Focusing Small, Living with Purpose
Popular author and speaker Erin Port, founder of the self-help brand Simple Purposeful Living, shares her tips for living a healthier, happier life.
Would you introduce yourself and your background?
I call myself an accidental entrepreneur. I was a first-grade teacher and got my master’s in educational leadership. I thought I wanted to be a principal but realized I was spending more time away from home helping other families than my own, so I decided to stay home.
I started blogging in 2009. I was passionate about helping people simplify their lives because there are parts they can make less complicated, freeing them up to do more of what matters. I founded my Simple Purposeful Living brand in 2018, which now includes blogs, a book, and a podcast.
What is your core approach to simple, purposeful living?
You don’t have to overhaul your life to love it. We think events must be big and grand, but I share quick, practical ways to create meaningful traditions in life. These actions result in fewer expectations, less stress, and feeling more present in the moment.
When something interrupts a big overhaul, people think, I failed. Instead, making small changes, like fixing one drawer, can make a big impact. That builds belief—I can make a change—which snowballs into other areas of life.
Would you share a real-life example?
A reader had a husband with a concussion and a sick child. She said, “I’m going to buy paper plates so I don’t have to wash dishes.” That’s a tiny tweak. Then, “I need help driving my son” turned into asking for carpool help. Her circumstances were heavy, but she became nimbler in the middle of it.
What inspired your book, Tiny Tweaks, Happy Life?
It came from a difficult season. We adopted our son, who was severely malnourished and nonverbal. Feeding him could take up to an hour and often ended in vomiting.
One day, I collapsed in the hallway crying, saying to myself, This is everything I wanted, but it’s really hard. I followed it up with What do I need right now? My answer: step outside for some coffee.
That was a tiny tweak. It didn’t fix everything, but it was an action of regaining control and showing myself that I wasn’t stuck. Tiny Tweaks was born there. It wasn’t a productivity hack; it was my lifeline.
What’s an example of a starting point anyone could take?
Try going on a five-to-ten-minute silent walk. No earbuds, no phone. It gives your brain a break. We input so much information but don’t process it. However, silence helps organize or discard it, so you return from these sessions feeling lighter.
Some other recommendations: Tuck your phone away at night to avoid blue light, and wake up on your terms. And plan your next week on Friday so you can go into the weekend knowing it’s covered.
For more info, visit simplepurposefulliving.com or follow Erin @simplepurposefulliving