We always think that to live a simple life, we need to reduce everything to a few things so that it’s easy to believe that simplicity is about doing less of everything.
With less I mean fewer things, fewer responsibilities, fewer commitments and so much more. But true simple living is not about restriction or minimalism for minimalism’s sake.
It’s about creating space in the middle of your daily routine. Space that is for peace, beauty, and intention.
And the truth? You don’t need a total life overhaul to begin.
The shift toward a softer, more intentional life often starts with tiny habits. These are gentle actions that ground you, calm you, and help you notice the beauty in everyday moments. These habits may seem small, but they quietly shape your mindset, your mood, and your environment in a meaningful way.
If you’re craving a slower, more aesthetic lifestyle, one that feels cozy, grounded, and personal, start here.
Want to start simplifying your life? These 5 tiny habits to embrace simple living can be woven into your routine without stress or pressure. They take just a few minutes, but their ripple effect can be profound.
Let’s begin!
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5 tiny habits to embrace simple living
Let’s see which tiny habits you should start to start living a simple life.
1) Begin Your Mornings Phone-Free
The way you start your morning sets the tone for your entire day. Reaching for your phone right away pulls you into noise before you’ve even taken a breath.
Things like messages, updates, notifications, and to-do lists can be checked later when you are ready to start with the tech part.
Build the habit of keeping your phone in airplane mode (or out of reach) for the first 15–30 minutes of your day. Use that time to ease into your morning with presence.
In this way, you begin the day feeling centered, not scattered, and it becomes easier to carry that calm into everything else.
Aesthetic ideas to replace phone time:
- Light a candle or open a window
- Stretch slowly with soft music playing
- Make tea or coffee in your favorite mug
- Journal a thought or gratitude
2) Write One Line a Day in a Journal
Do you think journaling has to be deep, long, or emotional to be powerful?
I thought it should be like this at first, but in reality, it’s not. Even a single line can ground you at the moment and help you appreciate your life more deeply.
Make it a habit to write one sentence every evening or every morning. That’s it. Something you saw, how you felt, what made you smile, or a thought you want to remember.
You begin to notice more beauty in your daily life — and over time, you create a keepsake of gentle, quiet moments.
Aesthetic ideas for your journaling ritual:
- Use a pretty notebook or digital journal with soft colors
- Pair it with a tea or candle ritual
- Make it part of your skincare or bedtime routine
3) Tidy One Small Space with Love
There is a saying that goes: “Cluttered space, cluttered mind”.
A cluttered space often reflects and fuels a cluttered mind, because your environment influences your mind.
If you want a cluttered and peaceful space, instead of trying to overhaul your whole home, shift your focus to just one spot, and care for it with intention.
Choose one small space per day. You can start from a drawer, a corner, or your nightstand and spend 5–10 minutes making it lovely.
You will start noticing that your environment begins to feel more peaceful, curated, and personal, without the stress of deep-cleaning everything at once.
Aesthetic ways to care for that space:
- Add a fresh towel, a small plant, or a vase of dried flowers
- Light a candle nearby when it’s clean
- Display only things that bring joy or softness
4) Take a Slow, Present Walk Even for 5 Minutes
Walking has become one of my favorite activities since I started seeing it as a time to take a break and focus on myself and on what is around me. Walking is a powerful way to reconnect with your body, your breath, and your surroundings; especially when you slow down and allow yourself to truly see.
We are talking about tiny habits to embrace simple living right? Start taking a 5–10 minute walk a few times a week. No phone, no agenda, no rushing.
These short walks are a way to reset your energy and reconnect with beauty in the present and they can become meditative moments.
What to notice:
- The shape of tree branches, shadows, or flowers blooming
- The sound of leaves or your own footsteps
- The way sunlight moves across buildings
5) Romanticize One Daily Task
Most of the time, we see at our daily tasks as something annoying, boring and it’s like we have to lift mountains to get them done. Zero desire, zero motivation.
But here’s the secret. Even mundane routines can become meaningful when you add a bit of intention and beauty.
Choose one everyday task and elevate it. Make it feel like a ritual. Do them with heart.
Believe me, you will start to look forward to tasks instead of rushing through them. Life feels more cinematic and more joyful, even in its simplest parts.
Examples:
- Brew your tea with care and drink it slowly by a sunny window
- Fold laundry with soft music playing and a diffuser on
- Make lunch a sit-down moment with a cloth napkin and fresh fruit
Wrap Up
With these 5 tiny habits to embrace simple living, you are building a rhythm. A quiet, beautiful rhythm that invites you to slow down, breathe deeper, and live with more presence. You don’t need to move to the countryside or declutter your entire home to start living more intentionally.
All you need is a little softness, a little slowness, and a little bit of care for the moments already around you.
These five tiny habits may seem simple, but they’re powerful. Try adding just one this week and see how your days begin to change!
