Simplify Your Life and Reclaim Your Time With These Simple Steps

Work and home life can be messy and complicated, leaving many of us exhausted by the end of the day. With so many responsibilities, you’ll want to simplify your life however you can. 

Living simply is much easier than you think and an excellent way to guard yourself against unnecessary stress and overwhelm. If you want to simplify everyday tasks, these 10 tips can help you.

1. Keep a Calendar

A calendar can ensure you’re never late for another event again. It’s also ideal for determining whether you carry too many eggs in one basket.

Do you have enough time to get to your kid’s soccer practice from work? Maybe you’ve scheduled a check-up right before you have to babysit your niece or nephew. Your time is the most precious and essential resource, so whatever you have planned in the docket must fit into the allotted 24 hours.

2. Write a To-Do List

Get in the habit of jotting down daily tasks on paper. Prioritization is critical when doing this. Start with your most essential commitments and end your list with things you can put off until the next day or the end of the week.

You can start listing priority tasks for work, too. Begin your day by compiling notes for all the emails you received overnight — requests, orders or other action items.

You’ll feel a sense of accomplishment and ease whenever you check off or cross out a completed task from your list.

3. Get Organized

If your closet and drawers are in disarray, it’s time to tear them apart and put them back together. Purge items you no longer need or want and invest in organizers.

It would be best to organize other areas to simplify your life, too. For instance, create new folders and colored labels in your email inbox. Also, file paperwork in folders and file cabinets for easier access. You can even organize your kitchen drawers and cabinets.

4. Create a Morning Routine

Mornings are typically busy and rushed. Some days you can’t even enjoy a cup of coffee. Create a simple morning routine to reduce that frantic feeling. Set your alarm for 10 minutes earlier, give yourself a shorter timeframe to apply makeup and be ready to walk out the door on time. 

It helps to prepare lunches for you and your family the night before — then it’s one less thing to do in the morning. Likewise, picking out your clothes and getting your briefcase ready for work in the evenings are other ways to make the most of your mornings.

Perfecting your morning routine will take some practice — but forming new habits and routines are the cornerstones of healthier living.

5. Budget Wisely

Managing finances can get out of hand — and as prices on everyday essentials go up, saving money becomes a priority. You can simplify your budget by ensuring you have enough for rent, groceries and bills while allocating a portion of your paycheck to savings and lifestyle.

Creating a budget journal can help you track how and where you spend your money. As you learn to cut back on spending in certain areas, you can set financial goals for yourself — such as paying off credit cards, buying a new car or taking a vacation.

6. Set Monthly Goals

Start each month with two or three goals you’d like to achieve — bonus points if they simplify your life. Examples of monthly goals could be the following:

• Complete your daily to-do list
• Wake up at the same time every day
• Limit how many times you check your email to avoid distractions at work
• Exercise four or five times a week
• Avoid checking social media and texts first thing in the morning
• Go to bed early
• Read a book
• Do something nice for someone
• Stay on top of household chores
• Cut out sugar and alcohol for 30 days

You can set whatever goal aligns with your lifestyle and personal interests. Be sure to set attainable short-term goals unless you plan to achieve something else long-term.

7. Learn to Say “No”

We often avoid saying “no” because we worry it will disappoint someone. However, saying “yes” to everything can bog you down with extra tasks on your to-do list. There just aren’t enough hours in the day.

Sometimes it’s necessary to turn someone down to avoid biting off more than you can chew. Even if you need a moment for yourself, it’s okay to tell someone “no” politely. 

8. Simplify Meals

Busy lives and schedules leave less time for cooking. By the end of the workday, standing over a hot stove is likely the last thing you want to do. 

Simply your meals by always keeping common ingredients — dried goods, produce and seasonings — on hand. Selecting 30-minute recipes, one-pot recipes, and easy five-ingredient dishes will help you get food on the table at a decent hour.

Consider investing in a crockpot. Crockpot meals cook themselves and are easy to clean up. You can set the temperature and timer on your crockpot so dinner is ready as soon as the workday ends.

9. Stock Up on Healthy Snacks

Always ensure you have healthy snacks in your pantry or refrigerator. It’s easy to peruse the pantry looking for sweet and salty food — especially if you work remotely. 

If improving nutrition is of the utmost importance to you, simplify your life and weight loss goals by removing temptations. Opt for low-calorie foods like 100-calorie snack packs. Also, fruits and vegetables are always easy to grab when you’re hungry.

10. Plan “You” Time

Simplifying your life should free up a little time for you to focus on yourself. Permit yourself to schedule time for self-care and things you enjoy doing. 

It could be a hobby, therapy or a relaxing spa day. You may look forward to curling up with a good book. Whatever sparks joy for you, do more of it. 

A Simplified Life Is Within Reach

Life becomes much easier when you put simplicity into practice. As the adage goes, work smarter, not harder. With a few changes to your routine, you can simplify your life in no time.