Simplicity isn’t necessarily about austerity. It’s about making your life easier. Here’s how.
Photo: lordsutch
I’m writing this article at a desk that’s in a state of barely controlled clutter. There’s a stack of books on my far left, piled nine high; a shorter but more rowdy collection of papers, magazines, and press releases to read on my immediate left; cords for two external hard drives snaking out of the laptop, and more books, notebooks, business cards, article clippings, two pairs of sunglasses, and an empty cup of coffee on my right.
This is no way to start a Monday.
It’s time to put some order to this mess. Streamline and simplify: it’s my project for this week.
If you’re in a similar situation, here are 5 ways you can simplify your life along with me:
1. Organize your finances once and for all.
In that pile of papers on my desk you’ll find bank statements, bills, notes to invoice clients, and brochures from the IRS telling me how I can be more responsible about taxes. I hate all the paper. And I have nowhere to file it all.
Let’s start organizing by getting our finances straight. I’m going electronic: paperless bank statements and bills and auto bill pay, for starters. I’m also going to move all my invoicing from paper to PayPal.
Photo: bandita
Finally, I’m going to take the online financial service Mint for a test drive. Mint is a free budgeting and money management site that lets you link all your accounts and track where and how you’re spending your money. Worried about privacy and safety? Mint is certified secure by VeriSign and TRUSTe.
Once a month, I’ll schedule a day to review all my finances online, making sure that bills paid automatically were correct and ensuring I’ve been paid by clients.
2. Get rid of clutter. No, really.
If there’s paper that’s been sitting on my desk for more than a week, I’ll be ruthless with it: Am I really going to read it? If not, it’s off to the recycle bin.
Once the desk is clear, I’ll tackle a few other trouble spots in my apartment: closets and drawers. If I haven’t worn a piece of clothing in a year, I’ll donate it to a local charity thrift shop. If I have lots of electronics I no longer use (and I do–chargers for defunct cell phones, spent batteries, a collection of USB cords), I’ll donate or recycle those, too.
3. Practice saying no, thanks.
One of the most valuable pieces of advice I ever received was from a taskmaster of a boss, who continually piled new projects on my plate (not surprisingly, these were never coupled with a pay raise). One day, after asking me to take on yet another new project, I hesitated. “You don’t have to say yes, you know,” she told me. “The only reason I keep asking you is because you’re organized, you’re professional, and you always say yes. But really, you should practice saying ‘No, thanks.’”
Maybe she was sorry she ever told me that, but it was a powerful lesson. And it’s just as useful in one’s social life as it is in one’s professional life. I’m going to practice saying “No, thanks” to requests of my time when the offer really doesn’t interest me.
4. Plan less.
Photo: Florian
Lots of simplify your life advice involves making lists about goals and priorities or designating blocks of time for scheduling activities that are important to you.
Personally, I think it’s a bunch of bunk.
When my schedule is packed tight with meetings, plans, and obligations, I feel pressured. I also feel guilty if I fail to uphold them. Do I have to go to the gym every day at 6 AM? Nope. I’ll get there when I get there, and I’ll feel a whole lot better about it.
5. Say good-bye to gimmicks.
My wallet and my organizer are thick with all types of “saver” cards, peddled to me by stores where I hardly, if ever, shop. It’s time to shred them and say good-bye. Even if I do shop at these stores, it’s not with enough frequency to accumulate their supposed benefits.
Community Connection:
What are your tips for simplifying life? Share your strategies in the comments below!
For more ideas about what do with all the clutter you’ve accumulated, be sure to check out “Random Things You Didn’t Know You Can Recycle,” one of the thousands of articles from Matador’s archives!
About the Author
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16 Comments... join the discussion!
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I make sure I do one big thing every day, in the morning. so, even if I waste time surfing on the internet, tweeting, whatever, I can still look back and say I did that one big thing. I know I can’t do three big things. One is enough.
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Well, #4 is most difficult for me. I work better with structure.
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Garage sale, baby! Feels great to unload junk, and you’ll make some beer money.
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Great tips! Though I do love my lists. But, different organizational strokes, huh?
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I’m a list guy myself (Ever write down “Make a list” as the first item on a list, just to cross it off?), but you’re dead on about saying no. The first time you may feel like a jerk, but it’ll save you a headache if you can master the art of N-O.
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Just move! Then you have to do all of those things…well, my tax stuff is now somewhere in the storage space, so maybe that’s not the best advice…
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I think its funny you said get rid of the lists because I have found that it is the tourists on vacation that are the most stressed out and not the people hitting the daily grind… why because they have a big fat itenerary along with a big fat budget and they want the most out of it… my favorite way to travel is to have no plan and get on a bus that looks like its going to an interesting place… its an adventure its exciting… and above all the only thing you are stressed out about is where to find grub when your starving…
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Man, I hate lists. Winging it is my motto and it’s worked out for me so far.
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Oooh, that’s a good idea about traveling with no plan and getting on a bus that looks like its going to an interesting place. Though I just don’t have the self-discipline to be a free spirit for real. I have to schedule spontaneity into my day. So that’s bad.
But a good thing I do, I think, is that every time I bring one thing into the house, I take two things out. Goodbye.
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I totally agree with the money management thing… it seems SO scary until you actually sit down and, once and for all, get stuff straight.
Also, I make 5 small goals everyday. It’s NOT a to-do list, the idea is to put 5 small things on there that I’d feel proud if I accomplished by 7pm. This has been revolutionary for me – now I take a break at lunch to run to the library, pick up a lightbulb that burned out, etc. All of my weekend chores are happening during the week!
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Great little article. Thanks
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. . . get rid of all in-store “discount” cards because they are used to track your personal shopping habits. The data get used for ‘target’ marketing and you are the target. (Credit card / debit card transactions may or may not be so specific as to items purchased.)
Also, the records can be subpoenaed and used against you — let’s say in a trial seeking to discredit your testimony by examining you purchases of alcohol, pornography, sex toys, birth control devices or medications . . . Need I go on?
anti_supernaturalist
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“get rid of all in-store “discount” cards”
But don’t get rid of your grocery store discount card. Unless you’re made of money.
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Try some yoga first thing in the morning, nothing like it for setting up your day.
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I have a tiny planner which gives me very little space so I am just able to squeeze in what I have done/scheduled for a specific day — it’s great! helps me keep track of my own doings and keeps me organized professionally, because I’m a freelancer with no fixed schedule.
I also find myself doing too many things all the time, a certain recipe for exhaustion and loss of focus. But the arts and social work conferences and workshops are all so tempting! If only there was enough time it follow up everything…
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