“Purity and simplicity are the two wings with which man soars above the earth and all temporary nature.” —Thomas à Kempis
Simplifying your life will bring balance, freedom, and joy. When we begin to live simply and experience these benefits, we begin to ask the next question, “Where else in my life can I remove distraction and simplify life to focus on the essentials?”
Once we’re able to answer that, we will understand what is important in our own lives.
How to Simplify Your Life
Based on our personal journey, our conversations, and our observations, here is a list of the 10 most important things to simplify in your life today to begin living a more balanced, joyful lifestyle:
1. Your Possessions – Too many material possessions complicate our lives to a greater degree than we ever give them credit. They drain our bank account, our energy, and our attention. They keep us from the ones we love and from living a life based on our values.
If you will invest the time to declutter the non-essential possessions from your life, you will never regret it. For more inspiration, consider Simplify: 7 Guiding Principles to Help Anyone Declutter Their Home and Life.
2. Your Time Commitments – Most of us have filled our days full from beginning to end with time commitments: work, home, kid’s activities, community events, religious endeavors, hobbies… the list goes on. When possible, release yourself from the time commitments that are not in line with your greatest values.
3. Your Goals – Reduce the number of goals you are striving for in your life to one or two. By reducing the number of goals that you are striving to accomplish, you will improve your focus and your success rate.
Make a list of the things that you want to accomplish in your life and choose the three most important. Focus there.
4. Your Negative Thoughts – Most negative emotions are completely useless. Resentment, bitterness, hate, and jealousy have never improved the quality of life for a single human being. Take responsibility for your mind. Forgive past hurts and replace negative thoughts with positive ones.
5. Your Debt – If
Find the help that you need and learn how to get out of debt. Sacrifice luxury today to enjoy freedom tomorrow.
6. Your Words – Use fewer words. Keep your speech plain and honest. Mean what you say. Avoid gossip.
7. Your Artificial Ingredients – Avoid trans fats, refined grain (white bread), high-fructose corn syrup, and too much sodium. Minimizing these ingredients will improve your energy level in the short-term and your health in the long-term.
Also, as much as possible, reduce your consumption of over-the-counter medicine – allow your body to heal itself naturally as opposed to building a dependency on substances.
8. Your Screen Time – Focusing your attention on television, movies, video games, and technology addiction affects your life more than you think. Media rearranges your values. It begins to dominate your life. And it has a profound impact on your attitude and outlook.
Unfortunately, when you live in that world on a consistent basis, you don’t even notice how it is impacting you. The only way to fully appreciate its influence in your life is to turn them off.
9. Your Connections to the World – Relationships with others are good, but constant streams of distraction are bad. Learn when to power off the phone, log off social media, or not read a text. Focus on the important, not the urgent.
A steady flow of distractions from other people may make us feel important, needed, or wanted, but feeling important and accomplishing importance are completely different things.
10. Your Multi-Tasking – Research indicates that multi-tasking increases stress and lowers productivity. While single-tasking is becoming a lost art, learn it. Handle one task at a time. Do it well. And when it is complete, move to the next.
Simplifying your life is a core aspect of minimalism. To learn more about this lifestyle, visit this primer on minimalism.
Daniel Nyongesa says
what a great least! unfortunately we live in technological error where multitasking just can’t be avoided. imagine world without money! that maybe one of the best thing to restore sanity on earth.
BT says
Good points.
There is no such thing as multi-tasking. There is an illusion of multi-tasking. Much of is due to shortened attention span aided by overload and onslaught of TV.
Johnny man G moleme says
Super… I could read this everyday 2have it stuck at the back of my head!
Manpreet singh says
These are so important for our life, thanks
ZenDonna says
Great article Joshua, while the areas it covers seem so basic, once undertaken I think people would be amazed to find how much the quality of their lives would increase. I shared on my Facebook and Twitter accounts. Wonderful piece!
Christie says
Words I will live by.
Tiffany says
I am especially loving #2. I wish more moms understood this principle. Just yesterday I was talking to a mom that was “so busy” and stressed. She had basketball, guitar, gymnastics, and Little Divas for her kids that night. I, on the other hand, had nothing. My kids and I ate snack and cleaned bedrooms. We sat down to dinner together and had “Thankful Time.” We did puzzles and homework. We read books and scriptures. There was no hurry, no rush and the house felt peaceful and calm. Plus every kid got individual snuggles as I tucked them into bed. Busyness is so overrated. Being home together as a family is not.
http://www.raisinglemons.com/me/underscheduled/
Bonnie Jo says
I have to agree with you. My son is about to turn 16 and people are always shocked when I tell them that he doesn’t play sports, never has liked them and that he enjoys being a homebody and spending time with me. They look at me like I have two heads…but what about his college, what about socialization, what about…doesn’t matter. I mean, those things are important, but if my kid is miserable because he doesn’t have time to himself or time to even turn around, what is the point? I cherish every minute with him and am glad I didn’t sign him up for a bunch of things he didn’t really want to do anyway. Except swimming. I made him take swim lessons for years because I wanted him to be safe, but that’s different.
Love your line “Busyness overrated. Being home together as a family is not”
Perfect!
di says
I raised my two girls alone. I allowed one event per week. Between their schedule and mine, I felt that was more than reasonable.
lioo says
What about FAITH ???
Emilie says
Life need to be simple and pure, so that you can focus on what you want!
Jacky Chan says
It is very good suggestions. Will try to follow it.