Currently viewing the category:
"goals"
Ever feel stressed even though you’ve “simplified” your life? If so, you’re not alone.
Maybe the issue is that simplification didn’t trickle down to your goals. If you’re anything like me, you have a lot you want to accomplish, some short term and others long term. Unfortunately, living simple with scores of goals isn’t exactly the best strategy. In fact, it’s downright counterproductive.
Why? Because too many goals makes you scatter your energies. Yes, you may be interested in all of them, but living simple is about awareness and focus. Let me explain with a story.
For the past few years I’ve wanted to become fluent in Spanish. After visiting Peru in 2009, I returned home more determined than ever to say more than “Hola, como esta?” So last year I did something about it and found a private tutor to teach me once a week. Full Spanish sentences here I come!
Then I did something else I’d always wanted to do: I started a blog. This blog. When I started Liv Simpl, I didn’t have many goals other than helping others live simple and becoming a better writer. But then–gasp!–I actually grew to like blogging and, well, I’ve become addicted. As my blog addiction grew, my Spanish began to suffer. Seriously…my last four Spanish lessons consisted of me stuttering “pero, pero…uhh, como se dice [random word I don't know]” for an hour, making up non-existent grammar and avoiding eye contact with my instructor. It had to stop. Finally, it came time to make a decision: keep having half-assed Spanish lessons or temporarily let go of my goal.
Continue reading »
Winter is upon us. It’s cold, maybe you even got a little snow by now…okay, maybe a lot. Either way, all you can think about is getting where you have to go and coming home to a hot cup of tea, a warm bowl of soup or a hot coffee. Okay, but remember how at the end of last year, you made a new life resolution to get back into shape, to live a healthier lifestyle? Uh huh. But then, you know, it got real cold and stuff. Dammit! Just when you were all motivated too. Face it, winter’s probably kicking your ass right now and you don’t even know how to get back in the ring. Well, it doesn’t have to be that way. You can reclaim your winter workout and show winter who’s boss by doing these three simple things.
Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become. –Reinhold Niebuhr
It’s that time of year when we begin to think about the changes we’d like to make in our lives. Personally, I’m not a fan of New Year’s Resolutions; I prefer to make New Life Resolutions. Still, many readers in the Liv Simpl community have been asking about nutrition, living a simple lifestyle and being healthier: it’s clear that you’re thinking about making some amazing changes!
But change is hard. How do you prepare yourself for major (or minor) lifestyle changes? Here’s where you get to take advantage of my mistakes. Experience has taught me that there are four steps that will help you succeed in any changes you want to make.
Continue reading »
Current Student Loan Debt: $44, 094.
Happy Holidays! It’s been just over two weeks since the last Debt Beatdown report and I’m sure you’re anxious to know how things have progressed. In my last report, I shared some of the challenges of living a systematic lifestyle during the holiday season. I’m happy to say that we made it through and I learned a lot along the way about family and compromise.
As of December 5, I finished the pre-work for DB and officially started the 12-month countdown. Yay! So what have I been doing since then? Reviewing, planning and writing.
Reviewing
To accompany my annual review, I decided to do a financial review for 2011. If you didn’t get a chance to read my annual review, check it out. I honestly had a fantastic year, financially and otherwise. Still, there’s always room for improvement. Financially, here’s what went well and what didn’t.
Continue reading »
In my last post, I shared some hard questions that I asked myself before even attempting to do my annual review. After answering those questions, I simplified my usual review process by using Chris Guillebeau’s two basic questions: What went well this year? and What didn’t go well this year?
As it turns out, 2011 was a pretty successful year. Of course, there are always ways to improve. I could have done a better job of launching Liv Simpl, for example. But enough generalities, here are my answers to two very revealing questions. I also share ways that my lessons can help you; hopefully they’ll inspire you to do a review of your own.
Get this Free Guide
