How to Simplify - Life Coaching With a Smile

Many people want to simplify their lives. There are a lot of good reasons to do it. The question you may have is how to simplify your life.

If you want to incorporate simplicity into your life, here are some suggestions to help you begin to simplify. You can start small and build or maybe find one or two that resonate with you.

Five Ideas About How to Simplify

Life is simple but we insist on making it complicated

Decide what to leave behind

You cannot simplify your life without letting some things go. What is important? Define your priorities and find balance between what you want and need. Make an intentional choice of what you are leaving behind by giving yourself permission to change priorities. Do you want a bigger office and longer work hours or do you want more time with family.

How to simplify your life starts with decluttering

Do things the “write” way

Probably nothing gives us more stress than trying to figure out how to accomplish everything we feel we ought to do. Priorities, goals, action steps, daily routines. It gets hard to remember your list.

WRITE IT DOWN. Whether it is goals for today, to do lists or a list of priorities. Once you write it down your brain can let go of remembering and relax. Routines that become a part of everyday also reduce our stress.

For example, make a list at night just before bed of what you would like to accomplish the next day. In the morning take a look. Are their errands? Can you work out a way to organize them so you aren’t backtracking? Can you postpone something until you can combine it with other things? Maybe things can be moved. Prioritize and be flexible. You should cross things off as you do them and celebrate your success.

Say “Yes” to you

Practice self-compassion. How much of our stress is caused by that harsh inner voice that pushes us to take on too much, to compete with the family next door, buy too many things to measure up. How much easier it would be if we could forgive ourselves and quiet that inner voice.

Declutter our homes and let go of regrettable decisions. (Who has clothes in your closet with tags still on them?) You are forgiven! It’s okay to give that stuff away. Declutter and organize. If it doesn’t bring you joy get rid of it. It’s OK to give grandma’s china to someone who needs the dishes.

The less stuff you have to take care of the more time you have for you. The longer it takes to find something in your clutter the less time you have with your hobby or kids.

Lastly, treat yourself as you would treat a friend. Would you let them continue to consistently over commit, allow them to miss sleep and meals to finish someone else’s get it done list? So don’t you do it either.

Practicing self compassion takes time to perfect, but a simpler life requires a less stressed you.

“She gave herself permission to rest. It occurred to her that since her to-do list would never end, she may as well take purposeful breaks along the way.” – Krista O’Reilly-Davi-Digui

Learn to linger

Yes slow down and smell the roses. Life is simpler when you slow down and create space to breathe, but how often do we allow ourselves to do it. Even when, deep down, we know the value of slowing down, a voice propels us forward, urging us to “move, hurry do more.“ Habit and fear of appearing lazy make us work ever-harder.

Slowing down takes practice. Create a new habit and learn to linger. Take a minute in the morning to sit on the bed and be grateful, take a breath and listen. Several times during the day stop to have some quiet/appreciative/lingering mindful moments before moving on. Slowly these simpler days will become routine.

Create a space of love and joy

Surround yourself with positivity. Whether it is inspirational art, literature, pictures of your family and friends, or music. Prioritize joy everyday. I have a photo of my grandchildren in front of me and I often take a second to look at their photo and smile. It’s takes just a second but it always lifts me up. This joy reminds me that the world is big, and not everything is perfect, but I am grateful for the beauty and love that surrounds me.

How you Simplify Your Life is not Simple

Simple living is the result of many hundreds, tiny decisions. Small choices to slow down, respect your boundaries, and care for yourself matter more because small changes lead to simplicity from the inside out, which means you can carry it with you no matter where life takes you.

Warren Buffet has said the true measure of your success in life is how many of the people you want to have love you actually do love you. That’s the ultimate test of how you have lived your life. The more you give love away, the more you get. A simpler life encourages and enables us to take time to give love away.