I started Hip Diggs in October, 2014. The blog has grown a lot since then. Thousands of readers visit Hip Diggs every month. My first post was called, “Take The 10 Step Challenge To Simple Living.” I’d like to revisit that post for the hundreds of new readers who’ve recently come on board. Will you join me for 10 steps to simple living? Go to free course.
Welcome to the Hip Diggs’ community.
If you haven’t read the original 10-step-challenge post, you can see it here.
After two and a half years, Take The 10 Step Challenge To Simple Living, is still one of my top 5 most-visited posts. It has struck a chord with a lot of people. The remainder of this article will include the original post in its entirety. I’ll make some additional comments at the end of the post. You’re only 10 steps away to simple living.
Take The 10 Step Challenge To Simple Living
You might think living simple is easy. It’s not. Modern culture would not have us live simple. It’s a challenge to let go of all the stuff that’s been thrust upon us. Will you stand with me and take the 10 step challenge to simple living?
I’m no different than you. I make choices each day that effect my own well-being and the health of the world around me. Some of those choices deliberately go against cultural norms. I attempt to live minimally, without extras. Still, it’s a challenge for me. Too much fast food, too much media and too little exercise are common in my world. I often have to challenge myself to get back on track. That’s why I created this 10 step challenge. I’d like to share it with you.
When I was younger, I lived with less because I had little means. For the past ten years I’ve been learning to live with less by choice. I do still slip. I’ve been developing some new websites. My passion for creating websites and writing content has cut into other areas of my life. My diet and exercise has suffered. I’m ready to get back on track. Will you join me? Will you take the 10 step challenge?
Are You Ready To Take The 10-Step Challenge?
Make a promise to be intentional in these things:
1. Unclutter
We feel more at ease when our environment is open and spacious. It allows us room to inhale and exhale freely. Look around. Start with your immediate surroundings. Do you see a few things out of place. Challenge yourself to make a place for them.
2. Relax
Make a point to take some time in the morning and evening to relax. Be intentional. Spend 10-20 minutes with a cup of tea doing nothing.
3. Do Less
I have a tendency to be over productive. When I finish with one project, I go straight to the next one. I forget to leave space. We need space between the things we do. That space is where our creative energy is renewed. Leave some space between. Do less.
4. Eat Right
When we work too hard, we forget to eat right. I’ve made great strides in eating healthy foods the past few years. My rhythm was interrupted when I took a vacation last August. Sometimes we need to challenge ourselves to get back on track. Our overall well-being will benefit from eating better foods.
5. Walk Or Ride A Bike
One of the best forms of exercise is walking. It’s simple and easy. It requires no equipment. It allows one to relax and meditate while exercising. I walk regularly, but I’d like to up the ante and double my weekly mileage. I challenge you to do the same.
6. Turn Off Technology
Turn off the screens. Between TV, smart phones, tablets, and computers, we are spending more and more time in front of screens. This is bad for our bodies and our minds. Limit your screen time to less than a couple of hours a day. This is very hard for me, because I try to justify my screen time as productive time. Still, too much is too much
7. Bond With Family
Take time to bond with your family. Letting go of screen time will free up togetherness time. You can walk, cook or just share conversation together. In the letting go of excess, we’ll find room for growth in our relationships.
8. Make Music
I’m a musician. This comes naturally to me. Music lifts our spirits. I encourage you to fill your house with music. It might be your own or it might be the radio. Either way, music soothes the soul and rekindles the spirit.
9. Read More
As I’ve started writing more, my reading has suffered. You may or may not read regularly. If you do, that’s great. If not, I challenge you to read for 15-30 minutes each day. It stimulates the mind and fosters creative thought.
10. Pray
Take a few moments each day to be thankful to your deity.
The 10-Step Challenge Is Just The Start
In the future, I’ll be creating the “Live Simple” program. I’ll provide you with step-by-step instructions on living more simply.
Make a point to slow down. Inhale. Exhale. Be intentional. Relax. Do what’s good for your body, mind and spirit. When we live simply, we develop positive habits that will change our lives.
A few years ago, I used to smoke. I used to drink too much. I’d consume more than 20 hours of media per week. At almost 200 pounds, I was 30 pounds overweight. I made a decision to let the excess go. I still struggle. I’m human. But knowing that we need to change is the beginning of that change. I’m committing myself to stay on track with this 10 step challenge. I challenge you to join me.
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Are You Ready For 10 Steps To Simple Living?
A lot has changed since I wrote the original 10-step challenge. Some areas of my life have been simplified, some have become more complicated. (Remember, I’m a single dad to a growing girl.) But I continue to push forward in my quest to live simple.
I’ve opted to not create the paid “Live Simple” program for several reasons:
- There are plenty of online courses available already.
- Making money is not my motivation at this time.
- I want to practice what I preach and not get too busy.
- I’m giving you as much as some online courses for free.
- The time is not right. I may add a paid course in the future.
Something As Good As A Paid Course, But It’s Free..
10 Steps To Simple Living is a free, 10-week, blog course that will include 20 posts. What will make these posts different is simple. With each post you’ll get:
- A variety of links to helpful articles specializing on each posts’ content.
- Questions to help you develop your own simple living plan.
- Action prompts to motivate you to take action.
- Unlimited discussion time on the Hip Diggs’ discussion board.
If you’re ready to take 10 Steps To Simple Living with me, I’d like to offer you more: The Happiness Of Simple
You can also purchase my latest ebook, just published last week: Finding Our Way Back Home: Reclaiming A Sense Of Peace In A Chaotic World. It’s only $1.99 at Amazon.
Are you ready?
