By now, I’m certain you’ve figured out that life is not as simple as it seems. Things like keeping your home clean, paying your bills and rent on time, keeping up with your family and friends just aren’t easy and sometimes these can lead to feeling overwhelmed. If that is you then you need to simplify your home.
This simplifying your life and home will bring harmony, joy, and freedom to everything that you do. When you begin to live simply and experience these benefits, you start wondering “Where else in my life can I remove distractions to further focus on what’s actually important to me”
Once this kind of thought enters your mind, you’ll gradually find a way to remove the excess of everything according to your preferences.
But, before you reach that stage, you need to start somewhere, right?
So, here are some effortless living tips to help streamline and simplify your home and life.
7 practical and actionable steps you can implement today to simplify your home and your life.
1. Have clear values, goals, and priorities
Your values, goals, and priorities not only give you a reason to continue but they also act as your compass to help you stay on track as you’re simplifying.
Become introspective and write your goals, priorities, and values down. Now, take some time to think about them and get crystal clear about what you really want to achieve in your life. I am a firm believer in the law of attraction and I have manifested great things previously and know that I will again.
Later, whenever a new opportunity, thing, request, etc strikes your door, check whether it aligns with your goals, values, and priorities, or are just adding more clutter and obstacles to your life.
2. Declutter
When you clear the excess of clutter from your home and simplify your living space, you go a long way towards simplifying your life as well.
The more things you own, the more time it takes to organize and manage it all. This can elevate your stress levels and could distract you from focusing on your goals, values, and priorities.
When you get rid of the excess and the distractions from your home, you allow yourself to invest your valuable time and energy behind the things that matter to you the most, like being with your loved ones or pursuing your hobbies.
There are some great decluttering tips you can use to help you get organised.
3. Incorporate routines and systems to help function your home smoothly
Incorporating routines and systems is really a great way to organize and maintain your home. Plus, they allow you to do things quickly and efficiently.
Here are a few routines and systems you can develop for your home,
· Daily 5 minutes routine – if you’re new to decluttering, you can start with just five minutes a day and gradually build the momentum.
· One item each day – This system will help you to remove 365 items every single year from your home.
· Create a sorting system – As you go through the rooms in your home, you’ll need a system to sort the things you find. Gather three boxes and label them to KEEP, TOSS, and STORE.
· Weekend decluttering routine – Sit with your family during weekends, discuss and get rid of items that you all no longer feel are necessary.
· Weekly cleaning routines – Designate a certain cleaning task for each day. For instance, Kitchen on Mondays, Bathrooms on Tuesdays, Dusting on Thursdays, and so on. My how to fake clean a home is good for emergencies but try and stay on top of it with Clever Laundry Hacks To Keep On Top Of It All!
Remember, you can create your own routine and systems yourself, it doesn’t matter how they look, as long as they work for you.
4. Add white space to your home
White space is just a trendy term used to describe the sense of clarity and stillness which allows us to relax and feel good. When you’re able to find white space in your life, you experience a sense of wellbeing and a connection to the whole.
However, in reality, we don’t always experience white space for long periods, mostly because we’re continually pounded with visually stimulating surroundings. So, when you add white space to your home it gives you a room to breathe and enjoy.
Have a goal to keep floors and surfaces as clutter-free as possible to add white space to your home. This not only gives you more space to live but also provides your eyes and your mind a place to rest. Using cheap laminate flooring can open up space and give the appearance of space without breaking the bank. A warm inviting rug is often then a good focal point along with a coffee table.
5. Practice saying “NO”
Simplifying your life requires you to decide what things matter to you the most and what you want to prioritise. Later, it requires saying “NO” to the things that don’t align with your values, priorities, and goals so that you’ve enough time to pursue the ones you actually want to do.
I know saying “NO” isn’t always easy. But, believe me, with time and practice it becomes easier.
6. Practice gratitude
Instead of always wanting more, better, bigger, and newer things, find contentment with whatever you currently have in your life or own at your home. A big part of embracing a simpler life is to feel grateful for your life and home the way it is.
Gratitude helps you to notice and appreciate all the good things that already exist in your life. So, whenever you’re tempted to possess something you don’t have, take a moment to think about what you already have.
Remember the golden rule of simplifying your life – “What you have is already enough” If you are new to gratitude read The Secret or start a Gratitude Journal.
7. Slow down
Finally, slow down, intentionally. Take time to pursue something that you really enjoy and give your undivided attention to it. Reduce distractions, work mindfully, and enjoy whatever you’re doing.
It could be anything, a short walk in nature, having a morning tea/coffee, reading a book, pursuing a hobby, or simply taking some time to sit and do nothing. Slowing down not only helps you to simplify your life but it also provides many other benefits such as,
· It provides better clarity – Working without clarity means, you’re working but, you’re not reaching anywhere.
· It motivates you to do great things by enhancing your performance.
· It helps you to manage your emotions so they don’t trigger bad behaviors or actions.
· It allows you to make mindful decisions.
Lastly, note that every individual is unique, so, start your simple living journey with these steps and later experiment with different ways according to your preferences. At last, it’s about creating a life focused on what you value the most.
I hope that I was able to give you a good insight into how you can simplify your home and life.
What strategies do you use to simplify your home/life? Drop your answers in the comments, I’d love to know!
