Having a life that is less chaotic and more intentional will help you to live your best life. These simple living tips will help if you crave a slower pace, a simpler life, and a less chaotic home.

Your guide to simple living filled with practical tips to help you embrace a more fulfilling lifestyle that is intentional both inside and outside the home.

The older I get, the more I find myself longing for slowness—for moments that linger and days that feel unrushed. There was a time, not so long ago, when the hustle of our lives brought me joy. I thrived on the whirlwind of activity—school drop-offs, sports practices, dinner on the go, and the constant chatter that filled a house with kids under our roof.

Life felt full, chaotic, and wonderfully alive.

But as the years have passed, life has shifted, and so have I. What once felt like joy in the busyness now feels like joy in stillness. And I’m learning to cherish this season for all its calm and simplicity. Because sometimes, the greatest treasures are found when we stop rushing and simply allow ourselves to be.

Simple living and slowing down can include enjoying walks on the beach with a loved one

what is a simplified lifestyle?

A simplified lifestyle is a way of living that prioritizes slowing down, simplifying daily tasks and routines, and focusing on what truly matters in life. It involves letting go of unnecessary stress, clutter, and busyness in order to create more space for peace, mindfulness, and joy.

Simple living encourages intentional decisions about how you spend your time, as well as decluttering the stuff you have and the things you spend time thinking about.

It is a conscious choice to live with less, both physically and mentally, in order to have more meaning.

how do we simplify our homes?

If you want to simplify where you live, you need to look at your home as a treasured space.

Only items that are special (they mean something to you), are useful (you need them to get through day-to-day life), or are luxuries (entertainment that you enjoy but do not specifically need) will earn a spot in your home.

Simple living will keep things to a minimum, and the best part is that living this way will cause a chain reaction that will begin in your home and continue through every aspect of your life.

From your finances to your habits, your relationships, your thoughts, and your routines.

Simple Living trickle down

As you simplify one area, it will naturally flow into another, and that is the beauty of living this way.

Uncluttered counters in the kitchen will encourage cooking meals from scratch.
Cooking meals from scratch will call for better and healthier ingredients.
Better ingredients will encourage you to grow your own food.
Growing your own food will decrease your grocery budget and limit trips to the store.
And so on.

Simple living is a transformation for not only you but your entire family.

two little boys picking a tomato from a plant growing in a container

As you move forward in your simple living journey you will learn to shift how you see things and how you think of things. This will, in turn, eliminate the stress and energy-sucking spirits that can clutter our minds.

13 Simple Living Tips

Some of these tips are easy and timeless, and some are completely unique. Try them all and see which ones work best for you.

Tip #1. Make a Priority list

Write up a list of what is most important to you. Those things that get you up and moving every day. Family, friends, nature, pets, whatever gives you purpose to get out of bed each day.

Every day put your focus on those top priority items. What you do, what you have, and what you buy should be for the purpose of your priority list.

Having a list will help you see what is unnecessary, allowing you to remove the excess and simplify your surroundings to have more room for what you love.

A multigenerational family sitting together on a couch, enjoying a moment of sharing stories from a photo album

Tip #2. remove the excess

If you don’t love it, need it, or use it….remove it from your home and life. Simplifying means surrounding yourself with things that matter.

But cutting down on what you own can be scary, especially if you have not done this before. To help, try this tip: give it a test drive to see what it’s like to live with less.

Choose a room to declutter, such as a bedroom or family room.
Gather up things lying around and put them into boxes.
Close the boxes up and label them clearly.
Put them away in a basement, attic, or spare room.
Let things sit for a couple of months to see how you like a simplified space.
If you find that after a few months, those items are not useful, let them go!

A person organizing a bookshelf filled with books, decorative items, and storage containers

Tip #3. Leave bare space…bare!

When you start clearing out items from your home, you’ll notice open space appearing around you. Resist the urge to fill it up again. Instead, give that space a chance to simply be—open, light, and uncluttered. After just a few days, you’ll find yourself not only adjusting to the newfound emptiness but craving even more of it.

The magic of decluttering is that it doesn’t stop at your physical space. The moment the clutter disappears from your home, it begins to clear your mind as well. That heavy, overwhelming feeling fades, leaving room for clarity and calm.

This is the true secret to simple living—the freedom you gain when you remove what no longer serves you, both in your surroundings and in your thoughts.

an open and uncluttered kitchen with tan counters and a hanging pot rack

Tip #4. Make more and buy less

Simple living means relying less on gadgets that clutter and distract and more on doing things yourself. This may sound counterproductive but actually doing more will help you to want less.

So, for example, rather than order a pizza, why not make one from scratch with your family? It costs less, tastes better, and is actually fun to do when you are doing it together.

A person removing a freshly baked pizza from the oven

SLCG Pro Tip: Working with your hands and mind is a great way to stay young. Our minds are a muscle that needs to be exercised often. Living a more simple lifestyle and using your own resources every day will help you not only live better but live longer too!

Take the time to streamline a self-sufficient cooking space with simple cooking tips for the kitchen that will help you to make more meals from scratch using the ingredients you grew at home.

Sourdough Bread Baking Supplies, 2 PCS Non-Stick Silicone Bread Sling for Dutch Oven, Resuable Making Bread Tools and Supplies, Bread Baking Mat Set With Long Handles, Sourdough Starter Kit, Bread Bag 5 PCS Round Pizza Stone Set, 13 Nostalgia Electric Ice Cream Maker – Old Fashioned Soft Serve Ice Cream Machine Makes Frozen Yogurt or Gelato in Minutes – Fun Kitchen Appliance – Aqua – 4 Quart

Tip #5. Watch less and unplug more

Another secret of simple living is to turn it off. It is amazing how quickly time can trickle away when watching TV or scrolling on our phones.

Shut it off, step away, and go outside or enjoy a hobby.

Take a walk
Read a book
Write a letter and mail it
Do a puzzle
Play a game
Go bird watching or star gazing

Slow down just a bit and be present in every minute of every day creating memories that you can look back on.

Tip #6. Bake

There’s nothing quite like the comforting aroma of fresh bread baking in your own oven. The joy of homemade bread is growing in popularity, and the best part is—you don’t have to spend hours kneading dough or standing on your feet to enjoy it. With the help of a bread machine, you can easily create delicious loaves and rolls with minimal effort.

Amazon Basics Programmable Bread Maker, 2 Pound Non-Stick Automatic Bread Making Machine, With 14 Settings for Breads, Doughs, Gluten-Free Options and More, LCD Display, White Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme Breadmaker Hamilton Beach Bread Maker Machine, Digital, Programmable, 12 Settings + Gluten Free, Dishwasher Safe PFAS-Free Nonstick Pan + Kneading Paddle, 2 lb Capacity, Black (29982)

These handy appliances take all the hard work out of bread-making, leaving you with more time to savor the process—and the results. Whether you’re making a classic loaf or experimenting with flavors, a bread machine allows you to enjoy fresh, homemade bread without straining your body. It’s convenience and creativity wrapped into one!

One of my favorite kitchen gadgets is my kneading board. This amazing tool makes bread-making easier and keeps your counters cleaner.

A person kneading dough in a red bowl, preparing a homemade recipe, with bowls and ingredients nearby on a wooden table

Tip #7. simplify your schedule

Another secret to simple living is creating more breathing room in your schedule. Fewer commitments, fewer appointments, and more blank spaces on your calendar can remove unwanted pressures from your day. It’s in those open squares on the page that helps your days feel lighter and more enjoyable.

Much of the stress we carry is self-imposed. We push ourselves by setting sky-high expectations, then exhaust ourselves trying to live up to them. But what if you chose to step back? Say no to the obligations that don’t truly matter, and lower the bar to a level that feels kinder to you.

By streamlining your schedule, you’ll create space not just in your day but in your head as well. And that decision—to choose less—will feel like one of the most liberating changes you’ve ever made.

Tip #8. Start a Garden

Yes, gardening does involve effort and takes time, but the rewards are well worth it. By growing your own food, you can reduce your reliance on grocery stores and enjoy the satisfaction of feeding your family straight from your backyard. It’s a step toward self-sufficiency that embraces simplicity, leaving you feeling fulfilled.

And the best part? Gardening doubles as an incredible stress reliever. Digging in the dirt, tending to plants, and watching them grow, has a way of grounding you and clearing your mind.

It’s not just about growing food—it’s about cultivating peace and purpose in your day-to-day life.

A gardening setup with a straw hat, gloves, small tools, flower pots, a watering can, and a basket of fresh flowers arranged on the grass

Never gardened before? Check these posts out and get your garden on!

Tip #9. Simplify your chores

One of the best ways to make your life easier is by simplifying your house chores. Creating an easy cleaning routine can go a long way in cutting down unnecessary stress.

As you start to clear out clutter and excess, you’ll notice something incredible—you’ll need less time to clean. All those items scattered around your home aren’t just taking up space—they’re stealing your time too.

Here’s a simple truth to keep in mind: if the time and effort spent cleaning your things outweigh the joy they bring you, it’s time to say goodbye. Decluttering not only simplifies your cleaning routine but also creates a home that feels lighter, calmer, and so much easier to manage.

Tip #10. Edit your rooms

Are your rooms feeling a little overcrowded? Try removing a few pieces of furniture and see how it transforms the space. We took a leap years ago and got rid of the dressers in our bedroom—and it completely changed the way we live.

Without the dressers, we had to pare down our clothes, keeping only the things we loved to wear. The result? A clutter-free bedroom, more room in our closets, and a morning routine that’s quicker and easier than ever.

a master bedroom that is free of dressers and uncluttered

When you create room to breathe—both in your space and in your wardrobe—you’ll discover the beauty of minimalism and how simplicity can make your day-to-day life flow so much smoother. Why not give it a try? Less truly is more.

A modern bedroom with a blue upholstered bed, striped pillows, and matching blue bedside lamps

Tip #11. Create a Morning routine

Want to unlock the secret to starting your day on the right foot? Create a simple and easy morning routine. By following a consistent set of habits every morning, you’re putting your focus in a better place so you can feel each day becoming more manageable and enjoyable. It’s like setting the tone for everything to come.

But why stop at mornings? An evening routine can be just as powerful. End your day with a series of calming rituals that help you unwind and prepare for a restful night’s sleep. Together, these routines will bring structure, calm, and balance to your days and nights. It’s a simple tweak with a big payoff.

Learn how to setup a morning routine here!

Tip #12. Learn to Live more Frugally

Debt is one of the biggest stressors in life—and often the number one argument in many homes. Living simply not only helps you lower your debt but also brings a sense of peace back into your life.

The formula is simple yet powerful: buy less, own less, and want less.

Every item you bring into your home has a cost—not just the price tag, but what it takes to keep it and store it. By focusing on only buying what you truly need, keeping only what you truly love, and appreciating what you already have, you’ll create a home and life that feels lighter, less cluttered, and more manageable.

Amish Inspiration

Take inspiration from the Amish, who purchase with intention, not impulse. They shop only when there’s a need, not as a way to fill time. By changing your mindset and treating shopping as a task rather than a pastime, you’ll find yourself spending less and saving more.

Living intentionally is one of those simple living tips that allows you to take control of your finances—and your peace of mind. It’s a shift that’s not just good for your wallet but for your well-being too.

READ: 10 Best frugal living tips.

Tip #13. Timeless tips for simple living

If you’re searching for the secret to simple living, look no further than how our grandparents lived. They had tools needed to do home projects and repairs themselves, basement pantries stocked with canned goods for homemade meals, shelves lined with books for reading, and, my favorite, porches with chairs inviting family and friends to sit, chat, and connect

A cozy front porch with white wicker chairs, a hanging flower basket, and blooming plants

Our grandparents understood what truly mattered, keeping their priorities clear and their lives grounded in what brought them joy and contentment. There’s so much we can learn from their way of life. Start by borrowing a page from their book and focusing on what enriches your life.

Learning to slow down and simplify is not going to happen overnight. It is a process and one that is created one day at a time.

With each step forward you will unburden yourself from stress and begin to see light at the end of a cluttered tunnel. I hope you found these simple living tips the help you need to create a life you love and enjoy.

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