Recently, some good friends downsized their lives. They sold their home and purchased a small condo close to the ocean. They sold all of the belongings they no longer used or needed, and even downsized their busy corporate lives. They both now work, sometimes together, and spend quality time doing the things they both love. Sound appealing?
The idea of simplifying has been on my mind a lot lately. After talking with many friends and colleagues, family members and clients, there was an overwhelming agreement that our lives feel too busy and not often our own. So, I asked friends, family, colleagues and clients a simple question: What are some things you do to simplify your life? And I received a wealth of ideas and feedback I want to share with you.
But first, let me ask you, what does simplifying mean to you? And if you had it, what would change?
For me, I’m discovering that simplifying is tied to slowing down. Slowing down so that I can enjoy the things that are important to me, the stuff that brings me joy. It also means focusing on what I enjoy… and being mindful of the choices I’m making each day. I like to ask, “Am I moving toward the life I want and love or away from it? In other words, what is working and what isn’t working?
Here are some words of wisdom from others who are wrestling with what it means to simplify our lives. They aren’t in any particular order so read on and see what grabs your attention and interest. Let’s continue this conversation in the months ahead and see what we each learn.
So, here’s the question and here are some responses to consider as you explore simplifying your life.
What are some things you do to simplify your life?
“I say yes to those things that most support my values, and no to those that don’t. Example, yes to time with dear friends and no to a fundraising event whose cause I know nothing about.”
“I attend a strength training workout 5 days a week in the morning to spend time on me, stand on solid ground and feel good all day.”
“Drive the speed limit and leave in plenty of time to be on time- not rushing makes me feel relaxed and at peace.”
“This summer I fought the endless battle against clutter in my kids’ rooms. Then one day I looked at my dresser and realized that it was just as cluttered, and that I was probably modelling what they saw. I started using the KonMarie method to get rid of things we didn’t need, or didn’t use, with the goal that we’d have less stuff to tidy up, and hopefully, more time to enjoy ourselves. I ended up getting rid of bags of clothes (some I hadn’t worn in 5 years), books that we didn’t enjoy, and broken kitchen items that were never used. The result? Everything has a place and our daily “clean to stem the tide of stuff” has turned into a once a week chore. The kids’ rooms are still cluttered (they are, after all, kids) but the endless picking up and moving things has ended.”
“The best advice or suggestion I have is to meditate each day for 10 minutes. Over time there are big benefits and you can always visit your peaceful, connected place.”
“I like structure. Pre-planning and organizing on Sundays for the week helps so that things don’t fall through the cracks during the week. We have an amazing kitchen calendar that we write EVERYTHING on!”
“Minimizing! We try to go through ours and our kids’ clutter about 1 time per month and give away or throw away unnecessary items. We find that clutter is stressful.”
“Be comfortable with saying “yes” to things that fill your bucket. I do this with volunteer things and things outside work. Say “No” to the things that do not fill your bucket. Time is precious with two working parents and two small active children. I no longer overcommit as it impacts my family in a negative way.”
“I hire a cleaning person once or twice per month so I don’t have to spend my weekends cleaning the house.”
“For simplification in my life, I maintain several “To Do” lists: one is for home projects, one is for financial projects, one is for personal projects and one is for business/work priorities. Each list includes due dates and priorities. I look at the lists once per week, cross off what has been accomplished and add on the next projects. I try not to have more than 10 items on any list.”
“We made the choice not to have kids or pets and it has made life a lot simpler. I also simplify my workout routines to make sure I actually do them. A run or walk in the neighborhood or a strength workout on the living room carpet gets the job done without having to drive into town, join a gym and adhere to specific hours. It helps me.”
“Say “NO!” It’s difficult but helps me to keep the most important things in my life at the top of my priority list. Then, take time to laugh.”
“It’s important for to get dressed and out the door quickly in the early morning. 2 years ago, Marie Kondo’s book, “The Life Changing Magic of Tidiness”, did wonders for my clothes closet and made it easier for me to grab and go. Another way to reduce closet clutter and simplify your wardrobe is called “The Law of 33.” The idea is to have only 33 items hanging in your closet in a season. Since we all tend to wear our favorites repeatedly, it just becomes a mix and match game within the 33 possibilities.”
“I am trying to go back to bound books. I feel I read less because my iPad is also a web browser, news source and FB pull. At night I find myself checking all these before reading my book via Kindle. So I’m trying to cut out the virtual clutter when I go to bed.”
“The most important thing I do to simplify life is to keep my mind clear through meditation and time in nature. Without these practices, my mind can quickly become cluttered with the ego-driven thoughts that complicate life—a lengthy “to do” list, worries, and self-sabotaging judgement to name a few. But, when I keep my mind clear, I can hear the healthiest most important thoughts that keep life simple. That peaceful, healthy voice has never let me down, and I don’t miss the cluttering thoughts at all—turns out, they were just distractions any way!”
“I try to plan our meals the week before so we eat healthier, go to the store less often, and go out less.”
“There have been many ways I’ve simplified my life but the most impactful has been decluttering my home and my life! I love buying nice things but now I pause, enjoy the beauty, style, etc., and pass on the urge to buy. I ask myself constantly, how much “stuff” do you need? It’s so refreshing and freeing to open up your house and have less stuff cluttering the space and your brain.”
“I invest in activities, events, work that feeds my soul and life-purpose. All else, minimize.”
“I simplify by “unsubscribing” to unnecessary emails like retail/catalogue sales. The decision in my head is that I want to let NEED drive my purchase NOT what I’m being fed via the internet. I do this by using the ‘Tidying Up’ principle of do I need and love to receive these e-mails? Does reviewing them feed my values and life-principles? Then, I’ve been applying the same principle to other aspects of my life that require ‘unsubscribing’ as well. For example, relationships that are stressors as opposed to relievers. I may choose to ‘unsubscribe’ to the relationship by changing the level of energy I direct toward it.”
“I simplify by getting rid of stuff. This isn’t happening in one giant purge, but as an over time, “one corner at a time” activity. I find this approach cements the effort in my decision making too—so that I’m less likely to buy ‘things’ because I’m thinking about the simplifying process underway in my home and office.”
“I only do wash when we have enough to get washed. That way I usually extend the time between washes. We all have so many clothes these days and it seems silly to put in a load and not fill up the machine. I usually wait so I can use the energy and time for efficiently.”
“After I get the mail, I go straight to the recycling bin with items I know I’m not going to read or even catalogs that I might be interested in. This way they never enter the house and clutter the countertops. This also eliminates impulse buying and I know that if I really need something I can be more deliberate in my shopping wither online or in the store.”
“Since I really dislike dusting, I finally bought a pure lamb’s wool duster called Woolly Wonder (on Amazon). It has made dusting so much quicker that using a dust rag”.
“I label a folder for yearly taxes and put everything I will need to do with my taxes in it throughout the year. It makes is so much easier during tax time when I don’t have to hunt down all the pertinent information.”
“Instead of driving to town to go to the gym, or sitting for half an hour on a cushion in mediation, I take one of my dogs for a walk in nature. The movement, the visual beauty and peace lets my mind relax while invigorating my body and soul.”
“Invest in a pressure cooker. Delicious soups and stews are ready in no time. Make enough to put some in the freezer for later.”
“Have staple groceries delivered once a week. I use door to door organics. It saves me having to spend time going shopping.”
“Schedule time for e-mails rather than checking them randomly during the day. Same goes for social media.”
“I honestly have to say that doing my morning practice every day is what simplifies my life. Not just ‘any’ morning practice, but, specifically the things I do to clear out the old and bring in clean, clear consciousness, and then set my dials for what I want to live for the day. The other thing that helps is to practice being grounded—it makes any situation better, richer, and more possible.”
“Sell everything you haven’t used, isn’t useful, isn’t pretty. Keep anything that is useful and beautiful. Determine what you really need to live on now and into the future. Do the thing that you love the best that gets the best return. Keep re-evaluating what is important to you. Stop doing the things that are not important or not in alignment with your values. Make sure you test whether its ego or values talking. Do the right amounts of things that bring you joy.”
I hope some of these ideas were helpful and enlightening and offer you fresh perspectives.
Here’s to simplifying!
--Dawn
