When the world (or our little corners of the world) feels overwhelming or complicated, it’s time to simplify everything, at least everything within our control.
Streamlining things and even a slight mindset shift can help remove what is weighing us down and distracting us. Trade chaos for ease and confusion for clarity by simplifying everything.
1.
Before simplifying further, think about what you really want out of this life of yours. Is this the time to simplify more, or is this the time to deepen a connection with someone you love? Is this the time to move on to your bookshelves, or is this the time to create something new, or serve in your community? Perhaps it is simply time to rest.
As you create more time, energy, space, and attention in your life, use simplicity to make a life you are excited to wake up to every day. Use it to better engage in relationships. Use it as confidence to live where you want, work where you want, and most importantly … to finally be who you are.
When decluttering is frustrating, or you regret spending too much, or you aren’t sure where this whole simplicity journey is headed, remind yourself that you aren’t creating a simple life, you are creating a life.
2.
Unless you want to be completely depleted, this cannot be your job anymore. Setting healthy boundaries will simplify everything.
3.
Wouldn’t it be simpler if it didn’t have to be perfect?
Let there be typos. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Let there be failures. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Let dinner be breakfast.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Let there be times when you wish you had done things differently. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Let your morning routine start at noon. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Let your new year’s resolutions start in September.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Let there be disagreements with people you love. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Let there be lazy afternoons. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Let yourself be imperfect … imperfectly you.
4.
The things you own, own you. They own your attention, time and energy. If you want more attention, time and energy for what matters, you know how to get it back.
5.
We’ve all tried to do it all, and do it all at the same time. It never works. Stop diluting your creativity, energy, attention and time by spreading yourself across everything.
What matters the most? Do that.
6.
This simplifies everything.
7.
I’ve played the catching up game and lost every time. The very moment that I felt all caught up was the very moment things would start building up again. There is always more laundry, more paperwork, more dishes, more email, more cooking and cleaning and on and on.
Catching up is a lie that keeps us going, going, going.
So what if we dropped the whole idea and did what we could in the time we had and didn’t measure our worth by how much we got done and how almost caught up we were? Then we’d be happier with what we were doing instead of mad that we didn’t finish it all.
What if we stopped compromising sleep, rest and health in the name of catching up, realizing that we are never caught up for more than a moment (if ever)? Then we’d be able to take better care of ourselves and the people we love.
Choose the reminder you need most to simplify everything, or at least a few things.