My Downshifting Blog

Downshifting

April 27, 2009

I have never really liked the word ‘DOWNSHIFTING’ - because it gives the impression of reducing, giving up, compacting.  When really downshifting is exactly the opposite.

Downshifting actually allows you to expand your life.  To grow, to enjoy it more, to experience new things - it is in fact completely liberating.

The only condition I would suggest is that when you downshift you must  allow  something inside your head to change.  You have to look at life differently.  You have to change your outlook on life. You need to start to value different things.  You can not look back and hanker after old times and the old material ways that you may have lived in.  Downshifting or Voluntary Simplicity as they call it in USA is letting go of the trappings of the material world and replacing it with real quality of life.  

I am almost ashamed to say that I used to buy the latest two seater sports car every couple of years.  I would be driving an MX5 and the BMW Z3 would be on order.  Then I was driving the Z3 and the Audi TT was on order……  When I look back I shudder at the money I wasted.  OK - so I have always love soft top cars - but now I need a small 4-wheel drive (we live at the top of Shap fell!) and I still have a soft top  - but it is hardly a luxury car.  I drive ‘Little Blue’ - a suzuki Jimny jeep - and I love it.  I love it - and look after it - because I have to.  I have had it five years and it will have to last me at least another five years - but hey - it is one of the most fun to drive cars I have ever had - Comfortable? - it ain’t!  

The best thing about my life now is that I don’t really worry too much about money.  We have worked out how much we need to live on, then we go out and try to earn it in any way we can and when we have earned it - we stop!  At that point we really start to enjoy life.  We don’t work full time - we have much more work in the summer and have lots of leisure time in the winter.  It is surprising what little you can live on and still really enjoy the quality of life.  We have given up a few things like luxury overseas holidays, eating out a lot and even the latest fashions, but we have replaced them with other things which seem more worthwhile - like enjoying the occasional meal out much more then we used to because it is a real treat.  Enjoying the countryside where we live - which is frankly as beautiful as any (we live in the Lakes) and you don’t need city/office clothes if you work from home! - Win/win!

So I dont feel as though I have ‘down’ anything - I think I have definately ‘UP’d a lot and mostly my quality of life.