10 Steps to Simplify Your Life:
1. Understand that simplification may require a major change. If you are serious about this, you may be making big changes that will have profound effects. Are you ready for this? If not, don’t worry, start with small changes.
2. Evaluate your current lifestyle honestly. Where is the clutter? What is taking up your time, your peace of mind, your energy? Make a list, be as specific as possible and evaluate both the negative and positive value of each item on your list.
3. What have you gained from your frenzied pursuit over the past years? What are you willing to let go of? What are you not willing to part with? List the material things as well as the immaterial.
4. Make a list of how much of your busyness is composed of “shoulds” (e.g., “I should volunteer for this project”). Delegate, eliminate or automate all of the tasks, projects and goals you think you should do, but don’t really want to do.
5. Make a list of all your current commitments to include: family, friends, business, financial, houses, community, volunteering, projects, jobs.
6. Make a list of your habits. Which of these drain you? Which add to your busyness? Which add value? Which do not?
7. Spend time to eliminate everything that you are currently tolerating. Now is a good time to review your original list of petty annoyances.
8. Increase efficiency even if you don’t eliminate anything (e.g., change your workout to the Power of 10 and work out only 20 minutes a week and save three hours in which you could do something more joyful – meditate, dance, walk, have tea with a friend).
9. Analyze your current financial situation. If in debt, create a plan to pay off your debts while saving 10% of your income. Are you living above your means? The sooner you simplify, the sooner you’ll reduce this stress. It is very difficult to be your best if you are living with financial stress. Meet with a qualified financial planner (CFP) to create or review your financial plan.
10. Armed with this information, make a plan to simplify your life.
Homework: Use your journal to draft a plan. List all the ways in which you could simplify your life. Then pick one or two to implement this week. Or pick the big one that would make the biggest difference (like downsizing or moving closer to work to reduce or eliminate a commute).
Ten Minute Option: Set the timer and use your online journal to jot down ideas for ten minutes.
Enjoy!
Talane
