Simple Living in the City

• Give away what I don’t use or value
• Stick to shopping list avoiding impulse buying
• Give time or handmade gifts for Christmas and birthdays
• Give away something that I love as a gift to someone
• Have a joint garage sale with friends and donate proceeds to a nonprofit

Freedom from mental clutter

• Get myself off e-mail & land mail distribution lists
• Fast from e-mail one day a week
• Practice centering prayer/meditation
• Turn off the TV
• Subscribe to fewer magazines
• Take a break from my to do list for a day

Freedom from a fast-paced life

• Change to a less stressful job
• Work fewer hours
• Slow down at yellow lights and drive the speed limit
• Pray or talk to others in line rather than trying to get in the shortest line at the store

• Say “no” to activities that take me from my current and central commitments
• Eat more slowly – savor tastes
• Take time for meals or coffee breaks (not on the go)
• Stop to smell the roses or watch birds
• Spend a leisurely evening with family or friends not worrying about the time
• Take a restful vacation time rather than harried sight seeing

Creating spiritual space

• Take a retreat day once a month
• Practice a weekly Sabbath
• Unplug from cell phone and pager for part of each day
• Breath prayers throughout the day
• Daily prayer time
• Sacred place to pray
• Hike once a week; retreat time in nature

 Living out values/vocation

• Work fewer hours to have time for vocation/service/church community
• Consider changing jobs to one that better matches your vocation & gifts
• Write a life purpose statement
• Carefully think through priorities

• Take walks in my neighborhood and get to know folks
• Walk rather than drive to the store
• Share a bike with the neighbor kids
• Take time for neighborhood or community events
• Start a Bible study or reading group at my place of work
• Have friends over for dinner

Conscious consumption/sustainable choices

• Repair an item rather than buying a new one
• Creatively think of ways to make due with what I have before I go to the store
• Eat locally and organically
• Research sources of food
• Find out where my local garbage goes
• Use a cloth bag for groceries
• Bike, walk, or bus to work
• Share a car
• Bring my own container for leftovers to restaurants
• Ask questions of the clothing stores I shop at regarding sweatshop