In this day and age of rapidly advancing technology, it is becoming increasingly difficult to live a simple life.  Remember when you just had to make sure you had your cell phone when you went for your car keys?  And if you forgot it, well, you might be able to skate by without anyone noticing.

Now, with the acceleration of everything spiraling at warp speed, your cell phone may very well be your connection to your life, which has gone from being lived day by day to minute by minute, literally.

To simply forget your cell phone could mean arriving at the wrong destination because not only did you miss the call regarding the change of plans, but you also missed the text from the family member informing you of the most recent scheduling change that happened in between.  And with the constant speeding up in the business world, missing an e-mail you could have accessed had you been connected to the internet through your cell phone, could cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars because you didn’t get it in time to give the client what they needed.  So, now, to forget your cell, is almost like being on a costly vacation that is not only expensive, but could prove to cause you a lot of trouble in the long and short runs.

Let’s face it.  If you’re fifty or over, you probably remember a simpler time; a time when you were not required to be available 24/7.  Those days appear to be long gone, so we must find some way to simplify our lives before we find the simple joy of living completely destroyed.

“One thing at a time”, could be the command we keep playing in our heads as life is hurling a multitude of tasks, problems and emergencies our way.  If we can maintain focus on one thing at a time and follow it through to completion, stress levels will most certainly be helpfully minimized.  And since, in spite of how much we might want to, we can’t go back to those days of freedom, where we actually only had on our mind the one thing we were doing at the time. Perhaps we can try to at least find ways to make things easier through the very technology that binds us all together, by streamlining communications devices, prioritizing our obligations and setting parameters to allow ourselves down time.  Come on.  Even computers get to go to sleep.

Cell Phones, PDAs & Internet Access

One handy piece of recent technology is the cell phone that is also a PDA with calendar that syncs to your computer calendar and offers internet access.  These all in one units not only feature a decent built in camera and video capture, some of them also have their own miniature keyboards for those who would rather not think about how many times they have to press the number seven to use an “s” in a text message.  If you do your homework, you can consolidate six or seven items into one multi-purpose 2.5” x 4.5”  electronic device to grab when you go for those keys.  After allowing for the learning curve, this little item can actually help simplify your life.

Another thing we can do is to allow ourselves down time.  Designated time when cells are off, internet isn’t accessed and we actually look each other in the eye and talk to each other about what is on our minds and hearts would certainly be a step in the right direction.  Probably one of the saddest things about all of our technological advancement is what it has cost us in the way of actual quality time communicating with one another, with the constant interruptions and distractions that threaten to shut down face-to-face interaction.  Ever seen a family of four out to eat, each member either texting or talking to someone else, while they could be enjoying each other’s company, if only for a short night out, if everyone just did one thing at a time.

Here are a few other tips for slowing down and simply living.

Drive the speed limit.  Didn’t think we were talking about literally slowing down?  Driving the speed limit lowers stress because you are actually moving slower and staying within the legal limit which not only allows you to relax, but also gives you time to just enjoy the ride.

Don’t overspend.  Ask yourself before you decide to buy something, “Can I afford it?”  Can I afford the time it is going to take to shop for the item and can I afford having the item once I purchase it.  Saving time and money reduces stress.  You can also ask yourself if having the item will make your life more or less stressful, easier or more difficult.  And ask, “Will I be sorry if I buy this?” or “Will I be sorry if I don’t?”.

Recognize time wasters and eliminate them.  A computer, for instance can save you many hours a week in extra work, but if you find yourself wasting those hours surfing the internet and getting distracted, it could become counterproductive.  Think of your time like you would your money and recognize once it is spent it is gone.  Time is one of the most valuable possessions in a person’s life.  We should spend it wisely.

Learn to say no.  Helping others is a wonderful and fulfilling part of life.  But, if you are spreading yourself too thin, neglecting your family, and feeling like you never get a chance to do things with excellence or enjoy life, it may be time to either start delegating or graciously saying no. 

There are many other ways we can start simply living.  We can give away more and consume less.  We can enjoy what we already have instead of always reaching for more.  We can turn off our phones, and tune in our hearts with thanksgiving and openness for the wisdom that would allow us to see this precious gift of life and those with whom we share it.  We just have to make a decision and discipline ourselves to stay with it and simply live a life worth living.

There goes that cell phone again.  Maybe if I learn the ins and outs of instant messaging it would save some time responding to texts.  That might help simplify.  What do you think?