The 200-Year-Old Idea That's More True Than Ever

Five small ways to celebrate it today - plus an invitation to a 5-Day Simplicity Challenge starting July 17th

Jul 11, 2026

Hello, to you.

A confession before we get into it: this letter about Simplicity Day is arriving much later in the day than planned, because today was, ironically, the least simple day I’ve had in weeks.

Somewhere between the dishwasher that was supposed to just... get installed two weeks ago, and the sixth hour on hold with Home Depot customer support, I had to laugh. You cannot make this up. Writing about National Simplicity Day, and I spent most of it tangled in a delivery-and-install saga that had more plot twists than it had any right to.

So if you’re reading this a little later than usual, I appreciate you being here anyway.

And if your own day today looked nothing like the calm, simple thing you’d planned either, you’re in good company.

Onward.

National Simplicity Day is this Sunday, every year on the 12th of July.

This is sort of a special “holiday” for us here at The Whiskey Porch because it’s at the core of what we are all about.

After all, our tag line is “cultivating contentment & possibility in a smaller, simpler & more beautiful lifestyle.”

Several years ago, I launched The Whiskey Porch on July 12th. I chose that date intentionally.

And, now more than ever, it just feels like we are all seeking refuge and inspiration to lift our spirits as we deal with the incoming chaos of the news cycles every day.

So it goes without saying, that finding pleasure and calm in simple ideas is something many of us are striving for now.

Ibis the yellow lab, my shadow - her hiking backpack and a single track trail in the forest is her happy place.

The Backdrop

The Simplicity Day celebration originated in honor of Henry David Thoreau, who lived in Concord, Massachusetts from July 12, 1817 to 1862.

Among many things, he was a Harvard educated author, naturalist, and a surveyor. Amazingly, he only lived to be 45, but was very prolific and accomplished.

He is most famous for his book Walden (about his 2 years living simply on Walden Pond), but he wrote other books and musings as well.

“I do believe in simplicity. It is astonishing as well as sad, how many trivial affairs even the wisest thinks he must attend to in a day; how singular an affair he thinks he must omit.
When the mathematician would solve a difficult problem, he first frees the equation of all incumbrances, and reduces it to its simplest terms.
So simplify the problem of life, distinguish the necessary and the real. Probe the earth to see where your main roots run.” — Thoreau, 27 March 1848

The Walden Woods Project website is a great resource to learn more about him, and his ideas.

Their mission is to preserve the land, literacy, and legacy of this man, and to foster an ethic of environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

Fun fact: the project was founded by recording artist Don Henley (of the Eagles).

There’s a ton to explore so maybe that’s a good way to while away an hour or two while you celebrate doing less.

If your days feel like a hundred small tabs left open at once - notifications, news, the list of things you meant to get to, or a dishwasher install that takes three weeks - you already know what Thoreau meant.

You don't need a cabin in the woods to practice simplicity. You need permission to close a few tabs on purpose, even just for today.

5 Ways to Celebrate Simplicity Day

I’ve been pondering some thoughtful ways to celebrate National Simplicity Day today (and beyond).

You could try all 5 options since they sort of naturally go together, or maybe just pick one or two.

And consider repeating your celebration now and then so maybe it becomes a new way of doing things for you rather than just a one-day event.

1. Step away from technology.

I know this is extremely tough these days. We are linked to our phones, and laptops, and smart speakers and almost don’t know how to function without them. But, trust me, it’s so refreshing and quieting to just turn it all off and find something else to focus your energy on. Take the day off, unshackle yourself from the conveniences and addictions of technology. Give those around you your undivided attention.

For me, I have a standing weekend sign-off where I spend my days outside in the garden or in the studio making or out in the forest hiking with Ibis and my husband. I may have my phone nearby, but try to only use it for phone calls or messaging that relate to family and friends. And the truth is, they often complain that I’m hard to reach on the weekends - ha.

2. Ignore the news and the to-do list.

Since I fully realize that item #1 is pretty tough to pull off, here’s a suggestion that might be more manageable.

If you can’t leave your phone and smart watch behind, maybe at least vow to ignore the news and any semblance of a to-do list for the day.

Maybe even go so far as to turn off the notifications from your news or social feeds. For the day, or maybe even just for good. You can consume that stuff when you really need to in a proactive way.

Meanwhile, make the noise stop!

3. Spend some quality time on your porch.

The front porch is my absolute favorite spot in most homes. It’s a wonderful way to engage with the world without leaving home - because it’s lovely to just sit for bit and watch the world go by.

Last year I wrote a post considering just what’s so alluring about a front porch.

Maybe check out the blog (assuming you’re not doing item #1 in the list!) and say hello to neighbors strolling by or sit with your family and friends for a bit.

4. Be alone outdoors and use ALL your senses.

This one is just so beneficial and fairly unusual.

Typically we head to outdoor adventures with friends, to share the experience. But here, the idea is to stop talking and venture into the great outdoors, maybe on a local hiking trail you haven’t yet explored, alone.

Why alone? Because it gives you the space and time and freedom to engage all your senses and truly be in the moment.

See the trail, and the flowers. Smell the air and the trees. Hear the birds and the wind. Touch the seed pods on the tree and observe the detail. You get the idea. Okay, don’t taste the berries unless you are positive it’s safe.. just gotta say that.

If hiking isn’t your kinda thing, you can do this one by just finding a cool spot in your garden or yard, get comfy and just have a sit for a bit. Close your eyes if you find it hard to really observe all the sounds and scents around you. If you’re lucky enough to have birds or butterflies visiting your garden then enjoy just observing them - I bet you won’t be able to keep from smiling!

5. Make a plan to downsize.

This one is pretty broad. Because you could apply it to so many things including your lifestyle, your belongings, your job, or your home.

I think in general Americans live far beyond their means - their personal resources and those of the environment they live in. It’s just a way of life; a way of thinking.

This idea involves first acknowledging the overwhelm in your own home or lifestyle. Sometimes that is easiest by considering the alternative. Ask yourself: How would I feel (or my life change) if I owned less stuff? Or bought less stuff? Or had a smaller home to maintain?

Now, take it one step further and explore some concrete steps you can realistically take now or over time to downsize your life. Write something down. Put a reminder in your phone to follow-up.

If you've ever tried one of these - turned off the phone for an afternoon, or cleared a shelf, or sat on the porch a little longer than you meant to - and felt something shift, even briefly, before the noise found its way back in... you already know these ideas work.

What's missing usually isn't the idea. It's having the committment to doing it long enough for it to become a habit. And not doing it alone.

Here’s the thing about Simplicity Day. It’s one day. One day of it feels good.

Five days might actually change something. And doing it together might make it easier and definitely more fun.

So I’m inviting you to join me in a 5-Day Simplicity Challenge, running Friday, July 17th through Tuesday, July 21st.

Each day, you’ll get a short, simple prompt straight to your inbox. No app to download, no huge commitment - just five small invitations to practice what Thoreau was talking about, one day at a time.

🌼Five days

🌼One idea each day

🌼Me right there with you

🌼This will be fun

Want in? 👇🏼👇🏼

Just comment “SIMPLICITY” below (or reply to this email) and I’ll add you to the challenge list.

Discussion about this post

Ready for more?