Finding the Simple Life
I’ve been struggling of late to simplify my life — to remove distractions, refocus my time on what is most important, reevaluate my environment to make it calming and relaxing, and in general weed out what isn’t crucial to me or my life. There is simply too much of everything, too many distractions, and I need peace. The problem of simplification is a common struggle among my friends and family.
In pursuit of my goal, I ran across a frelling awesome website, Zen Habits,that offered a number of useful resources for people trying to overcome overload in all areas of life. A blog that started in 2007, the site has an extensive back-file of useful simplifying and organizing information. As I know many of my library colleagues struggle with information overload and work overload, I would like to suggest this site as an ongoing resource (email & RSS updates available).
A sample post from the site is The Zen Mind: How to Declutter, which I found to be a short, helpful approach to sorting through physical clutter (and the principles translate pretty well to digital clutter too).
The author also has written a DRM-free and copyright-free eBook entitled The Simple Guide to a Minimalist Life. The first $5,000 in proceeds benefit the non-profit Guampedia. I have read through the first half of the book and am very impressed with the quality of content and simplicity of approach.
So go forth, declutter your life in all ways, and be free.
July 1st, 2010 at 5:15 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Worcester Public Lib, Heather Lamb. Heather Lamb said: Finding the Simple Life- Zen habits site http://bit.ly/9TX3BV [...]
July 1st, 2010 at 11:14 am
Great website! Thanks!
(P.S. – Good to know you’re a Farscape fan!)
July 1st, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Great website, Sarah. I’ve noticed that library people tend to have a clutter problems–books, and that kind of thing, of course.
July 1st, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Sarah – I’ve been working towards the same goal and discovered Zen Habits about 6 months ago! Its one of my favorite blogs. Another of my “new” favorites is http://www.positivityblog.com/ not so much about decluttering, but I feel it helps me keep feeling centered.
July 2nd, 2010 at 1:00 am
Thanks for the great website tip.
July 2nd, 2010 at 7:45 pm
Oh yes John, a big Farscape fan. Most people don’t catch my use of “frelling.” Well done sir! I even want to name my next female cat “Aeryn.” If I had kids, they’d be getting Farscape names, but luckily no kids for me.
July 4th, 2010 at 2:15 am
Thanks for this post. I seek simplicity and minimalism in my life too. You’re right – there’s just too much of everything, and some of us must just cut through the chaos.
July 10th, 2010 at 11:23 am
Ohhhh… I need this too. Thanks!
July 13th, 2010 at 12:24 am
[...] now I came across this, on a blog I haven’t check in ages: I’ve been struggling of late to simplify my life — to remove [...]
July 16th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Sounds like we are all on similar paths at the same time. We are using our move as a way to declutter and simplify our life but wow is moving a lot of work and exhausting!
July 28th, 2010 at 5:49 pm
Frelling?