PracticeBalance

Pursuing simplicity in work, home, community, and self

Is Upgrading Always Worth It?

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Moving is fun… or is it?

Upward mobility. We’re geared to seek it as goal-driven professionals, as Americans, as humans. Our innate sense is to improve our circumstances, otherwise we run the risk of becoming weak and irrelevant. In modern circles, though, this evolutionary holdover has morphed into a ridiculous constant upgrading of our stuff.

There’s a misconception that upgrading will make us happier. In fact, there was a 2010 Princeton study with a large polling group that found people’s happiness did not increase further as they advanced to incomes beyond $75,000 per year. This has been re-analyzed multiple times and put through different cost-of-living lenses, but the general result is the same: more is not better. The book Happy Money also points out that after the initial excitement of a new car/bigger house/shiny material purchase, people’s happiness level when encountered with that thing tends to fade over time. The original situation prior to the upgrade provided just as much happiness.

We just recently moved, to a different house in the same neighborhood where we already live. We have owned this house for over 10 years, but we had been renting it. People often ask, “Why are you moving? Oh, is it to get a bigger house?” Quite the opposite; we’re actually downsizing our home and simplifying our assets. So far it has been a fairly extreme exercise in decluttering. We gave away and sold lots of things, and when we actually moved we identified even more extra stuff that we couldn’t find a place for in the new house. Not once have I felt sad when parting with the superfluous items; in fact, I would definitely say the happiness brought by decluttering has offset the stress of the move.

Baby’s getting older, sleeping better, on the verge of walking and becoming a little more independent every day. But I’m not increasing my hours in the OR as a response. Instead, my group at work has finally become flush enough with staff for me to slightly downgrade my clinical commitment. Not enough to feel like I’ll end up rusty, but enough to have a little more “me” time in my weeks. I’ve finally felt excited to push myself athletically again (more on that later), so this extra time has helped facilitate opportunities for that. And after our big international vacation, I can still afford some short time periods off this winter to get out of the cold weather, another time-tested happiness booster for me and my family.

What about you? Can you think of a time you’ve downsized or downgraded and it brought you more happiness? As always, share your experience here!

 

A Technology Vacation…??

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http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

In keeping with my recent thoughts on simplicity, my husband and I decided it would be a good experiment to see how we would fare without our most oft-used technology and media devices – phones, internet and computers, TV, radio, and car. After all, there were lots of projects to be done around the house, and we both had stacks of books to read! On a Friday night before going to bed, we turned off the phones, Ipads, etc. and settled in.

The next morning, I did find myself reflexively reaching for the phone to view texts and emails. I realized this was an automatic habit for me every morning, whether headed into work or not. And sometimes, the messages we get can cause stress or distraction from other morning tasks at hand! We went on a nice walk with the dog (something we would have done anyway). We did a satisfying round of cleaning and organizing in the garage. Things moved along smoothly. Until the afternoon came…

My husband decided he really needed to write a work email, as he was going to be unavailable all day Monday and it was looming over his head. In this particular circumstance (one that could easily occur with people who have irregular work hours or are self-employed), the stress of NOT completing this work item was worse than any stress caused by using the connective devices to do so. After he mentioned this to me, I confessed to him my burning desire to go donate the things we had just cleaned from the garage. If I didn’t drive to the donation center that day, I would have to wait a week to get those bulky items out of there.

So that’s how the “technology vacation” turned into more of a “fast” at 1:37 pm on a Saturday! We continued modified technology limitations throughout the weekend, including no phone calls or texting. I kept my social media apps closed. I wouldn’t call this a botched experiment by any means; it was more of a learning experience. We have gone multiple days without phones or internet while on ideal vacations and camping trips before. However, things are different when you try to go without technological conveniences at home.

One great thing about modern living and the technology we have at our disposal is the ability to send messages, do errands, talk to others, etc. when it is most convenient for us. After all, an internal locus of control is key for stress management. But the convenience of modern technology can turn into a crutch. Its ease of use and ubiquitous presence can become a distraction from face-to-face living and doing.

This experience has prompted me to further streamline my use of social media and blog sites. It has inspired me to avoid my devices first thing in the morning and to set them aside earlier in the evening (I will admit I’ve noticed an improvement in sleep already!) What do you think? Cop-out or lesson learned? What would you have done differently? Share your thoughts here!

Pathway to Simplicity

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Courtesy: denverpubliclibrary.org

The other day, we watched a documentary called Tiny. It really made me think: could I live full-time in 100-200 square feet of space? How about with another person, even? Participants in the tiny house movement are doing just that. They have various motivations for downsizing, but the basic common denominator is simplification – something that can greatly help in the realm of stress management! One of the people interviewed in the movie talked about her transition to a Tiny House as a vehicle for removing herself from the hamster wheel of her finance job that involved great stress, illness, and 2 hours of commuting per day.

As I have learned from my own experiences and discussed here and here, when looking for easy ways to reduce stress, the initial “big picture” approach should be to simplify where possible. I would not generally consider myself a minimalist, but I do strive for a lifestyle of simplicity. While this has proven to be easy on ideal vacations, it is more challenging in the day to day experience of “real life”. Here are some ways I’ve simplified, ways that aren’t too extreme, that are possible for “real people” like you and me:

Consider your work responsibilities and environment. I have learned through my exercises in self-reflection that I need to make “down time” somewhat of a priority in my life. I don’t do well with multiple huge projects or deadlines looming over my head. Thus, I sought the most simplified version of a job in my field that I could find. As a purely clinical anesthesiologist not in a private group but at an academic hospital, I have very little paperwork, no office, no workspace overhead, and minimal needs for an administrative assistant. I make less money than some of my peers… but I have no overnight call and no teaching, administration, or research responsibilities. It is not a job with many accolades or opportunities for recognition, but it is aligned with my values and I find great satisfaction in my direct patient care duties.

I chose this type of job from the outset, knowing that it was right for me; if you are in the position to be looking for a job right now, consider the “simplicity level” of your possible opportunities. If you are already entrenched and you are feeling the need to simplify, find small things you can strike from your responsibility pool. Is there anything that can be delegated? Any extra superfluous overhead that could be eliminated?

Streamline social media and connectivity. This is a big issue for everyone. My job situation might be dialed, but I’ve currently been tackling simplification in the media area. My husband is a pro at this: he works at home for himself, and he learned early to set boundaries. He does not look at email until a certain time of day; then he dedicates a particular period of time to responding, solving problems that can be solved immediately, and scheduling time to revisit more involved issues before moving on to other tasks. He does not answer work calls early in the morning or late in the evening. If you are in a self-employment type of situation, consider setting up boundaries like these for better productivity and less stress.

My problem is social media. I have a tendency to check email, blog feeds, and Facebook constantly throughout the day; this can be stressful depending on what I read, creating that “I must solve this problem now” mentality. Being a blogger, I like to read others’ blogs and stories and be active on Facebook… but the stories that I’m exposed to can sometimes incite stress as well (depending on the subject matter). One thing I’ve done is limit my social media outlets, and I’m currently working to schedule certain times that I check them. Think about it: do you need to be on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Feedly, Google+, etc., or will just one suffice?

To take it further, my husband and I are actually scheduling an upcoming “technology vacation”. We’re not going to put away the blender or the oven, but we are planning a two-day period of no phones, no internet, no car, no TV, etc. Could you do it? More info on the results in a future post!

Eat the same thing every day. My husband and I enjoy simple food. We tend to cook at home most of the time, and the only meal that varies from day to day is dinner. Yes, I do tend to eat the same thing for breakfast and lunch every day. It sounds boring, but there is actually evidence that this can help with weight control. In addition, it simplifies grocery shopping by making the list very predictable! Making simple meals – basically meat and vegetables thrown into either a crock pot or a stir-fry pan with some spices – makes planning dinners very easy. If you cook at home and have only a few options on hand each week, it can relieve the decision fatigue (and financial outlay, and driving time) that comes with going out and choosing from a menu, or from perusing a cookbook for that perfect recipe.

Think hard about your “stuff”. In my opinion, simplicity is not about eschewing all possessions but more about considering the possessions you have and those you may acquire. I love to shop, but I make sure that if I buy something new, there is a space in my closet for it… and possibly something in there that I don’t use and can sell/donate. I am a ruthless editor of my own closet and vanity; if I haven’t used an item in months, I have no qualms about getting rid of it. Then I try to learn from my “mistakes”. When buying something new, think: how much room does it take up in the house? Does it require other tasks or resources for upkeep? These are all things to consider when making purchases either big or small.

These are the approachable paths to more simplicity that I can think of currently… have I missed any? Do you have any suggestions? Share them here!

The Kaizen Principle: Are You Living It?

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Kaizen, literally translated from Japanese as good change, has been defined in English as “continuous improvement” or “philosophy of improvement”. My husband, who runs a patent law practice, uses this symbol as the core principle of his business, encircled by the terms, “inspire, innovate, create”.

In my opinion, the Realms of Balance are circular and overlapping. Kaizen can be applied to any of the four realms. Mark Sisson, one of my favorite bloggers, was asked by a reader about his personal New Year’s resolutions for 2014. He eschewed the traditional concept and instead described his “daily resolution” model:

“I acknowledge myself for [what I’m grateful for] and then ask myself this: ‘If I stopped today and just sat back, could I be content to rest on my laurels?’ The answer is always, ‘Yes, but there’s still more work to be done.’ I keep a long list of all the ideas and plans I could start on (or finish) and then ask myself, ‘am I excited enough about it all to take it to the next level today?'”

Well said!

My first post of this year touched on the idea of making a New Year’s theme… Resolution time is still fresh in our minds, although research shows that momentum behind most resolutions fades around the time February hits. Why not have continuous improvement be a consistent part of your life, not a fleeting commitment? This is not a new nor unpopular concept; the idea here is to have a general mindset for making micro-improvements. People are conditioned to focus on drastic changes in the age of Extreme Makeover, etc. However, the biggest and most long-lasting shifts come from small changes made every day.

Is this sustainable?
(Photo credit: The Biggest Loser)

How do we enliven the spirit of Kaizen in us? Constant self-assessment, through whatever tool works best for you. Mark’s quote above specifically mentions a “long list”… this definitely works for me. I always have multiple types of lists going. I list things I want to do in my journal. I print out a calendar for each month and write lists of my current goals at the top in three headings: fitness, mindset, and nutrition. Each day when I do something that is consistent with these goals, I write it in the little date box (yes, I really do do this!). I also have separate list going of small projects. Right now, this list contains the following items:

  • Sell old electronics on Ebay
  • Convert CDs to hard drive storage, sell/donate
  • Convert my two fave VHS exercise tapes to DVD

(As you can see, there is kind of a “declutter electronics” theme in my house right now! These list items fit within my overall Home objectives of simplifying to only the things we use and love. If we are going to – hopefully – introduce a child into our family and add another body to our small 1938 home, we are going to have to be much more organized and thoughtful about our level of stuff!)

What about you? How do you employ Kaizen in your day to day life, in your Work, Home, Community and Self? Share your ideas here!