How to Simplify Your Life
Look around and you'll agree - we're an unbalanced lot.
It's obvious that removing the superfluous from your life will bring balance and wellbeing, and it sounds easy enough, right? Yet many people would find it easier to solve the mysteries of the universe before they could figure out how to simplify their own complicated lives. Strange, that!
Maybe it is because doing this requires change, and many people experience varying levels of discomfort with any form of change. Change represents the great unknown. It is outside their comfort zone. Some people fear they'll make matters worse, and some just find comfort in maintaining the status quo. So they don't change and they continue their stressful, complicated lives.
There is nothing scary about simplification! All that is involved is clearing away the clutter, creating a balance, formulating a few rules for your life and establishing limits on what you will and won't put up with. Just imagine it… what would it be like if your life was simplified?
So, where do you start? Start with a list. List those activities and "responsibilities" that really ARE necessary and unavoidable… like having to go to work every day, or feeding your children … these would obviously go in your necessary column. Having to do the breakfast dishes immediately before going to work is something that can go in the unnecessary column. Get the idea? Nobody is going to die, become ill or lose their job if your kitchen isn't spotless every morning after breakfast.
Your aim is to remove any unnecessary activity that forces you to feel stressed about having to keep on top of it all. Remind yourself that you are simplifying your schedule of daily activity to create a life that is easy and enjoyable. Yes, this does require change and some changes may take some getting used to. In fact, some people are so accustomed to living in a state of overwhelm that they think it is the norm. They aren't aware they need help… until about the first heart attack.
How can you recognize if you are one of these people? Well, do you often feel overwhelmed? Do you often feel you never have enough time in your day, or feel like you're running behind? You don't have time for yourself? On your list of "important priorities", you, personally, are probably near or at the bottom? And it might not be you, personally… it might be your family, your friends… your life!
You've probably put aside your own personal goals because you are too busy living your life to suit other people's plans or expectations. In order for you to find the time to achieve any of your own dreams or goals, you will have to do some "life cleaning" – something has to go to make room for the new. You need to think honestly about your priorities in life and start clearing your plate of all the non-essential clutter that has accumulated over the years. This could be time or money wasting activity that no longer serves you and you can do without. For example, do you pay for an expensive gym membership that you never use? Will you ever use it? Could that money buy you some of your own exercise equipment so you could exercise in your own home? Is there an activity around the home or at the office that you do that could be delegated so you have more time to do other things, that is, IF the activity is still required? Life is a virtual smorgasbord of opportunities, but that doesn't mean you have to do or try everything on the "table". It is not physically possible for one person to "do it all". Check every activity – is it done out of habit or is its purpose still necessary? Can it be delegated or modified in some way, or perhaps totally scrapped?
Identify those areas in your life that are complex, time consuming, money consuming or maybe just emotionally or energetically draining in some way. Think of some ways in which you can simplify each of these complex areas PERMANENTLY. Do you need the support of others to achieve this? Don't be afraid to ask for help – from your work colleagues and your family. Remember, just because something may have "always been done this way", it doesn't mean it has to remain so. Change is inevitable – it is all around us – it is part of life!
When you simplify your life, you will feel better for it and your work colleagues and family will thank you for it, because you will be more efficient, yet more relaxed and happier. You can slow your pace down. You will be more fun to be around. You will have more time to work on the things that really count, spending quality time on the activities and people that really count, and have time for yourself and your dreams and goals.
Imagine, you will have a life, not a "to-do" list!
Author info:
Terri Levine MCC is CEO of Comprehensive Coaching U, a Master Certified Coach, Public Speaker, and Best Selling Author of "Stop Managing, Start Coaching", "Work Yourself Happy", "Coaching for an Extraordinary Life", and "Create Your Ideal Body. Terri specializes in coaching health care professional in private practice. To learn more about Coaching and related programs, or to sign up for Terri's newsletter, please visit www.terrilevine.com or call: 877-401-6165
To learn more about this author, visit Terri Levine's Website.
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