I’ve touched on this topic before, but the idea of simplicity—being present, content, and comfortable in the moment—has been on my mind lately. Probably because I’m so bad at it.

We live in a fast-paced and complex world, and many of us depend on quick responses, innovative thinking, and problem-solving on a day-to-day basis, thanks to our professions and our surroundings.

And that’s nothing to scoff at.

But…what if we began to live our lives more slowly and more purposely, trying to savor every taste, color, melody, and sensation while giving little attention and thought to clutter, pressure, and the necessity to be “on” at every moment of the day?

What do you think would happen?

Obviously I’ve not mastered this mindset and way of living.

In fact, I’m almost tortured by the need to be doing something any time I come to a stop. Or striving for some achievement, even if I cannot for my life figure out what it is I long to achieve.

It’s difficult for me to simply sit still and allow myself to gently tread through my thoughts and surroundings.

But it’s something I’m willing to work toward—an attempt to grasp at the abundance, if you will, attainable through “less is more.”

Here are some of the ways I’m trying simplicity and stillness on for size.

Listening to an album in its entirety—beginning to end—instead of skipping ahead to my favorite, played-on-repeat songs.

Walking more slowly on my lunchtime walks and noticing the “ordinary beauty” around me in the tiny buds on the trees, the cotton-y streaks of clouds, or the perfectly content pelicans as they rest on the water’s surface

Sitting or lying down without reading, scrolling, or watching TV as a natural distraction (←really need to work on this one!)

Savoring my food—even the less exciting meals like yogurt and granola or a mundane sandwich—and reconnecting with food as nourishment, community, and pleasure

Stretching more often and holding the positions so I feel my body’s weight, strength, and (lack of) flexibility instead of simply as closure to an invigorating workout

Working in our backyard garden—harvesting herbs, keeping flowers alive (!!), and watching my son water the plants with the effervescent joy only a 4-year-old could have

That last one’s challenging, since Alabama seems to be ground zero for mosquitoes and other pests!

Thanks to EarthKind® Stay Away Mosquitoes® spray, we’ve been able to live in the moment outdoors without being eaten alive.

Stay Away Mosquitoes is DEET-free (that’s a huge win!), safe for young children and pregnant women, effective against a host of insects: mosquitoes, ticks, biting flies, and chiggers, and water-resistant.

The active ingredient is picaridin, which is a synthetic but bioidentical version of the compound found in a black pepper plant. Its effectiveness is long-lasting (up to 14 hours against mosquitoes and ticks and 8 hours for chiggers, gnats, etc.) and it has virtually no smell!

The spray comes in a 4-oz bottle (simply shake, hold 4-6 inches from skin, and spray!), as well as a handy travel-size that’s perfect to keep in your purse or car—just in case you stumble upon some unexpected outdoor beauty on your quest to simplicity.

What if we tried #simplicity on for size? #mindfulness Share on X

**I received complimentary samples of EarthKind Stay Away Mosquitoes to review on my blog. I was not compensated for this blog post, and all opinions are my own.**