“Life used to be so simple”.
I have heard that said before many times, usually from an older, wiser, more experienced human than myself.
How about you? It appears in this day in age, life has become quite complicated.
With so many opportunities, technological advancements, ideas and ways to connect, it can feel like you always need more in order to stay caught up with what is going on around you.
So, how do you simplify life?
First, let’s get into what it means to simplify life…
What does it mean to simplify your life? Why Less is More…
It is so easy for life to become busy and filled with things that might not mean anything to you, let alone make you happy.
The idea behind simplifying your life is to get rid of what doesn’t serve you, so you can focus on what does!
Simplifying life will look different for everyone, depending on your lifestyle – but there are things anyone can do to help make life a little less overwhelming and a bit more peaceful.
Why you should simplify life:
“The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.” – Hans Hofmann
One of the most important reasons to simplify your life is to get rid of what doesn’t matter, so you can enjoy and make room for what does.
The truth is, we don’t need to get more of anything.
In fact, the answer to feeling more content and relaxed may be found in doing the complete opposite.
Sometimes, doing and having less can create a sense of peace that allows you to truly create a life you love.
The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak. - Hans Hofmann #simpleliving #simplifylife Click To Tweet
25 Ways to Simplify Life and Be Happy
Simplify Life at Home
1. Remove excess clutter from your kitchen countertops
Keep only what you use every day on your counter, and find a home for things like small appliances, dishes and accessories that might otherwise get in your way.
2. Use up leftovers for dinner later in the week
Plan your meals in a way that allows for leftovers so you can create a meal later in the week.
Supplement your leftover night with scrambled eggs or canned soup if you don’t have enough food.
3. Include one-pot meals in your weekly meal planning
There are so many amazing one-pot recipes on the internet! From sheet pan fajitas to one-pot pasta dishes, you can simplify your meal prep and reduce the number of dishes that need to be washed – BIG win!
4. Create a Sunday Snack Tray Dinner tradition
Sunday evenings can be hard for the whole family.
Give yourself a break and put together a snack tray dinner – include meats, cheeses, dips as well as lots of fruits and veggies.
Make it extra special by watching a family-friendly TV show. No cooking, minimal prep and it’s fun for kids!
5. Spend 30 minutes each day simplifying your laundry
Commit to doing a load of laundry every day – or take 30 minutes managing laundry: folding, putting away or sorting etc.
This will help you stay in control and prevents massive laundry piles that need to be dealt with on the weekend!
6. Commit to daily cleaning rhythms
Cleaning can be a huge undertaking in any household. If tackling it all on the weekend doesn’t seem to work for you, try setting aside 10-30 minutes each day to complete chores like mopping, cleaning the bathroom and vacuuming!
Is life feeling too hectic, complicated and overstretched? Find out how to simplify life with these 25 ideas... #simpleliving #simplifylife Click To Tweet
Simplify Life with a Minimalist Mindset
7. Have a place for everything in your home
There’s nothing more frustrating than not knowing where something is – especially when you need it!
Simplify areas like your bathroom and kitchen so items you use every day are in the same place when you go to use them.
Related: 8 Ways to Organize Your Home: Tips from a Minimalist
8. Reduce the amount of furniture in your home
We often think we need a piece of furniture for every empty area in our home. Instead of a coffee table, why not use a trendy ottoman or pouf? They are multifunctional and look great!
9. Buy all white or grey socks for kids
This makes finding socks that match easy-peasy! You can buy all white or get one colour for each of your kids, so they know which socks are theirs!
10. One in One Out!
When you purchase something new, get rid of something old.
This is called the one-in-one-out rule.
It prevents the buildup of items, so rather than having to purge your wardrobe or toy collection all at once you’re maintaining it regularly!
11. “Admire Instead of Acquire”
When you shop allow yourself to admire instead of acquire.
It’s okay to think that adorable scarf is super pretty and appreciate it without actually buying it.
It takes practice, but this is a great way to reduce buyer’s remorse after shopping trips – and it’s really good for your wallet.
How to Simplify Life with Organization
12. Give yourself more time
The busier you are, the more time you need! Give yourself extra time before you must be somewhere. Leave space for bathroom breaks, “I can’t find my shoes” moments and extra hugs.
13. Don’t overcrowd your to-do list
Focus on completing 1-3 priorities a day and one big task per week.
Adding too many tasks to your to-do list can have a negative effect on your productivity.
Related: How to Be More Productive at Home
14. Scan and upload paperwork
Rather than keeping a physical filing system, scan important documents to be filed away electronically.
You don’t even need any fancy equipment to do this – there are different apps (life Evernote) that work just as well as a scanner!
15. Pay bills online and enroll in paperless billing
This is one more step toward ending the battle of paper clutter!
Most companies offer paperless billing, which is better for both the environment and your kitchen counter!
How to Simplify Life with Self Care
16. Say no to new commitments and evaluate current ones
How many nights per week do you have filled up with appointments or engagements?
Are you finding it draining?
Pull back where you need to. Don’t be afraid to guard your time and calendar the next time an opportunity to get involved comes up.
Related: How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty
17. Ask for help when you need it.
Whether you need a friend to watch your newborn while you nap or your mother-in-law to help with groceries and laundry, ask for help when you need it.
We all need help sometimes, especially when raising kids so make this a priority for a healthy work-life balance.
18. Practice gratitude daily.
Remembering what you are thankful for is scientifically proven to improve your mood.
Practicing gratitude can create higher levels of positive emotions and allow you to feel more optimistic! How awesome does that sound?
Here are some helpful resources to help you in your gratitude practice:
- Read these inspiring gratitude quotes to get motivated
- Learn how to be grateful with these daily gratitude exercises
19. Spend time outdoors.
Turn off the TV, maybe even leave your phone at home and go for a walk.
The mental and physical benefits of getting outside are endless, and everyone feels better after spending 30 minutes going for a walk or playing at the park.
20. Explore Your Creativity
If you’ve decided to cut out some of your extra commitments, use that new-found time to explore your creativity!
Why not try knitting, colouring or writing?
Slowing down to create can be so good for your mental health and emotional wellbeing. You might even surprise yourself when you see what you are capable of!
21. Enjoy the Simple Pleasures in Life
Learn to find satisfaction and contentment with the simple things in life. Think about little things that make you happy and focus on them every day.
Related: 99 Simple Pleasures in Life to Fill You with Joy
More Ways To Live a Simple Life and Be Happy
22. Keep your skincare collection minimal
Find, buy and use the products that work for your skin and don’t get distracted by ads and new skin products that come out.
A good idea is to invest in high-quality skincare that really makes you feel great so you don’t even feel tempted to try the next new product you see.
23. Pay off your debt
If you have debt, come up with a plan to pay it off. If you don’t, keep it that way!
Staying on top of your credit card bills can be stressful, and there are many other ways to build credit and wealth.
24. Turn off your social media notifications
This is a big one especially if you are active on many different social platforms.
Turn off your social media notifications so you can decide when social media gets your attention, not the other way around!
25. Assess your Kid’s Extracurricular Activities
Feel like you need to keep up with other families? I am here to tell you, you don’t.
The family next door has soccer on Fridays and hockey all weekend. They also volunteer at the food bank.
This doesn’t mean you have to do the same.
Try and keep your kid’s extracurricular activities simple, especially if you have young kids.
Tip: Try one extracurricular activity per child and keep it to that. Life is busy and both you and your kiddos need down-time!
How To Simplify Life: Conclusion
The key to a simple life is intention.
If you intentionally work at removing the things that don’t bring you joy, what’s left will be the things that serve you and your family and make you happy.
We may not be able to go back to “simpler times” but we can intentionally make our lives more simple.
Do you think you could incorporate some of these simple ideas into your life?
What areas of your life do you think need simplifying the most?
I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
About Lydia:
I’m Lydia, a wife and a mom of two. I love coffee, find peace in nature, and aspire to live a minimalist life. I love sharing my journey on my blog which is designed to help women explore personal growth ideas and inspiration for everyday life! Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
How To Simplify Life – Related Posts:
- 99 Simple Pleasures in Life To Fill You with Joy
- 13 Ways to be Grateful for What You Have
- 20 Ways to Find Your Happiness, One Moment at a Time
- How to Stay Grounded & Centered in Life: 6 Techniques
For more inspiration and to get the latest post from Put The Kettle On, let’s connect!
Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Yolanda xo
There are a lot of good ideas here. I do most of the kitchen, food and meal ideas already. I really like the Sunday snack tray idea and I really need to learn to not overcrowd my to-do list. Thanks for this great post.
I would definitely recommend trying the Sunday snack tray Debbie! We do it every Sunday and the cut-up veggies and cheese speed up lunch making too!
You gave some great ideas. I am now only going to buy black and white socks- it will make life so much easier.
Great idea Elaine! That’s such an easy way to make laundry a little less of a chore!
I absolutely LOVE these tips. You mentioned so many that I’ve never thought of before. The one in one out method is genius for reducing clutter and removing clutter from the kitchen will make my space look much more open. Thanks for this post!
So glad you liked it, Youmna! It’s all the small things that build up to cause overwhelm, so working to break them down is a slow but effective process!
Thanks for the feedback Youmna! The one in one out rule really is a clutter saver! Take care 🙂
Great list! I’m going to try the snack tray for dinner this Sunday! And if you could explain the 1 in 1 our and everything has to have a space to my family so they get on board, life would be grand! Thanks for the great share!
Hi Katherine! Let me know how the snack tray dinner went! This is a good one over the holidays too 🙂
Wonderful tips here that I will apply! Thank you for writing this.