15 Ways to Simplify Life

In the modern world that we live in today, life has become so complex with careers, family, finances, health, etc. While juggling between finding the balance between all these aspects of life, you can easily experience burnout and other challenging situations. Therefore, learning how to simplify life has become very important.

Why life tends to get complicated

Today, the majority of us as adults have so many responsibilities. Our lives have become more complicated with work, family, bills to pay and a never ending to do list. It can become very difficult to keep everything in order when you are being dragged in different directions.

Hence it has never been more important to find ways to simplify life and reduce the burden on yourself. Don’t get me wrong, this is not an easy thing to do but it doesn’t mean we should stop trying. In this post, I share 15 tested ways to simplify life and live a more balanced and fulfilling life.  

15 Ways to simplify life

1. Have a morning routine

Mornings are so important. It sets the tone for the rest of the day and prepares the mind and body to face what is out there. Therefore it’s very important to have a personalized morning routine that is achievable and works for you. Some of us may have a few hours long morning routines while others may only have a short period of time. If you don’t know how to get started, read this post on how to create a powerful morning routine.

2. Set monthly goals

A lot of us set life goals and yearly goals. But how many of us actually take the time to break it down to monthly goals? I bet only a few of us. If you want to achieve your life and yearly goals, you need to be able to break it down and simplify it. Every month, create a short list of monthly goals that will take you closer to your life and yearly goals. This will surely help you simplify this aspect of life.

3. Carry a water bottle

When we are busy and under stress, it can be easy to forget to keep hydrated. And sometimes, water may not be easily available around you so you may delay it. By carrying your own water bottle you are solving this problem while also contributing to saving our environment. Water bottles come mostly in plastic and the volume of plastic waste is a major cause of environmental pollution.

4. Simplify your wardrobe

We have all been there. Unless you’re a super organized minimalist, chances are you also have a reasonable amount of excess clothes and other unwanted items in your wardrobe. This can take up valuable time to find the things you need and cause unnecessary stress rearranging your wardrobe every time you need to find something you haven’t used in a while. So take the time to go through each and every item in your wardrobe. I generally follow a simple rule which is if I haven’t used it in the past year, I probably don’t need it and get rid of it. 

5. Declutter your home 

Our home has a direct influence on how we feel. If we are surrounded by a well organized and neat home, our minds can reflect the same most of the time. We all know how quickly our homes can get untidy and filled with clutter from all the different things that we do. Grocery and dinner bills, bags, bottles and dust can gather pretty quickly. So at least once a week, make the time to get rid of the clutter and clean your living spaces. 

6. Start filing paper clutter

Paper clutter is one thing that gathers up really fast. There are two simple ways to manage it. One way is to find a file with dividers to keep it all organized as you go. The other way is to switch to digital completely and say no to paper bills unless you know you’ll need them later. This is a great way to simplify life and make your house free of clutter. 

7. Make a monthly budget

A lot of us live from paycheck to paycheck. This means by the time we get paid, we are already waiting for it to pay for the pending expenses such as rent, bills, mortgages, loans, etc. If you want to escape this, be smart and make a budget every month before you start spending your hard earned money. Once you’ve paid your mandatory expenses, set aside a small but reasonable amount and put it in a savings account. A good rule to follow would be the 50/30/20 rule. 50% on rent and other major expenses, 30% on lifestyle, and 20% on a savings account.  

8. Unsubscribe from emailing lists

Digital clutter is a real thing. How many of you receive so many emails that you don’t want in your inbox daily? I’m guessing a lot. Some may be things you signed up for a while ago and others you may have no idea about. All these emails are distracting you and piling up in your inbox. This can also cause some amount of stress if you’re someone who likes to be organized. Take the time to unsubscribe from any newsletters that don’t add value to your life. 

9. Plan your next day before you go to bed

For most of us, our daily schedule is very busy and packed with tasks. By taking the time in the evenings to plan out your next day, you get to use the most productive hours of your time to actually work on the tasks that are most important for you on any given day, ultimately helping you reach your goals.

10. Have a to-do list

Now this may be a very obvious one. But you’ll be surprised how few of us actually utilize a functional to-do list. If you have a to-do list that you see every 6 months it’s really not helping you much. However, if you use a good to-do list that you update and keep track of daily, you’ll have a much clearer idea of what needs to be done, and won’t have to worry about forgetting something important. 

11. Set your most important tasks

When planning your next day and adding tasks to your to-do list, think about the most important tasks and add them to the first few slots of the list. By doing this, you tackle these tasks at the beginning of your day when your mind is sharp and free from distractions. 

12. Have a weekly diet plan

We all like the idea of eating clean and healthy. Yet most of us will opt in to ordering online and a lot of times it’s not exactly healthy food. Simplify life by creating a weekly diet plan. This way you have an easier grocery shopping list, save time, and avoid buying things that you don’t need. All you need is a solid 4 week diet plan and you’re ready. 

13. Listen to podcasts and ebooks

Today’s world demands a fast paced and busy lifestyle for most of us. We have commutes multiple times a day and it can take up a lot of time. On the other hand, we also have a lot of different tasks such as cleaning etc when we are at home. It can take away our time to read and learn new things. I’m not a big advocate of multi-tasking, however, I strongly suggest podcasts and ebooks when you’re on daily commutes or doing anything that doesn’t require a lot of focus or attention. 

14. Create an evening routine

Just like in the morning, we need to take care of ourselves when winding off for the day. You can create an easy evening routine combining productivity and relaxation. Start off by taking a warm shower, followed by a short meditation, planning your next day, and then make a cup of herbal tea and enjoy a good book in bed. This is just an example, you can personalize it to match it with your schedule and things you enjoy.

15. Simplify your relationships

Your relationships play a big part in your general well being and happiness. So, it’s very important to make sure that your current relationships are functioning in a way that is helping you grow and not taking you down. Take the time to think about all your current relationships, including romantic, family, and professional. If your relationship with anyone is not giving you any value and only taking away from you, you’re better off. 

Conclusion

There it is. 15 great ways to simplify life and take matters into your own hands. Life is a roller coaster and following these things may not always be the solution for everything. But, by taking the time to follow these steps, you can reduce stress, burnout and enjoy life to the fullest during a good majority of your lifetime.