Simplify Your Life: Two things you can do to cultivate a simpler life

 We make ourselves rich by making our wants few.  Henry David Thoreau, American writer

Henry Thoreau is right on target.  It seems simply doesn’t it, if we desire less, we’ll have more– more time, more disposable income, and perhaps more happiness.   As you struggle with the demands and complexities of life on a daily basis, you probably desire a simpler, happier and harmonious life.   You may be tempted to utilize more technology to make your life simpler, but does technology really makes our life simpler or add to the complication and clutter?   What makes for a simpler life is a true assessment of your wants and needs.  Adding another thing may  only increase the stress or complicate the process even further.  There are many ways to simplify your life, but in this short article, I am offering two simple things you can do today to simplify your life.  The first is to remove clutter from your life.  What usually come to mind when most people think of clutter is disorganized things that impede movement or limit their effectiveness.  However, there is another kind of clutter that  isn’t in your physical environment, it is what I call, mental clutter. 

Mental clutter, as I define it, is any negative emotion, memory, thought, or feeling that take up space in your mind and leave you feeling drain, remorseful, angry, confused or conflicted.  This type of clutter inhibits your ability to fully function at your highest level, because it either divides or takes your energy,  which means that you are left with very little energy to focus on the important things.   Most people are not consciously aware of this type of clutter  and that it may just be the source for their low energy, lack of motivation, or stress.   Most often, they attribute it to something or someone else and tend to remedy it by engaging in activities, or distractions that only in the short-term make them feel better .  Dealing effectively with mental clutter requires a heightened sense of awareness of the things that have impacted you negatively.  Once you’ve become aware, you can begin the process of de-cluttering your mind.  One way to do this is by releasing these negative emotions and thoughts by meditating.   Another very simple step is to inject quiet into your life.  Turn off and tune out the TV, radio, video games, cell phone, and the other distractions that keep you plugged in.  Having a clear mind allow you to focus your energy on the things that matters most and be better at making impactful decisions.

Another suggestion for simplifying your life is live within your means. Unless you are wealthy, you should be living within the boundaries of your income.  Basically, don’t spend more than what you make.  Although the following example is elementary, I think it is warranted because we are living in a credit-driven society, which means most people prefer to use credit over saving for the thing they want.  Needless to say, if you’re making $65,000 per year, your living expenses shouldn’t exceed this amount.  The rule of thumb is that you spend approximately 30% of your income on housing, put aside 10% for savings (in today’s unstable economy you may want to consider saving a little more, if you can) and the remaining spent on your other physiological needs such as food, transportation, clothing, etc.  Saving 10% of your income may be easier said than done. Depending on where you are living, you are spending more than 30% of your income on your housing, so that may even take away from your ability to save.  Also, you may not possess financial prudence, or may be an impulsive buyer.  If so, your next move is to get a handle on the problem. Try attending a financial literacy class that will help you develop your budget management skills and prioritize saving.  

Simplifying your life is not only an investment in yourself, but is also an added value to your family, friends, and coworkers.  When you are able to balance time, balance your budget, and balance your life you are able to be more effective, confident, calm, and organize.   If you want to love the life  you are living and live the life you love, then simplify your life.  For more information about ways to simplify your life,  please contact Deborah at info@indigocoachingsystems.com .