Below is a list of potential presentation topics. Simple Living Initiatives’ staff members are willing to work with your organization to adapt a presentation to meet your specific needs.

Simplifying for wellness
Want to meet others who share your interest in simplifying?  Need some motivation and direction on how to begin this process? You’ll make connections with other potential simplifiers and you’ll learn various reasons that people simplify.  You’ll also discuss the difficulties in making changes, and how to overcome barriers to change.  You will leave the session with some practical action steps to try in your own life to help you simplify. 

Simplify by clearing out clutter and saying no to buying more 
Do you spend more time looking for things than using them?  Are you tired of maintaining, repairing and insuring all of your stuff?  In this session, you’ll identify some of the barriers to de-cluttering and how to overcome those barriers.  You also will learn tips on sorting through your possessions to determine what to keep and what to give away. Participants will share ideas about how to prevent clutter by reducing future purchases, and set a simplifying goal.

Stressed?  Simplify by taking control of your money 
Is your energy going to the things that are most important to you?  Learn about the concepts of “enough,” “life energy,” and “real hourly wage” (from Your Money or Your Life, by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin).  With this information, you’ll be better able to take control of your financial situation and use your money in accordance with your values.  You will also explore what’s important to you, and create a plan for making those things a higher priority. 

Simplifying with children 
A few of the topics to be covered include barriers to simplifying with children, how to minimize those barriers, and ways to get children to participate in family efforts to simplify.  You will walk away from this session with a handout packed with ideas on how to simplify with children.  (This session is appropriate for people of all ages, and those with or without children.) 

Simplifying for wellness at mealtime 
Are food and family mealtime getting low priority with busy schedules?  Eating on the run is often hard on family relationships, personal health and on the environment (not to mention the digestive tract)!  This session will motivate you to make mealtime a higher priority.  You will share ideas and learn practical tips. 

Fostering simplicity:  The next step 
Learn about programs and organizations you can tap into to help you encourage simplicity—in your home, in schools and in your community.   You will also learn how to access or create a support base of like-minded citizens.  At the session, you will receive a list of resources to help you continue your efforts to simplify.

Simplifying the Holidays
For some Americans, the holiday season is a happy time spent with loved ones.  Others may have high hopes for having meaningful and joyful holidays, but financial strains, overbooked schedules, inflated expectations, and other issues get in the way.  This is not just a season for joy, but a time of over-consumption and waste.  Americans throw about 25% more trash than normal during the holidays season, and 10-35% of Americans’ gift budgets is spent on unwanted gifts. 

Learn about resources to help you educate the public about waste-reducing ways to enjoy the holiday.

Click here for more information about potential presentation topics about waste reduction and recycling.
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To learn more about presentations or train-the-trainer workshops for your organization, contact:
Simple Living Initiatives
Center for Energy & Environmental Education 
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0293

ceee@cns.uni.edu. . . or . . . 319/273-2573