Simplify life – 6 Simple Ways

Are you always tired, busy, and needing a break? If so, it may be a sign that you need to find ways to simplify your life. 

Make life less complex by finding ways to do things in fewer steps, in less time, and with less energy. Being able to reallocate your brain power, time, and energy to the necessary or desired aspects of life requires skill, forethought, and intentionality. 

Review these 5 ways to simplify life to regain your time, energy, and inspiration.

Out Source

If you have the resources and you need free time and energy, outsource your tasks. Common things that you can outsource are laundry, house cleaning, grocery shopping, cooking, and car maintenance. These tasks can be a huge time suck. There are apps to provide services for just about every task listed above. When I lived in New York, I used a laundry service to wash and fold my clothes. I had so many other competing priorities, this service was a lifesaver. While it was less expensive for me to wash my clothes, having an extra 3 hours over the weekend was much more valuable. Even if you don’t use a service regularly, think about keeping a few in your back pocket when you are in a pinch and need to broker more time from your schedule.

Develop Routines

Another way to simplify life is to build routines that allow you to free up your mental space and save time. Get clear on 2-3 practices you must engage to start and end your day.  Think about adding a meditation practice to calm your body and unwind, or take 10 minutes to review your schedule in the morning to orient yourself on the day’s priorities. Record your practice and consider the order in which you will complete them. After you repeat them time and time again you will build automaticity and you may no longer need reminders to complete these tasks. That way you can free up your mind to engage in more demanding mental tasks to make your day more productive.

Do the hard things first to free your mind and time

Doing the most difficult and complex tasks first is a challenge, but it will give you more time in the end. Have you ever seen the rock illustration demonstrating Stephen Covey’s time and task management theory (pictured left)? The jar represents your time, when the big rocks (hard tasks) go in first you’ll notice that the smaller pebbles and sand are able to fill in the crevasses to prevent the jar from overflowing. However, when you fill in the jar with the smaller, less complex tasks first, there is not enough room in the jar to hold the big rocks. Organize your workspace in a way that leads you to complete the more complex tasks first by having them positioned to begin when you first open your laptop or when you first enter your office. You may also find it helpful to eliminate distractions during the time you are working on your bigger rocks so that you can optimize your focus. Another way to work through this is to name your complex tasks and break them down into smaller less complicated tasks to complete.

Don’t overbook and over-require

Be mindful of your energy and how it ebbs and flows throughout the day, week, and season. Think about your priorities and make adjustments and provisions for your wellness. Resting is not a once-a-week or every once-in-a-while activity. Incorporate rest of all kinds into your daily wellness regimen. In Sacred Rest, Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith describes the types of rest you need to recover well. This book was particularly helpful for me as I started to feel the weight of life’s demands. Check it out here (commissions earned) for more details!

Work is abundant, and engagements are plentiful, but you are one.  Make sure that with all you have to do and accomplish you leave time for yourself to rest and recover. I remember being in my mid-20s and agreeing with myself that I would work endlessly for the next few years to get ahead in my career. That decision left me burned out and completely unhappy in my profession. A great way to find balance and not overbook yourself is to begin a routine time management practice. I’ll describe how you can learn more about the strategies I’ve acquired to find balance in the next paragraph.

Practice Mindfulness

It’s so easy to be in the present moment thinking about later. Learning to be present is a great way to simplify life. I had a boss who had a way of making everyone feel important in the moments she spent with them. When I asked her how she was able to do that, she shared that she allows herself to be fully present with each person. What if we treated the moments in life like this? It may require more planning at the start, but ultimately we would get to focus on each moment completely without contemplating the next. Planning allows you to free up your mental energy to invest in the areas of your life that you choose to nourish. Begin a weekly time management practice to execute this desire. In the Time Management Activity book here, I feature tried and true practices I have learned and used to successfully manage life, school, and career.

Declutter & Clean Up

Have you ever had that feeling after you clean up and throw away all the unnecessary objects in your space, suddenly your mood and attitude lift? When I lived in Boston, I had a roommate who maintained a simple capsule wardrobe. Conversely, I had mounds of clothes and accessories. She was on time to work every day and I was always late. The abundance of material staring at me every morning complicated my morning and burdened my mind with critical decisions early in my day. I was paralyzed by indecision and often ran late because there was simply too much in front of me. When I decided to declutter, my time management and sense of style improved. Clearing out the underutilized items freed my physical space and a clearer mind was the inevitable by-product.

Bonus! – Start a Gratefulness Practice

One of my former bosses gave me a 5-minute journal when I started working with her. This journal requires you to write down 3 things you are grateful for at the start of each day and a self-affirmation. At night you acknowledge 3 amazing things that happened to you that day. This simple practice of journaling allowed me to find ways to enjoy and appreciate the little things I encountered each day. Developing a gratefulness practice can bring about an appreciation for what many consider mundane. It allows you to see the wonder in the ordinary! The 5-Minute journal is honestly the best way I’ve found to start and maintain this practice. Check out the 5-Minute Journal here (commissions earned).

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