Try Simple Living

This is for a school project.
If you could think of anything to be invented that would change your life, what would it be?
Please answer.
A time travel machine. I want so much to go back to when I graduated from high school and change the course I took.

In your life, is there any one thing that you do that makes you feel more at ease and more simplified?

For example, I always pick out my outfit the night before to save time and stress in the morning.

If it don't fit, don't force it. If it causes concern, play passed it. Don't sweat the small stuff and remember that what goes around, comes around.

‘Simplicity is the art of finding the beauty in every moment of life.’ – The Way of the Inner Life (used with permission)

It depends on what you mean by ‘simplifying your life’, or I should say your purpose in doing so. That is, if you are seeking a life which is simple, in order that it is easier to manage then typically the best place to start is taking a look at those things you do not need, or really want all that much. That is, material simplicity is based on being content with what we need, so it is typically a question do I ‘need’ or do I just want it.

pond make good points, about the ‘purging’, these sometimes back fires, if you take it too far too quick.

If you are asking about the simplicity of ‘enlightenment’ then I suggest you start with eating an apple (or some other piece of food). I know that sounds silly until we give it some thought. Most of the time when we eat, we just eat, but if we take a moment and focus on us eating our ‘apple’, the texture, the movements, the taste, we find that the ‘apple’ is far more enjoyable. It is the same with life, if we take the time to experience it, instead of just trying to ‘get through it’ we find it can be much more enjoyable, and do not need to run to and fro looking for the next exicting thing to give us a rise.

To put it simply, it is far easier to find contentment without relying on a room full of wants, if you can find pleasure in what you need.

How to make life more satisfying, hassle-free and smooth? In your answer, some of the points you can cover are- work, time-management, social relationships, marriage etc. A detailed answer based on your experience would be highly appreciated.

A Simple answer, " YES ", we should just make things as simple as possible, " WHY " complicate things, when you can have just as a Simple Life of as possible…

There's also Roomba's buddy, Scooba! It works like Roomba, but scrubs the floors like a lil' zambonie.

I've also seen robotic lawn mowers that work similarly to Roomba. Check out Robomow: http://www.friendlyrobotics.com/videos/robomow/

There's also the iRobots pool-cleaning robots: http://www.irobot.com/sp.cfm?pageid=316

Also, there's the Dirt Dogs that picks up screws and stuff off workshop floors: http://www.irobot.com/sp.cfm?pageid=272

If you're super lazy, you can automate eveything in your home (from lights to thermostates to sprinkler systems) via your computer. Check out Smarthome: http://www.smarthome.com/_/index.aspx

The future is here.

I'm seeking specific product recommendations for things to simplify one's life and things easier and more organized. For example, things like a purse organizer, cell phone charging station or laptop docking station (but I imagine there must be lots of other products that I haven't thought of or even heard of). I am alway seeking ways to get more organized.

(Other than actual branded products, I'm also interested in interesting "hacks" or ways to use what you already have in a better way…or web sites that list and rate these things)

I love my Handspring Visor organizer/phone. I could easily go back to a paper organizer, but I've been using this system since 2001 and am very used to it.

I also love my hanging gift wrap organizer, my overdoor shoe organizer, and underbed storage boxes. For the bathroom, I have clear plastic trays in the medicine cabinet, that I actually bought at the supermarket! They are great for little bottles and tubes and stuff.

Instead of a "junk drawer," I have the 6-drawer version of this wooden box from Ikea: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80073304

My filing cabinet's system is based on recommendations from the book "Taming the Paper Tiger" by Barbara Hemphill. I have an index of files, and that is indispensable.

I have a PurseBrite purse organizer, but honestly it's kind of bulky. It helps if you change purses and bags often, though.

If you like tips, I suggest signing up for some Professional Organizers' email newsletters. Many send them once a month, if you don't mind getting extra email.

I've also heard that FlyLady is good.

Good luck, and have fun!

According to my mother-in-law, ask someone who dislikes doing those things. Someone who loves doing it will spend a lot more time; the person who hates doing it will find the quickest way to do something.

I've been on a constant mission to simplify for years now so I don't even know what complicated and out of control feels like anymore. My life isn't that complicated and I'm in total control. I've learned that I only get chaos when I ask for it or I'm not centered enough to know what I'm asking for…… When I'm feeling frenzied I allow myself to totally unwind and let my mind go wherever it wants or needs to. I light candles all over the house, put on some very mellow, new age type music and keep a pen and pad of paper handy. I let my mind ramble and bounce around (usually while I'm cleaning or organizing something) and make notes about creative ideas or things I need to accomplish. I find that at some point, my mind is done thinking about things and I'm just able to breathe and relax. A glass of wine helps too!

I think everybody does. For me I'd like to learn better organizational skills.

get rid of stuff that I will not read or wear.