I was reading a post on Lifestyle Design for You from my online mate Gordie Rogers the other day and it got me thinking. His question was whether Lifestyle Design was dead. If you are not sure what lifestyle design is by now then read on. The comments and debate were interesting because Lifestyle Design has been described, erroneously in my opinion, as a hedonistic pursuit of self gratification for young single people. Read his post and comments for more as you can find the link below in the related reading section.
Lifestyle Design - The Sky Is The Limit
What got me thinking was that I knew the concept well before it became popularised in Tim Ferriss’ book the Four Hour Workweek. However I had never really thought about it too much, lifestyle design was an almost subconscious assimilation. I repeat my comment on Gordie’s blog below:
Having three kids, two of whom are very young, and a wife with a fixed hours job, Lifestyle Design is an interesting concept. I cannot go off travelling all over the World or taking three month holidays while the biz ticks away in the background. However, unlike a few who have commented I do like the term as it defines the goal, to live a lifestyle by doing what you want to do rather than being dictated to by circumstance.
I am currently dictated to by my own circumstances but guess what, I happen to like those circumstances because I have been into Lifestyle Design for over twenty years subconsciously.
The proof?
Why do I live in Spain and not in my home town of Widnes? I would have thought it was pretty obvious but 55 thousand other people who stayed in a small town in the north west of England don’t think it is.
Why have I got three kids? It’s not because I am an inveterate shagger 
. It’s because I wanted kids because I like my kids.
Why do I work for myself? Obvious one isn’t it!
I could add to the list and hopefully in the comments we will have a lot more people showing us how and why they have applied the lifestyle design concept to their lives either consciously or in a subconscious manner. Some have said that living a conscious life is the key not just going into your job day in day out like a walking zombie. Have a look at and judge for yourself whether you are doing the right thing in living a conscious life.
Also did I do the right thing in moving from Widnes?
Here is what I think. Just to show how much I like my life the other day on one of my other blogs I put together a video as a sort of homage to where I live and the lifestyle I have chosen.
What do you think of the video, the terminology and the idea? And what do you intend to do about it.
Related Reading
1) Lifestyle Design For You From Gordie
February 17th, 2010 on 11:01 am
It’s all about living life the way you want it and setting your own boundaries.
That’s why Tim Ferriss can travel the world as he likes at the drop of a hat, follow whatever pursuits he feels like when he gets there and moves on when he wants a change.
You can me have made decisions other than travel, travel, travel; but we’ve also decided where we want to live, how we want to live and with who we want to live.
I have the freedom to work when I want, take time out when I don’t – I love what I do, so I work a lot
I can go to the gym when I want; go to the cinema on Monday mornings when everyone else is sitting miserably in their office nursing a cup of coffee and wondering where the weekend went.
That may not sound as glamourous as jetting off like out friend Tim. But I’m living life on my terms and have never been happier.
Lifestyle design dead?
I don’t think so.
February 17th, 2010 on 11:19 am
I love this part of your comment
I can go to the gym when I want; go to the cinema on Monday mornings when everyone else is sitting miserably in their office nursing a cup of coffee and wondering where the weekend went.
That about sums up what it means to live consciously. You can do what you want on your terms