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The Idea of the Week
One easy way to create a simplified life is to create systems for your home, work, and everyday routines. These systems are about reducing the number of steps you need to take so you can focus more on the experiences you enjoy. Streamlining the process can help alleviate the stress of everyday frustrations and conserve your energy.
What is an area you want to simplify in your life? What can you do and put in place to make the process smoother and reduce the stress on your shoulders?
For instance, you would like to make your own coffee or tea in the morning. But, right now the mug is in the cupboard, the coffee grinds or tea bags are stored in another cabinet, the coffee machine is on the other side of the kitchen, and so on.
These are small inconveniences, but the mental energy of all these steps in the morning add up. They take the joy out of your simple pleasure. Perhaps instead of making your own coffee and wasting the time, you opt for the second-best and grab a coffee on the go, forgoing something you truly enjoy.
Instead, find a simpler solution, so you can amplify the simple pleasures.
Locate everything you need to make your cup of coffee or tea in the morning and place them together. Then, enjoy your cup in the morning.
Most often you will find simplified living tied together with minimalism. In the process of simplifying your life, many people share tips for decluttering and living a minimalistic life.
Decluttering and minimalism certainly have their uses; however, you can also live a simplified life by using things and technology.
For instance, you find your hair gets snarly after car rides. A simple solution is to have one brush at home and one in your car. If you find yourself stepping in puddles and enduring wet socks for the day, stash an extra pair of socks in your car or purse.
Or, perhaps getting wax paper or plastic wrap from the box is such a hassle. The cutting edge tends to fall off the box (or worse, they put it on the lid) and you often crush the box just trying to get a sheet of wax paper. A simple solution could involve a wrap organizer with a sliding cutter.
The point is about easing the tensions in your life, so you can focus on enjoying life. Sometimes, it involves objects and technology. Other times, it means removing objects and technology.
The Practice of the Week
If you’re unsure where to start, let’s begin draw some inspiration from others. In a 15-minute video, Rustic Honey shares how she has simplified her life through home systems with her partner and kids. She covers the strategies her family uses for managing finances, chores, the kids’ homework, and even communication and relationship building with her partner.
Start by identifying areas where you feel tension or encounter obstacles. Where in your daily routines do you feel the most friction? Where do you experience exhaustion? Where do you fall into quick habits, even though you would really enjoy something?
Then, consider the steps you’re currently taking. How many steps are there? Where do you have to go? What items are involved? What is necessary, and what is unnecessary?
Now, what can you do to make the process smoother? This may involve automating tasks (such as automating your bill payments). It may involve decluttering, removing items in your space you do not consistently use, or reorganizing your space. You might have to work on building habits and creating systems.
Building a smoother process is very personal, so personalize it! Each step of the way, think about what matters most to you, what you enjoy, and what you value. What will make the system easy for you to use? What will make it enjoyable to you?
At first, you may have to expend more energy to get the system started, but once it’s in place, you may find yourself living a simpler, enjoyable life.
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The Thought of the Week
Wishing you a peaceful week!
