My Simple Slow Living Goals for 2022

Today I am sharing my hopes and dreams for the New Year. Simple, slow living goals are fueling my fire, and I can’t wait to share them with you.

Today is January 11, 2022. Can you even believe that? I know most people were sharing their goals and their focus words last week, and even the week before. Per usual, I am taking a slower approach. I enjoyed last week as time to reflect on 2021 and write out what I hope to accomplish and share with you over the course of this new year. I didn’t blog, or scroll, or lose myself in social media. We enjoyed time together as a family, and I created my simple, slow living goals for this new year.

My plan is to break down each of these goals into smaller steps I work on monthly. Each month I will create new tasks to focus on to help me meet my bigger goal at the end of the year. This is the method I’ve used the last several years, and it’s worked the best for me. I’ve never been a big “resolution” maker, but I have always loved goals. They’re very motivating for me, and they really help me create a clear picture of what I need to do to make progress. Without further ado, let’s jump right into them.

Memorize more Scripture and references

Over the course of my life, I’ve memorized a LOT of Scripture. Most of them I learned in Sunday School throughout my childhood. I’m happy to report that I can recite most of them effortlessly. However, references I am no good at. While I may be able to recite the verse without faltering, I couldn’t tell you where to find it in the Bible. This year I am going to focus on memorizing the verses and where they’re found in the Bible. I have a very simple, very effective method for Scripture memorization, and I hope to share more about that soon!

Spend more quality time with my husband.

Despite our efforts to slow down and live intentionally, we’re still normal people with lives and jobs. As most married couples do, we do our best to make time with each other a priority but carving out intentional time together has been difficult. This year, however, I hope to change that. I’d love for a weekly date night to happen, even if that date night means our favorite show and popcorn after the kids are in bed. Truthfully, those kinds of dates are usually my favorite.

A whole lot less screen time.

I hate cell phones. I know that seems like a pretty dramatic statement and given that I have one (and frequently use it), it seems a bit hypocritical. BUT. I stand by my words…I hate cell phones. Why? It’s simple. I am fortunate enough to have grown up before technology took over. I’ve seen how it’s changed our culture, and reshaped families. Some of it has been fantastic. Being able to see family and friends who are hundreds of miles away is amazing. Being able to instantly share photos with great aunts and uncles is fantastic. In a lot of ways, they’ve brought families together. I’ve also seen so many of us with our heads down at the dinner table oblivious to those around us. I’ve seen husbands and wives waste precious time together scrolling and talking to other people. Sadly, I’ve seen marriages ruined, friendships destroyed, and jobs lost because of things we share or say on social media. I have also experienced personally what a distracted mom I’ve become, and how comparison truly is the thief of joy. Long story short, I’m just over it. Obviously, they are a necessary evil in today’s world, and technology isn’t going anywhere. It is my hope to limit my screen time to less than 2 hours a day. I have a couple ideas of how I plan to do this, and as always, I’ll share what works for me in the process.

Continue to minimzize the house.

The house has come a long way since this time last year. We’ve parted with more than 60% of the things that filled our rooms and closets. It feels amazing. Incredible, actually. The breathing space in each room, and the margin it’s created in my days, is nothing short of life changing. However, I’m nowhere near done. I’ve got a couple of “tricky” closets that serve multiple functions, and well, they’re a mess. Our garage…yikes. Needless to say, I’ve got some work ahead of me.

You can read a little more about our journey to minimalism here:

Grow more.

I love to garden. I’ve been eagerly planning my spring and summer garden, and simply cannot wait to get my hands in the dirt again. I’ve got plans to expand the garden to grow more of the things we love. I may also be adding a goat or two or twelve, and there will always be more chickens, ducks, and maybe even geese.

This year I really just want to appreciate what God has given me, live contentedly, and be a wise steward of my time. Minimizing our possessions, time online, and other distractions will certainly help me achieve these goals. I am so very thankful for you being here and sharing in this simple life journey. I really do appreciate you more than you know.

My hope is that your New Year is off to a great start. I’d love to hear your plans and goals for this year below.