What does living a simple life mean to you? For me, it means as much as possible, getting rid of life’s complications, complexities, clutter and most of all stress. Eliminating all but the essential, so I can then spend time with the people I love and doing the things I love. Basically, you declutter your life.
So how do we declutter our lives? By taking small consistent steps to tackle areas of your day that are overcomplicated and stressful. Below, I’ve compiled a list of a few ideas that when implemented, should start to make your life easier.
How To Declutter Your Life
Learn to say no.
This is one of the key habits to learn for those trying to declutter their lives. In fact, learning to say no is possibly the most valuable skill you can learn in life. If you can’t say no, you will consistently take on too much work or responsibility. The better you become at saying no you’ll be more productive, you’ll be happier, and you’ll start reaping the benefits of simple living.
Stop trying to please everyone.
Have you heard this quote from Abraham Lincoln? “You can please some of the people some of the time, all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time, but you can never please all of the people all of the time.” It’s true, you really can’t please everyone, and trying to do so will over complicate your life and add a lot of stress. Recognize this fact and your life will get a lot simpler.
Eliminate non-essential tasks.
Eliminating any non-essential tasks will give you more time and energy to focus on the important jobs and free up time to do things that make you happy. It’s quite likely some tasks just aren’t worth the anxiety they cause and are simply over complicating and cluttering your life.
Slow down.
Learn to take things slow. There’s probably no need for you to rush through the day. You may feel you are being more productive, but you could probably achieve more and better results by slowing down. Slowing down can make your life simpler and reduce the amount of stress you feel throughout the day.
Automate your bills.
We all have monthly bills for electricity, water, internet, phones, insurance, etc. Instead of spending time worrying about when your bills are due, writing checks, or paying online by credit card set up automatic transfers. A great way to declutter your mind.
Avoid difficult people.
Avoiding difficult people is a great way to simplify your life. We all know people who we find difficult to deal with. If possible avoid them or at least limit your exposure to them.
Do one thing at a time.
Stop multi-tasking. Multi-tasking is more stressful, and often less productive. You’ll probably get better results and you’ll certainly feel less stressed concentrating on one task at a time. Being able to focus on just one task takes practice and self-control, but keep trying and your stress levels will reap the benefits.
Cook more food than you need and freeze the surplus.
Making a pasta dish this evening? Make enough for several meals and freeze what you don’t eat. You’ll reduce time in the kitchen for future meals giving you more spare time to relax as well as saving money on electricity and water for washing up.
Simplify your goals.
Instead of having several goals, try to condense your objectives to a few more important goals. You’ll have more time to focus on the goals that mean the most to you and be able to give them all of your energy. You’ll feel less stressed and be more successful.
Do fewer bigger shops at the supermarket.
I admit I am often guilty of making more shopping trips than necessary. But by doing fewer bigger shops, you’ll free up time by spending less time traveling to and from the supermarket, reduce the stress of shopping and save money.
Switch off notifications.
Turn off all notifications other than those you consider essential. Check email, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. at a time that works for you, not when your phone tells you to!
Clear your workspace.
Our physical surroundings are often mirrored in our mental space. Surrounded by clutter? You’ll probably also have a cluttered busy mind. Clear your desk of unessential items and you’ll declutter your life.
Start meditating.
Meditation is a process of training your mind to focus and redirect your thoughts. It can positively impact mental and physical health by reducing stress, controlling anxiety, increasing focus and improving sleep. Mindfulness works and will lead you to a simpler, calmer life.
Leave space around your daily tasks.
Don’t stack appointments or jobs back-to-back. Leave a little time between tasks for rest and you’ll go through your day much more relaxed.
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