Living a Simpler Life: How One Question Can Transform Your Health, Work, and Decisions

In Episode 25 of The Living Simpler Podcast, Amy Mewborn shares a refreshingly honest approach to living a simpler life—one rooted in nourishment, sustainability, and intentional decision-making.

Her word for 2026 isn’t about hustle, productivity, or self-improvement.
It’s about simpler.

And the philosophy behind it all comes down to one powerful question:

“Does this nourish me?”

If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, overwhelmed, or constantly exhausted despite doing “all the right things,” this episode—and this question—might be exactly the permission slip you need.

Why Living a Simpler Life Isn’t About Doing Less

One of the first distinctions Amy makes is this:

Simpler does not mean smaller.

She wasn’t choosing to slow down or shrink her ambitions. She was choosing to remove unnecessary complexity that no longer served her life or health.

As Amy explains in the podcast:

“Complexity disguised itself as growth. More platforms, more tools, more subscriptions, more offers. And while growth can be exciting, unchecked complexity always comes with a cost.”

That cost shows up as:

Chronic fatigue
Loss of presence
Hormonal and nervous system strain
Diminished joy

After years of building businesses, launching programs, and helping hundreds of women open profitable studios, Amy realized something important:

Success that isn’t sustainable eventually stops feeling like success.

Living a simpler life means building systems—and habits—that allow you to stay well while you grow.

The One Question That Simplifies Every Decision

Once Amy chose “simpler” as her guiding word, she began filtering decisions through a single question:

“Does this nourish me?”

Not:

“Is this impressive?”
“Will this make other people happy?”
“Does this look good on paper?”

Just:

• Does this nourish me?

This question replaces guilt with clarity. It removes moral judgment and allows for season-specific decisions. What nourishes you today may look different six months from now—and that flexibility is the point.

Sometimes nourishment looks like:

Movement
Growth
Strength

Other times it looks like:

Rest
Saying no
Creating space

When you begin living a simpler life through this lens, decision-making becomes calmer, clearer, and far less overwhelming.

What Nourishment Looks Like in Real Life

For Amy, nourishment isn’t abstract—it’s practical and embodied.

It includes:

Supporting hormones, metabolism, and the nervous system
Choosing habits that make life feel lighter, not heavier
Protecting sleep as non-negotiable
Simplifying food and lifestyle choices
When you consistently ask what nourishes you, clarity emerges naturally.

The “Ins and Outs” of Living a Simpler Life

Rather than rigid rules, Amy focuses on systems of support—structures that make nourishing choices easier and draining choices less appealing.

The “Ins”: What Supports a Simpler, Nourishing Life

Movement & Strength

Pilates and weight training to support muscle, metabolism, and bone health
Daily outdoor walks to reduce stress and support nervous system regulation

Sleep & Circadian Health

Morning sunlight exposure
Amber lighting at night
Earlier, consistent bedtimes

Nutrition

Adequate daily protein
Weekend meal prep to support weekday ease
Simplified foods the body actually tolerates

Lifestyle & Environment

Cotton clothing and sheets
Clean, filtered water
Lymphatic support and red light therapy
Hormone support when appropriate

The “Outs”: What Quietly Drains Energy

Excessive screen time
Late nights and late dinners
Skipping movement for work
Synthetic fabrics and toxic skincare
Fragrance marketed as wellness
LED lighting at night
Bottled or unfiltered water
Overcommitting out of obligation
Overcomplicating systems and subscriptions

As Amy shares:

“Letting these things go isn’t restrictive—it’s freeing. When your environment supports you, consistency becomes natural.”

Simplifying Your Work Without Losing Impact

Living a simpler life isn’t possible if your work constantly drains you.

Amy openly shares how she used to equate busyness with success—until she realized much of that heaviness was self-created.

Now, she’s simplifying how she works by:

Automating tasks that don’t require creativity or presence
Using technology intentionally, not constantly
Hiring support for ads, funnels, and systems
Creating templates and frameworks instead of reinventing the wheel
Setting firm boundaries around screen time

This allows her to stay connected to the work she loves: teaching, coaching, creating, and working with real people in real bodies.

What’s Next: The Living Simpler Ecosystem

Amy’s commitment to simplicity extends to what she’s building next:

The Living Simpler Collective

A supportive space for women who want health guidance without overwhelm—less noise, more clarity.

The Living Simpler App

One calm platform for habits, health tracking, and self-awareness—no more juggling multiple apps.

Fitness Marketing Made Easy

Clear, proven marketing systems for studio owners who want results without burnout.

Studio In A Box & Raya Coaching

Continued support for women building aligned, profitable studios and sustainable coaching relationships.

Each of these projects exists to remove complexity—not add to it.

Simpler Is a Practice, Not a Destination

One of the most empowering takeaways from this episode:

Living a simpler life is not something you achieve. It’s something you practice.

It’s choosing:

Sleep over scrolling
Nourishment over pushing
Clarity over chaos
Alignment over approval

As you begin paying attention to how choices feel in your body, your life starts giving you feedback. That information—not rules—becomes your guide.

Simpler Doesn’t Mean Smaller

Choosing a simpler life doesn’t shrink your dreams.

It gives you:

Control over your energy
Intentional growth
Sustainable success

If you’re feeling tired, overwhelmed, or stretched thin, simplicity may not be something you add.

It may be something you gently remove—one choice at a time.

And the question that leads the way is still the same:

“Does this nourish me?”

Apply it to your food, movement, work, technology, relationships, and rest. You don’t need perfect answers—just honest ones.

That’s where sustainable change begins.

👉 Click here to watch the full episode of The Living Simpler Podcast.