7 easy ways to instantly simplify your life

Simplifying and minimalism has gotten a lot of attention, and for good reason. From having more time, to spending less money, simplifying your life can have a lot of potential benefits.

I am not what most people would call a minimalist, but I have seen a huge change in my life since I started my simplifying journey.

I am able to save more money, have more time to do the things I enjoy, and I am overall less stressed.

I have already seen changes in my life just by simplifying a few areas. I have listed below some areas that can have a big impact on your life if simplified.

Declutter Your Home

This is the one that might seem the most intimidating, but it’s also the one that can have the most impact on your life. Home is where the heart is, so having a clutter-free home can really help create a sense of simplicity in your life.

A clutter free home will be much easier to clean and keep tidy, which will shorten and simplify your cleaning routine. You’ll be able to truly relax and enjoy a clean home with less effort. And you won’t have to panic and begin a cleaning frenzy every time someone decides to drop by.

A home with less clutter is also less visually distracting. It’s much easier to focus and be productive in a clean home. At the same time, it’s also easier to relax and wind down in a clean and clutter-free home.

Rotate Meals

Having to decide what you’ll make for dinner every night can be frustrating. But for some, myself included, meal planning can be even more frustrating.

I don’t like trying to figure out what my family will eat on Thursday when it’s only Sunday. But I do find it helpful to have a list of meals to rotate throughout the week.

Every time I find a meal that’s quick, healthy-ish, and that we enjoy, I’ll write it on my Boogie Board. This way I have a list of meals that I can reference to and rotate throughout the week. This takes the guessing game out of what to make for dinner and gives us flexibility. Instead of planning out what to eat each day, we make a general list of meals and then eat whichever one we feel like eating that day. If you rather plan out your meals for each day, check out my productivity planner which includes a meal planning sheet.

Create a Capsule Wardrobe

Have too many clothes but still feel like you don’t have anything to wear? Having too many choices can make us feel this way. Narrowing down your closet to only pieces that you love and actually wear will make it easier to choose outfits. Having mostly neutral pieces can make it easier to match all of your pieces together.

Try decluttering your wardrobe and aim to keep the clothes that you actually wear and love. This way you will feel great in all your outfits because each item you have you will actually like.

Decluttering clothes can be difficult but there are some ways to make it easier. One way is to put clothes that you are unsure of in a box for 6 months. If after 6 months you haven’t reached for anything from that box, then perhaps consider donating it.

Or you can try something like Project 333 which was a huge eye opener for me and really helped me narrow down my closet.

Fitness

Staying fit can sometimes seem complicated. Do we have to go to the gym or can we get a good workout at home? Should we do full body workouts or do upper body one day and lower body the next?

Physical activity doesn’t have to be complicated. Simplifying your physical activity will not only save you time, but can also make you more motivated to workout.

Try and listen to your mind and body and see what you enjoy. There are many forms of physical activity that you may enjoy such as dancing at home, joining group classes, or going for a walk outside.If you enjoy it, you are more likely to do it. Check out my post on easy ways to stay active for some ideas.

Doing light activities you actually enjoy is better than nothing at all. So instead of thinking you have to do intense one hour workouts each time, tell yourself that it’s okay to do something light instead. Light house chores, going for a walk, or light stretching are great alternatives when you’re not feeling up for an intense workout.

If you do enjoy body weight exercises you could try working on a different muscle group each day. If that seems too complicated or too time consuming, then maybe try doing a full body workout 2-3 times a week and light activities the other days. Or you could try working on your upper body one day and your lower body the next.

Try to find ways of staying active that suit your life and that you actually enjoy. And remember to do what is best and safest for you.

Makeup and Skin Care

This may not apply to you if you like frequently experimenting with different makeup and skin care products. But simplifying your makeup and skin care can make your routine easier and quicker. This will give you the flexibility to get ready and leave on short notice and still feel like you look great.

This can also make packing a lot easier and you won’t feel so weighed down with so many products.

Try to narrow down your makeup and skin care to the products that you love most and feel the best using. This can save you time and money. Try not to repurchase any products until they are finished or expired. This will help you from ending up with multiples.

Responsibilities

Whether it’s activities for the kids, or commitments with friends, having too many responsibilities can get overwhelming. Some of them we can’t change, but try and opt out of anything that you can do without and don’t enjoy.

Instead of having the kids signed up to multiple activities, maybe let them pick their favorite and have them be active in other ways the other days.
This way you won’t be tied to so many schedules. If you are in a book club with friends that meet once a week, maybe opt out and join them for coffee on a more flexible schedule.

Housework

This will differ depending on your life and schedule but try and workout a cleaning schedule that works best for you. Some people like taking one day to do all the cleaning, whereas others like spreading it out over a couple of days.

I do find setting a timer for 10 minutes a day to clean, can add up and prevent you from spending an entire Saturday cleaning. Other things like cleaning dishes right away, and never leaving a room empty handed can help with keeping the home tidy.

I prefer doing little tasks throughout the week so I’m not so overwhelmed with cleaning on the weekend, but this is a personal preference. If you enjoy taking one whole day throughout the week then do that.

The point is to have a system in place that works for you so you know what you will be doing when. I find this makes house chores seem more manageable and less scattered.

Simplifying your life can seem intimidating or even overwhelming. But the benefits from doing so can be so fantastic! Start with one area first and see how you feel. Little changes can lead to big results!

I really hope you enjoyed this post and comment below on areas you have or want to simplify. 🙂