5 Ways to Simplify Your Life in the New Year
“The less we have on our plate, physically and mentally, the more energy and gratitude we can have for the life we want and the life we have!” - Zoë Kim, Minimalism for Families
Living a simplified life is anything but simple. It’s a mindset, a way to live. A choice you make daily, one simplified step at a time. We live in a fast-paced world where the word hustle is celebrated. But it doesn’t need to be. Living a simplified life means actively choosing to slow down and make space for peaceful living. It’s not only about decluttering your space. Living a simplified life is about letting go of those things that no longer serve you, so you can live a life of purpose and inner peace.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, or fear you could never achieve a life of simplicity, choose one aspect of your life to focus on. It’s more important to start small than to not start at all. Here are 5 actionable steps to help simplify your life as we move into the new year.
Simplify Your Space
Decluttering your entire home may seem overwhelming. Choose one room or space in your home to start with. Remove distractions and clear the surfaces. Remove anything that isn’t furniture off the floor. Create a space in your home where you can rest and feel calm. When you feel overwhelmed, spend time in this space to feel that sense of peace. Once you realize how decluttering can impact your mood, you’ll be ready to tackle the rest of your home.
Simplify Your Schedule
Learning to say no is the easiest way to simplify your schedule. We live in a world where busy is normal. It doesn’t have to be that way. White space on your calendar creates balance in our lives so we aren’t running from one place to the next every moment. If you have a hard time seeing white space and not being able to say no, physically write on your calendar “no plans”. This will help you realize time for rest is something we truly need to make space for.
Simplify Your Mindset
Continuing to live a simplified life means shifting your mindset around many different aspects of life. One of these aspects is what you buy as a consumer. Is this something that you need? Is the only reason you want to purchase it because it’s on sale? Do you already have something in your home that provides you with a similar purpose? Trying to be mindful about your purchases before you make them to avoid having to throw them out in the future.
Simplify Technology
Our phones may physically be small, however they can be overwhelming to our overall well-being. Simplifying your technology is just as important as decluttering your physical space. Start by going through the apps on your phone and deleting any you don’t currently use. Take it one step further and put your remaining apps into folders based on categories like work, social, and music. Only keep the apps you use on a daily basis on your home screen. Lastly, schedule downtime from your phone. Whether that means setting limits on your phone or plugging your phone in the kitchen at bedtime and walking away to give yourself some screen-free time.
Simplify What You Consume
We live in a world of information overload. Through TV, social media, and email, there is so much information to consume, it can be overwhelming. Choose one or two ways you prefer to consume information and ignore the rest. That might look like watching the morning news or subscribing to a daily newsletter like The Skimm. Keep yourself informed but leave space in your head for creation and your own thoughts.
