I’ve been on a never-ending quest to simplify my life. My husband Jake and I finally donated the massive vegan leather sectional that worked great in our last home. It didn’t really fit the downsized beachy vibe here, but we held onto it because we’d paid good money for it and it still looked practically new (okay, a few cat scratches). Anyway, we donated it to Habitat for Humanity and felt so good about doing that. And then we donated two area rugs and a couple of chairs and a bunch of other things we were just over. Before we know it, the only furniture we’ll have left to sit on is the cat condo!
But it’s fun to shake things up and make the space to think about what you want next. And I don’t think it’s only about donating your old furniture and decluttering your house.
Here are 5 more ways to give yourself the gift of simplifying your life:
Stop People Pleasing
We all want to be liked. But the truth is not everybody will like us, or the work we pour our hearts and souls into, or even the furniture we eventually get to replace the stuff we donated. The old saying that what other people think of us is none of our business can be so, so true. So stop worrying about it. Lean into your authenticity. As Dolly Parton said, “Find out who you are and do it on purpose.” Then shrug off the naysayers. Not worrying about what everybody thinks of you, or what you just did or said, or didn’t do or didn’t say, will free up so much time to shine that bright light of yours.
Quit Trying to Fix Everyone Else
It’s so easy to see what everyone else should be doing. I also think there’s a distraction element involved—if we’re spending all our time solving everybody else’s problems, we don’t have time to take a long, hard look at our own. Whenever I catch myself spending way too much time thinking about or telling other people what they should be doing, it’s almost always a signal that I have some work to do on myself.
Just Say No
Sometimes it’s important to step up. But everything doesn’t have our name on it. If an invitation isn’t an immediate yes, try making it a no. Do it with kindness and love, but if you’re not into game nights, or you don’t need another committee in your life, or you just don’t feel like doing whatever it is, say no. I’ve learned to say no to so many things I would have said yes to just on the off chance that I might hurt someone’s feelings by saying no. And now when it’s a yes, I’m in 110%. It’s a great way to live and it frees up so much time for the things that are important to me. If other people don’t approve, oh, well. (See #1 above!) But usually they’ll just move on to the next person. So don’t let guilt turn a no to a yes.
Prioritize
If you feel like you’re being pulled in a gazillion directions and your days consistently slip away without finding time for the things you really wanted to do, try doing them first. I walk and write my daily pages first and then move on to everything else. At the end of a busy day, I’d much rather have a messy house or inbox than pages that didn’t get written or a beach that didn’t get walked. Try it. And let me know how it goes!
Get Creative.
Dig in the garden. (Or plant some seeds indoors while you’re waiting for it to thaw!) Play with some paint. Start that book you’re afraid to write. Don’t worry about being good enough. Just find something that makes your heart sing, even a little, and spend some time with it every day. You’ll learn and grow and get better. Stepping outside your comfort zone will make you feel brave. Creativity is freeing. It’s meditative. It helps relieve stress. It teaches you how to let everything else go. Creativity is one of the best and most fun ways to simplify your life I’ve found.
If you want some more creativity inspiration—and some fun—reading or rereading Never Too Late: Your Roadmap to Reinvention, Shine On: How to Grow Awesome Instead of Old and Life Glows On: Reconnecting with Your Creativity to Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life might be just the thing!
Claire Cook wrote her first book in her minivan when she was 45. At 50, she walked the red carpet at the Hollywood premiere of the romantic comedy movie adaption of Must Love Dogs. She’s now now the New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author of 23 books. Her books have been translated into 14 languages. She says: “Take it from me, if you have a buried dream, it’s never too late!”