5 Surprising Things That Aren’t Simplifying Your Life!

We all want to enjoy our lives to the full and that means we can’t spend all our time working, cooking and doing laundry right? Of course! But that stuff still needs to get done. Thank goodness we live in a modern world full of conveniences like dishwashers, electricity and the internet. I’m not going to lie, I love having my groceries delivered too! 

But are there some elements of our modern life that are not simplifying our life? Could it be that we are actually complicating our lives with some modern advances? Are there things we think we can’t live without that are actually completely unnecessary time leeches?

I think you can agree that are are lots of things that aren’t simplifying your life. In fact, if you are starting to pursue the minimalist lifestyle you may have considered some of these things already. Then again, maybe you haven’t. 

Why Should You Identify Things That Aren’t Simplifying Your Life? 

But why should you take the time to identify things that aren’t simplifying your life? Well, because if these things aren’t simplifying your life they are complicating it. Some things are worth the complication but some things aren’t but you can’t wiegh something’s value without knowing what it is and what it does for you. 

It’s amazing how many things we sort of add on to our life without really paying attention but just like we declutter our stuff we might need to declutter our habits, our subscriptions, our perceptions, and more. Why? Because we want to simplify our life down to what really matters and get rid of everything that doesn’t.

5 Things That Aren’t Simplifying Your Life

Now that we know why we are looking for things that don’t simplify, but rather complicate our life, let’s dig into what those things might actually be. 

1: Your Phone

The first most obvious of the things that aren’t simplifying your life is your phone. You know it. I know it. Your five year-old knows it. Still it’s hard to put down. Isn’t that crazy?

When I was a child someone who needed to contact my dad for something important would have to leave a message with us which he wouldn’t get until he got home in the evening and even then they might not hear back from him until the next day. Let that sink in. Instead of having an immediate reply we were happy if we received one within 24 hours. And noone died. 

While I love having those instant answers, be able to research anything I want in thirty seconds, listening to books through an app, and ordering groceries while sitting on my couch in pajamas, there are things about having a smart phone that complicate our lives unnecessarily.

For example, through social media we can spend hours watching short videos that advise us on everything from how we put on make-up to how we chew our food. All that time is wasted and we end up paralyzed by all the ideas of what we should and should not do. 

Then there is online shopping. It’s just so easy and so tempting! How many things have you bought on impulse that you never would have gone to the store to find?

Last but not least, how much time are you spending really engaging with real life? Are you actually listening to your spouse, your kids, your friends, or your parents when they talk to you? Could any of that time be better spent learning, doing, or creating something new?

If you want to simplify your life you might have to look at your phone habits and seriously cut back! 

2: Fads

The next one of the things that aren’t simplifying your life is a little more sneaky. It is something that can sneak into almost anything you can purchase, own, or do. What is it? Fads. Trying to keep up with the latest fad is like running on a never ending hamster wheel of disappointment. But what kind of fads are you a sucker for? 

Stop and think about it. You might be the type of person who always has to have the latest tech or you might be into fast fashion trends that are easy to click and buy on sites like Shein, Temu and Amazon. Or maybe you are always following some fad diet or makeup routine. 

Whatever your weakness is the thing about following fads that is so insidious is that they change all the time. With brands like Zara putting out new styles every week there are not four but 52 seasons a year and even expensive products like iPhones and cars are pushed aside for the newer better versions long before they wear out. 

But what is the end result? Well, you end up with a lot of junk in your house and a seriously painful situation in your bank account. Is it worth it? Absolutely not! If you want to simplify your life, buy less stuff less often! Break free from the latest fads. Go for classic styles and products that will last instead!

3: Single Use Gadgets

There are gadgets for every task imaginable. You see them advertised on TV, your friends brag about them and you covet them when you find them for “a great price” at the discount store. This tool will help you cut garlic, this one will practically clean the shower for you, and this magic will massage your face better than anything else! They will change your life because they are specially designed for one purpose alone so they must do that one thing really well! 

Well, do they? Did those single use gadgets change your life? Did they even make the job that much easier? Or are they relegated to the back of the cabinet, closet, junk drawer or even the garage because they didn’t make the job much easier and you went back to your old way of doing things?

Most of the time buying a special gadget for every single job is a waste of money that creates clutter instead of simplifying your life. Sometimes the old ways are the best ways and with a lot of jobs there isn’t any easy way. Trust me, I’m a cleaning lady and I’ve learned that there are no magic products that reduce the need for good old fashioned elbow grease (hard work). 

Single use gadgets are one of the many things that aren’t simplifying your life. They aren’t worth the space they take up. Instead, look for good tools that will work for many jobs and invest in them! You will save space and yes, even save time! 

4: Disposable Items

When you think about simplifying your life you want to do that for a couple of reasons. One: you are super busy and two: you don’t want to spend your life doing boring stuff like dishes. That being said, disposable items seem like a godsend! You can just throw the plate and cup away when your done! You don’t have to worry about losing your water bottle if it’s just one of those ones you get in a giant pallet at Costco. I’ve even heard people wishing for disposable clothes because laundry is such a chore and we practically treat our clothes like that already!

But do all these disposable items really simplify your life enough to justify their use or the harm they do to the planet? I think you have to stop and think about it on a personal level because sometimes they may be worth it but most of the time they might just be a force of habit. 

For example, when I was first married I didn’t have a dishwasher and I  bought paper plates all the time, We ate most of our food off them. Then as I was doing dishes one day I realized that even though I didn’t have to wash plates I still had to wash pots and pans. When I did wash a plate it took no time at all by comparison. That’s when I decided to save money, stop buying paper plates and start washing real plates instead. Similarly, I used to buy pallets of water bottles but then I bought a water filter for my fridge and reusable water bottles for my husband and I. 

Now, I will still pop for paper plates and plastic cups for parties and I might grab a pallet of water bottles on a trip but overall I’ve found that life without disposables is actually easier. Plus it saves money and is better for our health! 

5: Luxury Services & Treats

There are many things that aren’t simplifying your life even though they promise to. It’s easy to buy into them. Why is that? Well, I’ve thought long and hard about this topic and I’ve observed that minimalism is often turned into an excuse to sell you a product or service or even a certain style. That’s because we live in a consumer society which is driven by spending and if you are a true minimalist you just totally mess that up. The system has to fight back by tricking you into buying more while “owning less” or “shopping less” or “working less”. 

So how to you protect yourself from this sneaky con? You have to really pay attention to what you spend your money on and why. You have to see past the gimmick and really consider whether something is worth the cost to your time, energy and often health. 

One of the things that don’t simplify your life as well as they promise are luxury services and “treats” that you deserve. 

For example, some people I know pay for a company to come and scoop their dog poop. Now I get that it’s gross but unlike cleaning your house which takes hours scooping your dog poop might take ten minutes. Is that really worth the cost of the service?

Another example of services that people use that don’t really simplify their life are these delivery companies like UberEats. They are so expensive! You are bleeding yourself dry for junk food when you use them! 

Don’t even get me started on subscription boxes. You do not need brand new clothes, makeup, and dog toys every month! Even those meal prep boxes are a joke when you compare the cost of them to what you could make if you just did your own cooking from scratch. 

Another thing people trying to live the minimalist lifestyle might fall for are storage sheds. But really? If you can’t fit it in your house and you haven’t used it in years do you really need it? That definately isn’t simplifying your life!

Then there are “treats” like Starbucks and your fancy manicures. Now, only you can decide if you truly can’t live without those things but seriously making coffee at home is a lot cheaper and more time efficient and I can’t even imagine finding the time or money for a manicure twice a month! If you want to do it that’s fine but don’t pretend it’s simplifying your life! You could use that money on a cleaning lady instead and that would be much more helpful! 

Focus on The Things That Will Simplify Your Life

Now, I realize a lot of the things I have said are a matter of opinion but that’s kind of the point. We all have the right to examine our own lives and see what is working and what is not. Sometimes we fall into habits that we don’t even notice are bleeding us dry of time, money, and energy. 

Take a long hard look at your life and find the things that are wasting your time! Get rid of things that don’t simplify your life as promised. Let go of wasteful habits. Cut back on mindless spending.  

Instead, find things that will simplify your life, things like quality products that last for years, services that tackle the real pain points in your life, tools that help you manage your time, and styles that you will love for years to come! 

And most of all, remember what you’re fighting for! You are pursuing the minimalist lifestyle because you want a life focused on family, personal growth, and amazing experiences! You want to stay healthy and reach your goals! And you don’t need fads, junk, or distracting sparkly objects slowing you down!