Four Ways to Celebrate National Simplicity Day

The great American polymath, Henry David Thoreau, was a proponent of the ‘simpler life,’ a notion that resonated with many during his time and since. In fact, many of you may remember reading excerpts of Thoreau’s Walden in high school or college. To honor Thoreau’s philosophy and his birth, the United States observes July 12 as National Simplicity Day. However, you don’t have to live in the United States to celebrate the day and honor Thoreau’s legacy.

“As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler,” Henry David Thoreau.

Now, not all of us will have the luxury to drop everything on July 12 each year and go ‘off the grid’ like Thoreau did in Walden. Even so, there is something to be said for embracing simplicity. After all, there are good reasons why ‘KISS’ (Keep It Simple, Stupid) has been a mantra among marketers and executives for many years.

So, in honor of National Simplicity Day, here are four ways you can engage your inner Thoreau:

1. Be Thankful: Set aside some time each morning to write down at least five things you’re grateful for. These gratitudes could be large or small and range from the love of your family to the value of a strong cup of coffee. The idea is that by taking a few minutes out of each morning to do this exercise, you will find that you’re able to approach the rest of the day with more positivity and grace. Another upside? Studies indicate the practice can improve your sleep.
2. Listen to Music: Experts and business leaders alike have been touting the benefits music can have on focus, effort, and overall performance since WWII when the UK’s “Music While You Work” program reportedly generated a 12-15% boost in factory productivity. Research is split on whether or not all those impacts are objectively true, but most agree that listening to music can profoundly impact mood. So even if you need quiet to get the job done, take a moment to listen to your favorite tunes from time to time as a way to shape your mood in positive ways.
3. Keep Things ‘SMART’: Most of us know what it’s like to be confronted with a seemingly endless list of tasks that all feel time-sensitive. In theory, it’s good to know where all the pieces are on the board, but research suggests that relying on lengthy to-do lists can decrease your overall productivity by creating the impression of a high volume of work. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, it’s advisable to keep your daily list ‘SMART’ – specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. This approach is something we recommend for financial goals as well.
4. Be Kind: Data suggests that random acts of kindness can help with anxiety and depression, improve resilience, and relieve stress. In today’s day and age, we all could do with a little more kindness and understanding. So take a moment – any moment – to make someone else feel good in an unexpected manner.

These are all very simple ways to celebrate National Simplicity Day, but more than that, they’re basic steps you can take to improve your outlook and overall quality of life.

How will you celebrate simply?

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[Editors’ Note: To learn more about this and related topics, you may want to attend the following on-demand webinars (which you can view at your leisure, and each includes a comprehensive customer PowerPoint about the topic):

1. Why Green Investing?
2. Tech Talk: Current Opportunities for Investing
3. Tech Talk: What’s Next in Green?

This is an updated version of an article originally published on July 12, 2022.]

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