Small Steps to Simplify Life
Jillian Berndtson
| 3 min read
A 2015 study found that 54% of Americans are overwhelmed from clutter alone. Juggling daily responsibilities makes it difficult to slow down and find ways to simplify your life.
Simplification looks different for everyone and each person has their own method that works for them. To some it may be having a color-coded calendar, to others it may mean disconnecting from technology. Whatever the case may be, simplification is important for your own well-being. Here are some of our tips on how we keep things simple:
Brianna: I simplify my life by staying as organized as possible! I know it sounds easier than it is, but I put everything in my calendar to make sure I’m using my time wisely and keeping track of all my to-dos. Scheduling time or reminders to finish tasks ensures I don’t forget to do things and helps me plan for upcoming work responsibilities, events and appointments.
Angela: I’ve been trying to get in the habit of leaving my phone at home when I go for walks. I used to multitask and catch up on my podcasts, but I find taking a full brain break and unplugging is much more rewarding. Also, I donate or throw away a pair of shoes for each new pair I purchase. Who has that much closet space anyways?
Elise: I simplify my life by always making sure I make time to read each day. Whether it be 15 minutes or one hour, I always find that reading is a great way to take a second to momentarily leave my stressful day behind and get lost in a fictional world.
Lucy: I simplify my life by trying to not fill up every free moment I have.
Mike: I like to have as little “stuff” as possible. I also tend to purge unnecessary items, documents, etc. a couple times a year. It feels great to de-clutter.
Julie: Every weekend I plan out my family’s meals for the upcoming week. I pull from websites I love, including this one, and make a list that I send to my husband so we’re on the same page and can share dinner-making duties. We shop once for everything so we’re not making multiple stops at the grocery store after work. By planning ahead and prepping what we can, healthy dinners are one less hurdle to overcome during busy weeks. Go-to recipes that make everyone happy include stir-fry, stuffed peppers and soups made in the slow cooker.
Allison: At night I like to read a chapter of my book instead of watching shows or being on my phone. It helps me unwind, stay unplugged and tires me out before bed.
Jill: I simplify my life by turning off my phone occasionally. It helps me to disconnect from all of the notifications and keeps my attention focused on one thing at a time.
David: Stop collecting stuff and start experiencing things. Also, at the end of the day always ask yourself – Did I eat today? Do I have a roof above my head? Am I surrounded by people who love and respect me? If you can answer YES to all three, you’re doing pretty good. Answering these three questions helps me focus on what is really important and thus simplifying my life in the process.
How do you keep things simple? Share with us in the comments!
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Photo credit: LeoPatrizi
