simple living
Less is enough
Simple living is a lifestyle that prioritizes reduced consumption, minimal possessions, and freedom from material excess.
The philosophy emphasizes needs over wants: They embraced simple living and sold their second car.
Simple living may be motivated by environmental concern, spiritual practice, financial independence, or rejection of consumer culture.
Related to but distinct from minimalism, which focuses more narrowly on aesthetics and decluttering.
Careful use of resources
- budgetPlan for spending
- savingsAccumulated money kept
- economySystem of trade and production
- prudenceCareful, wise judgment
moderation · self-discipline · restraint · conservation · cost-cutting · value · bargain · secondhand
Independence from outside aid
- gardenCultivated plant area
- chickensDomestic fowl for eggs
- farmhouseDwelling on agricultural land
- harvestGathering mature crops
vegetable patch · orchard · crops · livestock · woodstove · canning · preserving · baking
Remove unnecessary items
- essentialsIndispensable items or elements
- unclutteredFree from disorder
- streamlineRemove unnecessary elements
- pared-downSimplified by removal
capsule wardrobe · tidying · editing · curating · intentional · functional · spartan · possessions
State of being somewhere
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
- meditationFocused attention practice
- stillnessComplete lack of motion
- slowing downReducing pace or velocity
intentionality · gratitude · reflection · contemplation · centering · peacefulness · tranquility · serenity
Refocusing on core elements
- downshiftingLowering gear or pace
- anti-consumerismOpposition to excessive acquisition
- good lifeFulfilling, pleasant existence
- authenticityQuality of being genuine
values-based · fulfillment · purpose · transcendentalism · stoicism · counterculture · opt-out
Not harming the environment
- renewableCapable of restoration
- greenColor of vegetation
- compostingDecomposing organic matter deliberately
- recyclingReprocessing used materials
zero-waste · organic · permaculture · solar · conservation · upcycling · rainwater harvesting · energy-efficient
thrift
Careful use of resources
prudence · moderation · self-discipline · restraint · conservation · cost-cutting · value · bargain · secondhand · mending
self-sufficiency
Independence from outside aid
harvest · vegetable patch · orchard · crops · livestock · woodstove · canning · preserving · baking · handmade
declutter
Remove unnecessary items
- essentialsIndispensable items or elements
- unclutteredFree from disorder
- streamlineRemove unnecessary elements
pared-down · capsule wardrobe · tidying · editing · curating · intentional · functional · spartan · possessions · letting go
presence
State of being somewhere
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
- meditationFocused attention practice
- stillnessComplete lack of motion
slowing down · intentionality · gratitude · reflection · contemplation · centering · peacefulness · tranquility · serenity · savoring
back-to-basics
Refocusing on core elements
- downshiftingLowering gear or pace
- anti-consumerismOpposition to excessive acquisition
- good lifeFulfilling, pleasant existence
authenticity · values-based · fulfillment · purpose · transcendentalism · stoicism · counterculture · opt-out
eco-friendly
Not harming the environment
- renewableCapable of restoration
- greenColor of vegetation
- compostingDecomposing organic matter deliberately
recycling · zero-waste · organic · permaculture · solar · conservation · upcycling · rainwater harvesting · energy-efficient · local
- thrift sayingspenny saved, penny wise, pinch pennies, penny pincher, live within means
- alternative lifestylesintentional community, off-grid, homesteading, van life, tiny house
- Ashramswami, devotee, disciple, guru, darshan
- Lebensreformnaturism, nudism, natural medicine, naturopathy, vegetarianism
- frugalityfrugality, thrift, frugal, penny-pinching, economize
- lifestylescity life, family life, minimalism, rural life, single life
simple livingconsumerism
Preoccupation with acquiring goods
materialism · conspicuous consumption · affluent lifestyle · acquisitiveness · consumer culture
simple livingrat race
Exhausting competitive work routine
overcommitment · hustle culture · overscheduling · complexity · workaholism
simple livingluxury lifestyle
Existence marked by extravagance
extravagance · conspicuous consumption · opulence · high society · the good life
simple, living, simplicity, simplify, simplified, simpler, simplest, simplistic, simplification