5 Tips to Simplify Your Life

Now is the perfect time for a comprehensive cleanup, and by this, I don't just mean tidying up our homes but also sorting and organising the other aspects of our lives.

Note: This article is adapted from Erin Falconer's blog, where she gives us tips for simplifying your life based on one of her books.

Undoubtedly, you have a lot on your plate, but doesn't each day feel packed with numerous activities? Are you spending most of your time glued to your phone rather than engaging with the people around you?

We all want to regain control of our lives, and the numerous stories I shared in my new book, Soup for the Soul: The Joy of Less, co-authored with Brooke Burke-Charvet, will truly inspire you. It offers fantastic insights and tips to help you on that journey.

5 Tips to Simplify Your Life

Here are five tips drawn from five stories in my book that will guide you as you begin:

1. Avoid Holding Onto Things That Others Might Find Useful

In this story, Jeanie Jacobson posed a thought-provoking question to her friend while assisting with cleaning and organising: "Do you genuinely keep things that others might find useful?" This question significantly shifted her friend's outlook.

The notion of retaining items needed by someone else served as a powerful motivation for her to declutter her home happily. Jeanie noted about her friend, "I've never witnessed someone willingly parting with so many useful items," prompting Jeanie to reflect on the same question when she returned home.

Upon seeing dusty sports equipment, cabinets, and baskets brimming with clothes, she asked herself, "Why hold onto all this when there are so many people in need?" Without hesitation, she promptly contacted a second-hand store. Jeanie realised she had plenty of items to donate—possessions that could be a source of blessing for those in need.

2. Realise That You Carry Memories With You, Not Your Possessions

While Amelia Hollingsworth faced the challenge of parting with certain possessions while packing up for a move to a new city, many of their pieces of furniture held cherished memories. However, the constraints of their smaller new home forced her to make tough decisions about what to take and leave behind.

At this moment, her mother advised Sage, "Our memories aren't confined to these things, and don't assume you'll lose them by leaving some belongings behind because you carry the memories with you." She was right. Although Amelia had to bid farewell to many items that held sentimental value, the absence was not felt.

She aptly puts it, "We didn't lose our joyful memories from our old home because we carried them within us, the one thing we never had to pack and unload."

3. Say No Occasionally

Sydney Logan finds that her commitment to helping others has dominated every aspect of her life. Whether volunteering to lend a hand, meticulously choosing the ideal gift for birthdays, graduations, or weddings, or enthusiastically attending various occasions, she admits, "Exhaustion has evolved beyond a mental state; it has become the essence of my entire life."

With guidance from her therapist, Sydney realised that it's perfectly acceptable to refuse tasks she doesn't wish to undertake. She expressed, "It's necessary because we can't do everything, especially if we want to maintain our mental health."

Currently, Sydney volunteers only for activities that genuinely resonate with her, not out of a sense of obligation. She acknowledges, "It's not always a straightforward journey, and there are moments when I still grapple with feelings of selfishness. However, I've evolved into a happier and more tranquil individual, aligning with the person I should be.

4. Sometimes, It’s Fine To Be Lazy

Upon noticing her granddaughters appearing weary during their stay, Sally Friedman and her husband spontaneously decided to abandon all planned activities for the evening. Instead, they opted for a relaxed evening, donning their pyjamas, engaging in card games, and, after dinner, gathered around the table to share amusing and charming stories.

Sally reflected, "I refrained from immediately diving into cleaning up, realising that the dishes could wait, unlike children who sometimes can't." As the weekend concluded, the girls showed reluctance to leave, and Sally eloquently concluded, "I believe they grasped the notion that doing nothing can sometimes be quite remarkable."

5. Disconnect From The Internet And Reconnect With Real-Life Experiences

Kate Lemery returned to using Facebook after avoiding it for years, only to quickly become addicted to the platform. Immersed in the lives of others on the platform, she began incessantly comparing herself to them, damaging her relationships. In her words, "I found myself harbouring unwarranted resentment towards my family, solely because I felt inadequate compared to the seemingly blissful lives I observed on Facebook."

However, one day, during lunch with a friend, Kate became acutely aware of the considerable amount of time she was wasting on Facebook and how it negatively impacted her quality time with her family. This realisation prompted her to make a change. She recounts, "That night, I decided to change how I used the platform. Now, I limit myself to just fifteen minutes per week. If someone has something important to share, they can tell me personally.

Now, Kate reads more books, watches movies, and truly enjoys her time with her family. In her own words, echoing the sentiments of the legendary humorist Erma Bombeck, she says, "Today, I cry and laugh less on Facebook as I live my life in the real world.