Over the past decade, I’ve been taking steps to simplify and make life easier—and this morning, as I scribbled a gratitude list in my journal, I realised just how far I’ve come.
Even when I have a lot on my plate, life runs pretty smoothly now. It’s like I’ve sanded down most of the rough edges and now I can flow through my days without too much resistance.
Of course, this isn’t to say that my life is perfect or that it’s always easy (I still deal with lots of big things like raising a toddler and running a business) but a lot of the everyday stuff is definitely easier than it was before.
Some of it is good fortune (a mix of luck and privilege) but a lot of it’s by design too. Looking back, there are definitely some specifics things that have helped me so I thought I’d sum them up for you in a blog post.
TIPS TO MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER
As you read through this list of simple living tips, I encourage you to think creatively about how you can apply these ideas to your own life.
What works for me might not be appropriate in your life but I think most of the broader principles are universal tips to make life easier.
1. SIMPLIFY MEALTIME
Another way to make life easier is to simplify mealtime.
There are a ton of systems out there: everything from meal planning and prepping, to meal delivery services, or even the simple eating method I personally use (which involves a capsule pantry and food “uniforms”). I’m also really interested in learning more about the jar method and I’m planning on taking this workshop soon.
Everyone is different and there is no one right way to simplify mealtime. However, if feeding yourself and your family is a source of stress, then investing time and energy to find a system that works for YOU is essential.
2. GO TO BED EARLY (AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK)
Do you know what makes life easier? Not being tired! ?
Getting enough sleep is so important for your health and wellbeing but I know that eight hours a night on a regular basis is just not possible for most people.
Having said that, I think getting eight hours of sleep at least once a week IS possible if you commit to making it happen*. Make it a priority in your life—get a pizza that night or give yourself permission to leave the dishes in the sink if you need to. Do whatever you can to get into bed early!
*I know this isn’t always possible—my daughter nursed every two hours ALL NIGHT for almost a year—but do the best you can. It really does make a huge difference.
3. DECLUTTER YOUR HOME
When you have less stuff in your home, there is less for you to clean and to care for. This frees up time, energy and even money—resources that are in short supply for most of us!
This undoubtedly makes life easier and it’s just the tip of the iceberg; there are so many ways that minimalism can change your life.
If you want to learn more, I invite you to subscribe to my free newsletter for tips and personal stories—and as an added bonus, you’ll get a free copy of Mindful Decluttering, my step-by-step decluttering guide and workbook.
4. QUESTION “WHY AM I DOING THIS?”
Create the habit of regularly asking yourself: “Why am I doing this?” and if you don’t have a good answer to the question … then maybe you need to reconsider what you’re doing!
I’ve learned that there are a LOT of things that we do every day, either out of habit or because it’s what we think we “should” be doing, that add absolutely no value to our lives.
Asking this simple question helps us to wake up to the purpose of our actions (or the lack thereof), which in turn helps us to clearly see what we need to let go of.
5. CREATE MORNING + EVENING ROUTINES
I was always very skeptical about creating routines (I thought they were too restrictive) until my daughter was born. Suddenly I had a daily routine for everything—naptime, playtime, bathtime, bedtime and more!
And you know what? I loved it (and my daughter did too!). It made life SO MUCH easier because I didn’t have to think about what needed to be done. Instead, I could just relax and enjoy the moment.
If you need some help creating a morning or evening routine, then be sure to check out this guide and workbook written by my friend Sam. It’s a fantastic resource and I can’t believe she gives it away for free!
