Simplify meal planning.
If it’s okay with your doctor, consider doing a juice fast once a week. Or just eat veggies and/or fruit that require little to no preparation. A boiled artichoke, steamed carrots and broccoli, green beans, a salad, apples, pears–whatever you like. Easy to prepare, easy cleanup: simple.
Simplify your work life.
Why not work less, enjoy it more? I know, how do you do that if you work for someone else, that’s the question. A few ideas:
If you tend to eat at your desk while you work, don’t. Go out for lunch so you get a real break. Talk a walk mid-afternoon to clear your head. If you often stay late, do that a little less. These are all positive steps for good mental health.
Simplify laundry.
Buy only washable clothes. It saves time and money spent on two trips to the drycleaner. Not to mention avoiding the toxins many dry cleaners use to clean clothes.
Use your mind more efficiently.
No more multitasking. Do one thing at at time with great focus.
Yes, I used to think I was a great multi-tasker. Then I read studies that said people who multi-task are often less efficient. That’s certainly true now that I’m older.
Now, I like giving my full focus to one thing at a time. It’s a less frenetic way to work.
Eliminate time sucks.
Turn off the TV and internet at least some of the time. I set a time for TV watching: early evening. Or at 6am. I rarely turn it on at other times. Further, I only rarely watch live TV. I find it much easier to record shows and watch them when I want to. That also allows me to avoid the nightly news and fast-forward through loud, disruptive commercials.
And although we live our lives online, judging from my social media feeds, what we’re doing lately (for obvious reasons) is generating more anxiety and stress. So, I make sure to do things that aren’t internet-specific. Lunch with friends. Attend a concert. Go to a museum. And while doing that, I don’t consult the internet on my phone.
What ways to simply life would you add to this list?
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My problem has always been complicating things unnecessarily. I have developed a choice of mantras and the one that’s in my head the most is “make this easier.”
And, making things simple, for me starts with taking as much habit out as possible out of the day and asking, “do I want this?”
Susan Bonifant recently posted…The people we’re supposed to be
I’m so guilty of complicating my life! (And then pushing those complications onto my Husby to handle. Shame on me.) These suggestions are inspired. Brilliant!
Diane recently posted…An Enduring Romance: Part Two
A perfect reminder. Thanks, Carol!
Lisa @ The Meaning of Me recently posted…Waiting on Disaster
Love the reminders especially to do one thing and really focus. When I do I go through it much faster. More efficient!
I’ve for years always looked at the care labels on clothing. If it’s dry clean or requires too much work it doesn’t come home with me. I see no reason for the extra expense and I know myself well enough to know that I’m going to toss everything in the washing machine anyway.
I just did a major purge of my bookshelves, emails, and downloads I’d saved to read. Feels lighter already!
I wrote about it on my blog yesterday…must be something in the air! 😉
These are great! I would add BREATHE. Yoga simplifies your body and soul.
Tam Warner Minton recently posted…How You can help save our Amazing Oceans!
I definitely try to avoid buying clothes that need dry cleaning! Not disciplined enough to simplify my meals though! ????
Linda Hobden recently posted…An Interview With Bagsy Me First