Simplify: Let Go of Your Crutches
‘Most of us need the crutch at times; but of course it is idiotic to use the crutch when our own legs (our own loves, tastes, habits etc.) can do the journey on their own.’ ~C.S. Lewis
By Leo Babauta
I know people who travel with several huge suitcases and carry-ons for a short trip, even if there’s no way they’d use everything, because it makes them feel safer.
Others have a lot of clutter in their homes for the same reason — having more stuff makes you feel secure, more prepared, ready for the just-in case.
Many people are super busy, and distracted, because busy-ness and distraction fee...
Source: Zen Habits - August 12, 2013 Category: Life Coaches Authors: zenhabits Tags: Simplicity Source Type: blogs
The Fear of Being Found a Fraud
By Leo Babauta
My friend Brian asked me yesterday what my biggest fear might be, and the first fear that came out of my mouth was: “The fear that people will discover I’m a fraud.”
The truth is, this fear isn’t something I think about a lot, but it’s often present in the background of my mind, unnoticed but working its dark magic on me. Lots of fears work this way, and until we say them aloud, they have a power over us. Once we say them out loud, really bring them out in the light of day, and give them some thought, we take away their power.
How might I be found a fraud? Lots of ways:
Bec...
Source: Zen Habits - August 8, 2013 Category: Life Coaches Authors: zenhabits Tags: Goals & Motivation Happiness Source Type: blogs
The Flexible Mind
By Leo Babauta
When I reflect back on how much happier I am these days compared to my life about 8 years ago, I realize it’s not all a result of better habits (though that’s a part of it).
Here’s what I’ve changed that makes me happier:
Instead of stressing out about meeting goals, deadlines, timelines, I have learned a way of flowing.
Instead of getting mad at people not meeting my expectations, I’m looser with what I expect of others.
Instead of getting mad at things not turning out how I’d like, I accept that things are unpredictable, and accept what happens.
Most of the time, t...
Source: Zen Habits - August 5, 2013 Category: Life Coaches Authors: zenhabits Tags: Habits Happiness Source Type: blogs
Declutter Your Life
By Leo Babauta
There was a time, about 8 years ago, when my life was cluttered. I had too much stuff, and it kept coming in all the time. I had too much to do, and didn’t know how to simplify my schedule.
I was in need of some decluttering, and I knew it.
When I started to change my habits, from smoking to running to being more mindful, simplifying my life was near the top of the list.
The question became, how to go about it? How do you start when you’re facing a mountain of clutter, and another mountain of commitments, and piles of files and mail and email and other digital information?
The answer became ...
Source: Zen Habits - July 31, 2013 Category: Life Coaches Authors: zenhabits Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
A Month Without Coffee
By Leo Babauta
For my first month of The Year of Living Without, I gave up coffee. That was something I thought would be very difficult, given my love for coffee and miserable past attempts.
But I loved it.
That was a huge surprise to me. I had absolutely no difficulty in giving up coffee, not the first day, not the first week, not at all.
They key was having a great replacement habit that I really enjoyed. Instead of focusing on sacrificing the coffee, I focused on drinking a lovely cup of tea each morning. I was grateful to be able to drink such good tea, and so the coffee wasn’t even a concern.
So my first mo...
Source: Zen Habits - July 29, 2013 Category: Life Coaches Authors: zenhabits Tags: Habits Simplicity Source Type: blogs
The Healthful Vegan Diet
‘Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food.’ ~Hippocrates
By Leo Babauta
Eat plants. Those two words are the best things I’ve learned about diet, and if you stick to that, you’re likely be pretty healthy.
That said, eating a vegan diet (no animal products) doesn’t necessarily equate to a healthy diet, despite what many believe.
Yes, vegans on average are healthier and leaner than the average person. But that’s an average — there are unhealthy vegans.
How is that possible? You can eat lots of sweets, fried foods, processed foods, foods with white flour (br...
Source: Zen Habits - July 25, 2013 Category: Life Coaches Authors: zenhabits Tags: Health & Fitness Source Type: blogs
Living the Quiet Life
By Leo Babauta
When I first started simplifying my life, about 8 years ago, I remember my life being much busier.
I would say yes to everything, and go to lots of social stuff, and drive everywhere doing a crazy amount of things, rushing wherever I went. By crazy I mean it can drive you a bit insane.
These days I know a lot of people who do an amazing amount of socializing online instead of in person — chatting and sending messages and tumbling and posting pictures and status updates. While I understand the need for social connection, I also recognize the addictiveness of it all, to the point where we have no quie...
Source: Zen Habits - July 22, 2013 Category: Life Coaches Authors: zenhabits Tags: Happiness Simplicity Source Type: blogs
The Art of Tasting Chocolate Mindfully
Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Todd Masonis of Dandelion Chocolate, one of Leo’s favorite chocolate shops in the world.
Leo: I attended a Chocolate 101 class with Eva at Dandelion Chocolate’s beautiful little chocolate factory/shop on Valencia Street in San Francisco about a month ago, and absolutely loved it. I asked Todd, co-founder of Dandelion, to share some tips on tasting chocolate … mindfully.
Without further ado, here’s Todd Masonis of Dandelion Chocolate, on the Art of Tasting Chocolate Mindfully:
We’re often asked if there’s a right way or a wrong way to tast...
Source: Zen Habits - July 16, 2013 Category: Life Coaches Authors: zenhabits Tags: Happiness Source Type: blogs
Why Fear of Discomfort Might Be Ruining Your Life
By Leo Babauta
Think about the major problems in your life — from anxiety to lack of regular exercise to a bad diet to procrastination and more.
Pretty much every one of these problems is caused by a fear of discomfort.
Discomfort isn’t intense pain, but just the feeling you get when you’re out of your comfort zone. Eating vegetables for many people, for example, brings discomfort. So does sitting in meditation, or sitting with a hard task in front of you, or saying No to people, or exercising. (Of course, different people are uncomfortable with different things, but you get the idea.)
And most people...
Source: Zen Habits - July 12, 2013 Category: Life Coaches Authors: zenhabits Tags: Habits Source Type: blogs
The Habits of Happiness
‘Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.’ ~Dalai Lama
By Leo Babauta
I’m not one who believes you can be happy all the time, but I have learned you can be happy much of the time.
And that’s not something that depends on how your day is going or how others treat you — it depends on what you do on a regular basis.
I remember being unhappy most days, at one point in my life. It wasn’t because I hated the people in my life — I had a lovely wife, great kids, other wonderful family members and friends. It was because I was unhappy with myself, and that...
Source: Zen Habits - July 9, 2013 Category: Life Coaches Authors: zenhabits Tags: Habits Happiness Source Type: blogs
How to Keep Habits Going During Travel
By Leo Babauta
Keeping up with habits can be difficult when you’re traveling, because all of your normal triggers are gone.
I’m in the middle of a long stretch of travel (2 trips, traveling 19 out of 23 days) and I’ve been doing a lot of experimenting with habits while traveling.
Let’s take two quick examples:
Exercise. Let’s say you normally go for a run or do a workout after you drink coffee, process email, brush your teeth, and eat breakfast … if you’re traveling and in a hotel room, you might wake up later than normal (after an exhausting flight or day of sightseeing) and ...
Source: Zen Habits - July 4, 2013 Category: Life Coaches Authors: zenhabits Tags: Habits Source Type: blogs
A Year of Living Without
Or, How I Made Room for Life
By Leo Babauta
For the next 12 months, I’ll be conducting a personal experiment that I’m calling A Year of Living Without.
It’s my way of finding out what’s truly necessary, of simplifying my life, of making room for other things.
I’m testing the boundaries of my needs. It’s good to test your personal boundaries now and then (or, if you’re me, all the time).
So what’s the Year of Living Without?
Each month, I’ll go the whole month without one thing I do every day. Something that I tend to not want to give up, for various reasons.
I...
Source: Zen Habits - July 1, 2013 Category: Life Coaches Authors: zenhabits Tags: Simplicity Source Type: blogs
The Key Habits of Organization
By Leo Babauta
A trusted organization system that you actually use regularly can turn your day from one of chaos to one of focus, effectiveness and calm.
This is something I’ve learned through repeated failures, actually: when I become loose with my organized habits, my day becomes worse. It gets stressful and crazy, and I can’t focus on anything. Everything is on my head all the time, and I’m always worried that I’m missing something, that I should be doing something else.
But when I get my system down, and the habits are on track, things are smooth, I feel good about what I’m doing, and I...
Source: Zen Habits - June 28, 2013 Category: Life Coaches Authors: zenhabits Tags: Habits Productivity & Organization Source Type: blogs
I Failed
By Leo Babauta
It’s a feeling deep within your heart, one you try to ignore, of heaviness. Of dread and discouragement. Of sadness and guilt and collapse.
I feel this heaviness in my chest when I fail.
It can make me feel like crying. I feel lonely and I want to give up. I want to fall on a bed and shut out the world. But that doesn’t work, because the feeling follows me into bed, and actually intensifies until finally I have to get out of bed to try to escape it.
Failure can hurt.
People get this idea about me, that I am successful and disciplined and gurulike. I’m successful at life, but not in the...
Source: Zen Habits - June 26, 2013 Category: Life Coaches Authors: zenhabits Tags: Goals & Motivation Habits Happiness Source Type: blogs
Vegan Guide to San Francisco
By Leo Babauta
San Francisco is my favorite city in the world, and living here has helped me become fully vegan (Eva too, as of last year!).
I thought I’d share a (non-comprehensive) list of places to try for fellow vegans visiting the city. It’s the result of my exploration of many places, good and great, which has been admittedly a lot of fun.
You won’t get to all of these, so I’ve marked my favorites.
All-Vegan Spots
Restaurants with only vegan food:
Millenium: An absolute favorite, and a must-try for any vegan new to San Francisco. It’s gourmet vegan food, imaginative combinations o...
Source: Zen Habits - June 20, 2013 Category: Life Coaches Authors: zenhabits Tags: Happiness Health & Fitness Source Type: blogs
