Benefits of Simplifying
Thinking about simplifying our lives usually brings about thoughts of actual “things.” While cleaning out the junk drawer or donating boxes from your closet can feel extremely rewarding, the benefits are far more than just tangential. Let’s take a look at just a few ways that simplicity can be beneficial. Keep reading to learn how to simplify your life.
1. More confidence, less worry.
The more you focus on the things that matter to you, the more confident you might be in yourself and those things you’ve put as a priority in your life.
2. Getting to know YOU.
Less focus on things means more focus on you. More focus on you means time to look at your strengths and weaknesses and to figure out what makes you tick. Need help with identifying your strengths and weaknesses? Read this post.
3. Save your pennies.
Fewer things and activities can mean fewer bills. Enough said.
4. Improve your relationships.
Fewer relationships doesn’t mean “less.” Fewer can mean more time for deeper meaning within those relationships.
5. Increase your focus.
When your mind isn’t needing to focus on 37 different things, it’s more likely to do well focusing on the one thing you need it to!
How to Simplify YOUR Life
How can you start to simplify? Simplifying doesn’t mean you need to rid your home of all your worldly possessions. (But hey, more power to you if that’s what you want!) Simplicity is about creating space where you feel you need it—your home, your time, your mind, your relationships. Here are a few ways to start weeding through!
- Use fewer words. Keep your speech plain and honest. Mean what you say. Avoid gossip.
- Lessen your screen time. We talk about this one a lot. We’re all guilty of it, and we should all try just a little harder to spend a little less time online and a little more time with ourselves or our people. The Internet is flooding our brains with millions of snippets of information all day—decreasing this is the ultimate act of simplifying.
- Decrease your negative thoughts. Negativity can be consuming, so try focusing your thoughts on the positives in your life. Often, these are the simplest moments of our day.
- Get rid of some “stuff.” This one is obvious: Pick a closet or a drawer in any room in the house and start weeding out. Been a year since you used it? Might be time for it to retire.
- Evaluate your time commitments and what should stay or go. Quarantine has helped many people realize they were too busy in their lives. Take an active role in identifying what activities should stay or go in your everyday life. You might find that there’s one or two too many.
- Work down your debt. It can seem overwhelming at first, but diving into that debt headfirst is a great way to start simplifying (and lowering your blood pressure!).
- Focus on your preventative healthcare. Make a dentist appt BEFORE you break a crown. Schedule your yearly checkup with the doctor. Get your eyes checked! Life is simpler when you’re acting instead of reacting.
- Take two minutes and write down as many things you can think of that you’re thankful for. Focus on those things.
- Put a box by your front door. Every day put one thing in it that you don’t need. At the end of the week, either re-home or donate the box.
- Remove any apps, photos, or clutter on your phone that aren’t serving you. You’ll be amazed how much easier it is to find things when there are fewer things!
- Plan your dinners for the week BEFORE the week starts. Make sure you have the ingredients on hand. You’ll thank yourself for already knowing what the meal is, AND for being prepared. (Bonus points for cooking ahead of time!)
- Forgive someone. Nothing will simplify your life like letting go of the past. While it can be very difficult, it’s worth diving into.
- Unsubscribe from email lists. Go through your inbox and think about which email lists are serving you. If it doesn’t, unsubscribe! Fewer emails mean less clutter.
- Create a simple morning routine and follow it for a week—see how it feels to follow through!
- Plan time to be active. Scheduling time for you, whether that’s a walk, a run, heading to the gym, or pressing play on a workout in your living room … putting it on your calendar significantly boosts the likelihood that you’ll do it! Plan it, do it, and be heart and lung healthy!
Simplifying our lives is not always easy, but it can help us create space in all areas and is definitely worth pursuing! Incorporate one or all of these items and see how your life changes.
What are some ways you’ve incorporated simplicity into your life? Comment and share below!
