How to simplify your life: cut back on what takes your time, energy, and space, and keep what you love. You don't have to become a minimalist to do it. Less stuff and less worry means more room for the things that matter, and more time to enjoy them.
Simplifying my life has been exciting, full of travel, road trips, laughs, and possibilities. It's bright, vivid, and adventurous and entirely untethered to daunting tasks or mundane to-do lists.
Below are the ways to simplify your life, from your mind to your home to your calendar, and why rest and play belong on the list too.
Table of Contents Show
What does it mean to simplify your life?
Simplifying your life means removing what doesn't matter so the good stuff has room to breathe, and you can still own a phone, a TV, and whatever brings you joy.
Most websites portray a simple life as serene, gentle, nature-driven, and mystical. Filled with quiet moments and hidden treasures, which is lovely and accurate, but it doesn't paint the whole picture.
Quite frankly, it's the stepping stone to your life. It brings clarity, vision, and self-worth. It shifts our heart and soul back into balance and pushes our true selves to be seen.
It's the voice in our head that says, it's okay to live life off the beaten path and not have a corporate job or not live in a big house with a brand new car, or that my clothes do not define who I am and what I'm worth. And most importantly it brings a real understanding of "enough."
I think that's why I don't call myself a minimalist. Although there are many benefits of minimalism, every minimalist page I follow magnifies the slowness and nature. And there's also this underlying message that perpetuates a race to owning nothing.
Although I enjoy solitude and forests, I'm a modern girl, in a contemporary world. We are allowed to lead a simple life while owning more than 20 items and using a cell phone or watching TV.
What are the benefits of simplifying your life?
Simplifying your life gives you more time, clearer decisions, and room for your passions, like my 23 plants and the interests I didn't know I had.
- You appreciate the now. Stop living in the future and appreciate this moment.
- Your home stops feeling like a prison. A little decluttering makes it easier to say yes when someone invites you out.
- You make time for your passions. I legit didn't realize how many interests I had until I stopped being so busy.
- You make better decisions. I ask myself if it will make me happy for the long-term.
- You learn what makes you happy. To be happy, you need to do what makes you happy.
How to simplify your life: what are the easiest ways?
The easiest ways to simplify your life are knowing what matters, saying no, setting routines, and removing the small hassles in your day.
- Decide what matters most to you.
- Say no to what doesn't fit.
- Set simple routines.
- Declutter what you no longer need.
- Remove the small hassles in your day.
- Spend less time on your phone and work.
- Spend less on things that don't fulfill you.
- Make time to rest and play.
How do you simplify your mind?
Simplify your mind by picking your top priorities, living in the present, and letting go of ideas that were never yours.
Pick your top priorities
Write a short list of what matters most to you. Measure your calendar and your stuff against it. If it doesn't fit, it's a maybe or a no.
Stop living in the future
A few years back, I was working my butt off to get a promotion. Long hours, bringing work home, volunteering for projects, etc. This led to a title and a raise, which was thrilling and satisfying.
My coworkers threw me a party, decorated my desk, my boyfriend bought some wine and we all celebrated. But when people congratulated me, they would say something along the lines of "your next promotion isn't far away," "you'll be heading up the office in no time."
The very next day, a Saturday, I brought my computer home and continued the cycle of working even harder in hopes to climb the next step in the corporate ladder.
How crazy is that? Just promoted and I was already thinking how do I get the next title? Everyone expects me to do it too, so I better get started.
Once I simplified my life and defined my values, I realized how insane it was to live this way. It creates the hidden feeling of never being enough or content with my accomplishments. Absurdly it promotes doing more as a way of finding happiness.
But the reality of life is doing less, finding efficiencies, and actually enjoying each day will help you because when the mundane shit comes up, you'll have the time and energy to tackle it.
Stop living in the future and appreciate this moment. Understand where you are right now. Appreciate every step that you took to get you to this moment.
Even if life hasn't been great, remember you are alive and you control what decisions you make. You made it here despite any fumbles you were resilient enough to make it to this moment. Cherish your strength and all of your blessings.
Let go of ideas that aren't yours
Do you know what it's like to not rush? To stop doing out of obligation or because you believe you're supposed to do something to be seen? When we let go of ideas that are not aligned with our hearts, we notice what brings joy.
For example, do we need a 3000 square foot house to give our family love, food, and shelter? NO
Do we need to have designer clothes, shoes, and expensive jewelry to take pictures and post them on Instagram? NO
Do I need to eat chia seeds, yogurt, and berries for breakfast to be healthy? NO!!!!
Disclaimer: If you can afford a big house, designer clothes, and if eating chia seeds with yogurt makes you healthy, and none of it stresses you out, DO YOU baby boo!
When I stopped believing the ideas that have been spoon fed to us on every media outlet from birth I realized the formula for happiness is much simpler than I once thought it to be: To be happy, you need to do what makes you happy.
But remember happiness is not short-term pleasure like money, sex, clothes, etc. It's not success determined by your salary or the brands you can buy.
Happiness is appreciating who you are, knowing that you will always have to learn, that you will make mistakes, you will feel pain, you can overcome obstacles, it is knowing you matter and belong in this world. And it's connecting with other people who make you better!
So, what makes me happy? Loving every part of me, knowing I'm never going to be perfect, appreciating that I will always be new to something and that's okay, respecting that without pain, there is no happiness and throughout this crazy life, whatever happens, whatever mistakes I make, I dare to be resilient. And for that, I'm happy.
This courage to be myself propels me to follow through on passions and hobbies even if I'm not good at them. And I grow by filling my life with people who see me in my light.
Find your happiness you are worth it! Remember, it can include screen time and movies too, just don't forget to enjoy nature! 😉🌲🌺
How do you simplify your time?
Simplify your time by saying no, protecting a distraction-free block, doing one thing at a time, and ditching the boring busy.
Think about it, how many times do you answer "How are you?" with "Busy?" Today our society is so overwhelmed with work and doing too much stuff. But it honestly doesn't need to be this way.
Say no to what doesn't fit
Look at your calendar and ask yourself if you actually want to do each thing. If the answer is no, say no. You don't owe anyone a long explanation.
Protect a block of time with no distractions
Pick a block of your day with no phone, no email, and no one asking you for anything. Use it for the one thing that matters most. Even one hour helps.
Do one thing at a time
Trying to do it all at once is how nothing gets done well. Pick one thing, finish it, and then pick the next. Yup, it's that simple.
Stop the boring busy
I legit didn't realize how many interests I had until I stopped being so busy. I wasn't even good busy, I was boring busy, like having to format a 1000 row and 45 column excel sheet.
SNOOZE.
Why would I ever want to format an excel sheet over going to a picnic or a book club meeting, or taking a walk? Honestly, Yazzi, what were you thinking!
Shifting my priorities to align with my values, whoa, total game changer. I didn't want to waste my time on Excel sheets and Powerpoint presentations, I wanted to explore new hobbies and find passions worth a happy life.
So, that's precisely what I did. Now I'm a proud mother to 23 plant babies and counting.
In the past, I would have never bought plants, because I thought they were too much work and I was too busy with no time to spare. But now because I let go of the crazy unfulfilling busy, I relish the time with every plant.
Watching them flourish, grow new leaves, and figuring out the right amount of sunlight and water they need, is rewarding. I sing to them, clean them, talk to them every morning and night. I love them.
Stop the boring busy and make room to learn something new, you might become a Crazy Plant Lady like me too. Start with the best houseplants for beginners.
Get help with the meals
Meal planning is exhausting. It's not just meal planning; it's everything about cooking!
- List making
- Grocery shopping
- Cooking
- Washing Dishes
- Rinse-Repeat!
That's why I love subscription services like Blue Apron. It sends everything to my doorstep, leaving the list making, grocery store visits, and meal prepping behind.
Or if I do have a little more time on my hands I turn to Amazon Fresh for groceries delivered to my door. When I'm not in the mood for Blue Apron, I get help with meal planning. RealPlans is a website and an app that creates a meal plan plus a grocery list for you.
They also tailor meals based on diet and what's currently in season. I used this in Australia, and it customized the groceries to the local produce!
I've used all of these options, and I love them! It can save you money by only buying what you need and not being persuaded by other things in the store, and also it saves you time.
Want to compare services? Read The Best Healthy Meal Delivery Service with Coupon Code.
Simplify your workout routine
I used to give myself a mental beating because I didn't have time for an hour-long workout. Mayo Clinic says to aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day. So why was I torturing myself?
I used to love the Kayla Itsines workout program, but I don't anymore. I've realized it's way too harsh on my body, and now I opt for low-impact exercises.
Stop reading books and listening to podcasts you don't like
I am a podcast hoarder. I Love NPR! (NPR You are My Boo!) But sometimes I get overwhelmed by all the podcasts that are accumulating on my phone, and then I think about the books I have yet to read.
I had to give myself the freedom to delete whatever I didn't listen to and start fresh when I could. Also, I had to forgive myself for not liking a book.
I tried my very hardest to read Life of Pi, but I couldn't get into it. I tried and tried again, but I had to stop kicking my ass and move on to the next one!
How do you simplify your routines?
Simplify your routines by setting ones that fit your real life, like a 10 minute reset, one day for bigger chores, and keys in one spot.
Set routines around your life
For some that may be waking up 30 minutes early so you can lunch prep, choosing your clothes the night before, or making sure you wash all the dishes before bed. Even just making sure your keys are always in the same place when you come home will make life easier.
Choose routines that support the life you live, not the one that you see on TV.
Do a 10 minute reset
I'm a big believer in the one minute rule, and a spin on this is setting a 10 minute timer and doing a reset in whatever room needs it. It's amazing what you can do in one minute, let alone 10.
Set one day for bigger chores
Or if one chore per day doesn't work, maybe it's one load per day, or one bathroom a day (if you have many). Maybe a meal prep day is what works for you. We like to cook our protein in one day so it's easier to make sides and mix and match at the end of the day.
How do you simplify your home?
Simplify your home by decluttering what you no longer need, owning 75% fewer clothes, and keeping only the wires you actually use.
Reduce the amount of stuff on your bed
Look at your bed. How many sheets and warm blankets do you have? The more pillows and sheets you have the longer it takes to make your bed.
When it takes a lot of time to make your bed, you will likely not make it daily, and this will cause stress!
Create the dream bed you need for a full night's rest by reducing the number of pillows and finding the perfect set of 1000 count Egyptian sheets.
Simplify your wardrobe
How long does it take you to pick an outfit in the morning? What if you reduce your wardrobe to only the things you loved wearing and also looked good on you?
You might reduce your wardrobe by 75% as I did, and also save about 20 minutes every morning!
Need some inspiration on reducing your wardrobe? Read about Courtney Carver's Project 333!
Remove the small hassles in your day
I have two sets of computer chargers. One lives at my desk, and the other goes with me when I like to work somewhere else. It saves me from disconnecting and unplugging every time I move. It's just easier, and it gives me a sense of ease.
Dishes work the same way. In Australia, my boyfriend and I had to wash our dishes by hand. Although we only had a dish set of four, our sink was always filling up.
Tired of plates piling up, we stored two sets in the cupboard. Only having one set for each of us kept our kitchen tidy. We had to wash our plates after every meal if we wanted to eat.
Problem solved. No more accumulating dirty dishes. Hurray!
We're a small family and we don't have a dishwasher, so fewer dishes is easier for us. For someone else, having tons of dishes might be easier.
Simplifying doesn't always mean having less. It means doing what makes your life easier.
Declutter old wires
Who doesn't have a box full of cables? Let's be honest, we probably don't know what they are for or why we keep them.
I sure as heck didn't! But there they were gathering dust and causing headaches when I needed to find a spare ethernet cable.
Simplify your cleaning
I am known to accumulate cleaning products. It was hard to resist when my favorite Mrs Meyer's Basil products were on sale. But keeping a full stock of the concentrate all purpose liquid, and tons of other products I never use just takes up space.
I've actually gone mostly fragrance-free. Now I mainly use:
- Vinegar mixed with water
- A scent free disinfectant
- Scent free Dropps laundry detergent
- Ammonia and water in the bathrooms
- Windex
Just so you know, never mix ammonia with bleach.
Declutter your kitchen pantry
The pantry can turn into the Bermuda Triangle. For some reason when I look into the pantry to find rigatoni, I can't see it.
Sometimes I can't see the rice that's right in front of my face, but my boyfriend can, and it's f-r-u-s-t-r-a-t-i-n-g.
Simplify your paper
Paper piles up fast, and most of it never needs to be kept. Go through the pile and ask yourself if you will ever actually look at it again.
Realize your home isn't a prison
Whenever my house was dirty, it was my excuse for not going out.
"Do you want to go to this awesome party." "No, I can't. I have to clean my house."
"Do you want to go to a very exclusive winery in New South Wales, Australia?" "Mmm sorry, I have to get organized at home."
"Do you want to go to this spectacular forest that has been hidden for centuries and you will be one of the 10 people to ever see it?" "No, I really feel like I need to get my house in order so I can start the week off right."
Very much exaggerated, but yes, this is how I would respond to most activities in life. I was a hostage to my home's mess and my stuff. It was like wearing an ankle bracelet and any time fun would arrive to help me escape, I would shun them away like the plague.
Simplifying my home and my belongings freed me from my personal Litchfield Penitentiary. It's amazing how a little decluttering can change the amount of work you have to do at home. Making it easier to say yes when someone invites you to go out.
Make your home a sanctuary, not a prison! Also, get used to a little mess. A little mess should never prevent you from having new experiences.
Want a step-by-step plan? Read How to Declutter Your Home: A Step-By-Step Plan.
How do you simplify your phone?
Simplify your phone by deleting apps you haven't used in six months, checking which app eats your time, and cutting back on social media and email.
Get rid of apps you don't use
How many apps are too many? How much time are you spending on these apps?
iPhone & Android users go to your settings>battery>each app will have a percentage next to it based on battery usage.
Cut down on social media and email
Unfollow the accounts that make you feel bad. Check your email a couple of times a day instead of all day. Your inbox will still be there.
How do you simplify your spending?
Simplify your spending by cutting what doesn't fulfill you and asking three questions: does it better my life, make me happy, deserve my time?
Ask three questions before you say yes or buy
I make way better decisions now. I am hella mindful. I ask myself questions like
- Will this item/action contribute to bettering my life,?
- Will doing this make me happy for the long-term?
- Do I want to spend my time/energy/space on XYZ?
If the answer is no, then I won't do it. (Please note, that I'm human and I still make mistakes, and MOST of the time I live by these questions, but not all the time.)
Chris and I were looking at engagement rings. I had my eye on this very simple, yet unique ring from Alexis Russell. It was $150, perfectly delicate and I felt connected to it.
For a few days, we questioned if it was unique enough to be a symbol of our love and the life-long commitment. We started looking for rings again, and it made me sick. Suddenly I was plagued with worry about what other people would think if they saw the $150 ring vs. $1500 ring.
What if it's too small. What if people judge me or judge us as a couple. I was losing sleep over it.
Finally, I took a deep breath and knew that our love goes beyond rings and it doesn't matter what anyone thinks but us. Because when it boils down to the truth, I'm simple, I don't wear expensive jewelry, I'm not one for lavishness, and I really don't want to stress about wearing $2,000 on one finger.
Will a $2000 ring better our lives? Will it make me happy for the long-term? Do I want to spend the time/energy/space on it?
No. No. And no.
Will the $150 ring better our lives? Yes, because we will have money left over for traveling. Will it make me happy for the long-term? Yes, because I know what it symbolizes. Do I want to spend my time/energy/space on it? Absolutely.
So we picked the $150 ring.
Choose for you, it's empowering. Trust me you'll love it.
Spend less on things that don't fulfill you
If you need it, buy it. For everything else, press pause before you buy. Ask the three questions above, and if you aren't sure, wait a few days. A lot of wants disappear on their own.
How does rest and play help you simplify your life?
Rest and play give your mind time to figure out what weighs you down, so build in time to do nothing, play, and reset each week.
Make time to play
Give yourself time to play. Go on a picnic, take a walk, make something, or do something just because it sounds fun.
When we play and reset, our mind gets time to figure out what to do about the things that weigh us down.
Let yourself rest
Rest without the guilt. Take a nap, go to bed early, or sit on the couch and do nothing. Your to-do list will still be there, and you'll tackle it better.
Start with a slow morning
Before you check your phone, have a tea or coffee, take a walk, or sit outside. Even ten minutes sets the tone for your day.
Leave a block of your week empty
No plans, no to-do list. Just see what you feel like doing.
How do you start simplifying your life?
Start with one drawer, one app, or one commitment today, and give yourself all the time you need to finish that one thing.
Simplifying is a bumpy road. Some days, you're coasting with the sun shining, the wind blowing, and the tunes blaring as you ride next to the beach. Other days, the rain is falling hard, and you're trying to sort out what you value through the fog and windshield wipers.
But at the heart of it, it's all about reconnecting with your mind, body, and soul. Knowing yourself well enough and not succumbing to distractions, consumerism, and social pressures. It's about being brave enough to be seen in the world and making choices that empower you.
To let life happen to you, to feel emotions, and be unburdened by your home.
Frequently asked questions about simplifying your life
People often ask how to simplify their lives in quick lists, which decluttering rules work, and what minimalists throw away.
What are 10 ways to simplify my life?
Say no, declutter what you no longer need, delete unused apps, remove the small hassles in your day, own fewer clothes, do one thing at a time, spend less on things that don't fulfill you, cut back on social media and email, start with a slow morning, and make time to play and rest.
What are 7 ways to simplify my life?
Say no to things you don't want to do, declutter what you no longer need, delete apps you haven't used in six months, remove the small hassles in your day, keep only the clothes you love, do one thing at a time, and make time to rest and play.
What is the 5/7 rule in decluttering?
The 5/7 rule says you only keep an item out on your counter if you use it five days out of seven. Everything else gets put away. Apartment Therapy explains how it works.
What do minimalists throw away?
Most minimalist lists start with paper and junk mail, expired food, packaging boxes, and broken things they know they won't fix. You don't have to be a minimalist to do the same. Livingetc has the full list.
Now that you have read this list, I hope you can adopt some of these tips to simplify and create more time in your life. Use that time to do something you love! Whatever it is, I hope the next time someone asks "How are you?" you can reply with "Fantastic!"
Do you think you can make time to simplify your life with these tips? Or do you have any tips to add? Let me know in the comments!
