Top products from r/simpleliving

We found 36 product mentions on r/simpleliving. We ranked the 305 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.

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Top comments that mention products on r/simpleliving:

u/jgi · 10 pointsr/simpleliving

Absolutely. I'm glad you asked and I hope I can be helpful.

I know it can be very difficult to stop consumerism within us because we've been advertised to our entire lives. We've been told that material possession equates to success and self-worth. The more we have, the better we are. You and I can read these sentences I wrote and recognize how stupid that idea is. Yet, advertising is so good that even the knowledge that we're being advertised to doesn't always prevent that same advertising from working on us. Advertising is based on exploiting human psychology. That's why it works. Just know that it's very difficult to ignore advertising on a subconscious level. We're only human. We will fail. We will make mistakes. Recognizing all this is a good first step.

It's important to practice desiring less. When you want something, stop yourself and think about it. Think about your motivations. Why do you want it? Is there a real justification for acquiring something? Is it a true need, or just a want? If it's simply a want, well, tell yourself you want it but you don't need it and move on. Try to thwart the desire for that thing at the source. Desire for a thing is like sexual lust... it's only human to feel that way, but you don't need to act on it.

It's a constant practice, desiring less. It's difficult. Possibly the most difficult thing a human can do. But desire leads to disappointment and suffering. Desire is temporary, but if we play that desire out to its end, often times the fruits of that desire can be disappointing and longlasting. But if you don't need something, if you don't desire, you're that much more free... "Nah, I don't need that." You become unflappable. More in control. But don't kid yourself... it's hard. Keep practicing.

If you're looking to get rid of stuff you already have that isn't bringing you happiness, I recommend Marie Kondo's "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." It's become quite a popular book and for good reason. It really makes you think about why you have stuff and how that stuff functions in your life.

If you want to work on internalizing the idea of desiring less, take a look at /r/buddhism. It's important that if you start reading Buddhist texts that you realize that Buddhism is more of a philosophy than a religion. Buddhism's main tenant is "freedom from desire is the path to enlightenment." It's a very deep rabbit hole to go down and a lifetime of study. For a more modern take on Buddhist teaching, I love Pema Chodron. I also really love Anthony DeMello and Jiddu Krishnamurti.

Another great place to look is /r/stoicism and in particular "Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius. Aurelius was emperor of Rome, but that didn't stop him from living a life of equanimity and mindfulness. His book "Meditations" is more like a private diary, in which he reminds himself on how to live a good life.

“We need to master the art of acquiescence. We need to pay attention to our impulses, making sure they don’t go unmoderated, that they benefit others, that they’re worthy of us. We need to steer clear of desire in any form and not try to avoid what’s beyond our control.” -- Meditations, 11.37 (Hays translation)

I hope that this stuff can get you started on your journey. Just know that you don't need to be perfect. You don't need to flip a switch and completely change who you are to be a success at any of this. It's a process and it's a practice. Failure is okay. Don't beat yourself. Just try. Just keep practicing this stuff every day and it will add up. You can do it.

u/nizo505 · 6 pointsr/simpleliving

I started with one from Amazon ($130 includes the hammock and stand); it worked great, though eventually I did wear out the hammock (using it every day, and not repairing it when I started to notice it getting frayed shortened the life quite a bit). I'm 6' tall and just under 200lbs btw, and this is the hammock/stand that I got: http://www.amazon.com/Vivere-UHSDO9-Double-Hammock-Space-Saving/dp/B004YJCP7O

My daughter has a hammock now, and is using my old stand (which is an awesome stand btw, especially for the money). I hung my hammock (not for the faint hearted, but so far so good) and actually like it hanging better, since I can rock a bit when I'm going to sleep (sort of like a huge bassinet for grownups!) Head over to /r/hammocks for more info. You will need something under you (I just use a sleeping bag) for warmth in the winter, but it is perfect on those hot summer nights.

As for the angle, I sleep in it at a slight diagonal, which causes the hammock to flatten out. I've never been a back sleeper before, but this is surprisingly comfortable. Change the angle of your diagonal until you find a comfortable fit. Added bonus: you can throw your entire bed in the washing machine.

u/frabelle · 9 pointsr/simpleliving

Some memoirs... would probably fall under "practical."

  • "No Baggage: A Minimalist Tale of Love and Wandering" by Clara Bensen -- Putting this at the top of the list because I love the concept so much. Girl meets a guy and they decide to go on a multi-week trip to Europe together... with no luggage. Basically, all they have are the clothes on their back and what they can carry in their pockets / purse. (I learned later that said boyfriend is Jeff Wilson, aka "Professor Dumpster," the college professor who lived in a retrofitted dumpster to show people how lightly one can live on the earth. More here: The Dumpster Project )

  • "The Unsettlers: In Search of the Good Life in Today's America" by Mark Sundeen -- About three different couples that attempt homesteading in three remarkably different ways -- one in a traditional homestead on an old Amish farm with no electricity Northeastern Missouri where they teach others, one on an urban homestead in Detroit, and one on a farm attempting to be organic in Montana. This is probably the quirkiest, most offbeat title on the list and the one closest to my heart (possibly tying with "No Baggage.")

  • "The Big Tiny: A Built-It-Myself Memoir" by Dee Williams -- About a Boomer woman who builds her own tiny house to live in.

  • "Living Large in Our Little House: Thriving in 480 Square Feet with Six Dogs, a Husband, and One Remote" by Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell -- About a woman and her husband who were forced (due to financial circumstances) to live in their vacation cabin in the woods and ended up making it their full-time residence.

  • "The Shepherd's Life: Modern Dispatches from an Ancient Landscape" by James Rebanks -- About a guy who still raises sheep the traditional way in the Yorkshire Dales area of the UK. He's also published a photography book (since this memoir was a runaway bestseller across the pond) and has a beautifully quirky Instagram account worth a follow.

  • "Meet the Frugalwoods: Achieving Financial Independence Through Simple Living" by Elizabeth Willard Thames -- About a young woman in New England who decides with her husband to eschew superfluous purchases for a few years so that they can build up their savings enough to buy a farm in Vermont and raise their family without the need to work. While I know reaction to this writer have been mixed (it's very "you can do what we did too", despite the fact that the couple had no student loan debt and were from middle-class backgrounds with self-sufficient parents), it is quite inspiring, and reinvigorated my attempts at making conscious purchases.

  • "Walden on Wheels: On The Open Road from Debt to Freedom" by Ken Ilgunas -- About a post-college guy's adventures in living minimally in his twenties while attempting to pay back his student loans. While there are a number of different experiences he discusses, the main focus is on him deciding to live in a van while pursuing a master's degree so as to save on living costs.

  • "No Impact Man: The Adventures of a Guilty Liberal Who Attempts to Save the Planet, and the Discoveries He Makes About Himself and Our Way of Life in the Process" by Colin Beaven -- About a man with a young family who decides he will attempt, while living in their New York City apartment, to create zero impact on the environment for one full year. (This is also the title of a 2009 documentary about the same man, cataloguing his adventure.)

  • "Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping" by Judith Levine -- About a middle-aged writer who decides, along with her husband, to only buy imperative purchases, like food and toilet paper. No clothes, souvenirs, event tickets, etc. I found this to be quite well-written and another inspiring volume.

  • "The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store" by Cait Flanders -- Similar idea to the prior book, but instead it is a young woman living on her own. An enjoyable read, but I did not find it all that well-written.

  • "Everything That Remains: A Memoir by The Minimalists" by Joshua Fields Millburn -- This book is by the guys who did the "Minimalism" documentary on Netflix. Pretty cookie cutter and not terribly well-written, but again, relatively inspiring. Something I appreciated about this book is that Joshua came from a very tumultuous, working-class background, which sheds a new light on going minimalist. (So often I feel like these memoirs are written by the typical white, affluent, college-educated Boomers or Millennials that have never had to struggle much with want.)
u/boumboum34 · 4 pointsr/simpleliving

Yes it's possible. Though the current economic climate gives me pause. Peter Jenkins did it in the early 70's and wrote two books about it, A Walk Across America covering his route from Alfred, NY to New Orleans, LA, and The Walk West, covering the rest of the route, to Florence, Oregon. A 5 year trek (mostly because he kept staying with folks he met along the way for weeks or months at a time). So it can be done.

He basically did it by taking on temporary jobs along the walk whenever he ran out of money. For him, it became less about the walk, and more about the people he met along the way. That was really inspirational for me. I did a shorter version of it, a 3-week bicycle tour through 11 mountain passes in Colorado on less than $100 total, on a $10 thrift shop bike. Best three weeks of my whole life. I wish it lasted longer. I've done long walks too though nothing as spectacular.

On my bike trip, I found even going over mountains and up all those passes was a lot easier and faster on bicycle than walking. Instead of carrying 50-100 pounds on my back I put all that on my bicycle and pushed it up--then coast down the other side.

p.s. There are portable folding bicycles, that you can fold up, strap to your back, and carry, if you wish. But if backpacking is what you most want to do--then do that, and forget the bike. It's doable. :)

u/elphabaloves · 6 pointsr/simpleliving

My biggest tip is not to approach it as a chore. Instead, get a solid understanding of your mind and how it causes you to suffer.

To do that, I suggest reading Eckhart Tolle's "The Power of Now" - it's a great book, and will help you see the insanity of your mind/thoughts. If you are looking for basic meditation instructions, this free guide is great and they also have an excellent 21 day course that works well and delves into how your mind works. And, "Mindfulness in Plain English" is another good book...you can buy it on Amazon or read it on the Internet here.

u/LynzM · 1 pointr/simpleliving

Dopamine is lovely stuff. Your brain is rewarding you for these actions... but like any addiction, you can never be satiated.

A couple of gentle suggestions that could be helpful:
http://www.amazon.com/Feeling-Good-New-Mood-Therapy/dp/0380810336/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1426797571&sr=8-3&keywords=when+panic+attacks

http://www.mindfulnesscds.com/

u/cursethedarkness · 16 pointsr/simpleliving

I've noticed a trend here lately of people turning to simple living as a way to treat anxiety. Simple living is awesome, but it's not a cure for anxiety. In some ways, it can promote it, because people use the idea of simple living to hide from life.

The best place to start, if you can, would be with a therapist who specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety. If that isn't possible right now, this book can give you some tools to start feeling better, for under $6. It did help me. Ultimately, the key to overcoming anxiety is to do the thing you fear until it isn't scary any more.

u/permanent_staff · 2 pointsr/simpleliving

Hard to name particular texts, as the psychology and philosophy of happiness and good life is one of my main interests, but this talk made me realize I'm normal for not having just one passion, this book introduced me to mindfulness, this book changed the way I view my own mind and this book gave an alternate view of happiness that works for non-upbeat people. I

I'm currently reading The Upside of Your Dark Side which has already convinced me that the American/Anglophone obsession with happiness-as-emotion, comfort and avoiding "negative" feelings is not just unnecessary but also harmful.

u/reallyserious · 3 pointsr/simpleliving

There's growing evidence that treating depression is best done with a multi modal approach. I.e. don't count on one silver bullet but try a multitude of things.

  • Get some exercise. Lift, run, tennis, walk, yoga, whatever you can do consistently and not feel like shit while/after doing it.

  • Try meditation if you feel like it.

  • Talk to a doctor. They take depression seriously. The unfortunate thing is that they see people in your situation every day. The good thing is that all those that have walked that path before you have contributed to a better understanding of how to treat depression.

  • Read The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris.

    There's nothing static in this world. Things WILL change. Your mind too.

    Regarding feeding the capitalist machinery, perhaps take some time and feel what is important to you. Then perhaps change job to something that is more aligned with your values. If your job drains you of energy it's time to look for other options.
u/FeebleOldMan · 1 pointr/simpleliving

For reference, those links were not referral links. They were links used to track where the user is accessing the page (oh_aui_detailpage refers to the product detail page), as well as what text encoding it should use in the browser (UTF8). Referral links contain the referrer's information in the tag=blahblah-20 portion which wasn't present in OP's links. I'd still advocate removing the data tracking portion of the links though, and better still, prepend the links with smile instead of www for charity.

e.g.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NCEVBEL

is a good clean link.

u/confusedvagina · 1 pointr/simpleliving

In Praise of Shadows is a another great read on Japanese aesthetics and minimalism.

u/mr_minty_magoo · 1 pointr/simpleliving

Some free-standing frames aren't much longer than the hammock itself. This one is pretty awesome: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004YJCP7O

u/Hank_of_Reddit · 6 pointsr/simpleliving

Ah yes, I'm an old dude. Being free of debt helps too. I'm just so ready to do this but have to fulfill one more of lifes obligations before I can make it a reality.

I've got this Back to Basics version. I haven't seen the one you linked to. I wonder how much alike they are.

u/sitruss · 1 pointr/simpleliving

I highly recommend his book, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, that explains in greater detail the circumstances that led to his inventions.

u/SleepingInTheFlowers · 1 pointr/simpleliving

My wife was profoundly influenced by "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up". Might be worth a read.

u/LittleHelperRobot · 1 pointr/simpleliving

Non-mobile: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0084AOTM8/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&sr=&qid=

^That's ^why ^I'm ^here, ^I ^don't ^judge ^you. ^PM ^/u/xl0 ^if ^I'm ^causing ^any ^trouble. ^WUT?

u/Danagrams · 1 pointr/simpleliving

I have one of these and it folds flat

u/Krotes · 5 pointsr/simpleliving

Unless you go full Man who quit Money you will still be paying sales tax (VAT in the UK) as well as others. Besides, there is no law that says you have to work, make an income or anything else...
In the UK non citizens use/abuse our healthcare system, which is somewhat more unforgivable.

u/freetorun · 2 pointsr/simpleliving

I recommend Is the Internet Changing the Way You Think compiled by Edge.org - it's really long but the essays are short (2-3 pages) and some of the insights are interesting to read. In the past month I have cut back on my "boredom browsing" and have had more time to do other things (read, exercise, etc.)

u/PrudentPlant · 3 pointsr/simpleliving

I feel like your post is right on the money. Some of us are drained by people, others are charged up by people. I prefer to be alone 99% of the time, aside from time with my wife. My wife and stepdaughter and one of my daughters prefer our personal time a great deal and rarely have people over. Almost never. Many of our neighbors are the same way!

There are many writers out there who have and do live in the wilderness. “They prefer their own company.” Richard “Dick” Proenneke who lives alone in Alaska. Sue Aikens. Dolly Faulkner. Heimo Korth and his wife. They all happen to live or lived in Alaska wilderness. They just prefer to be alone the vast majority of the time.

Some of us were not built for the people world, as I discovered as I read the books (and others) below.

https://www.amazon.com/Forty-Years-Wilderness-Dolly-Faulkner-ebook/dp/B00GU6N0JQ

https://www.amazon.com/Final-Frontiersman-Family-Alaskas-Wilderness-ebook/dp/B001D0IU5S/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=HEMO+KORTH&qid=1559087292&s=digital-text&sr=1-1-catcorr

https://www.amazon.com/One-Mans-Wilderness-50th-Anniversary-ebook/dp/B07G2F6GW1/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Proenneke&qid=1559087319&s=digital-text&sr=1-1-catcorr