When most people think of July monthly celebrations, they think of July 4th. But did you know that today, July 12, is Simplicity Day? This day honors the author and naturalist thinker, Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862), who advocated for living a simpler life. While this may be the origin of the day, a more general concept of simplicity or simplifying life can serve us all and improve life in general.
When thinking about mental health and taking care of ourselves, simplifying our lives can be extremely effective. Modern living contributes a great deal towards our collective stress – it’s often hard to get everything done that needs to be done on top of working a full-time job, caring for family members, taking care of life’s logistics, and then managing to have “fun” time as well.
Wherever and whenever we can simplify our lives, doing so can give us back some of our energy and resources for enjoying life. Perhaps rather than planning a long, involved summer vacation, we could stay home and enjoy local sites and adventures. The simple summer joys like picnics in the shade and lake swimming can be quite restorative.
Simplicity can also mean streamlining and downsizing. Rather than feeling tempted to get the latest technology or keep up with constantly changing trends, we can choose to “spend” our life energy in intentional ways, slowing down, and considering the return on investment of a situation, asking ourselves, “Am I going to get as much back from this thing, event, or experience as the energy I am putting into it?”
Some of the noted psychological benefits of simplicity are providing more clarity in our mind and having less to worry about. In addition to lowering stress, other sources mention that simplifying life can foster creativity, build joy, improve concentration and lead to living a fuller life.
As we get older and often have less energy or stamina for everything we used to do, we learn to be more efficient with our energy such as choosing to be around people who build us up, letting go of what we can, like, for example, deciding that the house can be a little less clean once in a while so that we can enjoy time with others more.
Simplicity goes well with gratitude. That is, gratitude helps us to remember that simplicity can rejuvenate us, whether that is quality time with friends and family or in nature or silence.
As you enjoy this summer full of activity and pulsing energy, just remember that simplicity can bring joy too and often helps contribute to a healthy, happy outlook. Have a lovely July!
Here’s to your good health!
It’s okay not to feel okay
If you or someone you know has been struggling with their emotions, behaviors, or substance use please reach out to us. We can help you find appropriate tools and services that could help you overcome obstacles in your life. We are here for you. Please contact the Southern Ute Behavioral Health Division at 970.563.5700 for more information or to set up an appointment to see a counselor or therapist.
Reminder: If you need to talk to someone, please reach out.
And for those interested in opioid use education, harm reduction, and support, please contact us for quick Naloxone (Narcan) training and fentanyl test strips. We can schedule individual, family, or friends training times at our Southern Ute Behavioral Health Building, or we can come to you, and the training is around 30 minutes. Please call us at 970-563-5700 to set up a training appointment.