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We live an age that’s geared towards convenience and making our lives easier.
Smart phones that eradicate the need to do old-fashioned research, drive-through pharmacies, drive-through restaurants, Bluetooth devices so we can talk while we drive, and banking online barely scratch the surface of the plethora of services that we have at our disposal, all formulated with the goal of making our lives easier.
And yet, our lives are still vastly complicated. Some of us may even long for the days when things were far simpler, or when we had fewer distractions.
While we’ll never be able to slow down the seemingly break-neck speed at which we’re hurtling into the future, there are a few things we can do differently to make our lives less complicated. Follow these 7 tips to simplify your life.
7 Easy Ways to Simplify Your Life
1. Tackle your goals one at a time. Often when we attempt to multitask and accomplish several tasks simultaneously, we spread ourselves far too thin, which not only compromises the quality of what we’re working on, but creates unnecessary stress and complications. Rather than multitasking, prioritize your goals in order of meaning and urgency. Commit them to paper, and focus on them one at a time. You’ll find that a more methodical, focused approach like this creates far less complications, and ultimately saves time.
2. Declutter your space. Decluttering your space has been shown to not only improve your mental health, but also elevate your productivity levels. Why? When you clear away the clutter, you create a space that is free of unnecessary distractions and chaos, and instead lends itself to focus and productivity.
3. Create less excess. “Creating less excess” may allude to being more mindful of the waste we create as humans (e.g., food waste, paper waste, etc.). While this is a worthy, good endeavor we should all strive for, there are other ways we can cut down on our excess, as well. Think of all the unnecessary things we do that further complicate our lives. Gossiping about others, complaining about life, buying more clothes or makeup than we need, and setting unattainable standards for ourselves are all ways in which we create excess in our lives. Life is already complicated enough. Aim to simplify yours by removing the things that don’t serve you or your well-being.
4. Give yourself a social media detox. While social media can be a great tool for keeping in touch with family and friends, it can quickly become an addiction when our use of it spirals out of control (here are some tips for keeping your social media use in check). If you’re looking for a quick, effective way to simplify your life, try doing a social media detox. Without the pressing need to constantly check your newsfeed, or to check in, or to update your status, you’ll find that life is actually a lot simpler, and even more enjoyable simply because you’ll be able to live in your present reality, rather than a virtual one.
5. Focus more on the healthy, rewarding relationships in your life, and less on those that aren’t. Unhealthy or toxic relationships are emotionally draining and add little to no value in your life. Plus, they add layers of completely unnecessary complications that make life more difficult to enjoy. Simplify your social life by investing in only the fruitful relationships that add value to your life. It’s relationships like these that will make your life fuller and ultimately happier.
6. Replace your “To-do” list with an “I want” list. While I’m all for writing up a to-do list when I need to get sh*t done, sometimes a to-do list adds an unnecessary amount of pressure to tasks that could otherwise be enjoyable. Instead of writing up your usual list of tasks to do, write up what you want to do. In this way, you’ll mentally emphasize the things you desire most. This will place a higher priority on what you want to do, and ensure a greater chance of you actually completing the task.
7. Stop thinking about the future, and focus on your life as it is right now. So much of our lives focus on the future and planning ahead. Maybe you’re going to school right now to score the job you want in the future. Or maybe you’re working more than one job to save up for something you want to buy one day. When you think about it, so much of our daily lives go into planning our futures that we forget to live in the present moment. Take a break from this mindset, and choose to mindfully focus on your life as it is today. Tomorrow will come without fail, but you’ll never get today back.
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