how do i start simplifying my life?
I’ve written a multitude of articles extolling the virtues of simplifying and why I think it can be a very positive step for many people. Up to this point, I’ve basically talked about the theory of simplifying, not the practical nuts-and-bolts of actually making your life simpler. That is partly by design as I do not want this blog to devolve into endless list-posts that have been done 100 times before. I could tell you how to clean out your closet or clean your garage– or you could just Google it and find fifty identical articles. With that being said, I will write the occasional list-post because the practical advice for simplifying is also very important.
So, let’s assume you agree that simplifying your life would definitely help you out (I mean, you are reading this blog) and want to start taking some steps toward doing so. What should you do?
I’ve already stated that my philosophy of simplification is that everybody will have different needs and circumstances that affect what does and does not simplify his or her life. I’m going to try to keep this list as general as possible so that regardless of your profession or life situation these will most likely help you out.
1. Focus your possessions– What is the point of having an overflowing closet? Can you actually walk through your garage? Do you have DVD’s in your collection that are still in their shrink wrap? Minimizing your possessions is one of the best ways to simplify your life. Everything you own is subconsciously competing for your attention. How do you feel when you come home from work and everything is organized and clean? Why do many people spend a significant amount of time cleaning their house before leaving on vacation? Coming home to a neat house is very calming. Focus your possessions around high-quality (not quantity) items and you might be surprised how much it simplifies your life.
2. Focus your commitments– When I was in college I had a hard time telling people, “No.” As a result, I had a multitude of commitments. Some I didn’t mind because they were aligned with my values and they were very important to me. Others were less important but were still taking up large chunks of my time. Training myself to turn down less than optimal time commitments allowed me to focus on the ones I truly cared about. Instead of having my time and effort spread among many different activities, I could give my full effort to the ones that really mattered.
3. Focus your attention– Multitasking has a time and a place– it’s just not as often as most people think. Your attention is your most prized possession. It is what you should be guarding most closely. Too often I find myself trying to do too many things at once, and none of them well. Focusing your attention on one activity at a time will allow you to complete the work faster, better, and more efficiently than if you were trying to multitask. Much of the complication we face in our lives comes from trying to do too many things all at the same time. Your attention is a finite resource, so use it wisely.
Photo by ihtatho
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