Keep It Simple

Have you noticed that life is becoming more and more complicated? We never get a chance to relax and we chase the need to have days off so that we can get away from it all. But, then, we spend those days off driving around in bumper-to-bumper traffic, glued to our smartphones, and interacting with far too many people.

Whatever happened to the simpler life?

There’s something to be said about the KISS method. You know, keep it simple, stupid. It’s not meant to cause offense. But seriously, we need to be keeping it a lot simpler, and we’re stupid if we don’t.

John Maeda once said, “simplicity is about subtracting the obvious and adding the meaningful.” We think he was onto something.

The Benefits of a Simpler Life

Simple living is defined differently depending on who you listen to. It doesn’t mean that you have to trade your car in for a horse and buggy. And you don’t have to quit your job and start living off the land. What it does mean is that you have to reduce the amount of stimulation in your life.

Declutter. Leave your phone out of your pocket for a few hours a day. Stop spending money on “stuff” that you don’t need. We allow electronics and clutter to complicate our lives and rule every minute of every day.

Migraines and eye strain are on the rise because we can’t even manage to peel ourselves away from our computer, tablet, and smartphone screens for a few hours a day. It causes neck tension, dry eyes, and even blurry vision. Why do we continue to do these things to ourselves?

A simpler life allows us to sit back and relax. We take back what’s important to us – family, friends, and nature. When we stop holding our phones, we have time to hold hands. When we stop watching TV, we have time to find a hobby and interact with our loved ones.

The benefits of a simpler life are numerous:

• Reduce the stress in your life
• Stop feeling out of control
• Stop caring about what other people are doing
• Improve your health
• Become more productive (and creative)

There’s one thing you can’t make more of, no matter how hard you try. That’s time. We only get 24 hours in a day and seven days in a week. And how many years we have is never a given. You have to make the most of the time you are given so that you are happier and healthier.

Tune Out the Media

When you think about it, the media is responsible for convincing us that we don’t want to keep it simple. They figure out ways to convince us that we want the latest electronics, expensive possessions, and more complicated lives. Ads constantly show up on TV, on the radio, and on social media to get us to spend more money.

What does that money get us? It gets us more headaches. It sucks more time away from the things we want to do and the people we want to share our lives with.

The best things in life aren’t things. That’s why we have to stop spending our money to buy more things. They may give us temporary happiness. However, things break. They lose their novelty. And we’re left with less money and the desire to chase down the next thing that will bring us some joy.

By tuning out the media, we can keep it simple. We can keep it honest. More importantly, we can keep it individual and unique.

The struggle ends when gratitude begins.

We are our own people and we don’t need to keep up with the Jones, the Millers, the Kardashians, or anyone else. So, it’s time to take back our life. A simple life is its own reward.

Start Taking Action

Keep it simple. It sounds so simple, doesn’t it? But how do you actually go about simplifying your life?

Start out small. Make decisions to cut out various possessions in your life. Declutter your space so that you aren’t surrounded by so many “things.” Instead of using the money to buy possessions, focus on using that money to create unique and worldly adventures.

Take a trip, buy a boat, go for a hike. You’ll have more exciting times when you go out into the world and do something. And when you bring a friend or loved one, you can create unforgettable experiences that money cannot buy.

Avoid the complications of buying a home, too. You’ve checked out the housing market. Beyond it being more and more expensive with each passing day, the number of choices is overwhelming.

What style of home are you going to buy? How many bedrooms? What kind of countertops do you want? Are you interested in smart appliances? It can be nearly impossible to find what you want. And the decisions that you have to make along the way are incredibly stressful.

Buying from Sherman is Simple

You don’t have to burden yourself with shopping in the housing market. At Sherman Pole Buildings, we’re all too eager to keep it simple. It’s why we offer a pole barn that is completely customizable.

You can have a pole barn built on any plot of land that you desire. It makes it easier for you to get away from it all. Choose an area that gets you out of the hustle and bustle of life.

Our post-frame homes can be built anywhere, including on rocky areas and near high water tables. It helps to eliminate more of those complicated decisions that you are used to making.

You can choose to let us take care of all of the details or you can take the DIY approach. There’s no wrong answer. It’s all about allowing you to take control and make the decisions that will deliver the greatest amount of joy in your life.

Life is hard enough. It’s time to keep it simple, don’t you think?