Seeing as Christmas is such a busy period for many people, November always seems a great time to simplify life a bit more in order to make the necessary everyday activities run a bit smoother or to take up a bit less time.
Simplifying your current lifestyle is beneficial, not only to you but also those around you. If you feel calmer and more in control of what is happening that translates to having more time and energy for those areas of your life that you value the most – be that family, hobbies, projects, Christmas festivities etc. When you begin to eliminate those activities or possessions which do not add to the life you wish to live; you make room for activities and possessions you would like to include.
A full cup cannot have any more water added to it – after a certain point it just becomes a mess. You must empty some of the old water out in order to replenish with fresh water.
A lot of anxiety stems from an inefficient household; too many possessions laying around the place, never being able to find anything straight away or cleaning which takes twice as long as it should because you spend most of the time tidying before you actually start to clean! All the extra time you spend doing or moving stuff which is of no value to you or your life, is time that could be spent on something else which will add value, meaning and enjoyment.
That is why during November I have been posting easy tips to help you start simplifying your life through decluttering your home. By starting with small to dos which you don’t have to put aside half a day or more to accomplish, it’s easy to incorporate them into your present life. Another plus is that you (and your family) will gradually change your habits which should offer more lasting results. It will also make you more aware that when a particular portion of your life gets a bit out of hand, eg a shelf or kitchen work surface, you know it can be sorted out in a small amount of time. Simplicity is a lifestyle not a one off project. It is also something that is tailor made to each person or family – knowing and understanding what works for you and how you like doing things is all part of living simply. In the end, it is about understanding yourself and living in accordance with your own specific gifts, talents and path in life – about doing things the way that suits how you are within not how you wish others to perceive you externally.
I will continue with these small to dos for the rest of the month to hopefully help you to simplify your life a small bit and make way for all the good things that December brings with festivities, catching up with people and making our homes warm and inviting. If you have any areas you would like a few tips on to help you to simplify, please leave a comment or email me. I am always looking for new ideas for postings and would appreciate it.
When we eliminate the unnecessary we illuminate the necessary
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Other postings you might enjoy:
Top 3 habits to simplify your life
Are you living your true self 24 hours a day?
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Your cup analogy of not adding any more water to it – after a certain point it just becomes a mess – is SO my life.
Just wanted to say ‘hi’ and that I am really enjoying your mix of simplicity tips for my external life and your other posts on making my ‘inner’ life a bit more simple and less messy too.
Sarah
Hi
I love simple but with a growing family i seem to have accumulated a ‘few’ things. I am however moving house in 2 weeks & wondered if you had any advice for simplifying my belongings as I moved?
Moving house always presents a great opportunity to get rid of things that are no longer needed. Examine the reasons why you are moving – are you upgrading, downsizing, moving into your own home etc., that will help you to decide what things may or may not be needed in the new house.
Also ask yourself, before you pack each thing, whether you have used it in the previous home enough to warrant taking it to the next. Packing consciously helps alot in weeding out unused items. Try to pace yourself over the next few weeks so you have time to go through things properly – rushing at the end is a sure fire way of taking non used items to the next home which defeats the purpose of simplifying your possessions ‘en route’. Enjoy your new home Patricia
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