Day 8: Limit Your Media Consumption

February 8, 2010 in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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8. Limit your media consumption. This tip won’t be for everyone, so if media consumption is important to you, please skip it (as with any of the other tips). However, I believe that the media in our lives — TV, radio, Internet, magazines, etc. — can come to dominate our lives. Don’t let it. Simplify your life and your information consumption by limiting it.

I struggled with this for a long time (and still do). I spent many of my teen years and most of my early 20’s (which is not too far removed… I’m only 26) trying to accumulate things. Not just random things, electronics and dvds, video games and the latest greatest TV.

About 3 years ago I heard the gospel for the first time (probably not what you think). I had been a big fan of Jesus of America for a long time. He allowed me to continue living my life the way I wanted to live it as long as I obeyed some of the rules.

Then I found out… this Jesus was an impostor! Jesus of Nazareth was not the “American” Jesus I had been raised to revere. He was MUCH more radical than I had ever imagined.

Through the past I heard this new Jesus echo a cry for the poor. If I want to follow this Jesus, it will cost me. And not just once, but again and again. Following Jesus of Nazareth is dying to your self, your own desires, your own will everyday and taking up the cause of the poor, the widow, and the orphan.

How could I be preaching that Jesus wants us to live more simply, in community, and serve a people who had little to their name; and at the same time continue to pursue wealth?

So, being that media is one of my greatest expenditures and the largest amount of the stuff I own, I am getting rid of it. Within a few months, I hope to have rid myself of most of my dvds, blu-rays, my PS3, my small TV (large TV is already gone), and all my cds.

I have also given up TV for the most part and will try to limit my Internet consumption to 1 hour every day.

The only thing I will keep will be my laptop for communication purposes.

I pray that, as I am able to let more and more go, I will begin to see more and more I’ve been missing.

Day 7: Limit Your Communications

February 6, 2010 in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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  1. Limit your communications. Our lives these days are filled with a vast flow of communications: email, IM, cell phones, paper mail, Skype, Twitter, forums, and more. It can take up your whole day if you let it. Instead, put a limit on your communications: only do email at certain times of the day, for a certain number of minutes (I recommend twice a day, but do what works for you). Only do IM once a day, for a limited amount of time. Limit phone calls to certain times too. Same with any other communications. Set a schedule and stick to it.

My communications are almost solely through the internet. I don’t make many phone calls (those that I do make last about 2 minutes max.). I send a few texts a day. I don’t send a lot of emails. I send a few tweets every day. Most of this doesn’t take a lot of time.

What does take a bit of time is my internet browsing, but we’ll talk about that tomorrow.

(Goal: Try to be less “connected”…. it leaves more time for those you love.)

Day 6: Learn to Say No

February 5, 2010 in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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6. Learn to say no. This is actually one of the key habits for those trying to simplify their lives. If you can’t say no, you will take on too much.

Saying “No.” Ah, where to begin?

Challenging as the two-letter word has been for me, to continue not saying it would result in harm to my person. I have, for too long, said “Yes” to every request made of me. Can you help with this? Would you lead that? Can you pick up such- and- such? Do you have time to do that? “Yes” has been the common answer to these inescapable questions.

No longer!

Saying “No” doesn’t mean you aren’t doing anything any more; it simply means you are focusing your efforts on the few things to which you are saying “Yes.” In short, you are then able to do a few things very well instead of a lot of things really crappy. Saying “No” to busyness is step in the way of saying “Yes” to living a healthy and enjoyable life.

Can I really hep anyone if I am too exhausted from trying to fix all the little problems?… or by doing all the things that really don’t matter that much?

I will ask myself, “Self, Does the question I am being asked to say ‘Yes’ to fall within my Top 5 list from day one?” If not, I really should think about dropping the “No” bomb.

Day 5: Simplify Home Tasks

February 4, 2010 in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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5. Simplify home tasks. In that vein, think about all the stuff you do at home. Sometimes our home task list is just as long as our work list. And we’ll never get that done either. So focus on the most important, and try to find ways to eliminate the other tasks (automate, eliminate, delegate, or hire help).

I’ll have to reflect on this later as I am currently without home. I am in the in- betweens right now and have been for the past 3 months waiting on a house to close. Currently living in the bonus room at my parents’ house. When I actually have home tasks to do, I’ll let you know how I can simplify them!

Day 4: Simplify Your Work Tasks

February 3, 2010 in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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4. Simplify work tasks. Our work day is made up of an endless list of work tasks. If you simply try to knock off all the tasks on your to-do list, you’ll never get everything done, and worse yet, you’ll never get the important stuff done. Focus on the essential tasks and eliminate the rest.

This one will be easy. I am an Electrician. I get paid by the hour. I work 40 hours a week and have optimized my working efforts. Simplification is completed in the realm of Electrical Contracting!

Day 3: Evaluate Your Time

February 2, 2010 in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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3. Evaluate your time. How do you spend your day? What things do you do, from the time you wake up to the time you go to sleep? Make a list, and evaluate whether they’re in line with your priorities. If not, eliminate the things that aren’t, and focus on what’s important. Redesign your day.

-I generally wake up around 7:00AM. I immediately hit the shower, brush my teeth (of which I still have all), deodorant, q-tips, and then go for my clothes.

-I head out to work around 7:40 AM.

-Arrive at work @ 8:00AM and work until 4:30 PM.

- After work there is a variable schedule of events: classes, church events, etc.

-Reading before bed.

-Bed around 12AM.

I examined much of this yesterday. The only thing I’d like to re-emphasize is my goal of eliminating the busyness from my day… at least enough to enjoy/make time for some of the “BIG 5″ goals/commitments in my life. I’d like to take an hour before bed to reflect/meditate and exercise.

Day 2: Evaluate Your Commitments

February 1, 2010 in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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2. Evaluate your commitments. Look at everything you’ve got going on in your life. Everything, from work to home to civic to kids’ activities to hobbies to side businesses to other projects. Think about which of these really gives you value, which ones you love doing. Which of these are in line with the 4-5 most important things you listed above? Drop those that aren’t in line with those things.

OK. Here we go:

-Monday through Friday I work for an Electric Company (Queen City Electric), which is also my father’s business. (this is how I make my income and I’ve been doing it for the past 12 years) (Can’t do much simplifying here)

-Monday afternoon (6:30-9:15pm) I have class at UNCC (Women in the Hebrew Bible) (this falls under point number 2 in my list of important things – “Education”)

-Wednesday afternoon (3:30-6:15pm) I have class at UNCC (Approaches to the Study of Religion) (this falls under point number 2 in my list of important things – “Education”)

-Tuesday and Thursday afternoon are open days (once a month, I meet with the Charlotte Emergent Cohort on Tuesday Evenings to talk about interests, theology, and involvement within the community) (this falls under points 1,2, and 4 —- “Love”: within friendships, “Education”: I always learn something from one of these guys or gals, and “Community”: We share openly and honestly with each other our dreams for the future)

-Friday evening and afternoon are reserved for my friendships (see point #1 “Love”). This includes hanging out and talking, grabbing a bite to eat, checking out a movie, etc.

-Saturdays are a mix. Studying, Church Events, Friendships, Reading, etc.

-Sundays I volunteer as an Associate Pastor at a small church in the Charlotte area. Needless to say, much of my day is taken up by this work.

Where do I need to cut/simplify?

I feel that I am doing many things that identify with my top 5 things (mentioned in post #1) but, I also realize myself to be too busy. Which pretty much destroys points #5 Contemplation/Silence and #3 Creation.

I am working on point #3 . I have asked my friend Matt to take me hiking and “show me the ropes.” and as soon as I get into the new house, I can get my bike out of storage and ride the trails again.

Also, I want to spend 1 hour every evening for Silence and Solitude as well as Exercise.

I’ll let you know how I’m doing.

72 blog posts on living a simple life

January 30, 2010 in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 comments

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I will be attempting a run at 72 blog posts based on the 72- point “Simple Living Manifesto.”

There really are only 2 laws of Simplicity that all the rest fall under (much like the 2 great commandments listed by Jesus).

1. Identify what is most Important to you.

2. Eliminate everything else.

OK, on to #1:

1. Make a list of your top 4-5 important things. What’s most important to you? What do you value most? What 4-5 things do you most want to do in your life? Simplifying starts with these priorities, as you are trying to make room in your life so you have more time for these things.

My list:

1. Love- in all areas of my life. This includes Family, Friends, Strangers, and Enemies.

2. Education- creating time to learn and grow. Includes schooling and time for reading things that I enjoy.

3. Creation- Learning/Creating space for care of the environment/admiration of the beauty/hiking/camping/nature

4. Community- Living with others/building relationships centered around love and hospitality/shared meals/service

5. Contemplation/Solitude- Space for silence/prayer/reading

These 5 things will guide the rest of the responses. Anything I’ve left out?

Also check out others:

http://www.welivesimply.info/living/the-simple-living-manifesto/

Working on my writing and etc.

January 24, 2010 in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , | 1 comment

I’m working on my writing. I’m going to attempt to write more clearly and with no unnecessary words. Of course, I want to exhibit a more academic flash within my writing, but I’m going to start from the basics: Comma usage, forming more appealing sentences, etc.

Also, I want to begin working on one piece of art per week. I need to get the creative juices flowing.

It is also possible that I may attempt a change in the amount of money I spend each week on food. I’d like to spend no more than 20 dollars per week at first. We’ll see how that goes.

Peace,

SB

New To Me: I Recommend Things to you (Music Edition) The Letter “A”

January 7, 2010 in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

Aaron Strumpel:Elephants

Adele:19

AndyHunter:Colour