Recently, whilst I was chatting to one of my best buddies, we spoke about the tv series ‘The Good Life’ - one of the greatest British sitcoms of all time in my humble opinion. I can so relate to the central premise of the TV series – the story of a man who turns 40 and realises he's stuck in a rut, spending most of his hours doing things he doesn't want to do for the sake of making someone else rich.
My friend was explaining how tired and bored she felt of the ‘rat race’, as in continually feeling the need to strive for success. I agreed, it’s becoming so exhausting reading about how much we should thrive not just survive. She mentioned how fed up she was of having to conform to ridiculous restrictions as a small business owner and the frustrations of being at the mercy of others. But I did wonder, was this just us having a little grumble, as friends do now and again over tea and cake, just two grumpy women in their late 40’s putting the worlds to right.
Since lockdown, I don’t know about you, but I’ve felt like I no longer want to keep up with the Jones’s. I don’t suffer from FOMO at all, it’s more a case of JOMO (joy of missing out) which is essentially being present and content with where one is at in life. There are lots of articles in my feed, highlighting how more and more people are feeling at peace with spending more time in the ‘slow lane’. I must admit, I do enjoy doing absolutely nothing for an hour, such a liberating experience if you can fight the guilt. Hands up if you indulge in ‘doing nothing’ for an hour or so on the weekend?Such bliss isn’t it?!
My friend and I both discussed, how we would quite happily enjoy spending our 50’s living the ‘good life’ in a cute country cottage, for me it would have to be a coastal cottage, spending day after day doing stuff we loved for the sake of it. The list would be endless, such as making seasonal jam, pottering in the garden, writing that book, enjoying alfresco lunch and a bottle of fizz with friends, a few hours sewing or knitting, upholstering a battered old armchair and quality time for reading Substack newsletters. Oh the joy. Well it’s so doable. Don’t get me wrong, I love what I do - hosting and facilitating writing retreats. It’s such a privilege. But I still crave a slower pace to life. I guess owning two very athletic ridgebacks removes the word SLOW from my pace of life.
Here are 5 tips for living a ‘good life with ease’:
Simplify your life: By simplifying your life, this can reduce stress and create more space for the things that truly matter. This can involve decluttering your home, simplifying your schedule, or reducing your commitments.
Practice self-care: Taking care of yourself is an important part of living a good life. This can involve practices such as moderate to light exercise, meditation, getting enough sleep, and taking breaks to recharge.
Focus on what matters most: Prioritising the things that are most important to you can help you live a good life. This can involve setting boundaries, saying no to things that don't align with your values or priorities, and focusing on the people and activities that bring you the most joy and fulfilment.
Embrace imperfection: Striving for perfection can create unnecessary stress and make it difficult to enjoy life. Embracing imperfection and accepting that things won't always go according to plan can help you live a good life with ease.
Practice gratitude: Focusing on the things that you're grateful for can help you cultivate a positive mindset and find joy in the present moment. Take time each day to reflect on the things in your life that you're thankful for.
MY ‘GOOD LIFE’ RECOMMENDATIONS:
BOOKS:
How To Do Nothing by Jenny Odell
The Success Myth by Emma Gannon
The Unexplained Joy of the Ordinary by Catherine Gray
A Year of Living Simply by Kate Humble
FILM:
End to End with George Ezra
The Minimalists
PODCAST:
Pressing Pause by Gabrielle Treanor
The Plodcast by BBC Countryfile
Good Life Project by Jonathan Fields
Opting for the ‘good life’ can lead to many personal and societal benefits, including improved well-being, reduced stress and anxiety, increased resilience, improved relationships, increased creativity and innovation, and a positive impact on society. I hope, that like me, you’re slowly but surely finding a good balance in your life. By adopting some of the above top tips, you might be able to find a way to live a fulfilling and satisfying life without undue stress or difficulty.
Until the next time. Take care and stay safe!
Tanya xx
I think I needed to be reminded of number 4, Tanya, thank you!
I also really appreciate those book recommendations - I've been meaning to get to 'How To Do Nothing' in particular :)
What lovely memories this instilled in me and resonates so much. I have to admit I am old enough to remember watching the Good Life the first time round, I was still at school ... just. I do watch it sometimes now. I can remember wanting that kind of life, but then my life and others lives got in the way. Now I am retired I am trying to simplify my life and be more Barbara, although Tom was a real chauvinist 😁.