Simple solutions: suggestions for simplifying your life

For the past three years, I worked 70 to 90 hours each week," says Kenneth Hobbs, a former financial executive. "Although I complained about it, I secretly enjoyed it. Working long, hard hours -- often until midnight -- showed I was an important person. People were impressed that I worked so hard." Whenever Hobbs had some free time he would never admit it. "I would just tell people, `I have a lot of control over my schedule right now.' I thought if I told people I wasn't busy, it would erode their confidence in me."

Materially, Hobbs' hard work paid off. He and his family lived in the most affluent section of the city. Their home had a three car garage filled with luxury vehicles, a sports court in the back and a swimming pool. However, in spite of material success. Hobbs was uneasy and unhappy with his life. "Over the last year or so I noticed that except for work, I had little else in my life -- few friends, no contact with the city in which I lived, and no community involvement. Worse, I would become furious if I was kept waiting by store clerks, delivery people or work colleagues."

After a period of evaluation, Hobbs made a profound and drastic decision. He quit his job, and his family relocated to the small town where he grew up. He sold the cars for a used but reliable utility vehicle. He then found a less stressful position which gives him plenty of time for himself and his family.

An increasing number of people are like Hobbs. A major survey recently released by the nonprofit Merck Family Fund found that a majority of Americans, alarmed by materialism and greed, rank nonmaterial things like more family time and less job stress among their deepest aspirations. More and more people are coming to the conclusion that the American Dream is not simply about a larger house, expensive cars and exotic vacations. It's also about peace of mind and being part of a community. They recognize the wisdom of Henry David Thoreau's declaration, "Life is frittered away by detail ... simplify, simplify."

Here are some suggestions for living more simply.

* Don't buy what you don't need.

Although this sounds relatively easy to do, most of us have a habit of cluttering up our homes with unnecessary things. Before making your next purchase, ask yourself some important questions: Is this an item I will regularly use? Have I had some need in the past for this item? Will this purchase enhance my life now? "You always find people buying fancy kitchen gadgets like a Mr. CrepeMaker even though they're never need to make a crepe in their lives," says Aaron Ahuvia, Ph.D., assistant professor of marketing at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Likewise, many people purchase expensive exercise equipment hoping it will motivate them from a sedentary lifestyle to one which is more active. "But if they never managed to even take a 15-minute walk in the past, there's no reason to believe the will use some fancy equipment now," says Ahuvia. "Many home gyms are currently being used as coat hangers."

* Keep your car parked.

Make the conscious decision to use your car less and less. Hop on a bus, train or subway. Using public transportation is less stressful than driving and you can use the time to read, meditate or just daydream. By driving less you will also cut down on your car expenses as well as help improve the environment. The exhaust which puffs out of the nation,s estimated 190 million automobiles contributes to smog, ozone layer depletion and the greenhouse effect. Also, consider biking or walking to do some errands. This will give you additional exercise and allow you an opportunity to enjoy scenery often missed while driving.

* Stop chasing the almighty dollar.

"The steady pressure to consume and absorb involves a cruelty to intestines, blood pressure and psyche unparalleled in history," notes author Herbert Gold. Distance yourself from the rat race by living with less to enjoy life more. A bigger house, a newer car, more possessions and the latest fashionable clothing create tremendous stress to generate a larger income but do not lead to happiness and fulfillment. Mystics, philosophers and sages have uniformly warned about the dangers of materialism. Benjamin Franklin wrote, "Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it. There is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more a man has, the more he wants. Instead of it filling a vacuum, it makes one. If it satisfies one want, it doubles and triples that want another way."

* Follow your calling.

Life is too short to waste doing work which does not bring you satisfaction and fulfillment. Many people in highly paid careers are fundamentally unhappy with their work and, consequently, their living. The solution is to make a change and follow your calling. Ask yourself what the ideal life and work would be for you. Then examine ways to make that dream a reality. "It's never easy to leave a career in which you've spent much of your lifetime," says Michael Dainard, author of Breaking Free From Corporate Bondage. "It's even harder if you've reached a high level of success and are locked in by the golden handcuffs of a large salary, benefits, expense accounts, perks and prestige."