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Ask HN: How have you successfully simplified your life?

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Re: Ask HN: How have you successfully simplified your life?

#21

Post by zapperdapper »

Too many things to list.

Some examples: eliminated social media, never watch, read or listen to live TV or news, don't own a smartphone, own very few personal possessions, have very few clothes, only own electronic books (with a couple of exceptions). Never read, watch or listen to anything with adverts. Moved from a large, expensive house into a rented cottage in the countryside (which had the side effect of freeing up enough money to live almost indefinitely without work, and absolutely until my pension kicks in), changed from permanent to contract-only work, reduced time worked dramatically, simplified diet, simplified health and fitness, and on and on...

The key turning point really is the understanding, actually the revelation, that debt-fuelled consumerism will never give you happiness and contentment. It's like a curtain was lifted and you say "Oh my God, I wasn't expecting THAT!". The trouble is most people don't believe it. Like the Matrix - you have to see it for yourself - one day it will happen.

Re: Ask HN: How have you successfully simplified your life?

#22

Post by owebmaster »

muzani wrote: post #15
owebmaster wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I fast all day and eat all my needs at night, a huge and delicious meal and dessert. There are a tons of benefits, in logistics/time, health and aesthetics. Google for intermittent fasting or "The Warrior Diet".

That sounds like it would create an insane glucose spike though.

> That sounds like it would create an insane glucose spike though.

Not what really happen though. When you eat less frequently, your body improves insuline usage and glucose levels stay steadily all day.

Re: Ask HN: How have you successfully simplified your life?

#25

Post by devotedtoneu »

owebmaster wrote: post #22
muzani wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That sounds like it would create an insane glucose spike though.

> That sounds like it would create an insane glucose spike though. Not what really happen though. When you eat less frequently, your body improves insuline usage and glucose levels stay steadily all day.

There is some effect at work here though, individual experiences may differ. If I eat one meal per day after that meal I will feel lazy and quite tired.

So if I finally ate at 6pm, hours later than 6pm I would feel like sleeping.

If I finally eat any later than 6pm I will start getting weak/shaky beyond 6pm.

This isn't a result of lack of acclimation. I've done fasting for 4+ month stretches multiple times in the past 6 years and have even experimented with 24+ hour fasts on a regular basis.

Re: Ask HN: How have you successfully simplified your life?

#26

Post by hemling »

thatsheelpatel wrote: post #16

I've committed to telling the truth, even when it's difficult or unpleasant. I no longer have to keep track of what I had said or what I should say and I know nothing's going to come back and bite me later. It means at times I deal with the unpleasantness but I'd rather that than fearing whether it will come out later. This book by Sam Harris was a large influence https://www.samharris.org/lying . This wasn't an easy…

Interesting answer! I think this is even truer when it comes to lying to myself.

Trying to pretend something that does not match reality can create enormous stress. I realised this one day when I had rather strong feelings of being burned-out without actually being in stressful situations (like working long hours etc). All my stress came from inside me.

Re: Ask HN: How have you successfully simplified your life?

#27

Post by owebmaster »

devotedtoneu wrote: post #25
owebmaster wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> That sounds like it would create an insane glucose spike though. Not what really happen though. When you eat less frequently, your body improves insuline usage and glucose levels stay steadily all day.

There is some effect at work here though, individual experiences may differ. If I eat one meal per day after that meal I will feel lazy and quite tired. So if I finally ate at 6pm, hours later than 6pm I would feel like sleeping. If I finally eat any later than 6pm I will start getting weak/shaky beyond 6pm. This isn't a result of lack of acclimation. I've done fasting for 4+ month stretches multiple times in the pas…

> If I eat one meal per day after that meal I will feel lazy and quite tired.

It takes some days/weeks (dependending on the individual) for your body to switch from carbs-only to carbs & fat burning so when you feel lazy and tired it is because your body is not properly burning fat to supply you with the energy required thus asks for food always that it depletes carbs of easy access.

> If I finally eat any later than 6pm I will start getting weak/shaky beyond 6pm.

Yup! I feel the same. I eat 8-9pm and around 11pm I sleep like a baby. Win-win.

> This isn't a result of lack of acclimation.

Now this is a point difficult to prove.

Re: Ask HN: How have you successfully simplified your life?

#29

Post by nicolasd »

pwason wrote: post #3

Get rid of as many things as is possible. Imagine that you'll need to grab your closest family and friends, a bunch of survival gear, and the 10 things you value the most, and escape to a remote region. If you can't carry it, don't bring it. If you haven't used it in the last year, sell it.

I tried to follow the concept of minimalism a few years ago. For everyone else who is struggling with it: don't stress out because you can't live with one backpack. Yes, you can get rid of a lot of stuff and you should do it, but don't do it too extreme. I don't want to live without my music instruments or my sports (which requires a lot of gear) - don't fall into the trap as I did and feel bad for owning it.

Start small and collect all the stuff you didn't touch for more than 1 year - don't throw it away, just put it in the cellar and after a few months realising you don't need/want it give it away.

Re: Ask HN: How have you successfully simplified your life?

#30

Post by twobyfour »

nicolasd wrote: post #29
pwason wrote: post #3

Get rid of as many things as is possible. Imagine that you'll need to grab your closest family and friends, a bunch of survival gear, and the 10 things you value the most, and escape to a remote region. If you can't carry it, don't bring it. If you haven't used it in the last year, sell it.

I tried to follow the concept of minimalism a few years ago. For everyone else who is struggling with it: don't stress out because you can't live with one backpack. Yes, you can get rid of a lot of stuff and you should do it, but don't do it too extreme. I don't want to live without my music instruments or my sports (which requires a lot of gear) - don't fall into the trap as I did and feel bad for owning it. Start s…

There are also probably a few things you want to keep even if you use them less than once a year, just because either a) when you suddenly do need them you really want them on hand, or b) they're really expensive to replace every couple years, and a PITA to borrow or rent. There are also (c) some things with fuzzy definitions around the term "use" and (d) items with sentimental value.

For me, category A includes things like the toilet plunger, flashlight, certain OTC medicines and first aid supplies, and the like. A few flattened cardboard boxes. A couple faded old towels. That step stool in the back of the closet. An extension cord.

Category B includes a minimum quantity of formalwear (tuxes may be easy to rent; heels that don't cause bleeding are another story), snow gear or an emergency generator in certain climates, perhaps certain types of cookware, etc.

As for category C... you don't use houseplants, but having a couple around can work wonders for your quality of life. The same goes for a poster/painting or two to liven your environment, or a few framed snapshots of family and friends. These aren't things that complicate your life - once you have them they don't cost money or significant time to maintain; there's no real pressure to keep accumulating more - and they're good for the soul.

Which is also why category D is important. Yes, you need to let go of things, and no, you shouldn't keep that takeout carton just because your ex touched it. But there are some things - that art project your kid made, or the cufflinks your grandfather left you, or the scarf your mom knit you the year before she died - that have value far beyond their utility. The challenge there is to decide which ones are really important.

But there is stuff most of us should be much more ruthless about getting rid of (living in a small apartment can help develop the ruthlessness habit; so can moving frequently). Top of the list for many of us is clothing. Stuff for hobbies we wanted to take up or just never get around to. Small kitchen appliances. Electronics and gadgets. Knick-knacks and collectibles. All the stuff you keep accumulating more of but that don't actually add anything to your life.

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