Eight Simplicity Tips for Living Well

On this page, I'll share with you eight key simplicity tips for taking action to simplify your life. As with most tips, they're not complicated but they do require action and commitment. (I actually have a lot more simplicity tips than this, but I like to keep it simple :)

If you'd like to learn more about living simply, please also check out my pages on the principle of simplicity, quotes about simplicity, and the benefits of simple living.

Cheers,
Adam

Simplify Your Physical Living Space
How can you de-clutter and simplify your home? Do you have attics, closets, or garages full of old stuff you never use. . .but have been saving for "one day" when you might need it? Take a few hours, go through your stuff, and fill up a few boxes to donate to charity. By letting go of all of that clutter you'll feel great (and you'll get a tax deduction).

Buy Less
In addition to getting rid of excess junk you already have, don't buy more stuff you don't need. Stop the excess consumption cycle and stop kidding yourself - more stuff will not make you more happy. Ask yourself: Do I really need this product? Could I make do with something else? Am I buying this out of a wish for something else? Will this product just end up in the graveyard of other products in my closet?

Simplify Your Finances
If you don't have a monthly budget, make one. (You can find lots of free budget tools online). "If you don't tell your money where to go, you won't know where it went," as the saying goes. When looking at your budget, analyze your expenses. What can you cut that will save you both money and hassle? Also look for other ways to simplify your finances, such as getting out of debt, paying with cash instead of using credit cards, and turning to online banking to help cut down on paper clutter and the time you spend paying bills each month.

Limit Media Consumption
How much time a day do you spend reading the newspaper or magazines, watching TV, or surfing the net? What else could you do with that time that would truly recharge and refresh you? Too often to escape stress and "relax" we turn to media. Time and energy wasted there help keep us on the cycle of stress and burnout. Your attention is a precious resource; don't waste it.

Limit Electronic Communication
How much time do you spend each day doing email, facebook, twitter, linked in, etc? What are you losing by doing that? Learn to batch the time you spend doing electronic communication, for example, by checking email only once or twice a day. Whatever you do, don't keep your email on and in front of you all day. That's a recipe for feeling stressed out and confused. Same goes for your crackberry, iPhone, or whatever device pulls your attention away repeatedly.

Use the 80/20 Rule
In general, 20% of inputs drive 80% of outputs. For example, 20% of employees do 80% of the work. 20% of customers create 80% of revenue, etc, etc. In your own life and work, what 20% of things bring you 80% of your satisfaction and happiness? Which 20% of things bring you 80% of the problems? How can you change your focus and activities to reflect this?

Simplify Your Schedule
Look at your calendar for the upcoming week. Which appointments and tasks excite you? Which do you dread? Which can you cancel or otherwise get out of, in order to free up time for more useful or purposeful pursuits?

Take Time to Recharge
What truly helps you re-charge and give you energy? Most likely, these are simple activities like sleep, exercise, journaling or art, or being outside. With the time you gain by limiting media consumption and electronic communication, try replacing them with activities that truly nourish you.

That's it! As I mentioned, these simplicity tips are not complicated, but they do require commitment and effort. More importantly, these simplicity tips require a conscious choice to get off the automatic work-stress-media treadmill that so many of us find ourselves on.

Good luck!

Adam

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