3 ways to simplify your life
Have you ever caught yourself saying, “After this week things will slow down” only to find yourself saying this week after week with no change? Our lives are complex, chaotic, and stuffed full with tasks and actual things that can feel like a burden. Simplifying, be it finding more time in the margins for you or even decluttering actual clutter, can seem like too huge of a task to take on in the minimal free time we have.
Here are three things you can do to simplify your life:
1. Take on one area at a time.
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. The whole house is a mess, but taking on the whole house is a sure way to find yourself burnt out before you even get started. Instead, start with a weekend project of cleaning out your bedside table or decluttering and restyling the living room bookshelf. Focusing on only one small area and taking it all the way to completion may seem like a small win, but it’s a win and that win will become energy for the next small task.
2. Think of your biggest friction points and what place in your day gives you the most stress?
Is it the chaos of getting out the door in the morning? Or maybe it’s that 5:00 hour with everyone home and eager to eat. Make a plan for those times on the weekend. Meal prep breakfast or menu plan a few crockpot meals to help get through those moments with ease.
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3. Find more time for you.
Does it feel like you never get a moment for just you? Before you feel put out by the people who you love the most, remind yourself that self-care doesn’t have to be a whole day at the spa. It can be thirty minutes with your journal or a book that you want to read for fun. Take a minute this weekend and look at your upcoming week’s calendar. Find the windows of time where you might be able to have a little “me time.” Put it on the calendar and treat it as important as any other meeting.
Also, use the weekend to recenter your intentions for the week. If you really want to feel like there is more breathing room for you, resolve to allow for good habits like getting to be early and not scrolling so you can wake up early and write or draw. Or, taking the conference call while on a walk to get some Vitamin D and movement.
Speaking of “you” time…
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Taking a few quick moments to simplify may feel hard in the beginning, but as you practice implementing small changes, big improvements will come. How will you start to simplify?
Looking for inspiration to get started? Here are some ideas:
HOME STUFF
Water bottle/To Go Coffee cup edit
Cup drawer edit– the plastic sway cups can go
Tupperware drawer edit
Condiment edit
YOU
Make an “on the go” Makeup bag– when travel comes up, it is already packed with all you need. And you don’t have to unpack it
Clean out makeup- it’s time to ditch anything prekids…
Reorganize your hair accessories
Check expirations on medications
Subscribe to a clothing rental service
Get rid of magazine clutter
KID STUFF
Refresh library books– new reading content is great for everyone and don’t get fined!
Better organize craft stuff
DIGITAL
Unsubscribe from 20 emails while you drink coffee
Save digital files to the cloud
Back up!
Sign up to go paperless with bills
MENTAL HEALTH
Find windows of free time for a quick workout or an opportunity to read a book for fun with a calendar review. All you need is 30 minutes!
Take a book or journal to the kid’s practice– don’t just sit there and scroll. Plan to use that time in a way that enriches you, too.
Upgrade your shower– good lotions, clean it, get kid stuff out!
