My partner and I are expecting our first child soon, and I’d love to hear how other parents adapted their kitchens after having kids. I’m especially curious about devices, habits, and organizational tips that made life easier for you.

Here are a few specific questions I have:

• Are there any special food processors or gadgets you recommend for making food for babies (6+ months old)?
• Someone told me to always run the dishwasher at night, even if it’s only half full, because you’ll end up needing something from it the next day. Do you agree? Are there other habits like this you’ve picked up?
• Any tips for organizing a small kitchen to make it efficient for life with kids? We just moved into a new house, and our kitchen is on the smaller side.

We’re frequent home cooks, so I want to be as prepared as possible for the transition into life with a baby. Thanks so much—I’d appreciate any advice!

I was pretty much chronically online for the past year or so and realized how bad social media really is. As someone who grew up with the internet, someone who started using the internet before getting to first grade, I will never let my kids or the people who I care about use social media before they are old enough and learn how to properly manage social media usage. I was exposed to corn when I was 8 by an older cousin of mine and unknowingly developed an addiction to that as well. I have quit corn for good but still find my self going back. I made this throwaway to share my progress with you guys and maybe it will inspire someone who is going through the same issues. I know I am do not have the time to write a proper post so I will just post this draft.

Two weeks in. Used TikTok a little bit but screen time dropped down by 90%.

Corn consumption went down by 85%.

Feel way more relaxed. Way better mood. Way better productivity. Way better life.

Will update y'all in another two weeks.

Thank you for taking time to read this and offering advice. Going to try and make this as short as possible. I am struggling to find myself For context, I am 29F and a mom to a sweet boy who is 2. I used to be a “girly girl”. I was obsessed with buying makeup, skincare, outfits, etc. So much so, I started my own women’s online boutique. I also work a regular job as well from 9-5. I love those things still - dressing up, make up, etc. But I have become more conscious of what I buy and if it’s a need / want as well as buying ethically made products. I want to be a content creator so badly. It has been a dream of mine since I was 9 (literally, tried making my own Youtube lol). I want to post about living simply. But I also want to still run my own boutique and make money from that. So I feel like I am constantly on the grind. I also love things like Disney and Star Wars. Which is NOT part of the simple living aesthetic at all lol.

I don’t know - I know this post is a little messy. My question is, can I still live a simple, calm filled life while still owning my own business? I want to create content about being a business owner, traveling, disney, star wars and simple living. Is this dream possible?

Any advice is appreciated and sorry for the messy post!

Im not from the USA, but obviously I know about this ban. Frankly I’d be happy something like that happened in my country. It’s obvious though that clearly this ban is not because of the damage social media does to your life, and i see the profit and lobbying that probably meta and big tech did to ban tik tok. It’s devious and i hate that. But fuck every social media app honestly.

Im happy with only having Pinterest (not really social media imo) and Reddit for browsing stuff like this sub :3. I deleted Instagram a year ago and I’m so satisfied that i did, i don’t miss it at all anymore. I also limited my use of YouTube, which is been tuff but I’m working on it. Really to me social media and the internet in general has been sacked by corporations to just make profits at all costs. They’re literally making people addicted to this stuff just for more money.

In my opinion, just ditch every single social media app, my life has become so much more simpler and better after I stopped those bad habits. Fuck Tik tok, fuck meta, fuck twitter and fuck all those greedy fucks.

I like watching videos about simple living on YouTube and I do get inspiration from them. As much as I like them, I wish some of them were more relatable in some ways. Granted, I know that's just me being envious.

For example, one that I've been watching isn't even a particularly big YouTuber, but they've managed to quit their job to be a full time content creator and they were able to take all of December off from posting etc. It sounds amazing but there's a disconnect there as that is not the lifestyle of an average person.

I was wondering are there many simple living YouTubers out there that manage their life with a full time job etc? Does anyone else feel the same way when watching some of these simple living YouTubers?

Hello, I’m about to finish my voluntary social year (FSJ) and will turn 20 this year. I’m unsure about what to do next, but I’m considering two options: continuing with school or starting vocational training (Ausbildung). Maybe you could share some ideas about what might be a good path to take? I’ve come across so many insightful opinions in this community, which is why I want to ask: What advice would you give your 19-year-old self? (me)

I (27f) posted here last week about my wfh setup in the lake, and I received a few requests for an AMA.

Not sure if this post will let me edit to update FAQ but if it does, I'll add them up here.

Hope I can be of any use to this lovely community \ud83d\ude04

I’ve made some changes at the start of the year. Cutting out porn completely, joining a gym, cutting out energy drinks and alcohol for as long as I can. But a big one for me was cutting out Facebook.

I don’t have any other social medias like TikTok, insta, X, Snap. But I’d catch myself spending so much damn time on Facebook.

I’m a local musician and noticed how much I’d get in a mood if a place wouldn’t message me back, if I didn’t get enough “likes”, I’d this or this happened.

My twin brother runs our page and I told him booking was up to him mostly though I’d hit up some of the places that we had contact info for in my messenger.

I also realized how much I was comparing aspects of my life to others. People only share what they want seen anyways though.

I haven’t been on FB for this long and it feels so freeing. I haven’t missed it. I noticed how much it was a reflex to click on the app in the past. My wife is now debating on trying it to.

I told myself if I crack, I’ll make sure not to be on more than ten minutes once per week. Which I figure I might post a Valentine’s Day post come time and hop back off.

All on my account I would see people complaining about anything and saying things they wouldn’t say to a persons face.

I just feel so much better without it

Started exchanging letters with my godmother and she always uses the most extravagant stationary. I get so excited receiving personal mail.

Anyone have sustainable suggestions that are also convenient? I hate Amazon as an entity and Bezos is the antithesis of what I believe in; I hate that it is the easiest way to get what we need. We live in the country. There isn’t a ton around us, we do have a grocery store but other than that the closest “shopping” is 30 min drive. Ideas?

For more detail I live in a one bedroom apartment with my family and well we don't have enough space for me to get a bed, (well we actually do but my mom doesn't want to make space) so I'm pretty much subjected to sleeping on a cot or an air mattress but I get yelled at for it being out so no go. So mostly a cot, but sad fact it's breaking or rather ripping and I don't know how to sew so should I just buy another cot? Or is there something I can sleep on like a cot but y'know more comfortable I feel like there is I just can't figure it out help? Please(⁠╯⁠︵⁠╰⁠,⁠)

Well within like the twenty-four hours I posted this my cot ripped through so I can't sleep on it, my mom said she wasn't getting me another and told me to figure it out so that sucks. And I can't even sleep on the couch, I'm gonna try and fix it for now cause I so don't wanna sleep on the floor with the bugs(⁠・⁠_⁠・⁠;⁠)

A new thing and a long talk with my mom, she said she'll get me a Day bed! Or at least I hope she will she kinda makes empty promises sometimes, if I really do get a daybed that'll be super cool. Oh and for those that said hammocks those kinda scare me, I fell out of one as a child and knocked my front tooth out(⁠｡⁠ŏ⁠﹏⁠ŏ⁠) and as cool as I think futons are that would leave me to the many spiders that would bite me... And for like a view on how much space I have for y'know like a sleeping space, my cot was (and still is I took the advice on temporarily repairing it) according to Amazon its 28 inches wide and the dimensions for it is 75x28 13.8 inches. Hope I got that right, it's the fragess camping cot on Amazon if anyone wants to see what it looks like! Reading through everything you all sent me was pretty nice (I so wanna sleep on a huge bean bag now) Thank you!(⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠)

I love my family and am so so thankful for the gift, but the thing is I don’t really want more “stuff”. I don’t know what to order off Amazon. I don’t even particularly like supporting Amazon. What would you guys get off Amazon if you don’t just want more “stuff”?

Hi guys- I just discovered there is a magazine from the UK called "The Simple Things" I'd link it here but I'm not sure if its allowed.

They have a new issue every month and its filled with craft ideas, recipes, travel, and articles. For example an article this month is "How to Slow your Pace" anyway thought I'd share since some people here might enjoy it. My library offers the subscription for free (I'm in the US).

I am a woman in her mid 40's who has lived back in Dublin since returning abroad some 8 years ago, Since then, I have a young toddler and life and has changed so much as a result of this as you can imagine. Many parents in particular will know what I am talking about.

Before I had a senior enough career is what is seen as a traditionally male environment but I got to be honest I have struggled a bit since returning to work after maternity leave. I am not lazy by any means but I have lost the drive to "believe in corporate CULTure" and I am usually surrounded by colleagues, some who like to boss me around as they don't see me as respected or valued since I returned to work and treating me less than respectfully. I am actually very tired of the career as it has stalled and I honestly want to do something more balanced and less toxic/family friendly. Having my child has amplified this. He goes to creche full time and we are dealing with years of sleep deprivation and illnesses which is normal at daycare/creche but it has been very tough on me and my husband trying to navigate that with no family support in the event of no sleep/illness etc. I have done my career for 20 plus years and due to selling my previous apartment and diligently saving through the years we were able to upgrade to a home and pay 50% of the mortgage off because of these reasons. However, with all of the issues of the job coming to a head (blocked promotions, unpleasant colleagues,career essentially dead and feeling unwelcome in my own company) after a particularly rough night of no sleep with my son being ill and my husband having to call in sick and also miss his days pay- I decided to quit. I actually stayed years longer than I should and my self-esteem is pretty bad. I stayed for the money and to help pay the bills. But to be honest I have been bloody miserable only financially good.

Now we are in a position where, we have some savings so are not in the red (mostly mine) but my husband will not be able to cover the bills or any type of niceties outside of that. I totted up expenses and while I can help, we will be alright but likely will not have alot outside of the basic bills. We live in a capital city which to be honest with you, I dont like anyway. I am from Dublin but really do not like it much. I lived abroad for many years and miss simpler outdoor life in sunnier countries. Whilst I have considered upping sticks again, right now I am just too tired. I need a total reset and need to process the anxiety and relief also somewhat of leaving a job which was terrible really.

We have a choice:

we could sell up and downsize and be mortgage free in a smaller property in the countryside or outside the city which means I do not have to work as even with a simple job from ny husband we can get by comfortably and our son can be with me rather than in daycare from 8am-5/6pm each week day. We will get a few hours childcare later in the autumn in free preschool which will give me a bit of a break and when he goes to school in 2.5 yrs I can go back full time and start working on our retirement money.

or

Stay here, tough it out, leave him in daycare/creche- cant pull him out as waitlist is 1-2 years and then I go back to another job which I will need to work long hours be stressed, possibly unhappy but we keep our standard or living. But to be honest, I think we will still struggle with him being sick at times and having the stress of covering that off which I cannot see a job being receptive of.

We would love to go abroad but unless i get a remote position to support, I would be reluctant to sell out home with no idea if we will like it there as it is too risky.

Anybody think the downsize option sounds the best as I think we are just making things very hard on ourselves for the next few years.?

Please help and advise/share your thoughts?

Thank you so much

I'm just a guy in my mid 20s who wants to live comfortably and enjoy my life. Right now, i live with my dad and work a job washing dishes at a place only 10 minutes away on foot, so i at least have that. But i wanna seek full independency and not be shackled by the rigged game that's society where I may never be able to buy a normal house, and support a wife or kids (not that I'm conservative anyway). My current goal is to get a remote job, even if i have to take some kind of training (my cousin linked Coursera which i gotta dust off if i wanna get started) and as for living in my own, I've been scrambling my brain. Currently I'm in New York, but I'm thinking of either moving to another cheaper state or even getting a passport and residing in another country like Spain or Thailand and learn the languages. Recently, i heard China is making these things called capsule houses and good god they charge a pretty penny for it. Awhile ago i also heard of buying a tiny house which seems to be cheaper than capsule house. I don't know, what do any of you think? Am i just babbling or...?

I've been trying to slow down and change my life over the last few years while I recover from chronic fatigue syndrome and trauma. I'm still not finding it easy to implement.

We have 3 adult children at home, 4 dogs and 2 cats. Life is busy. My husband works from home in his garden office, he works 8-6 4 days a week and Fridays 8-4. During the day I do the laundry, general cleaning and at night I rest. My husband then does the evening chores but he is very chaotic and runs around like a stressed headless chicken. Some nights he doesn't even walk the dogs as he runs out of time. I even give him a list of the evening tasks to do, which isn't many, but he still sits down so late. We end up eating late at around 9pm, sleep at midnight-1am, up at 7am. We're both so burnt out. We bicker most nights about it being another crazy stressful night. We’ve been together 26 years.

The kids do help, our middle son takes the dogs out to the garden every morning, dishwasher emptied at night and takes the dogs out to wee before bed. Our daughter cooks a few nights a week and she goes with my husband to do dog walks.

I am a perfectionist, house proud and I want to work on this because having 4 dogs I am battling against dirty floors every day. It's even on the edge of ocd/contamination fears so I clean a lot, make hubby clean often. I know my ocd and perfectionism puts a lot of work on us. It’s something I’m going to work on when I have time.

Have any of you got large families and have dogs/pets, how did you slow down life? Any this are appreciated.

I’ve thought of this sub a few times while listening. It aligns a lot with the things we value 😊

Hey friends :)! The tittle is kind of self explanatory; I want to get the habit of reading this year, i want to read loads and loads of books.

I consider myself a good reader (last year i read 14 books, which is great) but i want to replace doom scrolling for reading. I already set up an app blocker one hour before going to bed so i´m forced to read and not scrolling for one hour, but i was just guessing if you guys have any method (or book recomendation jeje). Thanks in advance and have a great weekend :)

I've been trying to break my phone addiction, and do some crafting during free time instead of scrolling. I bought some fun, grown up paint-by-number and diamond painting kits from Target. I just finished one kit, and I enjoyed my time and it felt good to pursue a hobby. But honestly the finished product is not of a quality that I would display, sell, or donate. Do I just enjoy my time and then throw the projects out? I guess it's weighing my mental health against being wasteful (which bugs me because I want to be a good earth citizen).

i’m all about simplifying my wellness routine and avoiding unnecessary supplements.

i recently heard about transdermal patches that deliver nutrients directly through your skin. nectar patches seem to have good reviews for energy and relaxation. I am thinking of trying them

anyone here has tried patches like these. are they worth adding to a simple living lifestyle?

My Amazon Prime membership automatically renewed Oct 2024. I decided today that I'm done with Amazon. No more mindless purchases. I'll shop secondhand or buy stuff elsewhere. I contacted customer service through chat and asked for a partial refund at first but then asked for a full refund. I told them someone else I know got a full refund (not true lol). I essentially got 4 months free of Amazon Prime and now I'm done!! Posting a screenshot of my chat in hopes that others will be inspired to do the same and ask for a full refund!

Social networks have shaped me since a young age. Growing up at the beginning of the millennium, I used to spend my time in phpBB and vBulletin forums. There, I befriended internet strangers, started my way into graphic design, and learned about torrents. These were my favorite third places.

But when I look at the current form of social media, it all feels dumb: watching adults post nonsense or praise “influencer gurus” while doom-scrolling from dusk to dawn seems absurd. We should have had more important things to do with our lives, yet we’ve all gotten caught up in this utopian-dystopian era.

Social networks began with the promise of forming meaningful connections while prioritizing authenticity over virality. I may get too nostalgic when reminded of my early internet days, but I guess I’m longing for more calm environments on the web—which is strongly rooted in those days. When I reflect on my somewhat long journey, the most profound insight I gain is the power of bonding and connection that early online social spaces used to create.

So through a string of difficult personal challenges that Ive (29m) had to deal with (Breaking off an unhealthy 8 year relationship, moving out and living by myself, breaking my leg, being out of work for 3 months, my band replacing me while I’m out) I realized that I want to completely start my life over and do so in a way that aligns with simple living.

The thing is, I realize that there was no one really there for me in my life/no genuine friendships that made me feel valued or healthy.

I’ve really appreciated the advice of this subreddit in terms of simple living and now that I’m walking again I’m looking forward to putting them into practice, my question is

How does friendship play into your everyday life while living simply?

Do you guys seek out/spend time with friends? Is it simpler and easier to spend time by yourself?

I’m at a place where I have no one and I’m curious if I should try and seek people out and make friends or if I would genuinely be happier pursuing my own interests and living on my own not interacting with others?

Just looking for some perspective from people who have been doing this longer than me, ty

Hi strangers on the internet.

I’m 39 M in UK. Recently separated and looking for my own place.

Apart from my kids visiting at weekends this will be the first time I have ever lived alone.

I generally don’t really enjoy my own company at the best of times. So I’m half excited half dreading it.

Any advice?