The simple life: advice for finding happiness in the little things

BarcelonaThe art of not complicating life. The title of the book by writer and essayist Alexis Racionero, although not what he initially intended, is a whole declaration of intent of what we find in this editorial proposal published by Arpa. An essay that deals with the importance of simplifying life and living with more authenticity and serenity. It delves into the main philosophical and cultural practices of the East and West in search of guidelines that allow fostering disaffection and betting on presence and austerity to achieve greater happiness and well-being.

Racionero considers that we live burdened by unnecessary worries and burdens, often confusing having with being. "We are too concerned with having and I'm not just talking about material things, but also about positions and labels. Perhaps we should learn to value what we are and what we are is not a writer or a journalist or an economist, it is something more complete," he says. And he adds: "What I want to propose to readers is that they value where they are and if everything they do is truly so profitable. I always advocate for less is more and for stopping doing things at a time when the exact opposite is rewarded."

For this reason, the author claims the benefits of simplification, which requires letting go of baggage. An exposition that may seem easy but requires effort, since the acceleration, stress, and mental dispersion that dominate today's society increase the difficulty of simplifying. As the also doctor in art history says, to initiate this life change "we can be helped by having discipline and the motivation to want to make the change, and then apply small guidelines within our routine": "For example, when we get up, dedicate some time, even if it's ten minutes, to do some activity with full attention. And this can be anything from hanging out the laundry to walking the dog or pruning the plants. Later, at work, we can also take short breaks to do nothing. Simply, gaze or fix our eyes on that painting or that tree that is in front of us and that we have never looked at with attention. And at night, try to meditate for a while or review the day".

Racionero is convinced that accumulation and materialism generate economic and emotional complications and that the search for happiness in material things is just an illusion. He recalls that society encourages excessive consumption and dissatisfaction and that overwork is one of the main causes of complication and wear and tear. The key, he states, is to let go and reduce burdens to live with more freedom and peace. Along these lines, he offers some tips for applying simplicity to everyday life, such as practicing order and decluttering, because eliminating the superfluous helps reduce stress and value what is essential. Thus, in homes, for example, he advocates for minimalism, and assures that clearing spaces helps to clarify the mind and that the elimination of objects, ideas, and prejudices fosters authenticity and creativity.

Less is more

This commitment to a simple life proposed by Alexis Racionero also directly touches the pocket. Reducing debt, expenses, and avoiding multitasking are key steps for a calmer and more balanced life. He maintains that debts generate worries, that having many cards and accounts disperses focus and encourages impulsive consumption, or that unproductive work and excessive hours hinder simplicity. In this regard, in the workplace, he states that the key is to delegate, plan, and prioritize tasks. And although it may seem that opting to let go of baggage is costly, for him "what requires too much effort is what society asks of us." "It is more effort to have four cards than one, it is more costly to manage five current accounts than one, or to have three cars and three residences than one," he states.

With all this, he says, we will discover the beauty of simplicity in daily life. Valuing the small things, like silence and order, helps to live more authentically and to reduce mental and emotional noise. To achieve this, the process of letting go is fundamental, starting with disconnecting from mobile phones and social networks. "I admit that for the digital issue we need to have almost samurai-like ability to disconnect. I am not against technology, but the digital world cannot occupy most of our time. Once again we will have to appeal to a sense of discipline to create a time pattern for digital consumption," he says. He also recalls that the path involves achieving full attention during daily activities (the practice of meditation and mindfulness) can help with this, and accepting that the accumulation of objects and habits overloads spaces and minds.

On this path, Racionero sees the reconnection with nature as essential, but also applying techniques such as meditation, cleaning and tidying to create a simple and harmonious environment, betting on fasting and digital disconnection, or gifting ourselves moments of silence. We must be able to find peace in the small details and in the simplicity of daily life, promoting routines that include walks, moments of introspection, or quality shared time with the people around us, recovering face-to-face contact. All of this will lead us, he assures, to the freedom to choose and decide, but also to the silence of emptiness. "In silence you hear many things and you achieve emptiness when you have let go of everything superfluous. And it will be at that moment, when you truly have a clean slate, that you will be able to start drawing what you want for your life," he concludes.