?Less Is More? 10 Tips To A Simpler LifeYou were born a simple being. You came into this world with nothing, but as you grew, you began to attract more "stuff" and chaos into your life. However, there is hope for you! You can get back to a simpler life as an adult but you must actively choose simplicity and make changes to achieve it. Here are ten ways to create simplicity in your life:
1. Identify what is causing chaos in your life. Is it too many activities, too many "voluntary obligations," too many priorities, too much debt, toxic relationships, too much clutter in your home or workplace...all these things can be raising your chaos level. The first step is to identify what is adding chaos, and is NOT adding a significant amount of joy, happiness or value to your life.
2. Scale down your possessions. Every single thing you own, from your three toothbrushes to
four winter coats to shoeboxes you're saving "just in case" takes something from you. It costs you time and energy out of your life because it all has to be maintained, stored, cleaned, moved or sorted through at some point. Plus, it takes up physical and mental space. Everything you own also owns a little piece of you, so now is time to start parting with all those things that don't bring you joy or value. You will be giving yourself gift of more energy and space and if you donate your used possessions to charitable organizations, you?ll be helping those who truly are in need.
3. Shop wisely. Remember that everything you bring into your home takes energy and space. Evaluate carefully while you?re at store what you?re buying and why. Visualize yourself bringing it home, finding a place to keep it, maintaining it, and then selling it off at a garage sale in a few years for a fraction of what you paid for it. If you still want it, and can think of a real use for it, it?s probably a valid purchase.
4. Turn off television. The average American watches in excess of 20 hours of television per week. With this in mind, turn off T.V. one night a week to have quiet time to yourself or with your family. Don't worry...the news will continue to happen even if you're not watching it!
5. Cut your hair. Sound silly? How much time, effort and aggravation is it to deal with your hair every day? If your hair is high maintenance, consider a new style that will take less time and effort. Any stylist worth his salt will be able to give you a hair design which will fit your face and hair type and will still be easy to live with. 6. Evaluate your time commitments. Look at how much time and energy you're spending on activities, organizations, clubs, social groups, etc. Really evaluate how much value or joy they give you in relation to what you invest. If you find that some have outlived their benefit or aren't making you happy anymore, just stop spending your time there. You'll then have more time for ones you do enjoy.
