Simple Manifesto #51 – Live life more deliberately

This is part of our series on The Simple Living Manifesto. We invite you to join us on the journey.

The 51st idea in the manifesto is:

Live life more deliberately. Do every task slowly, with ease, paying full attention to what you’re doing. For more, see Peaceful Simplicity: How to Live a Life of Contentment.

Enjoying a break on the Cascade Canyon train ride | Photo by Jonathan Blundell

Slowing down, cutting back on my to-do list and de-cluttering this year has been trying at times — but it’s also helped me enjoy and notice the simpler (and far more valuable) things around me.

When we slow down and live our lives deliberately it can open our eyes to so many wonderful things.

For me, living deliberately is really about a few things…

Slow down
Be aware of others and their needs
Be generous
Be content in all things
Be aware of the beauty all around you

But of course these are just the basics for me. Perhaps you might need some fresh practical ideas.

Well, you’re in luck! Here are 31 ways you can live life more deliberately (for little to no money)…

Find one thing each day that’s beautiful — and snap a photo of it
Give thanks daily
Draw a picture with crayons
Bake a batch of cookies and share them with your neighbor
Tell your spouse you love them every day
Greet your spouse with a kiss
Greet your children with a kiss
Spend an afternoon visiting with your parents — without it being a holiday
Observe a sabbath day each week
Read one chapter of Proverbs each day for a month
Write a handwritten letter to a friend or family member
Send a card to a friend — just because
Take you kids fishing
Take your spouse on a date for ice cream or snow cones
Pay for a stranger’s meal
Fast
Go for a walk with your family
Try eating a new cuisine or food
Spend a morning shopping at a local farmers market
Stop procrastinating and write that book you keep talking about
Build a birdhouse for your backyard
Ask a stranger to tell you his/her story
Greet those who work in the service industry by their name (it’s written on their shirt or name badge)
Leave a large tip for your waiter or waitress (even if they didn’t offer the best service)
Enjoy a bike ride around your neighborhood
Go for a hike
Go geocaching with your family
Invite a friend you don’t see very often over for dinner
Visit a winery and sit and enjoy a glass of wine while taking in the beautiful scenery
Take a random train ride — either on your local public transportation system or perhaps on a historical train ride
Host a Gift Card party for friends and family — invite them to bring their unused gift cards to donate to Gift Card Giver