TIPS For Families

Written by: Nancy Frecks, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension

This is a good time of year to think about your families’ lifestyle and decide if it is really going how and where you want it or if it is on autopilot.  Consider taking some time and evaluating what your family does and if it is what you what to be doing.  Some things cannot be changed, they have to be done but there are other things we all do that maybe could be eliminated from our life.  Consider the following and then spend some time deciding if your family life is what you and your family wants or all you like to lead a simpler life.

An off-course test pilot once radioed back to the control tower, saying, “I’m lost, but I’m making record time.” Many families are like that test pilot, moving faster, doing more. With little time for reflection, we squeeze one activity after another into our frenzied lives. But are we really getting anywhere, or worse yet, will we end up in the wrong place?  What would it take to put your family on course to a simpler lifestyle an uncluttered, focused, and rich life?

According to University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension specialists Sam Quick and Robert Flashman, letting go of nonessentials so that your family can embrace what’s most important to them is important. This involves clearing away clutter that detracts from what you want in your life. It means taking a fresh look at what you really value and making sure you’re spending your time, energy, and money to support your cherished goals.  Voluntary simplicity doesn’t mean a bare-bones budget or shunning the wonders of modern technology. It may mean buying a laptop computer so that you can spend time writing under the pine trees at your uncle’s cabin. It may mean splurging for a family vacation you have talked about for decades.  Because we all have different values, gifts, and dreams, the ways of determining what is best for your family will naturally represent a delightful range of choices. There is no one right way; we each must follow our passions, listen to our heart of hearts, and create our own simply beautiful lifestyles.

Think about your dreams, values, and life goals. List the five most important things you want to do with your life family.  Look over your answers.  Of all the things you listed, put a star by the three most important.  What steps toward your dreams and goals do you want to begin taking?

This is a good first step to making sure you lifestyle is what you want it to be.  Spend some time soon reflecting on your family’s lifestyle and determine if you are heading the direction you want to be.

For more TIPS for Families, go to unlforfamilies.unl.edu. Let us know how you used this information by clicking on TIPS feedback form at the bottom of this page.