Simplify, Simplify, Simplify
Just as location is the key driver to success in real estate,
simplification is the key to success in life. No matter how much
you want your life to change, it's impossible if there is no
room for change.
We tend to fill our lives with activity and with 'stuff'. It's
supposed to mean we're successful, that we're fully living. The
reality is that it usually just leaves us feeling overwhelmed,
crowded and with a longing for a simpler, quieter life. By
filling every minute of the day, we find ourselves with no time
to be 'quiet', to go within, to find the inner peace that allows
us to be creative, productive and free. By having too much
stuff, we feel cramped, stifled and burdened. We feel restricted
by 'too much' of everything and this impedes our ability to do
what's truly important to us.
It's not necessary to go down to the bare minimum, but it is
essential that we give ourselves room to grow and time to be
reflective. And there is a pervasive effect. Simplifying your
life in any area gives you more 'space' in all areas. Try it!
To get you started, here are a few ideas to simplify your life.
Get prepared for a burst of energy from doing each one of these.
1. Clean out your closet.
Throw or give away what you no longer wear. [Recently read a
great tip for this. Take 10 minutes to re-arrange all the
hangers in your closets back-wards, with the hook facing the
front. Once you've washed or cleaned something, hang it up with
the hangar facing the usual way. After a time you've set (3 to 6
months, after a 'season') get rid of all the clothes whose
hangars are still facing the front. This is an easy and almost
painless way of cleaning out the closet!]
2. Keep your inbox clean.
Delete as much as possible as soon as you've read it. Use a
simple folder system to file the rest. Use large groupings such
as chronological time (January through December, rolling year).
Filing by topic, unless it is a large project, seldom works.
[How often have you found 4 folders on the same project, all
called something different?]. Use the tools available in your
mailbox to auto-filter email. Choose a primary email reader and
have all others auto-forwarded to that email box. Most email
readers allow you to automatically delete or file mail from
specific individuals.
3. Schedule a breather.
If you live by a calendar, schedule one hour a day to allow some
breathing space. Use this to time to go through email, do
call-backs, read important mail. Or use it go outside and get
some air. Take a quick walk around the block. Five minutes away
from your work area (even, or especially, if you work at home)
can have a dramatic effect on your productivity.
4. Schedule time to work on specific projects.
You leave most meetings with something to do, right? Give
yourself time to work on these things by scheduling work-time in
your calendar. Otherwise, it will be 6pm and you get to start
'working'.
5. Pick a corner.
Divide your desk or room into sections. Pick one section and
start de-cluttering. Try to touch things only once while going
through this process. Use 3 boxes or bags, marking them as
follows: 'Keep', 'Give Away'; and 'Toss'. If it's paper, ask
yourself 'If I lost it, could I find it elsewhere?' If the
answer is yes, throw it away. Where ever possible, come up with
a system that will allow you to maintain the de-cluttered space.
[Another tip: if you find yourself having trouble parting with
some items, put them in a box, label the box with a date 6
months from now, store in garage or closet. If you haven't gone
into the box by the time the date rolls around, throw it away
without opening it.]
6. Delegate.
Stop trying to do everything yourself. Ask yourself 'Where is it
important that I spend my time? How do I want to spend my time?'
Get rid of everything else. This includes things like getting
someone to clean the house, using automatic bill-paying systems,
etc. If you are delegating to a work associate or family member,
be sure to delegate the whole thing (how to do it as well as
what to do.) If it can only be done 'your way', then you will be
the only one who can do it.
7. Automate.
If you have to do anything on a regular schedule, develop a
system that is easily repeatable. Use the tools that make the
most sense for the job. This ranges from using templates for
written documents to cleaning the house in a specific pattern.
Find out what works for you and then make it better (and
faster!).
8. Buy in Bulk.
Buy 6-month supplies of things you use on a daily basis. And to
simplify even more, order them through the web and have them
delivered to your house! We spend an inordinate amount of time
running 'errands'. Keeping large supplies on hand is a great way
to pick up some extra time.
9. Get rid of old commitments or goals.
Sometimes we find ourselves doing things or hanging on to goals
that were right at one point in our life, but no longer fit who
we are now. Stop to think about every thing you're doing or
working towards. Does it still fit your life today? If not, stop
doing it or get rid of it as a goal.
10. You get to choose the pace.
Whether you pick 'Fast & Furious' or 'Slow & Easy',the important
thing is to keep working on simplifying your life and finding
ways to keep it simple. Let yourself have fun and be creative
with this.