If you are looking to live a simpler life- starting today is the ideal time as it’s National Simplicity Day! Here are our top tips for living a life that is free of complication.
Have a digital detox
Declutter: However you choose to do this is up to you- you might prefer to pare down your items all in one weekend, room by room or drawer by drawer. Whatever your preference- decluttering is a great place to start when you want to live more simply. Simple surroundings lead to a decluttered mind and the mental space to pursue other things.
Say ‘no’: Learn how to use the word ‘no’ if it’s not something you say very much. We need to say ‘no’ to people sometimes to protect ourselves from burnout. You can’t do everything and you can’t please everyone all the time and this means looking after yourself first on occasion. You can do this easily but declining invitations or requests for help if you really don’t have the time or the energy.
Distance yourself from people who are bad for you: The people who drain you of energy, who treat you badly, who spend time with you for the wrong reasons- these are all bad for your quest for simplicity. Consider the people in your life who fit into this category- try to keep as much space between you as possible and see how you feel once they no longer play a part in your world.
Spend less time on social media: Social media encourages you to compare your life to others, to waste time scrolling over meaningless pictures and videos, to buy things you don’t need and to believe what is in front of you- which is not always the truth. By removing this from your life or at the very least reducing it- you take away these negative influences too.
Budget: One way to simplify your finances and your life is to budget. Keep tight control of your income and your outgoings and know exactly what you can spend money on in each category each month. If you know you can’t afford something- the answer is simple- you can’t have it.
Buy products that do a multitude of things: Coconut oil for all your beauty needs, a one pot cooker for all of your cooking requirements and clothes that work for a number of different occasions are all ways of buying less and using less.
Make lists: Rather than pondering over what you need to do at work and at home- write a list before bed each night of what you need to do the next day. Include anything from your diary too like appointments so you can tick them off as you go. Once the list is ticked- you’re done for the day- simple!
MORE: Seven signs you need to minimise your home
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