Beware the barrenness of a busy life. Socrates
Focus on being productive instead of busy. Tim Ferris
Never get so busy making a living, that you forget to make a life.
So many of us have busy, busy, busy lives.Is your typical response to the question of "How are you?" an automatic response of "I'm So Busy."
We are surrounded by a culture that constantly says your life isn't good enough until it has more.
Busy is better. Do more, Work more, Buy more.
MORE, MORE, MORE.
Do you feel that you have so much on your plate that you can't enjoy or appreciate what's happening in the moment? You're always in emergency mode. You know it's too much.
You know you feel overwhelmed. You know you want something better.
You know you feel overwhelmed. You know you want something better.
In my old job I use to joke that I lived in the future, because I was always working on projects months away and planning and organizing things for future days. I rarely thought of the current moment, only of future moments.
In my new career I decided, I wanted to actively embrace a different lifestyle. One that centers around enjoying every day instead of thinking "someday" I'll have more _____? (joy, peace, fun, etc.)
This has inspired my new art piece, When She Simplified Her Life, her Soul Whispered Thank You.
This has inspired my new art piece, When She Simplified Her Life, her Soul Whispered Thank You.
Here are 2 things I'm doing to help me bring about a more simplified (and peaceful) life.
Get Rid of Stuff & Write Everything Down
Get Rid of Stuff
Too much stuff = stress & mess
Take a fresh look at your stuff - do you love it? If not, make it go bye bye.
(Someone else will appreciate it.)
Look
at your monthly calendar - What's taking up your time? (meetings, committees,
clubs, projects, appointments, etc.) If you don't love them, start cutting one thing a month.
This also includes all your kid's activities.
clubs, projects, appointments, etc.) If you don't love them, start cutting one thing a month.
This also includes all your kid's activities.
Look at what's coming into your Inbox
Organize your inbox - set up folders in your email and create rules so emails go directly into them. This is great for sales, coupons, newsletters, bills. When you're ready to deal with them, they're in one folder waiting for you, instead of clogging up your inbox. Unsubscribe from anything that isn't needed.
Look at your closets, your shelves, your garage, your purse - what needs to stay, what needs to go?
Look at your books, magazines, subscriptions. Are you excited to read them or do you feel stress when you think about them? If it's stress, get rid of them.
Write Everything Down
We love to fool ourselves that we can remember things but all that does is cause you pressure as you try to remember or, even worse, that horrible feeling when know you've forgotten something.
Every time you have a future appointment, future due date, have to call someone, have to buy something, you're waiting for a response by a certain date, put it in your calendar or To Do List. Once you move it from your brain and put it on paper or electronic reminder, you'll be amazed at how peaceful you'll feel knowing it's in one place (and that's not your already overloaded brain). It's also helpful to write the next day's to-do list before you go to bed so the minute you start to
relax, every single thing you need to remember doesn't start swirling
around your brain.
(Also keep a notepad by the bed for anything you
forget).
Here's to a more simplified and more lovely life.
Our souls will thank us.
Love, Steph
