How much clutter do you keep in your physical and mental space? Take a minute to look around you, your home, or your office. It is likely filled with furniture, decorative items, tools, electronics, you name it. Your mind is at least equally cluttered with unwanted thoughts, feelings, and worries. Simply put, if you feel like your life is a clutter, you are not alone: Have you every had a feeling that your energy starts flagging when you’re surrounded by clutter?
We all go through various challenges, sometimes on a daily basis. Simplification is a way of life that helps free up space in the pursuit of our true passions. Simplification through actions like Jettisoning things – both material and intangible – make daily life easier, more productive, and more enjoyable.
Research studies concluded that adoption of a minimalist lifestyle can contribute to both individual and societal wellbeing. The studies confirmed the many benefits of simplicity and minimalism including enhanced happiness, increased life satisfaction and a heightened sense of purpose.
Here are five simple steps to simplify your life for a more peaceful and stress-free state of being:
1. Start an Activity Log
An activity log simply lists all the activities you need to get done. You can make it look like a weekly overview with columns dedicated to your daily activities, a section for needle-moving activities and another section to list your look-ahead items and plans. Starting an activity log is very simple and takes minimal amount of effort, but the impact on decluttering your mind goes a long way. You can either manually log your activities in a simple journal or start a digital copy.
Microsoft has several customizable templates that can be downloaded and used free of charge.
2. Declutter
Thanks to the internet and the very convenient online shopping experience it provides, we can purchase almost anything from almost anywhere in the world. We have more and more materialistic possessions. In fact, the average American woman owns about 103 pieces of clothing (compared to only 9 outfits in 1930).
Clutter forms a barrier to your goals for the day. In addition, it can increase your level of stress and anxiety. Look around you and the pile of paper, clothes, CDs, pens, pencils, and notebooks you haven’t touched in years. How many of the items you see bring value to your life? When decluttering, ask yourself:
- Have I used it within the last year?
- Do I have space for it?
- Would I buy it now if I saw it in a store?
Imagine removing all the items with an answer “yes” to the questions above. What remains are the possessions that add value, meaning and purpose.
Taking a little time to clean your home and office space not only is an excellent way to add movement to your daily routine, but it also helps clear mental space to focus on your passions and goals. Find out what time of the day works best for you and roll up your sleeves.
Make cleaning and decluttering part of your routine and lifestyle.
Use organization techniques and tools to make your space tidy and clutter-free.
3. Clean Sweep Your Life
Clean sweeping of your home and work environment has significant holistic value that can help declutter your mind, boost productivity and enhance joy. The “Clean Sweep” program is an assessment that evaluate four major life areas that form the cornerstone for health and happiness:
- Physical environment
- Money
- Relationships
- Well-being
The goal of the assessment is to reach a score of 100 and the process can take anywhere between 6-24 months to complete. The program helps take small steps such as tying loose ends, clearing your work/home environment and improving your relationships to set intentions for a happier more fulfilling life.
4. Use Harmonious Shapes, Colors and Elements
Dealing with personal and professional challenges, most of us don’t want anything but a relaxed and calm environment where we work and live. When you home or office is a peaceful sanctuary, it can have magical powers on your well-being. Simplifying through harmony can generally create a sense of cohesion and balance in your environment. Color and shape harmony not only impact the overall aesthetics of your space, but they can also have a soothing effect for stress relief and better sleep. Simplifying things from the color of the walls and furniture to the shape of the window coverings, to the organization of the items in your space; everything contributes to how the energy is sensed in your space. This doesn’t mean that your entire space or furniture must be in a monochromatic palette or designed identically, but rather that color and shape should be used in a way that is balanced and peaceful.
Incorporating natural elements like plants to your décor is also a simple but significantly transformative step.
5. Use Mind-Mapping
Mind maps are visual tools that are used to simplify complex tasks and activities utilizing memory and creativity. Mind mapping visualization techniques structure thoughts and ideas around a single goal or concept. They can be simple and generalized or very detailed, depending on how it best suits your needs. By organizing and planning thoughts and ideas, mind mapping can help gain a quick and easy overview of the issues at hand and recognize the links among the individual details, simplifying mental processing in personal life and at work. There are many mind mapping tools available that can be used and customized free of charge.
Simplifying your life does not mean that your home or office will become an empty and impersonal space. Nor does it mean that your life will be boring and lonely. Most people who follow a simplistic lifestyle find that their lives actually open up. They find that they make more conscious choices when it comes to spending their time or financial resources. They find that they have more quality time to spend with their family and friends and a bit more spare cash to spend on traveling and new experiences.