17 WAYS TO SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE

In this post I have listed 17 ways to simplify your daily life. Adopting at least a few of these simple habits in to your daily routine, and in to your family’s busy schedule will help you to achieve your daily tasks in a more efficient and productive manner, and help you to achieve some form of ‘Work/Life’ Balance. 

1. WAKE UP EARLY – Set your alarm at least 20 to 30 minutes earlier than you would set your usual daily alarm. This will give you a head start on the day before the other family members wake up for the busy morning rush. 

2. MAKE YOUR BED IN THE MORNING – This will help you feel more organized, and productive. It also sets the tone to start the day on a positive outlook along with a can-do attitude. 

3. MAKE A LIST OF FIVE IMPORTANT TIME SENSITIVE TASKS - Keep a notepad and a pen on the bedside table. Quickly jot down five tasks which require urgent attention, tasks which must be attended to and completed by the end of the day. Don’t include mundane everyday chores such as do the laundry or clean the kitchen or pick up the mail. Focus only on urgent family/ work /business related matters. Be clear and precise about what you need to achieve and when these tasks must to be completed.

4. TAKE 10 MINUTES IN THE MORNING TO PRACTICE SELF-CARE – Drink a glass of water as soon as you wake up. Do some breathing exercises, or meditation, or Yoga or simply pour yourself a cup of tea or coffee, sit down and enjoy it. It will do wonders to your physical and mental health. 

5. PICK OUT AN OUTFIT TO WEAR TO WORK THE NIGHT BEFORE- This habit will save you so much of time in the morning. Create a capsule wardrobe, to mix and match a variety of different and versatile outfits with a few items of clothing. Stick to comfortable, simple, functional clothes and accessories. While you are at it, pack your work bag the night before too.

6.SIMPLIFY YOUR BEAUTY/ MAKEUP ROUTINE

7. USE A PLANNER TO ORGANIZE YOUR DAY- Use a planner to efficiently and effectively break up complicated work or home projects into manageable individual tasks. Learn to prioritize these tasks by importance and due dates. A planner will help you to increase your productivity. Using a Planner will give you the ability to work smarter and not harder. Keep your planner set up minimal and simplistic. A minimalist planner set up will help you maintain it throughout the whole year. 

Keep your planner supplies minimal, and buy only what you need to organize your day more efficiently. Buy decorative planner supplies only if they add value or bring joy to your life and you enjoy expressing your creativity through using such decorative supplies. If you prefer to use an electronic version for organizing try using the calendar app on your phone or online planner. It really does not matter what type of Planner you use, as long as it is functional and suits your lifestyle. 

8.SIMPLIFY THE COOKING AND MEAL PREP PROCESS- Find recipes with a few simple and easily available ingredients, which are simple to prepare. Rotate those recipes throughout the week. Try to substitute different vegetables and fruits in your standard recipes to create different meals. Prepare make ahead breakfast recipes and smoothies for a filling meal during the morning rush. Prepare double the quantity of some family favorite meals and freeze the extra portion for nights you just don’t have time to cook. Teach your older children, especially if they are Teenagers, how to prepare simple meals and snacks (but make sure they are supervised by an Adult at all times when they are in the kitchen). Give the older kids the responsibility of packing his/her lunch. Also, don’t feel bad if you serve the same meal, twice for dinner during same week. Your children will survive just fine on the nutritious food you cook, and, they will be grateful that their parents have the time to cook, a home cooked meal from scratch, with their busy work schedules. 

9. DO A WELL PLANNED SHOPPING TRIP FOR GROCERIES AND HOME SUPPLIES ONCE A WEEK. 

10. LIMIT THE TIME YOU SPEND WATCHING TV, SURFING THE WEB, AND USING SOCIAL MEDIA.

11. TRY TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF CLUTTER YOU HAVE ON TABLES, COUNTER TOPS AND INSIDE THE HOUSE IN GENERAL 

It helps you to clean up faster, and, if some item does not add value to your current lifestyle, donate or recycle that item. Adopt a minimalist approach when it comes to decorations and furniture. Avoid bringing unnecessary items into your home in the first place. 

12. LEARN TO DELEGATE SOME HOUSEHOLD CHORES AMONG THE FAMILY MEMBERS- Each family member must take responsibility for performing household tasks. Teenagers and older kids can be given the task of keeping their rooms clean and organized. They can also be held responsible for simple tasks such as setting the table for dinner, help cleaning the dishes and cleaning the house. Younger kids can be taught to pick up their toys and books at the end of the day, and, put them in their designated spots. Teaching children to perform simple household tasks, and teaching them to be organized, will help them to learn essential life skills for future. 

13. TEACH SCHOOL CHILDREN TO BE ORGANIZED AND HOW TO USE A PLANNER- Children who are in school must be taught to use a planner, to enter exams, school tests, and, assignments due dates as soon as they are handed out by the teachers. Children must be taught to schedule time for studying, completing assignments, extra-curricular activities, and playing. Parents must provide a quiet and distraction-free place, for school children to do their homework, assignments, and, to study for tests. The children must also be given the responsibility to keep their study area clean and organized. These habits will help your children to become more responsible and productive when they are older.

14. DO ONE THING THAT HELPS YOU FEEL CALM AND CENTERED DAILY –Be it meditating or praying, or gardening or reading a book, or listening to an audio book or some classical music, make it a part of your daily routine. It will help you reduce any anxiety or stress in your life. 

15. SPEND TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY- taking at least 15 minutes a day to sit down together and talk with all your family members, without any distractions from phones, emails or social media, will greatly improve your quality of life. It will give the opportunity for the family members to talk about any problems that they are facing, and, find a solution or ask for advice from other family members. 

16. PRACTICE GRATITUDE - At the end of the day take a few minute to be thankful for your job, your spouse, your parents, your children, the health of your family members, and any other blessings that came in to your life that day. If you are the type of person who likes to write in a journal, I suggest that you keep a Gratitude Journal, and, read it anytime you are feeling unhappy/unlucky/overwhelmed. 

17. FOCUS ON ONE THING AT A TIME- I personally, feel that the concept multitasking is overrated and most of the time ineffective. There have been many studies that show employees and students, tend to be more focused, efficient and productive when they focus on a single task. This increases their performance level and reduces the chances of making mistakes. Focusing all your attention on a single task at a time,will not only make your life more simpler, but it will increase your productivity, and, give the opportunity to get more done during the day. 

"Life is simple, don't complicate it by overthinking"

Advice for Aspiring Minimalists

Choosing to live your life with fewer possessions seems to be a movement that is gaining momentum daily. In this short blog post I wish to give some basic guidelines, tips and recommendations to any person who is considering living a minimalist life from the viewpoint of another beginner  minimalist.

§ THE REASON 

It is important to figure out why we choose the path to lead a more intentional and minimalist life. I suggest you write down all the reasons why you decided to venture into  a minimalist lifestyle. It may be that your life has taken you on a new journey, such as being a parent, which obviously means you want to spend time bonding with your newborn than doing some menial household chore or maybe it is the work related stress that comes with a new promotion or changing careers, or maybe you are planning to move to a new city or new country and, don’t want to be burdened by all your material possessions or  you want financial stability or to protect the environment. It could be that you enjoy the peacefulness and the serenity of a minimalist home or workplace. It could also be that you are simply attracted to the minimalist aesthetic. Whatever the reason which led you to choose minimalism and intentional living, write them down, clearly and precisely. This list of reasons will give you a sense of purpose and help you when you feel like you don’t have enough things.

§ START SMALL 

Try to incorporate the process of simplifying and practices of minimalism into your life in a more gradual manner. Try to declutter one room in a day or in a week, as it suits your lifestyle. It is not a race, take your own time to make conscious decisions about the items you want to keep in your life and, the items you want to let go. Start with a small and uncomplicated area of your life. When the process of minimizing is intentional you lessen the chances of mistakenly getting rid of something that you will need, that is valuable and irreplaceable. You will also not get overwhelmed and stressed about minimizing your material possessions. Start with some place like your wallet, handbag or your work desk.

§ USE OR SELL OR DONATE 

You can finish using the multiple items you have purchased, such as notebooks, pens, printer paper, or donate them to a school in your area. Donate the items to charity where it will be useful to someone in need. clothes, handbags, and jewelry can be gifted to your family members or sold online. Think of ways to utilize or re-purpose  items you are decluttering to prevent wasting money and resources, instead of just throwing them in the garbage.

§ BOX IT UP AND PUT IT AWAY FOR 6 MONTHS 

If you are concerned that when you declutter, you might accidentally get rid of something that useful or necessary, I suggest you get a large box and fill it up with anything you think you want to get rid of. Make a list of what is inside and then put the box away. In case you have by mistake, put away some valuable or necessary items, in the coming weeks you can simply retrieve those items from the box. If after 6 months you have not even touched that box, dispose of the contents or donate them.

§ DE CLUTTER BEFORE YOU ORGANIZE 

It is always advisable to declutter and get rid of all unnecessary items before you decide on an organization system.   Once you have decluttered the unnecessary items from your home, find an organizing system which will work for you and your family. The system must be easy and practical to maintain in the long run. Designate a spot for each item, and put it back to that place after using it. 

§ EXPLAIN TO YOUR FAMILY WHY YOU ARE CHOOSING TO LIVE A  MINIMALIST LIFE. 

Although they may not understand or agree with you, informing them of your choice to live a more minimalist and intentional life will help prevent disagreements in the family. Sometimes you may be able to encourage some of your family members to try out a minimalist lifestyle too. It will also reduce the chances of them giving you material gifts for various occasions because they know  that you are trying to reduce material possessions from your life 

BENEFITS OF A MINIMALIST LIFESTYLE

The origins of the  word "Minimalism" can be traced back to  a Post World War II era  cultural movement which influenced art, music and architecture. 

Minimalism in the modern society influences many aspects of life including fashion, construction, gardening, interior design, food, jewelry and weddings. "Minimalism" now captivates and illustrates  the concept of "LESS IS MORE' in a comprehensive sense. 

Minimalism has evolved into a Lifestyle which allows people to distance themselves from material possessions and surround themselves with minimal possessions that add value and bring joy into their lives.

Those who adopt minimalism tend to spend their money gaining once in a lifetime experiences rather than buying material goods.

Listed below are a few benefits that a "minimalist lifestyle" has to offer:-

FINANCIAL BENEFITS

When a person adopts a 'minimalist lifestyle', being intentional about what you purchase and what you choose to bring into your life becomes second nature to them. The followers of the 'minimalist lifestyle' question the necessity and the actual value  of the  goods  which they intend to  purchase.

- Do I really need this?

- Is it worth the price I'm paying for it ?

-Does it add value or joy to my current lifestyle?

-Am I just buying this because I'm sad/ angry/ bored?

- Do I HAVE THE CASH TO PAY FOR IT NOW? 

Making conscious and intentional decisions about what you buy, whether it is a bar of soap or an expensive TV and taking a few moments to remove yourself from the consumer mindset and think about your purchase will,
(a) prevent you from buying, and accumulating unnecessary junk
(b) prevent impulse purchases
(c) it will help you save your HARD EARNED CASH. 

Minimalism also advocates  buying  items which are versatile and of high quality, which will last you for a long time.

LESS CLUTTER

Clutter can be defined as 'an untidy collection of things which have no specific use'. A cluttered home can be a constant source of stress and hostility among Couples, especially if both of them are working parents. Since the storage space available a modern home is highly limited, it is wise to get rid of any material items that do not serve a purpose. 

Although getting rid of clutter completely seems like an impossible task, it is possible to reduce the clutter by implementing certain guidelines.

-Follow the one in-one out rule 

-Digitize kids artwork and photo albums. 

-Enforce one bin or basket Rule for children's toys- once their respective bin or basket is full of toys, the child must be given the responsibility to pick out the toys which they no longer play with, and teach them to  pass them along to another child. This practice will instill qualities, such as generosity and sharing in children from a very young age. Further, the children will also learn to value and take care of their belongings. 

-During holidays and special occasions, request Family and  close friends to spend time with you and share experiences together, instead of  buying material gifts. Tell them that you value their time, advise and the special memories more than any material gift . 

-Donate, re-purpose, and, recycle goods that you do not use. 

SAVES TIME

" IN TODAY'S DAY AND AGE TIME IS A LUXURY MOST PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD" .

The amount of time you spend daily taking care of your material possessions  will most certainly surprise you. Be it dusting, cleaning, repairing or sweeping, the constant navigating around possessions eats away your precious  time. By adopting minimalist practices in to your daily life, it will allow you to utilize that time for something more meaningful, such as,  

-spend time with your family, 

-less material goods means less time spent cleaning and organizing. 

-spend time on something that you enjoy- perhaps read that book you bought last year which has been gathering dust on the bookshelf, play a board game with your children, spend time on your long forgotten hobbies (stamp collection/ coin collection), take a walk around the neighbourhood. 

-Exercise- even if it is for 15 minutes. 

-Meditate 

-take a few moments to sit down in a quiet place and relax. Enjoy a cup of tea/coffee, without having to worry about the next chore in your to-do list. 

-play with your pet. 

SAVES THE ENVIRONMENT 

Some studies state  that we are using 30% more natural resources than what is sustainable for our planet. It has been stated  that in the near future we will require the resources of Two Planets to sustain  human life on earth.

Although minimalism may not be the complete  solution to prevent the massive destruction of the environment and to reduce overuse of non-renewable natural resources, it has started a dialog about the importance of sustainable living and protecting natural resources.

When someone makes a conscious decision to live a more minimalist and intentional life, it is easier to buy environmentally friendly products and adopt environmentally friendly habits.

-Plan your grocery shopping- go through the pantry and fridge, take in to account what you have leftover and  plan your meals. 

-Shop with a list to stop impulse buying and to prevent forgetting an essential ingredient in a recipe. 

- buy from farmers or companies that use sustainable farming practices

-Buy fresh, in season produce - it has a higher nutritional value, and has a smaller carbon footprint than the imported produce. It will also add more variety to your diet. 

-Take your own re-usable bags when you go shopping. 

-Buy only what you need and reduce  household food waste. 

In conclusion, it is safe to say that when someone adopts  practices of minimalism to their everyday life, the benefits experienced by them and the environment will drastically outweigh the minor inconveniences they will  face at the beginning as they adapt to the new lifestyle. 

Even if you are not ready to become an extreme minimalist i.e. if you are in no position to give away all your belongings, and pack your life into a back pack to travel the world (for lack of money, family obligations, or simply lack of courage to take such a step), by simplifying your life in a very small scale, and incorporating a few minimalist lifestyle changes, you will still  be able to enjoys the abundance of benefits that  minimalism  has to offer.

Simple Eco- Friendly Habits for Daily life

In this post I have listed  some effortless and simple habits, to incorporate more eco-friendly and Zero-Waste options into your life. These habits are not time-consuming, or require you to make huge lifestyle changes, and they can easily be adopted to your daily routine.


Incorporating these simple habits will help you to  reduce household waste and to reduce your carbon foot print, enabling  you and your family  to live a more sustainable  life. 

Carry a Re-Usable Water Bottle with you at all times 

This practice will help you to adopt the habit of drinking more water (which has considerable health benefits, as an added bonus). It will prevent you from buying single use plastic water bottles. It will also help you to avoid buying sugary soft drinks. This very small change will even help you save a bit money without much effort. 

However, on an equally important note, it is crucial to take  steps to prevent contracting water borne illnesses and ensure that the  well water or  tap water in your area is safe for drinking. 

Use a Glass or a Stainless Steel Lunch Box to to carry your food instead of wrapping your daily lunch parcel in plastic lunch sheets.

A good quality lunch box will last you a long time. It can also be used to store leftovers. But if you feel that carrying a lunch box is inconvenient and you feel using a plastic lunch sheet is the more suitable;

- Look for natural alternatives to lunch sheets such as banana leaves or lotus leaves

-Buy bio-degradable lunch sheets 

-look for reusable lunch sheets or re-usable products made out of cloth, to pack your  lunch

Bring your own re-usable Grocery Bags when you go shopping.

-Buy a few cloth or canvas re-usable Grocery Bags,  and keep them in the car, or in your handbag for shopping.

-Bring your own mesh produce bags to buy  grains, fruits and vegetables 

-ask the Grocery Store management or Supermarket management,  if they are willing to weigh the vegetables and fruits separately, and put all the produce  in to a single plastic shopping bag, and attach all the price labels in to that single shopping bag.(Ultimately, there is no harm in asking politely, because the worst thing they can say is 'No, it's not our company policy)

- some Supermarkets and large scale Grocery Store chains offer discounts and cash incentives to customers who bring their own re-usable shopping bags. Although it is just few bucks, it is still a good incentive to reduce the use of plastic shopping bags.

-Re use plastic bags 

Listed below are  few more tips which can also help to reduce  the amount of garbage produced by households.

- Go Paperless- it will save the trees used for manufacturing paper, it will save the habitats  of animals and  it will protect the water resources.

-If you are buying take away food or have food delivered to your home, say no to paper napkins, plastic cutlery. 
-Bring your own travel coffee cup to your local coffee shop when buying your coffee, and  while you are at it get a reusable straw.

-Read the news online.

- Use old cloth napkins for cleaning, instead of  micro fiber cloth or paper towels.

-use re-usable pens instead of plastic ballpoint pens (if they are available in your country) 

- Implement the the 3 R system- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

- Compost kitchen waste (if you have the space in your garden to do so) or dispose the household  garbage properly.

- Dispose old electronics, phones, batteries, and computers in a responsible, environmentally friendly  manner.

-If you cannot find the eco-friendly products in your country, try to make and use homemade non-toxic cleaners. 

-If  the city you live in offers bulk buying options using mason jars, and other containers without using plastic packaging to sell food items,  try to shop at those stores. 

-Re purpose old plastic products (a quick internet search will give you several DIY ideas to re -purposing old plastic bottles, cups etc.) 

- adopt a minimalist mindset when shopping- buy only what you need- buy high quality items which will last you a long time instead of opting for a cheaper alternative which will break after a few uses. (Sometimes, saving up for a better quality item will save you a lot of money in the long run)

-Attempt to repair household items, instead of throwing them away 
It is important when adopting a new lifestyle change, to incorporate these habits, in a gradual manner. Feeling overwhelmed is the fasted way to go back to the familiar old habits. 

It is important to be a part of the solution (even if it seems insignificant or useless), than to turn a blind eye towards this massive environmental pollution and garbage crisis which our country  and the world is  now facing today". 

If your actions can prevent one plastic bottle or paper cup or  lunch sheet or shopping bag,  from ending up in the landfills or in the ocean you have done your duty towards the future generations!!