Best products from r/simpleliving

We found 42 comments on r/simpleliving discussing the most recommended products. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 305 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the top 20.

Top comments mentioning products on r/simpleliving:

u/jgi · 10 pointsr/simpleliving

Absolutely. I'm glad you asked and I hope I can be helpful.

I know it can be very difficult to stop consumerism within us because we've been advertised to our entire lives. We've been told that material possession equates to success and self-worth. The more we have, the better we are. You and I can read these sentences I wrote and recognize how stupid that idea is. Yet, advertising is so good that even the knowledge that we're being advertised to doesn't always prevent that same advertising from working on us. Advertising is based on exploiting human psychology. That's why it works. Just know that it's very difficult to ignore advertising on a subconscious level. We're only human. We will fail. We will make mistakes. Recognizing all this is a good first step.

It's important to practice desiring less. When you want something, stop yourself and think about it. Think about your motivations. Why do you want it? Is there a real justification for acquiring something? Is it a true need, or just a want? If it's simply a want, well, tell yourself you want it but you don't need it and move on. Try to thwart the desire for that thing at the source. Desire for a thing is like sexual lust... it's only human to feel that way, but you don't need to act on it.

It's a constant practice, desiring less. It's difficult. Possibly the most difficult thing a human can do. But desire leads to disappointment and suffering. Desire is temporary, but if we play that desire out to its end, often times the fruits of that desire can be disappointing and longlasting. But if you don't need something, if you don't desire, you're that much more free... "Nah, I don't need that." You become unflappable. More in control. But don't kid yourself... it's hard. Keep practicing.

If you're looking to get rid of stuff you already have that isn't bringing you happiness, I recommend Marie Kondo's "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." It's become quite a popular book and for good reason. It really makes you think about why you have stuff and how that stuff functions in your life.

If you want to work on internalizing the idea of desiring less, take a look at /r/buddhism. It's important that if you start reading Buddhist texts that you realize that Buddhism is more of a philosophy than a religion. Buddhism's main tenant is "freedom from desire is the path to enlightenment." It's a very deep rabbit hole to go down and a lifetime of study. For a more modern take on Buddhist teaching, I love Pema Chodron. I also really love Anthony DeMello and Jiddu Krishnamurti.

Another great place to look is /r/stoicism and in particular "Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius. Aurelius was emperor of Rome, but that didn't stop him from living a life of equanimity and mindfulness. His book "Meditations" is more like a private diary, in which he reminds himself on how to live a good life.

“We need to master the art of acquiescence. We need to pay attention to our impulses, making sure they don’t go unmoderated, that they benefit others, that they’re worthy of us. We need to steer clear of desire in any form and not try to avoid what’s beyond our control.” -- Meditations, 11.37 (Hays translation)

I hope that this stuff can get you started on your journey. Just know that you don't need to be perfect. You don't need to flip a switch and completely change who you are to be a success at any of this. It's a process and it's a practice. Failure is okay. Don't beat yourself. Just try. Just keep practicing this stuff every day and it will add up. You can do it.

u/nizo505 · 6 pointsr/simpleliving

I started with one from Amazon ($130 includes the hammock and stand); it worked great, though eventually I did wear out the hammock (using it every day, and not repairing it when I started to notice it getting frayed shortened the life quite a bit). I'm 6' tall and just under 200lbs btw, and this is the hammock/stand that I got: http://www.amazon.com/Vivere-UHSDO9-Double-Hammock-Space-Saving/dp/B004YJCP7O

My daughter has a hammock now, and is using my old stand (which is an awesome stand btw, especially for the money). I hung my hammock (not for the faint hearted, but so far so good) and actually like it hanging better, since I can rock a bit when I'm going to sleep (sort of like a huge bassinet for grownups!) Head over to /r/hammocks for more info. You will need something under you (I just use a sleeping bag) for warmth in the winter, but it is perfect on those hot summer nights.

As for the angle, I sleep in it at a slight diagonal, which causes the hammock to flatten out. I've never been a back sleeper before, but this is surprisingly comfortable. Change the angle of your diagonal until you find a comfortable fit. Added bonus: you can throw your entire bed in the washing machine.

u/frabelle · 9 pointsr/simpleliving

Some memoirs... would probably fall under "practical."

  • "No Baggage: A Minimalist Tale of Love and Wandering" by Clara Bensen -- Putting this at the top of the list because I love the concept so much. Girl meets a guy and they decide to go on a multi-week trip to Europe together... with no luggage. Basically, all they have are the clothes on their back and what they can carry in their pockets / purse. (I learned later that said boyfriend is Jeff Wilson, aka "Professor Dumpster," the college professor who lived in a retrofitted dumpster to show people how lightly one can live on the earth. More here: The Dumpster Project )

  • "The Unsettlers: In Search of the Good Life in Today's America" by Mark Sundeen -- About three different couples that attempt homesteading in three remarkably different ways -- one in a traditional homestead on an old Amish farm with no electricity Northeastern Missouri where they teach others, one on an urban homestead in Detroit, and one on a farm attempting to be organic in Montana. This is probably the quirkiest, most offbeat title on the list and the one closest to my heart (possibly tying with "No Baggage.")

  • "The Big Tiny: A Built-It-Myself Memoir" by Dee Williams -- About a Boomer woman who builds her own tiny house to live in.

  • "Living Large in Our Little House: Thriving in 480 Square Feet with Six Dogs, a Husband, and One Remote" by Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell -- About a woman and her husband who were forced (due to financial circumstances) to live in their vacation cabin in the woods and ended up making it their full-time residence.

  • "The Shepherd's Life: Modern Dispatches from an Ancient Landscape" by James Rebanks -- About a guy who still raises sheep the traditional way in the Yorkshire Dales area of the UK. He's also published a photography book (since this memoir was a runaway bestseller across the pond) and has a beautifully quirky Instagram account worth a follow.

  • "Meet the Frugalwoods: Achieving Financial Independence Through Simple Living" by Elizabeth Willard Thames -- About a young woman in New England who decides with her husband to eschew superfluous purchases for a few years so that they can build up their savings enough to buy a farm in Vermont and raise their family without the need to work. While I know reaction to this writer have been mixed (it's very "you can do what we did too", despite the fact that the couple had no student loan debt and were from middle-class backgrounds with self-sufficient parents), it is quite inspiring, and reinvigorated my attempts at making conscious purchases.

  • "Walden on Wheels: On The Open Road from Debt to Freedom" by Ken Ilgunas -- About a post-college guy's adventures in living minimally in his twenties while attempting to pay back his student loans. While there are a number of different experiences he discusses, the main focus is on him deciding to live in a van while pursuing a master's degree so as to save on living costs.

  • "No Impact Man: The Adventures of a Guilty Liberal Who Attempts to Save the Planet, and the Discoveries He Makes About Himself and Our Way of Life in the Process" by Colin Beaven -- About a man with a young family who decides he will attempt, while living in their New York City apartment, to create zero impact on the environment for one full year. (This is also the title of a 2009 documentary about the same man, cataloguing his adventure.)

  • "Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping" by Judith Levine -- About a middle-aged writer who decides, along with her husband, to only buy imperative purchases, like food and toilet paper. No clothes, souvenirs, event tickets, etc. I found this to be quite well-written and another inspiring volume.

  • "The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store" by Cait Flanders -- Similar idea to the prior book, but instead it is a young woman living on her own. An enjoyable read, but I did not find it all that well-written.

  • "Everything That Remains: A Memoir by The Minimalists" by Joshua Fields Millburn -- This book is by the guys who did the "Minimalism" documentary on Netflix. Pretty cookie cutter and not terribly well-written, but again, relatively inspiring. Something I appreciated about this book is that Joshua came from a very tumultuous, working-class background, which sheds a new light on going minimalist. (So often I feel like these memoirs are written by the typical white, affluent, college-educated Boomers or Millennials that have never had to struggle much with want.)
u/InnerSpace0 · 3 pointsr/simpleliving

I bought a pack of roll up compression bags, a medium size bag that has backpack and suitcase straps, and a good pair of boots for a 2 week trip through the UK. I use that set of gear for every trip now.

The bag is super versatile for planes/buses or walking if needed. The compression bags both keep down volume and keep me organized. Bonus for keeping stinky dirty clothes sealed off from clean ones. The boots, while expensive and overkill for summer trips, are super solid and will likely last me for decades (my dad had a pair for at least 25 years).

Boots: https://www.danner.com/men/hike/mountain-light-ii-5-black.html (msrp is intense, but I found them for about half off)

Bag: https://www.osprey.com/us/en/product/fairview-40-FAIRVEW40_706.html (I got the farpoint 40 which is the men's model, but same idea. Purchased on one of those 30% off rei sales)

Compression bags: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BUIPOF6 (not showing as available, but there's lots of similar options. My recommendation is get a size that matches your backpack interior dimensions so you can stack them flat)

In terms of what to pack, I agree with i_va17. 2 pants + 3 shirts is plenty. One sweatshirt/sweater if cold climate. Either a packable rain jacket or a medium-weight waterproof jacket depending on weather. Passive noise cancelling earbuds are very small, don't need to worry about battery, and are great for airplanes/buses. I always bring a book, but you might want to invest in a small e-reader for weight savings. Work laptop of course. I also have a couple collapsible water bottles (vapur brand) that I really like as I can fill them up before getting on a plane/bus, but they don't take any space when empty. If you want food some energy bars are the way to go, or a ziplock of your favorite nuts if you want to go the non-processed route. Hard to beat almonds or pecans for space/weight to calorie ratio. Backpacker's first aid get also gets packed most trips. Have only had to use it to remove splinters so far but you never know.

​

Edit: added what to pack.

u/elphabaloves · 6 pointsr/simpleliving

My biggest tip is not to approach it as a chore. Instead, get a solid understanding of your mind and how it causes you to suffer.

To do that, I suggest reading Eckhart Tolle's "The Power of Now" - it's a great book, and will help you see the insanity of your mind/thoughts. If you are looking for basic meditation instructions, this free guide is great and they also have an excellent 21 day course that works well and delves into how your mind works. And, "Mindfulness in Plain English" is another good book...you can buy it on Amazon or read it on the Internet here.

u/LynzM · 1 pointr/simpleliving

Dopamine is lovely stuff. Your brain is rewarding you for these actions... but like any addiction, you can never be satiated.

A couple of gentle suggestions that could be helpful:
http://www.amazon.com/Feeling-Good-New-Mood-Therapy/dp/0380810336/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1426797571&sr=8-3&keywords=when+panic+attacks

http://www.mindfulnesscds.com/

u/cursethedarkness · 16 pointsr/simpleliving

I've noticed a trend here lately of people turning to simple living as a way to treat anxiety. Simple living is awesome, but it's not a cure for anxiety. In some ways, it can promote it, because people use the idea of simple living to hide from life.

The best place to start, if you can, would be with a therapist who specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety. If that isn't possible right now, this book can give you some tools to start feeling better, for under $6. It did help me. Ultimately, the key to overcoming anxiety is to do the thing you fear until it isn't scary any more.

u/permanent_staff · 2 pointsr/simpleliving

Hard to name particular texts, as the psychology and philosophy of happiness and good life is one of my main interests, but this talk made me realize I'm normal for not having just one passion, this book introduced me to mindfulness, this book changed the way I view my own mind and this book gave an alternate view of happiness that works for non-upbeat people. I

I'm currently reading The Upside of Your Dark Side which has already convinced me that the American/Anglophone obsession with happiness-as-emotion, comfort and avoiding "negative" feelings is not just unnecessary but also harmful.

u/reallyserious · 3 pointsr/simpleliving

There's growing evidence that treating depression is best done with a multi modal approach. I.e. don't count on one silver bullet but try a multitude of things.

  • Get some exercise. Lift, run, tennis, walk, yoga, whatever you can do consistently and not feel like shit while/after doing it.

  • Try meditation if you feel like it.

  • Talk to a doctor. They take depression seriously. The unfortunate thing is that they see people in your situation every day. The good thing is that all those that have walked that path before you have contributed to a better understanding of how to treat depression.

  • Read The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris.

    There's nothing static in this world. Things WILL change. Your mind too.

    Regarding feeding the capitalist machinery, perhaps take some time and feel what is important to you. Then perhaps change job to something that is more aligned with your values. If your job drains you of energy it's time to look for other options.
u/mr_minty_magoo · 1 pointr/simpleliving

Some free-standing frames aren't much longer than the hammock itself. This one is pretty awesome: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004YJCP7O

u/Hank_of_Reddit · 6 pointsr/simpleliving

Ah yes, I'm an old dude. Being free of debt helps too. I'm just so ready to do this but have to fulfill one more of lifes obligations before I can make it a reality.

I've got this Back to Basics version. I haven't seen the one you linked to. I wonder how much alike they are.

u/SleepingInTheFlowers · 1 pointr/simpleliving

My wife was profoundly influenced by "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up". Might be worth a read.