Do you ever feel overwhelmed with too much clutter in your life? Cluttered houses, messy calendars, and even a cluttered brain? Me too. That’s why one of my goals this year is to simplify. Simplify what, you ask? EVERYTHING!
I’ll admit to you right now, I’m addicted to note taking. I have notes everywhere. I have notes to remind me to write notes. It’s messy and makes me feel more stressed than organized. So, this year, I’m trying to make everything I do less complicated and simple.
Today, I’m going to share with you 10 ways that we can all feel less stressed and more organized.
10 WAYS TO SIMPLIFY
Simplify your goals
Stop putting so much pressure on yourself. Instead of having 10-20 goals each month, think about which goals are realistic for that particular month and work on those. In other words, spread out your long list of goals to be accomplished by the end of the year, not the end of the month.
Simplify your calendar
Having an unrealistic week of activities planned is a leading cause of stress. Leave some “unplanned” time in your week and notice how calm you feel. This might not always be possible with your life’s circumstances, but at least try to take a day, maybe a Sunday, and give yourself permission to just breathe and be unproductive. As for all my notes, I have a cute planner and all important notes go in the planner on the actual day they’re to be done. Simple and done!
Simplify your home
There’s a reason the stores put out all those storage tubs after Christmas. We all feel the need to get extra decorations and “stuff” organized and put away. I’m trying to spend some of my extra wintertime/indoor time to declutter some really messy areas in the house. If you’ve been in your house for a few years and look around, you know how “stuff” accumulates. I really would prefer to just have what I need and eliminate the rest. By the way, if you eliminate extra stuff, you’ll have less to clean.
Simplify your stuff
When I go shopping with my hubby, he always wants to buy a few things for the house. I noticed lately, I’ve been telling him no, because we already have too much “stuff”. And, I admit, I would love to buy some of that new, cute, “stuff”. So, the only way to really add anything new is to get rid of the old. So, I’m going room by room through the month of February, and getting rid of some old “stuff”. When decorating your house, it really is better to have quality and not so much quantity.
Simplify your shopping
Ohhhh, I really love shopping. I really do! But, I admit, it often keeps me from doing other things I should be doing. I mean, would you rather stay home and clean or go see all the shiny new things that are coming out for spring? Yea, I thought so. And if you need or think you need something for a special occasion, do you find yourself spending the whole day looking for it? I know I could get a lot more done if I limited my shopping time to what I need, not what I want. Sure, it’s ok to shop for entertainment sometimes, but I’m trying to get better at this. I’ll at least try.
Simplify your health habits
Lately, I’ve been reading diet book after diet book. Then I noticed they all say about the same thing. Eat healthy foods and less, and exercise more. I didn’t really even need a book to tell me that. So, I’m trying, one day at a time, to make better choices with what I eat, how much I eat, and exercising daily, as much as possible. Of course, we should all keep up with medical checkups too. And, of course, your health situation might call for a specific diet. But, for myself, for now, I’ve just decided to stop feeling guilty for not following a complicated diet plan, and make daily choices that are easy and uncomplicated, which actually become part of a routine after a while.
Simplify your wardrobe and beauty routine
I love clothes and lots of them, but I do think it helps sometimes to buy quality items and maybe less of them. This spring, I plan on cleaning out my closet and putting together a smaller wardrobe of quality items that I’ll love and keep for a few years and stop buying the cheap, flimsy, stuff that doesn’t last past one season. As for my beauty routine, I’m trying to not have too many duplicates of products. Fewer products equals a simpler beauty routine. If I have only quality products but less, I can save time and probably save money too.
Simplify your personal time and hobbies
Do you ever have so many tv shows recorded on your DVR that you feel pressure to watch them as soon as possible? They almost become as stressful as what’s on your to-do list. It’s time to stop and think about what you really love doing in your spare time. Give yourself breathing room and time for only what makes you happy in your spare time. Eliminate hobbies or entertainment that you don’t really care about and spend time doing what you love. And if you do see your tv shows and books to read piling up, don’t feel pressure to get through them in one day or even one week. These things are for entertainment only, not part of your life’s necessities.
Simplify your relationships
You might have a full, fun calendar with lots of people, more people, and more people. But are they your favorite people? Do you have lots of friends but never see your family? It’s time to simplify our social life and make time for our most important relationships. Don’t let your calendar get too full or you won’t enjoy time with anyone. And when you do see your family and favorite friends, try to really enjoy your time. Enjoy the people you’re with and forget about social media friends while you’re actually with someone face to face. This leads me to my next tip.
Simplify your tech time
Your time on screens can mess up and complicate your day so quickly. Before you know it, your husband’s home from work, asking what you did all day, as you close up your computer, put away your tablet, turn off the phone, and turn down the tv. It gets addictive, clutters our brain with too much information, and distracts us from more productive things. I’m trying to have certain times in the day when I check email, use the computer, and only have the tv on in the evening. Hopefully, that will help.
Those are the 10 Ways I’m simplifying. It doesn’t come naturally, but I’m giving it a try. Hopefully, I’ve given you some tips and inspiration to do the same. Let’s dedicate this year to clean, calm, organized, and just plain SIMPLE.
Till next time, have a wonderful day!