by Dorothy Hoffman

Created on: July 31, 2011

The great irony of modern life may be that the more labor-saving technologies we develop to make our lives simpler, the more complicated life becomes. Every age tends to romanticize the past, when things were simpler, but in fact life in the 21st century moves at an almost inhuman pace, and our high-tech, globalized society has become increasingly stressful and pressurized. It’s no wonder so many people yearn for a “simple life.”

But what is the simple life? For most of us, going back to some pre-industrial world is not practical or even possible. And few would really find the harsh reality of life without such modern essentials as electricity, cars, indoor plumbing, and telecommunications “simple.”

Living a simple life probably means different things to different people. Some may want to eliminate all electronic gadgets from their life, while others just want to feel in control of these devices, not at their mercy 24/7. And many people overwhelmed by their daily routines want to pare back their commitments and activities. But for everyone, simplicity means having less stress and more time and freedom in our lives to enjoy what’s really important to us.

Slower Pace

Modern life sometimes feels like being on an accelerating merry-go-round or running a race with no finish line. For many adults there don’t seem to be enough hours in the day to handle a full workday plus all the obligations and tasks of raising children, keeping house, and running daily errands.

Even our children’s lives are often overscheduled; from kindergarten on many are under pressure to ace high-stakes tests, get good grades, engage in extracurricular activities to ensure acceptance into the “best” colleges and a path to “the good life.” Their lives are mapped out before they have a chance to just be kids.

The first step in simplifying our lives is to slow things down and get off the treadmill. We need time to breath, to live in the moment instead of constantly rushing on to something else.

Modern life is hectic, full of noise and often senseless motion and activity. Sometimes we’re too busy to even question why our every waking moment needs to be filled. In fact, it doesn’t. The universe won’t implode if we take a little time out to examine our lives and reset our goals.

Of course, not everyone has the luxury of eliminating stressful, unrewarding activities from their lives. We all have to make a living.

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