Who’s feeling overwhelmed right now? Who’s tired, and frustrated, and ready to quit?
Chances are if you don’t feel that way now, you probably have at some time or another.
I know I have. Sometimes it lasts for a day, sometimes a week, and even a month or more on occasion.
The truth is, we do too much. We work too much. We run around caring for everybody else, but ourselves. And it’s exhausting!
I know for myself, the best I feel is when I’m organized and have a good, workable schedule. I’m at my worst, and most overwhelmed, when I’m disorganized, running on empty, and just trying to always catch up.
It happens more often than I would like, despite my best efforts. I try diligently, and with technology to keep myself disciplined and on track. And try to give myself some grace, that even when things are completely crazy, and I don’t get accomplished what I want, that it’s ok, I’m making progress. Because even small baby steps in the right direction are still forward movement to achieve my goals.
So how do we go about making these changes? Well, we start small. Even implementing a few of these ways to simplify your life before, can add up to big change.
Go ahead and peruse this list, pick a few and get started. You’ll be amazed at how much better you’re going to feel!
- Organize Your Life– First things first. You must sit down and prioritize your life. When I do my goals each year, I also do a 5-year plan, a 10-year plan, and a retirement plan. They have evolved over the years, but are basically the same. You can’t accomplish it all, at the same time. There are steps that need to be taken, and breaking down what’s most important to you and what you want to focus on, whether it’s for the week, the month, or the year, is super helpful. Take an hour out of your day, and figure out where you are, and where you wanna be. Then figure out the steps on how to get there, and make a plan. Eliminate or table things that simply aren’t pressing, or viable options right now. Trust me you’ll feel relief when you’re done. Nothing feels better than putting it all down on paper.
- How Much Time Do You Have?– Next comes the tricky part of evaluating how much time you really have. If you work 80 hours a week, have a family, but want to run a marathon, chances are it’s gonna be tough. Be honest about your schedule and available hours, it’ll save you time in the long run.
- Simplify/Delegate Work Tasks– This is such a great thing to do, because not only does it free up time, it relieves stress. Eliminate duplication, delegate work where you can, and simplify any necessary processes. BOOM! Time saver!
- Limit Cell Time– This can be tough. If you work on your phone a lot, this might be a challenge or not even a viable option. I do try to set business hours even though I work at home. My schedule is time blocked, and I try to keep to it. Which means, not checking email 1000x a day, returning phone calls, (unless legit emergency), at set hours, and turning the phone off after a certain time. I know it’s hard, but even a little less time on the phone helps a bunch!
- Limit Social Media Time– This is probably the hardest one for me. I can get lost in social media. Looking at cat videos, checking out what the Kardashian’s are up to, reading the latest gossip about Brad and Angelina. I try and sometimes fail at this one. I did make a point to schedule most of my social media for business and it’s helped a ton. Maybe start there, and work your way out of the social media hole.
- Read Instead of Watch TV– I’ve made a good try at limiting my tv intact. I have a nasty habit of buying lots of books, and ready a lot at the beginning of the year. Then I slow down so that when I get to the end of summer I’m not reading at all. It’s a constant struggle, and I’m working on it! Read more, watch TV less.
- Simplify Wardrobe– I love this because I really don’t care about clothes much. I have a limited wardrobe to begin with, so shedding some clothing that I don’t wear anyway, is NOT a problem. A great solution to getting cleaned out, and great for the community.
- Find/Spend Time on Hobby– If you don’t have a hobby, find one. If you’ve got one, spend some quality time on it. Schedule the time in your schedule and stick to it. It’ll bring you peace, relaxation, and you might develop another skill!
- Spend Time with Family/Friends– This goes without saying, but if you’re not spending enough time with your family/friends, then all this hard work is for not. Make the time for family/friends, because time is precious.
- Establish Routine- I personally love a routine. I re-do mine about every 6 months depending on what I’m up to. I print it out, keep it right in front of my face and in my electronics. You’d be surprised how much more you can get done when you write it down and stick to it.
- Clean Email Out Every Day– This is a personal pet peeve of mine. I looked at my mom’s phone and on the mail icon, it said 43,734!!!! I literally got uncomfortable right then. Gives me the willys. Check your email 2x day, and clean it out. I realize that you’ll always have some mail in there, for things that you’re working on, or waiting to hear back about. But keep it cleaned out, and keep it read. It’s simple really. JUST TO DO IT.
- Consider Downsizing Home– This is a very personal choice. Some people like big, extravagant houses, some like small and modest. It’s really up to you. But if you’re not using a significant part of your home, or your empty nesters, it might be something to think about.
- Consider Smaller Car, or Go Without– I think this is great because you save so much money. While cars may be status symbols, they’re very expensive status symbols! Consider downsizing to one car, or buying used, or just using mass transit instead.
- Eat Healthy/Exercise– This goes without saying, you must eat well and take care of yourself. You’ll be healthier, feel better, have more energy. And all those things lead to a more productive life.
- Declutter/Organize Home– It’s time people. Get rid of that stuff in your storage unit, take down the endless knick-knacks, and clean it up. A cluttered house is stressful. Spend some time donating/selling items, and make your living area a paradise. You won’t regret it.
- Simplify Budget 50/30/20 rule– If you don’t have a budget, well it’s time. If you haven’t looked at it in years, time to re-do it. Get in control of your finances. Even try to 50/30/20 budget, it works great! 50% to living expenses, 30% to flexible spending, and 20% to savings/investment/debt reduction.
- Write To-do List Before Bed– I personally love doing this because it sets me up for the next day. I get organized, look at the schedule, and get a list together. Who’s not obsessed with crossing things off a list, right? Just me? Ok. But seriously, you should try it.
- Use Time Blocking- Time blocking is the practice of breaking up your schedule into blocks of time depending on the task, and putting it into your schedule. My work schedule is roughly the same every day. Turn off all distractions, and get to work. It works great, and you’ll get a lot more done that if you’re flitting around to different un-related tasks.
- Have a Morning Routine- This has been a game changer for me. I read the Miracle Morning and it’s really changed my life. I admit, I’m more of a morning person than a night person, but I really dig this. Have a good morning routine sets up the whole day. I’m much more productive when I start the day with exercise, reading, affirmations, and quiet time. It’s great, you should try it!
I hope that this list gives you some guidance and insight into what can make your life easier, more productive, and less stressful. We’re all striving to find more time, and be more in touch with our lives. Try a few of these, and let me know how it goes for you!
