5 Ways To Simplify Your Life

Life can seem so complicated. Too many things compete for your time, energy and attention and your priorities sometimes get hijacked. At the end of the day there are lots of items that just get carried over to the next day because you ran out of time to get them done. You're left feeling tired, somewhat dissatisfied and a little out of control.

One way to stop that "run away life" feeling is to reduce or eliminate the non-essentials in your life and get back to the basics. To avoid making these suggestions just another to do list, begin by choosing one idea and implementing it.

Remember:

Small changes done consistently produce great results.

Try these ideas to simplify your life:

1. Make a list of your life essentials.

Priorities can easily get lost or sidetracked if you don't keep them front and centre. Take some reflection time and make a list of your life essentials. Think of it as your "must have non-negotiable list".

Ask yourself: What are the key habits that I want to form the foundation of each day?

Keep the list short and then make a conscious choice to honor those essentials first before other commitments.

2. Simplify your food.

In the pursuit of convenience, it's easy to lower your standards when it comes to food. Get back to the basics by focusing on rustic or peasant food. Use simple, fresh and few ingredients when preparing meals. Move away from things in boxes that contain multi-syllabic ingredients. If you can't pronounce it or it wasn't produced by nature, give it up. Re-experience the joy of eating wholesome food, prepared simply in a spirit of gratitude.

3. Get out in nature.

Human beings are naturally wired to connect with nature yet we often choose to spend too much time inside plugged into some form of technology. Dress for the weather and go outside. Walking 20 -30 minutes each day has both meditative and physical benefits. Breathe, be present to the moment and allow yourself to relax and enjoy the scenery.

4. Say no.

The way you end up with too many non-essential commitments, activities and distractions is by saying yes without considering your life essentials list. You can say no! If you find that you are driven by guilt or people pleasing, there are some simple strategies you can learn. Begin by creating a week long moratorium on saying yes. Tell people you are participating in a "say no experiment". Experience what it's like to not automatically say yes. Pay attention to your inner chatter during the week. That will help point you toward the kinds of say no strategies you might need to learn.

5. Take ten.

In a life jam packed with non-essentials, there's a good chance you put yourself last on your list. Take ten minutes each day just for you. If you think you don't have ten minutes just for yourself, contact me right now!

Use your "take ten time" to recharge. You might simply sit and do nothing but breathe. Or you could do some yoga stretches, listen to some music, journal, dance, meditate. Taking ten minutes creates a space for you to reconnect with your life essentials.