2001 and talks about getting rid of your "car phone." I'm not sure updating it would make it any better.
On the positive side, there were 100 easy to read suggestions that each ran a page or two in length.
Maybe my life is already simplified (except for the clutter). Maybe I am not ready to s...more
Out of 8 chapters, I only felt that I could take away something from the section on Health. And then there was the traditional "Clean out your clutter."
This edition was printed in 2001 and talks about getting rid of your "car phone." I'm not sure updating it would make it any better.
On the positive side, there were 100 easy to read suggestions that each ran a page or two in length.
Maybe my life is already simplified (except for the clutter). Maybe I am not ready to s...more
This is The go to book for simplicity written for the twitter generation (as opposed to Walden for people that have time), it will cause you question the rush in your life if you have not already done so and it will make you realise that "the value of anything is how much time you are willing to exchange for it"..... It is full of honest evaluations and suggestions like; sell the boat, get a smaller place, reduce the clutter in your life.... if we all valued the principals in this book the world...more
100 tips for simplifying your life. This book was a little hit or miss for me, though there are plenty of really good tips as well. Part of it's problem is that's it's fairly dated (1994). I can't say I really learned anything new from its pages - I'm already either doing a lot of these things or am in the process of simplifying to that end. Basically, get rid of the clutter, ditch the back-ups, simplify your wardrobe, eliminate the excess activities, move to a smaller home, shop less. I think I...more
The book reads like a collection of household tips, e.g., "Hints from Heloise".
Truly simplifying your life takes a lot more thought and effort than the tips in this book would imply. We live in a society that strongly encourages us to consume and/or strive for status. Real life simplification usually means painfully recognizing and kicking away many ego crutches, summoning up the discipline to let go of a lot in order to focus on what really matters.
To her credit, the author has a significantly...more
Truly simplifying your life takes a lot more thought and effort than the tips in this book would imply. We live in a society that strongly encourages us to consume and/or strive for status. Real life simplification usually means painfully recognizing and kicking away many ego crutches, summoning up the discipline to let go of a lot in order to focus on what really matters.
To her credit, the author has a significantly...more
Since this book came out in the 90s, I've come back to read it several times when I feel my life is too complicated by stuff. Many good tips in the book, but like someone else pointed out there are tons of books and TV shows dedicated to simpifying your life now. I've moved on to the 100 (or less) personal items challenge now. This is a good starting place for someone who's feeling overwhelmed by things and wants a simpler life.
This book is written in a simple language (since English is not my native language). Reading this book, which I've done several times, encourages me to think about my life in keeping things which is actually not really that matters. At the end of reading this book, it seems like there's a new energy for me to tidy the messy things in my room and get me to decide to sell and throw away things that is not important.
I love the idea of one person in this book, who provided sleeping bags for her two boys during the time she was trying to get her dissertation complete. They were no worse for the wear. So just keep that in mind. She could have changed sheets at least 100 different times during the course of those three years, but she let herself off the hook from changing sheets. If only we could all...
It was simple enough to follow. Simplying a lifestyle, of course, doesn't really mean, a simplified way of thinking. But it's a good start.
A lot are very basic and it was good to see it all again-- like a wardrobe, a very simple wardrobe, not a lot of clutter, no mortagage, consolidated investment, no debt, except for some neccessary items, second hand car, saving... quite practical.
A lot are very basic and it was good to see it all again-- like a wardrobe, a very simple wardrobe, not a lot of clutter, no mortagage, consolidated investment, no debt, except for some neccessary items, second hand car, saving... quite practical.
I felt the ideas in this book were a little "out there". I'm all about simplifying but ideas like "get rid of your lawn" or "get rid of your phone" aren't really that practical. I also felt the the author was an old curmudgeon who got rid of all her stuff and never did anything fun, or spent any money in order to have a "simple" life. It just wasn't selling it for me.
Simplify Your Life is stuck firmly in the (very) early nineties, but it remains charming and often useful despite that. While the admonition to get rid of your "car phone" because of the "as-yet-unperfected technology" sounds awfully quaint, the fundamental question about the wisdom of multitasking and the necessity of being perpetually available remains worth examining.
I reread this every few years - it's basically a collection of very short admonitions about a wide variety of topics, and it go...more
I reread this every few years - it's basically a collection of very short admonitions about a wide variety of topics, and it go...more
I loved her tip to take junk mail that you receive & put it all back in their prepaid envelope & mail it back to them with "remove from mailing list" printed on it ... then you don't even have to worry with recycling it yourself. This book was full of gems I'd never even thought of in terms of simplifying (although it is dated) and I enjoyed reviewing how far I've come as well!
We'd already been contemplating slowing life down and simplifying things when we found this book. We're tired of the race to keep up and "compete" with others; this book gives a lot of great ideas how to accomplish that. We still refer to it after over a year of slowing our pace down. We take what we like and gloss over the rest.
Very basic suggestions on how to simplifying your life (get a smaller house, drive a smaller car, get rid of your clutter) and some very antisocial ones (don't answer the phone, don't answer the door, say no to parties). Witn no kids and no friends I guess your life will be simpler but that is not really the kind of life that I want.
The book was a waste of time for me. I haven't really learnt anything useful. Most of the things mentioned are pretty obvious and commonsense.
I guess I was expecting much more.
On top of that I really disliked how every other paragraph begins with the words: "another thing you can do to simplify your life is..."
I found the constant repetition of phrases and words indeed annoying.
I guess I was expecting much more.
On top of that I really disliked how every other paragraph begins with the words: "another thing you can do to simplify your life is..."
I found the constant repetition of phrases and words indeed annoying.
Simplify Your Life: 100 Ways to Slow Down and Enjoy the Things That Really Matter has some GREAT ideas on how to simplify your life! There will be a few that will not pertain to you however there are some great ideas that everyone should seriously consider. I recommend this book to everyone.
An excellent read. And to think that it was written in 1994! Updated edition must have had a hay day with all the stimuli bombarding us just 16 years later. I bought my copy in Sun Valley in 1995 and just got around to reading it. A true testament to simplification.
Nov 28, 2009
Mary
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone
Recommended to Mary by:
spotted it in a book store
Don't we all wish we could simplify our lives? This woman did it and so can I. I'm positive. I just have to read this book a few more times. It's always in a prominent position on my shelf and its presence reiminds me of its good suggestions, many of which I adhere to.
Aug 23, 2012
Judi Kruzins
added it
Some great ideas here. We all have too much stuff and we don't need most of it. I don't agree with everything as some of it is extreme, however, kind of inspires you to declutter. I had read this book before so it reminded me of many things. A quick read.
I bought this little book 15 years ago, and it made a major impact. It's just as relevant (if not more so) today. In fact, I opened it at random to "Stop Sending Christmas Cards," which was weighing heavily on my mind for the coming weekend. Hallelujah!
I've had this book for a few years and like to pull it off the shelves and give it another read (at least parts of it) every so often. I like the common sense approach to simplifying and strive to implement more of her suggestions each time I read it.
I liked this little book. I does run counter to the movement for high productivity and great accomplishments in one's life, but I suppose that is really the point of the book. This book shows, in many ways, how much of what we strive for accomplishing in our lives is, in the end, making us miserable, or in the least may not be adding a great amount of happiness to our lives. I would caution the reader to take some of the advice with a grain of salt, so he/she does not just become a home-body, no...more
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