National Simplicity Day
It’s time to get back to basics and celebrate National Simplicity Day on July 12! The holiday falls on this date every year to honor the birthday of Henry David Thoreau, who was born on this day in 1817. So read on for some modern-day tips on how to celebrate National Simplicity Day. As Thoreau himself said: “As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler.”
HISTORY OF NATIONAL SIMPLICITY DAY
Henry David Thoreau was a jack-of-all-trades — an author, an environmentalist, an abolitionist, a poet — but you probably mainly remember him from your high school English class as a transcendentalist. He and his contemporary transcendentalists believed, in simple terms (see what we did there?), that people have knowledge about themselves that ‘transcends’ all the external forces in their lives. They advocated for living a simpler life to better get in touch with those feelings. Now, we’re not telling you to abandon your life and go live in the woods for a few years, but we love the idea of taking a day to evaluate your life and find out what elements of it are simply the most important to you.
National Simplicity Day was created to unshackle people from the complications and hustle and bustle of daily life. As much as technology has made our lives easier for us, it has also consumed us and created competition in all spheres of life — comparing lifestyles, increasing the desire for accumulating more things, and the idea that everyone should be living an extravagant life. A simple life hardly gets the spotlight on social media. This is why National Simplicity Day emphasizes the importance of directing our focus internally and doing away with the unnecessary clutter in our lives. It is a chance to re-evaluate our needs and understand that “less is more.”
In recent years, the concept of minimalism has become widely popular. In some countries like Japan, people have started to understand that their lives can be much happier and less stressful if they get rid of items that don’t serve them any fulfilling purpose. Minimalism has spread to domains like fashion as well, where people are opting for timeless articles to create ‘capsule’ wardrobes, rather than hoarding fast fashion.
TRADITIONS
National Simplicity Day is a chance to reflect and take stock of what we are filling our lives with. Those who celebrate this holiday take a step back and compartmentalize what they need and don’t need, and this is not just limited to material possessions — inventory is also taken mentally and emotionally.
Many people purge their belongings, discarding things they no longer need or clothing that no longer fits them. Contributions and donations are also made to Goodwill and other organizations.
5 SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT MINIMALISM
1.It reduces excessive waste
$1.2 trillion a year is spent on buying non-essential items in the U.S. alone!
2.Shop til you drop
The average female spends approximately $125,000 on fashion accessories and clothing in a lifetime — adopting a minimalist lifestyle prevents this.
3.Silence is golden
With a minimalist lifestyle, you begin appreciating solitude and silence — there is no pressure or guilt to live a high-maintenance lifestyle, and doing less feels rewarding.
4.Do I really need that?
Minimalism makes one realize just how useless most items are in the long run, especially the ‘just-in-case’ items — your obsession to collect and have more starts to wane, and you become more conscious about your purchases.
5.A healthier lifestyle
Being a minimalist allows you to pay attention and listen to what your body is telling you about what is really important, and make the necessary changes for a healthier lifestyle.
References:
“National Simplicity Day” │ https://nationaltoday.com/national-simplicity-day/