18 ways to simplify your life
written by Jasmine Irven
As society and technology have advanced, I recognize that there are a lot of ways that life has been made “simpler.” I can barely remember what it’s like to have to go to the library to look something up, or to wait for more than a few moments for Google to load the answer to one of my daily inquiries.
Things are faster and supposedly “better.” But I’m often left wondering if that’s really the case.
I know logically in the past things were more challenging -- maybe they took longer or required more effort, but sometimes I do imagine what life would be life without technology. Without the constant stream of notifications as distraction from my work or life. Without feeling this constant need to be “on.”
And so, I’ve compiled a list of 18 ways to get back to the concepts of true simplicity that I so yearn for.
1. simplify your to-do list
Look at your current schedule and ask yourself: what brings you joy? What do you enjoy doing? What feels like it takes your energy? Can you delegate or remove anything on this list?
2. learn to say no
“When you say yes to others, ensure you’re not saying no to yourself in the process.” If you are, you may need to reassess how and where you’re spending your energy. If something feels like a “no”, it probably is. Trust your intuition.
3. meal plan
Avoid the stress of last minute stops at the grocery store or not knowing what to eat with just a little bit more intentional planning. Make this work for you and your schedule!
4. declutter
Take a moment to reduce the anxiety and stress created by clutter by getting rid of things that don’t serve a purpose or don’t bring you joy. Decluttering can dramatically shift your frequency, allowing things to flow with greater ease.
5. practise gratitude
Taking a few moments to notice what you’re grateful for can dramatically shift your energy, allowing you to take some pressure off “achieving” and instead recognizing what you already have.
I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness — it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practising gratitude.
— Brene Brown
6. do a digital detox
If you, like me, feel this sometimes constant need to be “on,” consider taking a break from digital. While social media and the internet offer a variety of benefits, they also come with a lot of comparison, a lot of judgement, and a lot of negativity.
Depending on your situation there are a few different levels of disconnecting. Ask yourself which one works for you.
Maybe commit to turning your phone on do-not-disturb for the entire day, maybe you simply turn off notifications, or maybe you turn off your phone completely for an hour and put it in a drawer (or for 3 hours. Or 7).
Then ask yourself, what will I have time for now that I’m not distracted? For self-love? To work on projects you’ve been putting off? To read that book that’s been sitting on your shelf?
7. lean into minimalism
The main ideology behind minimalism (from my interpretation anyways) is that less is more. Ask yourself: what are the things that truly bring me joy? What do I want to spend more of my time doing? What do I want to spend less of my time doing? Adjust your life accordingly.
8. create a capsule wardrobe
A capsule wardrobe is a collection of a few essential items of clothing that do not go out of season. My wardrobe looks like a number of comfortable pieces and mainly neutral colours; items I can continue to go back to, items that each go with one another. Simplifying your wardrobe in this fashion (pun intended) can save you a great amount of time, stress, and money.
9. clean up your phone
Simplify your phone by deleting apps, moving photos to a hard drive, deleting old conversations, cleaning out your contacts, etc. Again, consider the ideology that less is more.Try to create an environment on your device where when you’re using it it’s actually helpful, rather than stressful. A regular practise of going through your phone can be great for shifting your energy.
10. clean up your desktop
Creating a clean, clutter-free desktop can do wonders for your stress levels. Delete things you no longer need, and sort the rest into appropriate folders to make your life easier.
11. create space in your day
Book extra time in between meetings and appointments, schedule time to relax, and avoid overbooking yourself or committing to too many things. Create space so that when life inevitably happens and your meeting runs late or you have an extra appointment you forgot about, you’re not so stressed. And, remember that these in-between moments are where you can find peace and calm throughout your day. You deserve that time, so give it to yourself.
12. learn to be mindful
Mindfulness is being present in the here and now; being aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. It is the antidote to auto pilot, and something which is often lost in our over-scheduled and chaotic lives.
We seem to move through life with this anticipation that the next moment, the future moment will be better. But, then that moment arrives and we are again searching for the following moment; unable to enjoy the present as it is. So, instead try to find peace and a sense of content in the present moment. Here are 9 ways you can incorporate mindfulness into your day.
13. unsubscribe from emails
Your email inbox can be a huge time suck, and it’s especially frustrating when it feels like it never ends. Unsubscribe from emails that don’t serve a clear purpose in your life, or don’t give you information you’re actually interested in and/or are excited about.
14. complete a social media cleanse
Go through your social media accounts and unfriend or unfollow any accounts that don’t bring you joy. Ask yourself: is this person still in my life? Am I following this person/account because I want to or because I feel I have to? Do I enjoy the content on this account?
15. set intentions rather than goals
I love a good goal setting session, but if you’re finding them overwhelming, opt for intention-setting. Intention-setting essentially means looking at your life as it is and asking yourself which areas of your life you’d like to nourish moving forward. Based on that, consider choosing a guiding principle or two where you’d like to focus your energy moving forward (kindness, love, calm, etc.).
Rather than a goal which has a clearly defined “achieved or not” to it, intention-setting is something you can come back to daily, asking yourself where you spent your energy that day and how you can shift it moving forward.
16. create morning and evening rhythms
Morning and nighttime routines are a perfect opportunity to create more time for yourself and do things you truly enjoy. Curate a list of a few things you can incorporate into your morning and evenings.
We’re calling this creating a rhythm rather than a routine because let’s be honest, life doesn’t always allow for strict routines. Have an ideal schedule, or a list of a few self-care rituals you enjoy, and then allow for flexibility.
17. implement some simple upgrades
Try to incorporate more of the little things that light you up into your day! Here are 92 simple ways to upgrade your day in case you need some inspiration.
18. do what you love
How much of your time is spent doing things you love? You deserve time to relax and unwind, time to pursue that passion you’ve been wanting to test out, time to just sit and be.
Ask yourself: what truly matters? Get clear about what this season of your life currently looks like and what you want it to look like. Then consider what a few simple shifts you can make might be to create more time and space for those things you love. Lean in.
I’d love to know what resonates with you, and what other areas of life you’re trying to simplify! Let us know below!
Sustainable Bliss Collective endorses products & brands we genuinely love and support. If you end up making a purchase through one of our affiliate links, it will not cost you anything but we may earn a commission. Learn more here.
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about the author
Hey there! I’m Jasmine, founder of the Sustainable Bliss Collective, a Certified Meditation Teacher, and lover of all things self-care, slow-living, and personal development.
I believe that ambition and self-care can coexist, and as such I hope to encourage and inspire you to take care of yourself, breathe deeply, connect with who you are, manifest your dreams, enjoy the blissful moments of each day, and make an impact in this beautiful world we call home.
Connect with me on Instagram here!
