DOWNSHIFTING: What A Mistake!

This article will focus on the benefits and psychology of downshifting and focus casual lifestyle collection website. A shift in mindset is needed if you’re going to live a more sustainable lifestyle, and this article will be an excellent resource for anyone interested in pursuing a less stressful, less expensive path.

Downshifting can also lead to a reduction in stress and psychological expenses that are associated with career-driven pursuits. And as you’ll learn here, it’s not as much of a leap as you might think to trade that fast-paced life for something else more fulfilling.

1. SHIFTING TO A MORE SIMPLE LIFESTYLE REDUCES STRESS.

Downshifting into a less work-driven, more leisurely lifestyle can have health benefits like lower blood pressure, and reduce stress not just for you, but for those around you. It’s funny how the stresses that we take on don’t always make us happy—in fact they often have the opposite effect. A study conducted by Kati Heinonen at the University of Nottingham found that people who shifted to a low-stress lifestyle also had higher self-esteem and reported enjoying more free time and greater work/life balance.

2. DOWNSHIFTING DECREASES THE ‘RAT RACE’ EFFECT.

Michael Norton at Harvard University looked at the effect that “success” had on well-being and found a strong correlation between the amount of money an individual makes and their happiness. By downshifting, you can adjust your budget to less materialistic standards, making you happier for it.

3. DOWNSHIFTING CAN REDUCE DIVORCE RISK.

Having less stress associated with materialism is one reason why downshifting is protective against divorce—having less to worry about, means you’ll be more committed to the relationship (and unhappy with a breakup). A study by Dan E. Smith at the University of Pennsylvania found that being less stressed out leads to being less likely to get divorced.

4. DOWNSHIFTING CAN REDUCE CARBON FOOTPRINT.

A study conducted by the University of Minnesota showed that people whose income was lower than their expenses (which means they were downshifters), had a lower carbon footprint than their more-successful counterparts. Also, in a study conducted by Michael Norton at Harvard and others, even when higher-income individuals decried the environmental impacts of their jobs, this did not affect their report of happiness—by contrast, downshifters reported feeling significantly happier about the environment than those who didn’t downshift as much.

5. DOWNSHIFTING CAN REDUCE YOUR DEBT.

Many people wake up in the morning and immediately check their bank accounts just to see if anything is due—whether it’s rent or mortgage, insurance, or credit cards. Downshifting can help keep you out of the red by cutting down on spending and increasing savings.

6. DOWNSHIFTING CAN HELP YOU STAY SAFE AND COVERED.

If you’re out of debt and don’t have to worry about spending money, you can be more creative when it comes to insurance—and the premium is an expense that can be lowered. A car with fewer luxuries is cheaper to insure, for example.

Downshifting is a process of adaptation—your focus shifts from materialistic pursuits to others that are more fulfilling. It’s about removing stress from your life and being able to feel better about your identity, relationships, and environment. And conversely, downshifting doesn’t mean giving up entirely on chasing some of your dreams—it just means joyfully moving toward them at a pace that allows you to enjoy the journey.

7. DOWNSHIFTING IS MORE LIKELY TO WORK FOR YOU IF YOU HAVE AN EMPLOYER THAT ENHANCES YOUR FORCE.

A study conducted by both Michael Norton and Joshua Rabin showed that downshifters would be less likely to get divorced if they had a company that enabled their lifestyle. In the study, employees with jobs in which they could downshift were found to enjoy greater job satisfaction than those who weren’t able to shift as often.

8. DOWNSHIFTING CAN BE EASY WITH THE RIGHT SIMPLICITY & FREEDOM MANTRA.

You’re probably already capable of downsizing your lifestyle and downshifting even if you previously thought you weren’t because you’ve been turned off by the idea of being “lazy.” The point is that it’s not about being a shiftless slacker—it’s about making the decision to live a simpler, more enjoyable life that doesn’t require as much work. And that means enjoying the process of downsizing and moving forward with a positive attitude.

The best way to pursue simplicity, according to Gary Keller at Kellermond Real Estate Group, is by embracing an easygoing mindset:

9. DOWNSHIFTING IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST YOUR MONEY.

Downshifting your work life doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re going to make less money. In fact, that can be one of the reasons why people downshift—because they prefer to have more time instead of more money. But there are other ways to work less and earn less without sacrificing your lifestyle. For example, you could:

10. DOWNSHIFTING CAN HELP YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE.

You may be better off financially because you’re not hustling as much, but you’ll still have time to work on new projects and pursue your dreams. In the end, even though you don’t get rich doing it, downsizing and living a simpler lifestyle can benefit you in so many ways. So don’t forget to look at it as a win-win—you’ll be happier while saving money and time.