Finding happiness can be difficult. Many people spend their entire lives searching for the things that make them happy.
We try money, fame, and buying more things. But often times finding happiness is simpler than that.
Finding happiness through the simple things in life is key to truly being happy in your life. Quite frankly, there are very few things in life that really mean a lot to us. Each of us can probably count on one hand the things that mean the most.
The key to finding happiness is to be of service to others.
This shortlist really defines what is important to us. If you were to die tomorrow, your family and friends would spend months grieving.
However, within two weeks your company would have a new job posting available. Do not mix up the things that are important in life.
Why Do We Struggle?
Have you ever thought about why so many people spend decades trying to find happiness? Have you ever considered that we might be looking in the wrong places? All of us want to be happy and we all can!
But first, we have to start looking in the proper places. Many of us try to be happy by buying more things.
We think a new car will make us happy, until we get the first scratch. We think a new toy might bring us joy, but the instant gratification quickly fades.
Generations have tried to fill the void of finding happiness through buying different things. However, in recent years there has been a movement towards people paying for “experiences” rather than buying “things”.
It can feel like an uphill battle trying to find happiness.
The simplicity in this is that you will always have memories, but material things will break and go out of style. Experiences will last a lifetime, but that new piece of jewelry could get lost or stolen.
Although this movement brings us closer to finding happiness, there is still a gap. Antidepressants and the need for therapy is at an all time high. There has to be something bigger that we are all in need of.
Finding Happiness Through Service – The Real Secret
While experiences are better than things, we can take this one step further. Finding happiness is actually relatively simple. Spending your time in a way that is helping others will always make you happy.
Have you ever volunteered at a soup kitchen? Ever helped your kids learn something for the first time? Have you ever given back to a homeless person on the street?
I want you to think for a second how are you felt when you did these things. Helping others is the easiest way to start to find happiness.
When we work together for the greater good, finding happiness is easy!
If you’re ever feeling sad, if you are ever down in the dumps, take a minute to brush yourself off and go help somebody. It is human nature to try to help others. Furthermore, by doing this you can guarantee you will feel better.
It is said that you cannot feel sadness while also feeling gratitude. Finding happiness is about chasing a feeling of gratitude.
When we feel grateful, we feel happy. The simplest way to do this is to help others.
Finding Happiness – Putting it Into Practice
Now, you do not need to go and become the next Mother Theresa in order to feel happy. Finding happiness isn’t about giving up everything you have, living on the streets, and spending all of your time giving back. There are many different ways for you to find this feeling and ways for you to help others.
Start to think about the areas of your life where you interact with others. This could be your children, your coworkers, your spouse, or even a random person on the street. Each and every day we have the opportunity to help them.
Doing small things such as helping out with dinner can make all the difference.
You can help your children learn a life lesson. Helping to onboard a new coworker is another way to find happiness through service.
Helping your spouse out with dinner is a great way to do something nice. Buying a meal for someone who is down on their luck and out on the streets is a great way to give back.
Helping others doesn’t mean completely changing their lives. You don’t have to give away thousands of dollars or spend every single moment focusing on doing an honorable deed. The smallest acts often times me in the most.
Our everyday, seemingly meaningless decisions can be the ones that make the biggest impact. You see, finding happiness is about doing the little things right and trying to put a smile on the face of others.
We can do that all while being successful in our careers, prioritizing our own time, and also being there for the people who need us most.
Not Always Easy, But Worth It
Trying to put others first isn’t always easy. Doing the right thing is often times very hard. However, it is always worth it.
Taking the time to truly be of service to others can make a world of a difference. Not only are you going to help somebody else, but you will also feel good about it!
The crazy part about helping others is that by giving ourselves up to be of service, ends up with us finding happiness. We can try all of the tricks in the world. We can try to satisfy our deep human desire with superficial things. But, these will never work.
Gratitude is the medicine we need in order to feel happy.
We must continue to be true to our nature. By design we are communal creatures.
We thrive as humans when we work together to take care of each other. This is what we were designed to do. Our genetic make up thrives when we can help out of fellow neighbor.
Do not deny yourself from this feeling! There is no better feeling in the world than doing something good for somebody else, and seeing them smile.
Take some time to think about where you can step in and help others. If you were struggling finding happiness, maybe it is time to look towards helping others. Because service is the quickest way to putting a smile on your face.
Live Simple Now is a lifestyle website dedicated to helping those looking to Live Their Best Life! Feel free to email us at livesimple@livesimplenow.com with comments, questions, article topics or submissions. We publish two articles each week, 52 weeks a year. Sign up today to follow via email, or follow along on Facebook.
When it comes to pushing yourself towards higher goals, there is no better competition than a reading challenge. While it might seem that books are a thing of the past, and reading is only for children, challenging yourself to read 10 pages a day is so important.
Picking up a physical book and setting aside time to read does something to your mind that translates to the rest of your life. When you spend time every day reading a book, there are a multitude of benefits. Not only will you learn from the book, but you also begin to pick up habits that can last a lifetime.
A reading challenge is all you need to get motivated!
Benefits of Reading – Top 2 Reason to Read More
In the age of podcasts, audiobooks, and online news articles it is hard to find somebody who reads physical books anymore. However, there are a host of benefits that come with the old school practice of a reading challenge.
First, many of us spend hours staring at a screen every single day. Furthermore, all of this time staring at a computer does damage to your eyes. While there are ways that you can combat this such as blue light glasses, actually taking time away from the screen is so important.
Taking the time to step away and to unplug will doing amazing things for your mental health. When you know longer feel tied to device, it can feel extremely freeing.
If you don’t believe me, give it a try for yourself! You will quickly see the benefits of stepping away from the screen.
Reducing screen time by reading 10 pages a day does wonders for your mental health.
Second, when you take the time to commit to a reading challenge, you will advance your career. There are very few people who actually try to read books. There are very few people putting in extra hours to get ahead in their career.
You can be the one who puts in that extra work. You can be the one who gets ahead because you were doing more than everybody else.
For example, if you work as a manager you can spend time reading books on how to improve your management style. There are thousands of books out there that will give you advice on how to lead better (more on this at the bottom of the article). These books will make you a better employee and help change your career trajectory.
10Pages a Day Reading Challenge
If you want to start reading, but do not where to know where to start, try this reading challenge. For the next 75days, read 10 pages of a physical book every single day. If you miss one day, you have to start over.
The practice of reading 10 pages a day will build your mindset. By filling your head with inspiring books you will grow. By making it a habit, you will flourish.
Many reading challenges only last for 30 days. However, for most people committing to 30 days is not really that big of a challenge. When you complete the challenge, it is not yet set in stone as a lifelong habit. In fact, you may not even feel proud of accomplishing the challenge.
Reading for 75 days in a row creates a feeling that is immensely rewarding.
On the other hand, if you spend 75 days doing a reading challenge, you have something to be proud of. Many people quit on their New Year’s resolutionswithin a month. But, you can be the person who changes your habits for a lifetime.
Reading 10 pages every day for 75 days can do that for you. While most people can’t stick to something for that long, you are not like most people. You can’t do this, you can change your life with this one simple reading challenge. At the end of this challenge, you will be astonished by how much you have changed.
But what if you don’t know where to get started? Here are some amazing books for you!
Find yourself a comfortable spot in your house and pick up one of these 3 books!
Reading Challenge Book Recommendations – 3 Books to Get You Started
If you are looking for a hands on book that has practical recommendations on how to lead better, then this book is for you. Jocko Willink, Navy seal and leadership consultant, teaches you his methods for being a better leader. Everything from how to handle a micromanaging boss to filling leadership voids, he covers it all.
For your reading challenge, if you want to learn from somebody with leadership experience in the harshest environments, then this is the book for you. All the questions you have about leadership, Jocko covers them.
Want to get your hands on the best selling self-help book of all time? Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill is the #1 book in the personal development space for a good reason.
Hill’s research, methods, and philosophy transcend generations. This book teaches you how to take ownership of your mind and use it to accomplish whatever you want.
Originally focused on millionaires of the time, Hill discusses the accomplishments of Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, and Henry Ford. Having direct access to these astonishing businessman allowed Hill to write a philosophy of achievement.
Completing a reading challenge is something to be proud of!
Ever struggle with picking up social cues? Want to know how to remember somebody’s name that you just met? Do you want to understand how to read peoples faces? Then this is the book for you.
Behavioral investigator Vanessa Van Edwards spent time researching the science of people. In her book Captivate, she lays out the tips and strategies for you to have better human interaction. Understanding how to work a room, how to talk to anybody, and how to get over social anxiety can change your life. Edwards lays out this book in a simple fashion that is easy to understand.
Her digestible tips allow you to implement these tactics right away. While you’re doing this reading challenge, you will instantly be able to put what you read into practice.
Reading Challenge – Time for Action!
If you want to drastically change, you have to take steps towards getting better. Why not start with a reading challenge? Read 10 pages a day for 75 days. Do not miss a day and you complete the challenge.
You can do this! This is your year! Now is the time for change. First, pick up a good book. Second, pick a time of day you will read. Finally, stick to the plan and read 10 pages a day!
As a result, you will see your habits change. Additionally, you will become the person you are destined to be!
Live Simple Now is a lifestyle website dedicated to helping those looking to Live Their Best Life! Feel free to email us at livesimple@livesimplenow.com with comments, questions, article topics or submissions. We publish two articles each week, 52 weeks a year. Sign up today to follow via email, or follow along on Facebook.
Creating a budget is something that most of us know that we should do. However, if you are like most people you probably don’t even know where to begin to start saving money. Fortunately there are a few simple tips and tricks that you can follow to make this process easier than you think.
At the beginning of each year many of us make a New Year’s resolution to spend less and save more. The meaning and purpose of this goal will be different for each person.
Some of us want to save money for that dream vacation that we have always wanted to take. While others are trying to put back a little extra cash in their savings account for retirement someday.
Your Budget plan doesn’t have to look like an empty piece of paper. Follow these simple steps to create a budget that works for you!
However, regardless of your purpose of saving more and spending less, an action plan needs to be in place. And not just any action plan. It needs to be one that is not only reasonable, but sustainable as well.
The Typical Budget Scenario
We have all been there. We set up a budget plan at the beginning of the year. And we are confident that this will finally be the time that we will see extra cash slowly accumulating in our bank accounts.
We then promise to eat at home more often and not go through the drive thru at our favorite restaurant. Or we commit to having one or two less Frappuccinos at our favorite, local coffee shop. We even limit our spending online and promise to purchase only items that we absolutely need.
However, mid to late January, the Christmas spending bills begin to arrive. And you have to put extra money towards paying off that debt. Then the increase in electric and gas bills from winter’s arrival start to roll in.
By the end of February or March when we go to look at our bank accounts, we don’t immediately see anything indicating that we are saving money. In fact, you most likely will see that your spending has actually increased, despite your efforts to eat at home and spend less.
Not only is this frustrating, it is the reason that most people throw their budget aside. And in turn, go back to their old habits. However, with just a few simple tips and tricks, you will not only create a budget that works for you, it will also be one that you can actually stick to!
6 Tips To Create A Budget
Step 1: Identify your Income
This may sound like an obvious step, but before you can identify how much money you can save, you have to determine how much income that you are generating.
It doesn’t matter if you get paid weekly, biweekly or monthly. What you need to calculate is how much, on average, that you make and bring home every month of the year.
This seems pretty easy for those who have a salary position that pays the same every pay period. However, it is a little more difficult for those whose income fluctuates. This is especially true if you are an hourly employee or work in an industry that is paid by the job.
The best way to determine your average monthly salary is to review your bank account. Document the payroll deposits that you made over the last year. Then simply add up the amount for the entire year and divide by 12.
Be sure to add not only your payroll, but any other guaranteed income that you receive.
*For those who receive tips as part of income, do the best you can to average those out as well. It is important to gather all of the income data that you can so you can be honest about what your average income is on a monthly basis.
Multiple Income Sources
For those who have multiple people in the house that contribute to the household budget, add in their income as well.
However, before you move to the next step to create your budget, be sure that you look beyond the obvious payroll income. Do you have other income coming in on a consistent basis that you need to consider?
Think about dividends, child support or other random income sources. Although be sure to record only guaranteed income sources. Bonuses that are based on sales or performance aren’t guaranteed and should not be considered.
Now that you have taken the time to determine your income, it is time for the hard part. The next step is to identify your monthly expenses.
Step 2: Identify Expenses
The second step in creating a budget is to figure out where you are spending your money. However, the first step in this process is actually pretty easy.
Start with reviewing and documenting your reoccurring monthly bills. These expenses are those that get billed either monthly or quarterly.
The most obvious expenses are mortgage/rent, car payments, insurance, and utility bills. However, be sure to take a close look at your bank statement to find those not so obvious payments that you make every month.
Think about video and audio streaming subscriptions. Or what about those extraneous data storage fees. Think about babysitting, membership fees to gyms, clubs, and any other monthly, quarterly, or even yearly expenses.
Go through your bank statements and document the type of service that you are paying for and also the amount. However, if it is a quarterly or annual fee, be sure to divide that amount so you can determine what you spend on that service on a monthly basis.
Now comes the more difficult part, identifying the miscellaneous expenses. Besides the bills that you pay over and over again, you must identify and categorize those ‘other’ expenses.
Although time consuming, it is crucial to add up your expenses. Then place them in categories so you can analyze the data.
Other Expenses
These expenses are those that most often can be organized in these five categories: grocery, entertainment, restaurants, shopping and medical expenses. However, feel free to use additional categories that meet your specific spending habits.
Now go through your bank statement and/or receipts if you frequently use cash. Identify and log how much you spend in each category every month.
It is ideal to gather a year full of data. However a few months worth of documentation will give you a good start. Be sure to take into consideration any special events that occur as well. Wedding expenses, Christmas or even an emergency trip out of town, could skew the data.
Although, you must take those unexpected or even planned yearly expenses into account as well. You may even consider adding a miscellaneous category for these expenses.
As you are documenting your spending look for trends. For example, if you are eating at a certain restaurant several times a week, that might be an area to note and one where eventually you can save money.
Step 3: Set Realistic Goals
Now that you have identified your income sources and expenses, it is time to start analyzing the information in front of you.
But first, be sure to enter the information in a Budget Worksheet. Although you can purchase these type of programs to help you organize the data, you don’t have to spend any money to create a budget.
Instead, use Google Sheets to make your own spreadsheet. In one column, log your monthly income resources. Then, in the next column, list all of the reoccurring monthly expenses into the form.
This will include not only the household payments and utilities, but also the general expenditure categories that you have identified.
Now take some time to analyze the data. Where are you truly spending your money? What are the payments that aren’t negotiable? And where are you spending money where you could possibly cut back?
Talk it over, look at it several times for at least a week, and really determine what is important to you.
Write down your budget. Do this on a printable budget worksheet or develop you own in Google Sheets.
Step 4: Design Your Budget
Now that you have taken the time to organize and reflect on the information that you have gathered, it is time to prepare your budget.
It is very important to give yourself a week or two after gathering the data before setting up your specific budget. This will allow you time to not only think about what can be cut, but also, and more importantly, about what is important to you and your family.
If you rely on going to the gym for health, but also as an outlet for socialization because you have been working in a home office, then you might consider that a priority.
On the contrary, if you noticed a trend that you are spending money every morning at Starbucks, adding up to over 50 dollars a week, this might become a ‘wow’ moment for you.
Look at your expenses and decide where it is best to save some money. If you have a partner I highly recommend a long discussion of the budget, priorities and in the end, a mutual agreement on the process.
Document Your Budget Plan
Write down your budget plan by listing the amount that you need to budget every month, for every category. This includes the harder categories of grocery, entertainment, restaurants, etc.
However, be realistic. If you have spent $500 in groceries every month for the past 6 months, don’t assume that you can decrease that to $200. Yes, you can probably cut back on those unnecessary snack items because you have started your New Year’s diet, but you have to have the foresight to understand what your actual, anticipated spending will be.
Then decide what amount of money that you want to save, and identify where you will use those extra savings. It is okay if you want to divide the extra money into different categories, to reach multiple goals. Just be sure to allocate what percentage you want to go towards each goal.
Step 5: Pay Yourself
Now the hard part is over! You have created your budget and now it is time to implement it in your daily life. This is going to require some discipline, but the results are well worth it!
Every day, at least for the first several months, look at your budget worksheet. Schedule it in as part of your Morning Routine. This will help you get in the habit of recognizing not only what you are spending, but also where.
Log the spending at least weekly. Update that worksheet often so you know what bills have been paid, what you have spent at the grocery, and how much extra money is left in the budget each month.
Then at the end of every month, pay yourself with whatever you have leftover. Where you put that money is up to you. Although I would highly suggest that you keep track of the extra money that you have ‘earned’ since creating a budget.
Some people prefer to pull out the cash out at the end of every month and set it aside for a specific reason. This is called the envelope method.
You simply mark the outside of the envelope with your goal that you established, such as Vacation. Then put the monthly savings in that envelope. A little old school, but it works for some people.
Or you can simply document your savings on your budget spreadsheet and identify what the intended purpose is for that money.
The important thing here is to identify exactly how much you saved and how it is going to help you reach your goals. Otherwise, you risk losing sight of your accomplishments and therefore, you will most likely slip into your old spending habits.
Step 6: Monthly Review and Adjust
Now that you are in the groove of analyzing your spending and reaping the benefits by seeing an increase in your savings, it is time to step back and take a look at how things are going.
Are you saving what you thought you would? Are you spending more in groceries than you anticipated? Have you paid off a vehicle and now have that extra cash that needs to be allocated to one of your New Year’s Goals?
Life changes frequently, and that will be true after creating a budget. That is why it is so important to review and adjust your budget as things change.
Get into the habit of doing a review on the first of every month. Look back at your finances and adjust your budget based on habits and life events.
A budget is not meant to be a static document. It is a dynamic and ever changing guide that is meant to help you save money.
Complete the above 6 steps and not only will you be able to create a budget that works for you, and you will finally be able to stick to it!
Live Simple Now is a lifestyle website dedicated to helping those looking to Live Their Best Life! Feel free to email us at livesimple@livesimplenow.com with comments, questions, article topics or submissions. We publish two articles each week, 52 weeks a year. Sign up today to follow via email, or follow along on Facebook.
In order to accomplish your goals, you have to set aside time every day in order to make progress. The perfect time to do this is in the morning. Morning routines set you up for success, they allow you to develop yourself, and will guarantee that you get one step closer to your goals.
Ever wonder how successful people make progress towards their goals? We all know somebody (it might even be you!) who every year seems to be growing, getting better, and making progress.
The one thing all successful people have in common is they have unbreakable routines. Many times, these routines are centered around owning their mornings.
Getting up on the first alarm is a great step in your morning routine.
Why Morning Routines?
Why in the mornings? First, starting your day with momentum is so important. How you start your morning is a great indication of how the rest of your day will go.
Our morning routines set our mood, they determine our attitude, and influence our actions towards success. When you start your day on a positive note, you start to build momentum.
Momentum is a powerful force when you are attempting to accomplish something difficult. When you string together a series of wins, you begin to create a winning mentality. These actions compound over time and create an exponential impact on your results.
Morning routines create exponential growth over time. They start slow, but quickly grow!
While at first these small wins might not seem big, given enough time, you will see the effects!
By utilizing your mornings, you will be able to create this momentum. You will create small wins that add up over time and land you on top of your goals.
This is the power of morning routines!
Can’t Find Time? – Make it!
Often times when people adopt morning routines, they quickly come up with excuses. While many times valid, we cannot let our excuses stop us from accomplishing our goals
The biggest excuses people use is “I don’t have time.” Yes, we are all busy. Work, kids, school, marriage, etc. The list goes on and on. However, if your goals are as important as you say, you will find the time.
But what if you simply cannot find the time? What if every moment of your day is full and you feel like you can’t squeeze in anything else? Well, if you can’t find time, make it!
Busy days call for increased organization. Finding time can be difficult, but making it is a choice!
Mornings can be the one part of the day that you own. Most people work a 9 to 5 job. After work, they come home and have many different responsibilities to deal with. This is why morning routines are so important!
The time before work is the best opportunity to guarantee you make progress towards you goals. This time is often uninterrupted and can be used to better yourself.
By waking up a little bit earlier you can make sure this time is for you. If you currently get up at 6 AM, try getting up 30 minutes earlier to work on a goal. For example, say you have the goal to write a book. By getting up 30 minutes earlier, going straight to your computer and writing – you can finish it!
If you do this every day for the rest of the year the book will be completed. By utilizing a morning routine, you are going to be able to get a step closer to accomplishing your goals.
Morning Routines – ThePractical Guide
Now that you know why you need a morning routine, it is time to make one. While you will see articles online about people taking cold showers, meditating, drinking lemon water for their morning, that is not with this article is about.
In order to make real progress towards your goals, you are going to have to take action! While there is nothing wrong with the practices listed above, these aren’t really going to get you that much closer to your goals.
Your morning routine is the perfect time to make progress towards goals.
If you want to make real progress, your morning routine needs to be aligned with your goals. This precious time must be spent getting closer to your ideal state.
Time is the one non-renewable resource we have in life. You can always make more money, but you can never get back the time that you spend. Our mornings constitute precious time that we cannot afford to waste.
So how can you best spend your time in the mornings? For each person, this is going to look a little different. However, the one common factor is that your actions in the morning must get you closer to your goals.
If your goal is to lose weight or eat a healthier diet, then spend this time working out or meal prepping. If your goal is to learn a new language, spend this time studying. As long as this time is productive, that is all that matters!
An easy way to ensure you are making good use of your time is to track your habits in a journal. By keeping track of your morning routine, you can find out what works for you and what doesn’t.
By tracking your progress in a journal, you will be able to keep yourself accountable!
Excellence Is a Habit
Finding what works for you can take time. Your morning routine will not be crystalized over night, but with repeated practice, you can get closer to perfecting it.
By setting aside 30-60 minutes in the morning to take purposeful action towards your goal, you will be amazed at how far this will take you. Small actions, repeated consistently over time is the key to success!
Aristotle once said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit.” If we can form the habit of executing our morning routines, then we can be a step closer to excellence. By striving forward each day, we can make it a habit.
If we are able to make our morning routines a habit, we will be sure to crush our goals and make our dreams become a reality.
Live Simple Now is a lifestyle website dedicated to helping those looking to Live Their Best Life! Feel free to email us at livesimple@livesimplenow.com with comments, questions, article topics or submissions. We publish two articles each week, 52 weeks a year. Sign up today to follow via email, or follow along on Facebook.
The New Year has officially started and millions of people everywhere are beginning their New Year’s diet. While many people will succeed and reach their goals, it is unfortunately more common that people will fail.
This happens for a multitude of reasons – some outside of your control, others are things you can control.
However, is this going to be the year that you finally make the decision to clean up your diet and live a healthier life? Whether you want to lose weight or gain muscle and look better, sticking to a good diet plan is so helpful for many aspects of life. While this is no easy task there are a few things you can do that will help you stick to your New Year’s diet.
Whether you want to play with your kids, have the body of your dreams, or just feel better, a good diet is the first step in the right direction. When you fuel your body with healthy food you are giving it the nutrients that it truly needs. You will have more energy, feel better about yourself, and perform at your best.
However, sticking to a new diet can be hard. Time and time again, we fail at our diets because we don’t have the right structure and guardrails in place.
With a little bit of help, and a bit of guidance, you can stick to your New Year’s diet. It isn’t as complicated as what you would think. A small amount of discipline and a structured routine can ensure you stick to your diet this year.
New Year’s Diet – The Meal Plan
When structuring any diet plan, the first question most people ask is, “What do I eat”? Well, there are many different diets and you need to choose the one that suits your needs.
Whether you want to do Paleo, Keto, Vegan, or Whole 30, you need to pick foods that help you reach your goals. Each person is different and no body is the same, so pick what suits your needs.
A good rule of thumb is to try to stick to foods that have one ingredient. Apple. Asparagus. Chicken. Rice. When we feed our body with natural foods, it thanks us!
Getting the right nutrients to our body is so important. So make a list of 20 or so food items that spread a variety of food groups, and stick to those. You want a nice mixture of protein, carbs, and fats in your New Year’s diet.
Going to the grocery can be difficult if you don’t have a plan. Now that you have made a list of foods, you are going to go to the grocery and ONLY get the food that are on your list.
While it may be tempting to grab that extra loaf of bread, or a tub of ice cream, you have to stick to the list. If it’s NOT on the list, you do NOT buy it.
The Clean Up
Now that you have a good repertoire of healthy food, it is time to get rid of the junk. Take out everything that is in your cupboards and refrigerator. One by one I want you to go through everything that you have, and if it is not on that list throw it away.
It is time to get rid of it. If the unhealthy food is in the house you will eat it. This is not going to be easy, but neither is losing the weight that you’ve always wanted. In order to get results with your New Year’s diet, changes have to be made.
If you have children in the house, it may not be feasible to only eat these certain foods. However, one helpful trick is to separate your food and their food.
Keep your healthy food in a specific shelf in the cupboard. Put your fruits and vegetables in one drawer separated from the pre-packaged food for the children. This is a simple way for you to separate the healthy food from the snacks that children sometimes require.
On the other hand, if you really want to take this New Year’s diet to the next step, start making your children’s meals a little bit healthier. Now that doesn’t mean getting rid of their favorite sandwich or snack, but what it could mean is adding in an extra piece of nutritious food every now and then.
You can be the example for how your children should eat. You can be the one who teaches them healthy habits that can last a lifetime.
How to Stick to the Diet
Alright, now you have made a list of healthy foods and cleaned out all of the junk in your house. It is time for you to now create a habit that will set you up for success. This small trick has helped millions of people be successful with their New Year’s diet. This secret is used by health enthusiast everywhere and is available to you as well.
In order to constantly eat healthy food, you need to be prepared. If your food is not made, you will gravitate towards unhealthy food.
Your diet needs to consist of foods that you can prepare one day of the week and eat later. We call this meal prepping.
Set out one day a week, typically Sunday, that you will cook in bulk your food for the entire week. This way all you have to do is heat up the food that you have already cooked. This simple tactic will allow you to eat healthy and not even think about going towards the junk.
First, you need to pick up some containers to meal prep. By cooking your lunches and dinners for the week, you will be guaranteed to eat healthy food for at least two meals a day. This should only take an hour or two out of your Sunday, and you will not have to cook the rest of the week.
Using tools such as theInstant Potor an air fryer are simple ways to cook your food in bulk. These methods of cooking allow you to make delicious food at home that is both healthy and convenient. You need to find a few healthy recipesthat you like and stick to them.
Small Habits, Big Wins
Starting a new diet can be hard. However, if you were able to build up a set of habits you can be successful.
It is not going to be easy, but the payoffs are worth it. Living a healthy life is one of the most gratifying feelings in the world.
You will be amazed by how your body feels when you feed it the food it needs. By making a list of healthy foods, getting rid of the junk in your house, and meal prepping once a week you will be astonished by the results.
This is the year that you make a difference in your lifestyle. This is the year you finally stick to your New Year’s diet!
Live Simple Now is a lifestyle website dedicated to helping those looking to Live Their Best Life! Feel free to email us at livesimple@livesimplenow.com with comments, questions, article topics or submissions. We publish two articles each week, 52 weeks a year. Sign up today to follow via email, or follow along on Facebook.
With the holidays in the rear-view mirror and the new year right around the corner, it is a great time to sit down and think about setting goals for the year ahead. Setting goals for the New Year is super important. However, statistics show many people end up failing within the first 32 days.
But this year that doesn’t have to be you! There are time tested methods to help you accomplish your goals. With these 3 secrets to success you will be set up to end next year victorious.
These 3 tips will provide you with a framework to accomplish your goals. They will establish your purpose, clarify the roles you take up, and help you hold yourself accountable.
Make this the year you establish the goals that will take you where you want to go!
Start with Why – Setting Goals For The New Year
Imagine for a second you are at a funeral. People gather around to mourn the loss of an amazing person. One by one family members, friends, and coworkers walk to the front of the room and talk about the their loved one.
They reminisce on memories, tell beautiful stories, and admire the characteristics of their lost companion. Then, it is your turn. As you walk up to the microphone to say a few words, you look down at the body.
Something stands out to you… You realize the person in the casket is YOU! All these people came to your funeral to tell others how big of an impact you had on their lives. This is what happens when you start with why.
By starting with the end in mind, you are able to create a roadmap for the type of impact you want to have on others. Our lives are a culmination of years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, and seconds – each one adding up to create our life story. Knowing this, it can be good to reflect on what you would want people to say about you at your funeral.
Identifying Roles
This can be accomplished in a few steps. First, take the time to identify some roles that are important in your life. They can be any position in which you believe you fill. Partner, brother, sister, mother, coworker, individual, and friend are just a few to choose from.
By starting with the end in mind, you are able to create a roadmap for the type of impact you want to have on others.
Once you have identified your roles, think about how you would want to be remembered in each of them. How would you want to be remembered as a parent? As a co-worker? As a friend? What would people say about you at your funeral? Take some time to write these down. We will use this to set your goals!
See the Big Picture – Setting Goals For The New Year
While visualizing your funeral isn’t a fun thing to do, it opens your eyes to what is really important. Identifying what means the most to you can help you narrow down your “why”. When you start with why you have a driving purpose to continue when things get tough.
The reason most people quit their goals is because their “why” isn’t large enough. However, if you can connect to a deeper purpose, you can keep going when times get tough.
In every role in your life, you have the opportunity to succeed. As a parent, spouse, teacher, coach or whatever your pursuit may be, you can achieve your goals. However, we all know people who spend too much time focusing on one area and neglect the rest.
The successful businessman who ignores his family for his career or the parent who is so obsessed with their newborn they neglect their spouse. Examples like these ground us to see the bigger picture.
Identifying what means the most to you can help you narrow down your “why”.
While there will be times in life that will require extra focus on a particular role, we must zoom out. Taking a look at your life holistically allows you to create a complete picture of what it means to accomplish your goals.
This process takes you one step closer to setting goals for the New Year. Let’s jump into the steps.
Step 1: Identify Roles – Setting Goals For The New Year
The first step in setting goals for the New Year is to identify your roles. During our funeral exercise above, you discovered the roles that are important to you.
Now pick 3-5 roles you would like to focus on this year. This is the first secret! Keep your New Year’s goals aligned to the roles you play in life. By aligning them to your most important roles, you will be sure to have a connection to your “why”.
Another added benefit of using roles to set goals is they naturally segment your week and day. We all transition between roles throughout a week and day, so setting goals this way is natural.
When somebody ask what you do or who you are, you typically answer with roles. “I am a pharmacist” or “I am a mother”. Use this secret to your advantage!
Step 2: Setting Goals – Setting Goals For The New Year
Then, the second step in setting goals for the New Year is to actually set your goals. You have identified your “why”, picked the roles you want to focus on, and now it is time to set your goals.
Think back to what you want people to say about you at your funeral. For each role, what is the one thing you can do this year that will move you closer to making their sentiments a reality?
In alignment with your “why”, pick one (and only one!) goal for each role. This is secret #2. By sticking to one massively impactful goal for each role, you will put more effort into it. With a smaller, yet more impactful focus, you will put 100% of your focus into accomplishing the goals.
Not only will setting goals help you this year, but in the years to come as well.
Additionally, you should make your goals S.M.A.R.T. Specific. Measurable. Actionable. Realistic. Time Bound. By following the S.M.A.R.T. framework, you will be able to set a goal that stretches you just beyond your current limits but is still achievable.
Step 3: Create a System – Setting Goals For The New Year
Finally, you have done it! You have officially set your goals for the New Year. Now comes the difficult part – executing on those goals. This is a phenomenal opportunity for you to take advantage of some structure and guardrails to ensure your goals are a success!
Creating a system to review your status and set yourself up for success is so important. Earlier we discussed how your roles naturally fall into a weekly and daily rhythm.
In the same way your roles fall into this pattern, it is important you make scheduled time to accomplish your goals. Naturally, most people’s lives operate on a weekly schedule – so we are going to take advantage of this!
Don’t let another year go by without putting a plan together to reach your goals!
Find a time in the week (generally Sunday’s work best) to sit down and plan action steps you can take to get closer to your goals.Secret number 3 at last!
These action steps are tasks that correspond to each of your roles. Pick 1-2 actions you can take this week that will move you closer to your goals. Using your calendar, schedule time to complete these tasks.
Furthermore, if you are able to stick to this habit, you will be sure to accomplish your goals in the New Year!
It is official – our goal of traveling and experiencing all 50 states has finally been accomplished! And what an amazing, exciting and interesting journey it has been to see all fifty over the course of the last two years. Honestly, it was truly life changing for us in ways we could never have imagined!
As we headed into late spring with only a handful of states left to take in, we decided to finish with a flourish and attempt to tackle them all before the year ended, including a final flourish to the two most difficult to get to for us – Alaska & Hawaii.
Climbing Flat Top Mountain in Alaska turned out to be a fun and challenging hike! We did not realize until we neared the top that the last 1/4 mile was straight up rock climbing. The trip back down was actually a bit harderthan going up!
Somehow, someway – it all came together. Even though both states are a far cry from Ohio, we made it. And had the time of our lives doing so, making memories we will cherish and hold fondly in our hearts for the rest of our lives.
Crossing Off Alaska – Traveling To All 50 States
After completing a few missing states in the Northeast, we set our eyes first on completing Alaska. For 15 incredible days in July, we were able to take in the beauty that is Alaska.
From incredible mountain hikes, to boating within a few feet of the breathtaking glaciers, Alaska was a sight to behold. Before we left, Mary’s one personal goal was to see a Moose in the wild. In fact, she told me we were not leaving until we crossed that off her list!
The glaciers are simply magical to behold. The stillness of the water and the crisp, clean air is simply divine.
Fortunately, we didn’t have to wait long. On our fifth day of hiking, in the early evening, we rounded the corner on a trail and there in front of us was one of the most majestic sites we have ever witnessed, an incredibly large moose staring directly at us!
To say Alaska is beautiful is the understatement of a lifetime. Although we enjoyed her beauty for 15 amazing days, we only scratched the surface of seeing all there is to see. One thing is for sure, we will be back!
Hawaii – The 50th and Final State! Traveling To All 50 States
And so it was, as October rolled around, the only state left was Hawaii. We were originally supposed to be in Hawaii on August 29th, 2020 to celebrate both the end our 1 year, 365 journey around the states, and Mary’s 50th birthday.
Of course, the pandemic put an end to those plans early in 2019. After visiting 26 states in the camper, we returned to the farm to wait it out. As restrictions lifted, we were able to check off another 23 over the course of the past 16 months – leaving only Hawaii remaining to finish.
One of the most moving of memorials we went to on our entire trip was the USS Arizona.
And what an unbelievable finish it was! It may have been 14 months later than planned, but it was still so incredibly fulfilling to experience all Hawaii has to offer – all while completing a visit to our 50th state!
A Month Of Hawaii – Traveling To All 50 States
We actually ended up staying for a full month, spending much of our time on the Big Island doing what we love to do most – experience the local food, traditions and culture.
There are no shortage of memories of our time there. From a night time hike to the rim of the most active Volcano in the world, to exploring lava tubes underground and seeing the amazing beauty nature can create all on her own.
The Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island was the top highlight of all for the entire trip. To see a volcano spewing up lava within the large crater was nothing short of amazing. Especially seeing it at night after a hike through the woods!
From hikes to green sand beaches, to touring coffee farms, botanical gardens and swimming in the ocean – our days in Hawaii were always filled with smiles, laughter, and a lot of sun!
Pictures do not do Kīlauea justice – but we were thrilledto be so close to the rim and see the lava.
As we boarded the plane to come home, I remember looking at Mary and thinking how in the world did we pull this off? It was both exciting and almost unbelievable to think we really did it – that we actually made it to all 50 states!
Life Is What You Make Of It…
But if this trip taught us anything, it is that anything is possible if you put your heart and soul into it. The old “Just Do It” slogan really does apply to almost every situation in life. As does the saying “Wait And Nothing Will Happen“.
The truth is, they are both 100% correct. If you have a dream, it won’t ever have a chance of becoming a reality if you don’t act on it. And that very concept is one we want to continue to promote with the Live Simple Now website from here on out.
What’s Next For Live Simple Now – Traveling To All 50 States
The Live Simple Now website has always been so special for us. Although we created it to document our dream trip around the country, it became apparent early on that it had another purpose as well – to inspire others to live out their dreams too. And in the process, live their life to the fullest.
The green sand beach on the Big Island – one of only four in the world!
And we just don’t want that to ever stop. Not for us, or for others chasing their own dreams, whatever they may be! Maybe it’s travel, or starting a new career they are passionate about. Perhaps it is making more time for their favorite hobby or passion – and turning it into a new life. Whatever the dream – the most important thing of all is to find happiness in whatever you are doing!
I can’t begin to tell you how many emails we still receive from folks wanting to follow their own dreams, but not knowing where to begin or how to take the first step.
An Idea For Live Simple Now
So it gave us the idea that perhaps this website could have an even better second life. One that could help with positive life tips, stories and advice to help folks chase their dreams and passions. Advice from all walks of life, that can bring all kinds of ideas to help turn dreams into reality.
After traveling to all 50 states, we gave the little camper that took us to many of them a new look! Our NuCamp camper was certainly one amazing home on the road for us!
With that in mind, we have created a new look for the website’s front page : Live Simple Now. On the site you will now notice 6 new categories at the top. Each category is dedicated to finding ways to live your best life now:
Life Tips
Healthy Living
Travel
Financing Your Dreams
Get Motivated
Finding Happiness
In the coming months, we will have a slew of guest writers that will explore how to live better by starting to live your best life right now! From reaching goals, to getting motivated, finding your own happiness and more, the articles will all be focused on staying positive and making your dreams come true.
Each week, we will send out a single newsletter with a new inspiring article. In fact, we will have our first such article starting on December 29th. We really hope you enjoy the new look, content and theme for the site!
Stay Positive
One thing is for sure, it will always focus on the positive. For us, that is the only way to be. Sadly, there is just too much negativity in the world these days. For us, this will hopefully be a way to make a difference.
Thank you all for joining us on our journey around the country. Traveling to all 50 states was truly a dream come true! Here is to living simple, and to accomplishing all of your hopes and dreams to live your best life! Mary and Jim.
It seems hard to believe that it was nearly one year ago when we were forced to take a break from our incredible one year Live Simple Now journey to see all 50 states of this wondrous country. But here we are heading towards March 1st of 2021. And has the time ever passed by so very quickly. It was March 12th when we decided to come home, and it seems like a lifetime ago.
We have certainly made the most of our time back on the farm. Part of living simple and living your best life is finding happiness in everything you do, and everywhere you are.
For us, when we arrived back, we decided to simply make the best of the situation we could. We certainly were having the time of our life on the road, and never imagined we would have to stop. But when it happened, we just turned our attention to something else we love – our family, our little farm, writing, cooking – and thinking of more fun ideas and challenges to tackle in the future.
We have never been two individuals that sit still for very long. Thankfully we share that passion. Many times in our life we have used the term “Next Up ” when talking about never complaining or feeling sorry because something didn’t work out the way it was planned. To us, “Next Up” means move on from what you can’t control, and put your energy and fun into something you can.
The Next Up Phenomenon
The funny thing is, more often than not, that leads to something even better in the long run. Especially if you always approach life with a positive attitude, and the energy needed to accomplish it. That was our exact thought as we wrote our last article “A Difficult Decision To Suspend The Trip”.
One of the clearings on the new property we now call The Forest. We figured it was fitting since we call our homestead The Farm, to call this getaway place tucked away in the trees The Forest.
So when we realized this was not going away any time soon, we tried to do just that. We started by tackling some fun projects here at the farm. And then in early fall, we found a little 20 acre farm near our current homestead and started to work on another dream of ours – a getaway space with small cabins, camping hookups and more.
We had a lot of fun in the late fall clearing the land to prepare for building on that dream early this spring. We even took our camper out and stayed on the property for days on end to do it. Talk about having fun again with the camper. We grilled out, made campfires, and spent the day doing what we love, working on trails and clearing spaces for future cabins.
All the while, we also continued to follow our passion of writing for our home, garden & recipe blogs we dearly love. We might not have been able to travel, but we certainly found a lot of joy in what we were able to do.
The Plan From Here – Live Simple Now
Many have written to ask about the trip. What we will do? Will we finish? So let’s tackle that question first. We are so thankful for the states we were able to take in thus far. So grateful for the experiences, people and cultures that we were able to see and spend time with. And there is no question that we want to experience the rest of the states.
The new property is heavily wooded, and we have already carved out some great walking trails. We really fell in love with trails and hiking on the trip, and wanted a space here to do that as well.
So with that said, there is ZERO doubt that we will travel to the remaining states and cross them off. But we have decided to do it in small segments now to allow time to do the other things we love as well. After all, to us, that is what living simple and living your best life is. Doing what you love, and enjoying the entire process all along the way.
The Future – Live Simple Now
For us, it looks like a three year plan to intermittently experience the rest as time allows. And in the interim – have fun with everything else we have always wanted to try or do.
For starters, we hope to turn the little 20 acre farm into a space where we can host folks from all over. And much like when we were on the road, enjoy their company. Even better, to host some annual events there. We also have launched in the last few weeks our Simple Garden Life Podcast. We have talked about doing one for years, and took the plunge. Are we ever having fun with it so far! Our weekly 30 minute segments really have become a fun way to talk gardening with so many from all over the world.
Our new weekly garden podcast has been so much fun so far. We are really looking forward to seeing what it has in store for the future.
Last but not least, and the reason for our article today, is that we have finally decided what to do with this website moving forward. And we are pretty excited to share it with everyone today.
Our Live Simple Now site has always been so special for us. It was born from 2 people following a dream. And we just don’t want that dream to ever stop. Along our trip, we met so many others who were living their dream as well. And in the process, living their best life, and enjoying experiences over everything else. But we also met so many others who longed to do the same. And, were looking for advice and answers on how to make it all happen.
An Idea For Live Simple Now
So it gave us the idea that perhaps this website could have an even better second life. One that tells the stories of others who have taken the plunge to simplify life and do what they love. Maybe it’s travel, start a new career, follow their favorite hobby or passion to a brand new exciting life, or simply find happiness in whatever they do.
At the same time, perhaps those stories would provide inspiration for others who want to take a more simple approach to life in order to Live Simple Now and chase their dreams and passions too. After all – isn’t that really what it’s all about! TO LIVE. TO EXPERIENCE.
We have so many incredible memories from our journey so far. And so many more to make in the coming years with more travel – and projects here as well.
Over the course of the next few months, we will begin to fill the pages of Live Simple Now with the stories of others who are following their dreams and passions. We will share their method and advice. And what it took for them to get there. In addition, we will also feature all kinds of helpful articles, tips and hints. All in hopes to inspire and help us all find ways to live our best life.
We wanted to reach out to all who followed along for two reasons. First, you might have a story to share with us that we can feature to inspire, or know of someone who does. And second, to let everyone know where we are going from here with Live Simple Now.
No matter what, we wanted to say a big Thank You to everyone we met along the way so far of this journey! Here is to “Next Up” and loving life for everything it has to offer. Jim and Mary
If you had asked Mary or I four months ago what could possibly postpone, or somehow temporarily put our trip around the country on hold, I am certain that we wouldn’t have responded with a pandemic.
Perhaps a catastrophic failure with the truck or family emergency – but not a pandemic!
The date was March 12th, and at that point, we had rolled through 24 states and 19,380 miles – all in just over 6 months. And we were having the absolute time of our life seeing the incredible sights, sounds and meeting wonderful people all across the country.
One of our last days before suspending the trip in Charleston, SC.
But here we are, back on our farm, 130 days removed from having to put the brakes on the trip – and all due to a pandemic.
We thought tonight might be a great time to give a little update on what we have been up to – and what the plan is from here on out. One thing is for sure, no matter what – it does feel wonderful to write to you all again tonight!
Coming Back Home – The Trip Goes On Hold
The truth is, when we headed back home, we thought it might be for a month at most. But within a few days of being back, we quickly realized that it was going to be some time before we could travel and enjoy the people and places that make the trip so special.
After all, that is what the trip is all about. And with all that has transpired, meeting people and visiting places was simply not going to happen the way we wanted for it to.
So we did the only thing you can do – make the best of any situation and have the most fun you can with it! So the tarp came off the garden, and we embraced our little farm once again.
Our garden at the farm is in full swing now!
And it has been a constant flurry of activity ever since. There is an old saying that goes along the lines of finding happiness in whatever you do. And if you know us, that has been a motto for our entire time together.
And although we loved life on the road, we renewed our passion for the farm and gardens here.
Keeping Busy While The Trip Is On Hold
We have planted new trees, shrubs and flowerbeds – and of course, planted our raised row garden too. And once we knew we would be here for the summer, we tackled building a new chicken coop along with raising a new batch of chicks along with it.
And the projects and fun keep on coming (see: Old World Garden Farm Blog) until one day, we can complete the trip in the way we dreamed about.
The new chicken coop we built at the farm while home on break from the trip
But, I will say this, the memories we made on the trip thus far have been fun to talk about. I can’t tell you how many nights we sit overlooking the farm, with a glass of wine in hand, reminiscing about all of the incredible things and people we were fortunate enough to see and meet.
And without fail, we end our nightly talks with a quick game of “where would we have been today on the trip?” For instance, tonight we would have been in Missouri!
And yes, of course every once in awhile, we still spend a night in our incredible little nuCamp Tab 400 camper here on the farm to reminisce.
Determined To Finish What We Started
One thing is for sure – we WILL complete all 50 states. There is no doubt in our minds at all when it comes to that. And we are going to enjoy it just as much as our first 6 months of traveling.
3 of our new chicks at the farm!
The only question really is when and how. And we are more than okay with figuring that out as time allows. Our hope is that we can do the final 26 states over the course of the next two years in a few sections and sessions as everything allows us to do it in a way that is enjoyable and safe for all.
As I am sure you can imagine, it took quite a bit of planning and effort to clear an entire year’s schedule. And based on the timing of the trip and the weather, it’s simply not possible to just pick up and go when the all clear is sounded due to many of the cold weather states still left on our journey.
A New Look – And The Evolving Plan For The Trip On Hold
One thing we are doing is updating the wrap for our incredible little nuCamp Tab 400 with a new look to finish the trip. Since the 365 day / 50 state theme is a bit outdated now, we have decided to go with a new wrap celebrating getting to all 50 states.
The camper will be getting a new look for the remainder of the trip.
And as soon as it is completed in the next month, we will be sure to update everyone with a photo! Until then, we will be here on our farm enjoying the garden, the warm summer days, and making the best of each and ever day.
Here is to finding the best in every situation, living every day to the fullest, and to accomplishing dreams! Life is good as long as you still have life in you – Jim and Mary
It is with a heavy heart we announce today the temporary suspension of our travels across the country due to the ever developing coronavirus situation.
It has become apparent in the last few days that travel between states, venues, etc. is not in the best interest of everyone’s safety.
We set out on this trip to experience the backroads of America, and that includes meeting and speaking with so many wonderful people along the way. With that in mind, we certainly don’t want to jeopardize anyone’s health by continuing to travel during this current situation.
We are 100% healthy and feeling great, but simply cannot risk the chance of being a carrier or spreading this as we travel.
As of today, we are placing the trip on hold until further notice. It is our hope in the coming weeks or months that the situation will improve, and we can resume what up until today has been an amazing journey.
In the meantime, we are heading back to our farm in Ohio to wait and see what the coming weeks will bring.
We hope everyone will understand why we are taking these actions, and we certainly hope and pray for everyone affected by this virus now and in the coming weeks.
The dream is far from over, just on hold!
Thank you so very much for being a part of this amazing journey. Moving forward, we will post a single weekly update on the status of the trip.
