5 Ways to Simplify Your Life
•Posted on August 13 2020
Decluttering and minimalism have become somewhat of a big trend these days...especially after KonMari, released her hit series, "Tidying up," on Netflix. If I had to take a wild guess as to why, I would have to say it's because most of us are tired of all the stuff and to-do’s in our home! With more and more time being spent inside, more people are becoming overwhelmed at home with all of the things.
Home is supposed to feel like our own little sanctuary but with all the clutter it feels like more of a second job than a place of peace and relaxation. Well I am here to share some helpful tips and get you and your home on the way to a peaceful bliss. It worked for me, I hope it does the same for you!
Simple Living vs Minimalism. What’s the big difference?
While there is no one definite definition of the two, I will do my best to break this down as clearly as I can. I will take the angle of quantity vs. quality.
Minimalism is heavily focused on the quantity of stuff. It’s much about reducing down and living with the least amount of stuff as possible.
As for simple living, quality is the main focus. It’s a lifestyle focused on ridding yourself of the things that no longer serve you and only living with the things you truly love. Quality time, quality relationships, quality stuff, quality health, and quality work.
I can say both lifestyles, simple living and minimalism, will teach you a great deal of self-discipline, willpower, and appreciation. I think we all can use a little more of that in our lives!
How this lifestyle found me...
It was 2017, I had just got married and relocated to Dallas just two weeks after our wedding. Two weeks! Sis was streessseed!! I was working full time at home trying to get my business back off the ground, all while trying to adjust to married life. I was falling apart and into depression.
I was literally drowning in a sea of moving boxes and clutter (trying my best to make our house feel like a home), an inbox full of unopened emails, and a ton of new “wifely duty” pressures I put on myself. I didn’t know where to start or what to prioritize. It was either my house being neglected, my business, or my husband. Between trying to cook, clean, post, respond to emails, etc...my head was spinning!
I tried everything! No matter what I read, listened to, or bought, nothing seemed to work long term. I felt like I could never stay on top of it or find a balance.
Can you relate?? Then read on. These tips will be a great start for you.
5 WAYS TO SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE
1. Declutter
I know this word can be a little intimidating but the end result is so worth the time put in. The key is to start small, one category at a time. When I say small, I mean small.
If you are starting in your closet, choose a category, for example, shoes. Pull all your shoes out and go through the questioning process. Then move on to accessories and so forth.
The sense of satisfaction you get once you complete that small tasks will give you the motivation you need to move on to bigger tasks. You will be surprised at how much relief you feel when you let go of all the things that no longer serve you.
Some questions to ask yourself when decluttering your closet
- Do I wear this item on a regular basis?
- Do I love this item?
- Am I keeping this item because I feel guilty about wasting money?
- Am I struggling to let go of this item just because it was a gift?
- Would I buy this item again if I saw it in a store today and didn’t own it already?
- Does this item fit my personal style or the season of life I am in RIGHT NOW?
2. FOCUS ON THE ESSENTIALS
Now that you've gotten rid of all the unnecessary things in your home, you can now focus on the essentials. Identify the necessities for your household which includes: activities, experiences, or physical things.
What experiences do you wish you had more time for? Who are some people you miss hanging out with? Is there something you miss doing or want to try new? Focus on being more intentional with your time and sharing experiences with the people that matter most. Be present and start to feel alive!
For physical things, make a list and stick to it. You’ve spent a lot of time purging. You don’t want to undo all the progress you made by bringing clutter back into your home. When out shopping, if an item doesn’t have a designated spot in your home, don’t bring it home. This is how clutter begins.
You should only be filling gaps and replacing old items with things you need or things that are essential to making your space a peaceful oasis. It will make you a more responsible consumer and save you a ton of money! Extra added bonus, you will spend a lot less time cleaning and more time living!
3. SIMPLIFY YOUR SCHEDULE
Learn to say no! We can’t be all things to all people. This may be hard if you are a recovering people pleaser like me! I get it! Oftentimes, we say yes to things without even thinking it through. Before you know it, you have committed to more things than you even have the time for.
The more comfortable you get with saying it, the more liberating it becomes. Reclaim your time back and start doing the things that matter most to you.
Do not overwhelm yourself with a long to-do list.
I know we all like to make that satisfying checkmark next to alllll the tasks on our list but I am here to tell you, you are human and are allowed to say no, not today, take a break, finish that cup of coffee before it’s cold, or take that much needed walk for some fresh air.
I know society puts a lot of pressure on us to grind, grind, grind then grind some more. But please know you do not have to do 100 things a day to feel accomplished. You are in control of your day, you set your own goals, and you are allowed to say no. Everything does not have to get done today. Once we learn that everything is not urgent, the more peaceful life becomes.
4. KEEP SURFACES CLEAR OF CLUTTER
Your environment 100% affects your mood. It’s so important to keep your countertops clear of clutter. With clear surfaces, it’s much easier to keep our attention where it needs to be.
Working from home? Make it a habit to clear off your desk at the end of every workday. Nothing boosts your mood and productivity more than walking into a room with a clear mind and a clean workspace.
5. FOCUS ON EXPERIENCES NOT THINGS
Learn to collect moments and not things. If this season has taught me nothing else, it’s taught me to focus on making memories with the ones I love. Life is too short to be focusing on accumulating junk and adding more stressors to our lives. We could have all the material things in the world but it’s the memories that will last a lifetime.
Ideas for experiences:
- Find a hiking trail near your home
- Go biking
- Have a picnic in the park or your backyard
- Cook together
- Try a new board game
- Order a ping pong set for your table
- Do a puzzle together
These are just to get you started. Do you have any other ideas? I’m sure I’m not the only one looking for more creative things to do. Drop them in the comments below.
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