Cav's Place

It would seem that this is UK’s National Downshifting Week. (Also check out the Downshifting Manifesto.) Found out about it yesterday and think it’s a great idea. Just that, like everything along these lines, one day, one week, one year or any other set amount of time is not enough. We should be living this way all the time!

Buying on credit is not in your advantage, because interest works against you and you end up paying more. Save, make deposits, then use them for purchases, making the interest work for you and therefore paying less. Yes, this means using your brain for planning ahead and deciding what you can do without, as opposed to getting that shiny new thing on the spur of the moment.
Be rational about your purchases. Make the difference between what you really need, what would truly help you, and what you simply want. Consider the options, compare items, compare shops, make informed decisions. Spend some time thinking about what you could do without. Take care of your own needs, but, once you do that, put others’ needs before your wants. Think of good uses for your money, don’t spend them now just because you have them, but secure your future and help others instead.

Working too much means living too little. What’s the use of spending all that time earning money if you no longer have the time to enjoy what they can buy you? Or what’s the use of wasting your health to earn money which you’ll later spend only to recover that lost health? And what’s the use of being rich if you’re alone? And by alone I mean without a serious relationship and a couple of close friends, because you can have everything else and still be alone if you don’t have these.
Again, split things in three categories: What do you really need, what couldn’t you function at all without? What would truly help you, what isn’t an absolute need but nevertheless greatly affects your quality of life? What do you simply want, what could you honestly do without? Of course, you must have the first category covered and it is recommended to also be able to cover the second. But if you are able to do that and money still seems tight, stop thinking about earning more and start thinking about needing less.
The best things in life are free, and that’s the truth. Focus on those things more and on the material ones less. Put feelings above thoughts and thoughts above instincts. Realize that you don’t need all you want, not by a long shot.

Try to reduce the amount of waste you generate and the amount of resources you use. It doesn’t only help the planet, it also helps you. Higher efficiency is not just for cars, it’s for humans too. Wasting less means spending less without losing anything. And if you can figure out ways to also use less, even better.
Does that TV left on when you left the room serve any purpose? Do you need lights on in every room? Speaking of which, do you really need all of those in the room you’re in to be on? Does the window need to be open that long when it’s cold outside? Does the water really need to run when you read in the bathtub? Do you really need to drive everywhere? Could you get a more fuel-efficient vehicle? Could that plastic container you just threw away have been reused for something else? Could you have used something reusable instead of it in the first place? Could you have bought products with less packaging? Could you grow something you need yourself?
All it takes is a little thinking, a little caring. You can get used to be efficient just as you got used to be wasteful, you just need to want to do it and not to let society tell you what to do.

Realize that you don’t need to be famous. You don’t need to overachieve. You don’t need to be better than your classmate, coworker, neighbor, relative or significant other. You most likely don’t need the latest gadget, the fastest car, the classiest clothes… Do your best, but know your limits. Don’t push too far, too fast. It’s not worth it. Don’t let society tell you what to do.
Realize that you only need to be in three places at once because you got involved in three things at once. Don’t hop in and speed to your destination. Take a walk and enjoy the scenery instead. Spend more time with those you love. And don’t forget to also spend time with yourself, doing what you truly like to do. Start living instead of just surviving, and start doing so for others instead of just for yourself.

We claim to be intelligent. We named ourselves homo sapiens, wise men. How about we start proving worthy of that name? Think before you do, that’s where it all starts. And yes, you have time for it, you only got in this position where it seems you don’t because you haven’t thought much about things so far.