12 Things I’ve Stopped Doing to Live a Simpler, More Intentional Life

Life doesn’t have to be so complicated.

Over the past few years — especially as I’ve leaned into a slower, more intentional way of living — I’ve been quietly letting go of things that once took up far too much space in my home, in my head, and in my calendar. This hasn’t happened all at once. It’s been a slow, gentle shedding of what no longer fits.

Here are twelve things I’ve stopped doing (or at least do far less often) in the name of living more simply, more peacefully, and more like myself. Maybe one or two of them will land with you, too.

Woman standing on a beach with arms outstretched, wearing a white hat and blue shirt. Overlaid text reads: "12 Things I’ve Stopped Doing for a Simpler Life." A calm and freeing image representing intentional living and letting go.

1. Trying to Keep Up

With trends, with routines, with what everyone else is doing online — I’ve stopped trying to match the pace of others. The truth is, my pace is slower. And not only is that okay, it’s necessary.

There’s such freedom in letting yourself be who you actually are — not who you think you should be. Once I stopped trying to shape-shift and chase what didn’t suit me, I began to feel more grounded, more content, and more true to myself.

2. Overfilling My Days

Gone are the days of cramming every hour full. I’ve learned that rest is not laziness — it’s where creativity blossoms, peace takes root, and clarity has space to grow.

Gaps in the day are where joy often sneaks in. Rest restores the body, but it also nurtures the soul. These days, I actively protect those margins of nothingness.

3. Overcommitting Out of Guilt

There was a time when I decided a whole year would be “the year of saying yes.” It sounded liberating at the time. But it only made me exhausted.

Now, I say yes when I mean it. And no — kindly, firmly — when I don’t. I prioritise peace, spaciousness, and the people I actually want to be around. Our family rhythm has room for spontaneity, because we leave space for it. That’s where some of the most joyful moments live.

4. Rushing Through the Seasons

This one is still a work in progress.

I’m so guilty of saying “I can’t wait!” — even for lovely things. But lately, I’ve been making a conscious effort not to wish away time. Even now, two weeks from our family holiday, I keep reminding myself: I’m not rushing these days. They matter too.

Spring felt long this year, in the best way. And now that summer is here, I’m trying not to blink and miss it. The messy days, the in-between ones — they’re part of it all. I don’t want to wish them away.

5. Waiting for the “Perfect” Moment

I light the candles. I use the good glasses. I set a pretty table — even if it’s just because it’s Wednesday and the sun is shining.

I used to save things for special occasions. Now I use them. What’s the point in surrounding ourselves with beautiful things if we never actually enjoy them?

There is no perfect someday. There’s only now.

6. Shopping Just Because It’s on Sale

I used to be a great one for impulse buying — clothes, shoes, home decor — especially if they were discounted. But I’ve learned that if I didn’t want it at full price, I probably don’t need it at all.

These days, I shop with intention. I leave things. I come back. I ask myself: Do I already have something that works? Can I live without it? More often than not, the answer is yes.

7. Holding On “Just in Case”

Letting go of things I never use has made my home feel lighter — and my mind too.

In the past year, we’ve decluttered massively — clothing, furniture, sentimental bits from the attic, and even an overflowing storage unit. I no longer keep dresses that don’t feel like me, or gadgets we haven’t touched in years.

If I’m not using it or loving it, it’s time to pass it on.

8. Decorating to Impress

I don’t follow trends anymore. I decorate our home to feel like us. Cozy, layered, full of books and colour and stories — with space left for things to shine.

I used to think more was more. Now I choose fewer things I love and give them breathing room. A home should reflect the people who live in it — not an aesthetic.

9. Forcing Routines That Don’t Fit

I love a good planner, but no printable morning routine is going to make me a 5 a.m. person.

I build rhythms that work for our real life. That means getting up before the kids during term time, and a bit later during the summer holidays. I exercise early because I know myself — if it’s not done in the morning, it probably won’t happen. But I’m also in bed by 10 most nights. That’s what works for me.

Our family’s rhythms evolve gently, and that’s how I like it.

10. Feeling Guilty About Rest

I’ll say it again: rest is not a reward. It’s a necessity.

We live in a culture that prizes productivity — but I’ve come to believe that rest is productive. It’s when we recover, reflect, and reconnect with ourselves. And no, you don’t have to “earn” it.

11. Trying to Do It All (Especially All At Once)

Multi-tasking used to be my default mode. Now, I do one thing at a time — and I try to do it with presence.

That might mean folding laundry while listening to an audiobook, cooking dinner with music playing, or sitting down to write and giving it my full attention. Not everything has to be perfect. Done is often good enough. But doing it with presence? That changes everything.

12. Holding Onto Clothes That No Longer Feel Like Me

I spoke about this earlier, but it bears repeating. I’ve stopped keeping clothes that don’t feel like me anymore.

At 46, I know what I like. I know what fits, what feels good, and what I’ll actually reach for. Gone are the dresses that looked great once but no longer suit me, or outfits that belonged to a different version of myself.

I dress for the life I have now — not for a fantasy version of who I used to be or who I thought I should become.

Slower. Softer. Better.

Living simply isn’t about perfection. It’s not about having a minimalist home or cutting ties with everything. It’s about creating space — for breath, for joy, for what really matters.

I’m still figuring it out. But every time I choose less, I seem to find more of what I was looking for.

What’s something you’ve stopped doing, or want to let go of, to live more simply and intentionally? I’d love to hear in the comments.

And if you’re not already following along over on Instagram, you can find me @ourlittlehouseinthecountry where I share more gentle living, seasonal homemaking, and day-to-day moments.

Chat soon,

Ciara