Keep life simple with these 16 helpful and effective tips!
We live in a complex world where everything is changing very quickly and everyone is hyperconnected and busy.
The future is very uncertain and unpredictable, and we all have daily problems we need to face.
Living in this modern world can be very overwhelming, challenging, and stressful.
As a result, some of us have a hard time navigating it all and are craving to live a slow, simple life.
If you too want to stay away from complications and are striving for simplicity, read on.
Here are 16 essential ways to keep life simple in a complex world!
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What does it mean to keep life simple?
To keep life simple means staying away from distractions and complicated things that can make life more challenging to live.
It means living a life that gives you peace of mind and allows you to breathe and experience the simple joys of life.
It’s not a life without problems, because it doesn’t exist.
But it’s a life where you prioritize the most meaningful, important things.
You focus on things that will reduce your stress and give you fulfillment and happiness in the long run.
And no, those things are usually not a bigger house, a brand-new phone, or a shiny car.
It’s the little things that make life worth living, no matter what it means to you.
You end up wanting less and being happy about it.
Read more: How to stop being materialistic and overconsuming?
How do I keep my life simple? 16 essential ways to keep life simple in a complex world
1. Unplug every day
One of the most effective ways to keep life simple is to spend some time every day without technology.
Whether that’s your phone, computer, or TV, schedule at least an hour a day where everything is turned off.
It could be the hour after waking up or the one before going to bed, or even during your lunch break.
Instead of being in front of a screen, engage in a relaxing activity such as reading, painting, or playing board games with your family.
Read more:
2. Schedule rest regularly
In today’s society, rest is seen as a waste of time.
It is often the first thing we skip whenever we don’t have time and are busy.
Yet, it’s so important to feel good during the day and be productive.
We cannot function without proper rest, so we should schedule some downtime regularly.
I always try to take breaks during the day and take time to unwind at night before going to bed.
I also schedule some time to rest each week: for me, it usually means that Sunday is my non-productive day.
Since I work during the week, I need a day for relaxing and resting to be ready to tackle the following week feeling energized.
What’s more, if you are in a position to take vacation, try to do so at least for a week or two during the year.
It doesn’t mean you should travel and not stay home.
Just make sure you get proper rest for at least a few days here and there, particularly if you feel burned out.
3. Embrace imperfection to keep life simple
This has always been something I’ve struggled with and is now one of my biggest priorities!
As a perfectionist, I tend to think that what I do is not good enough.
Because there is always room for improvement, right?
If you’re like me, try to remember this: done is better than perfect.
Perfection is a man-made concept that is actually subjective.
What I think is perfect might not be perfect from your perspective.
The other way around is true as well.
So, since perfection is impossible to achieve, we should give ourselves grace and learn to embrace imperfection.
Now, I ask myself: is it good enough?
It usually is.
I’ve found doing this is so much better for my mental health!
Read more:
4. Single task
Multitasking is one of the things that complicate our lives a lot.
When we’re doing several things at the same time, things can get chaotic and overwhelming.
Not to mention that we are less efficient and more likely to make mistakes.
So try to do things, one at a time if you can, especially if you’re doing something that requires your full attention and focus.
For instance, I’m often tempted to listen to instrumental music when writing articles.
But whenever I do, I feel distracted and not as productive as I could be.
So I always end up turning everything off and working in silence.
5. Finish things you’ve started
A great way to keep life simple is to finish things we’ve started.
I find that whenever we start something and don’t finish it, the task stays there in the back of our minds.
We know deep down we should finish it or do something about it, but we may not have the time or energy to do so.
And if we leave several tasks unfinished, it can become overwhelming and stressful.
If it happens to you, commit to reassessing all those unfinished tasks and reevaluate them.
Is it worth finishing them?
Don’t waste time by completing a task just because you’ve started it if you feel like it won’t add value to your life.
But if you really want to finish some of them, schedule some time every week to work on them.
It will help declutter your mind!
6. Make lists to keep life simple
Whatever you want to do, write it down on paper and make a list.
It could be anything from things you need to buy at the grocery store, books you want to read, chores you need to do, or tasks you have to complete for work.
Making lists is a helpful way to make sure we aren’t forgetting about important things.
Plus, it allows us to create some mental space for us to focus on what we are doing instead of constantly reminding ourselves of all the other tasks.
7. Learn to say no guilt-free
Many of us often feel compelled to say yes to other people.
We may feel bad for turning down an invitation, declining an opportunity, or simply saying no.
But, as Greg McKeown, author of the book Essentialism, explains so well: “I can do anything but not everything”.
We all have the same 24 hours a day and don’t have unlimited amounts of energy.
We cannot say yes to everyone and every opportunity, and do everything other people want us to do.
We need to protect our time and energy so we can focus on the most important things in our lives.
It implies saying no when we don’t absolutely want to do those things, or realistically can’t.
And we should learn to do it guilt-free because no amount of guilt will change the fact that we cannot do everything!
Read more: 14 life-changing minimalist rules to live by
8. Spend time in nature every day
One of my favorite ways to keep life simple is to spend as much time in nature as I can.
Every day, I try to go on a walk for at least 30 minutes.
During the weekend, I often leave my home for several hours to immerse myself in the natural environment nearby.
Nature has the magical power of slowing us down and calming our minds.
It helps us relieve stress and shows us that there is no need to rush all the time.
When we’re busy and have many things on our plates, we might be tempted to stay inside all day to be productive.
But get into the habit of going outside every day even if it’s just for 15 minutes.
You’ll never regret doing this!
Read more: 45 slow down quotes that will remind you to enjoy life and relax
9. Declutter regularly to keep life simple
Having too much stuff in our homes can truly complicate our lives.
It makes cleaning, tidying, and keeping up with daily chores so much more challenging.
We all bring new things into our homes.
It can be new clothes for ourselves and our families, toys, food, hobby supplies, all kinds of beauty products, paperwork, and so on.
But to keep our inventory at a manageable level, we need to regularly go through everything and declutter the excess.
Get rid of things you don’t use, like, or need at least at the end of every season.
That way, you will be able to start fresh in a clutter-free home!
Here are several articles that will help you declutter your home:
- How to start decluttering when overwhelmed with clutter
- How to declutter fast? 25 quick decluttering hacks
- 20 lazy habits for a clutter-free home
- 99 oddly specific things to declutter right now
- 70 things to get rid of for a minimalist home
10. Batch similar tasks together
If you want to simplify your life, consider batching similar tasks together.
Constantly switching from one task to the next can be overwhelming for our brains, which need some time to adapt and focus.
That’s why I recommend doing similar things one after the other, instead of doing them at different times.
For instance, if you need to run errands in town, go there and do them all in one go instead of doing one thing each day.
You might also find it helpful to do so at work; I batch similar tasks together all the time!
11. Have a morning and night routine you love
Keep life simple by having a morning and night routine you do every day and that you look forward to.
When we have a set routine, we know exactly what to do in the morning and evening.
We don’t waste time thinking about what we should do next but do things out of habit.
Especially if you incorporate activities you love, your routines will become moments that replenish you and that you truly enjoy.
They help start your day right and prepare you for a restful night.
Read more:
- 16 relaxing night routine ideas to help you unwind and sleep better
- 8 morning habits for healthy living
12. Brain dump to keep life simple
Whenever you feel stressed and overwhelmed, do a brain dump on a piece of paper or in your journal.
In other words, write down everything that comes to your mind and stresses you out.
Write about your feelings, all the things that are keeping you awake at night, and what makes you anxious.
Write as much as you want!
I promise once all your problems are on paper, you will feel lighter and your thoughts will be more organized.
Everything will seem more manageable and less chaotic.
13. Don’t buy unnecessary things
To maintain a minimalist home, or at least, a clutter-free space, we should declutter our belongings regularly.
But more importantly, we should stop accumulating and buying unnecessary things.
So avoid impulse buying when you know you don’t need anything specific, and ask yourself questions before making a purchase.
If you’re struggling to shop with intention, make it a bit more difficult for you to purchase things.
For instance, don’t save your credit card information on Amazon or other websites.
Stop going to the mall every time you feel bored or avoid the sales rack at Target or Walmart.
You probably don’t need all those things, so leave them at the store and shop your home first whenever you need something!
Read more:
14. Aim for inbox zero
One of the best ways I keep life simple is to aim for inbox zero at the end of the week.
What that means is that I go through all my emails on Fridays, delete useless ones, and take action on those I haven’t gotten around to tackling.
That way, I can finish my week knowing everything has been done in my inbox and I can start the new week fresh.
Ideally, I would do this at the end of each day, but it’s been difficult to do so every day.
However, I make sure to at least delete unwanted stuff as soon as I see it so it doesn’t clutter up my inbox.
For more tips, check out my article about my best digital minimalism tips!
15. Stay away from toxic, negative people to keep life simple
I know it’s easier said than done, but try to spend as little time as possible with negative, toxic people.
Those people are draining and depleting our energy levels and can leave us in a bad mood for the rest of the day.
We need to do what is necessary to protect our time and energy, and staying away from those people is essential for our sanity.
When it’s impossible, we should at least try and limit how much we interact with them.
Be polite but prepare yourself not to engage in their drama.
16. Pay off debt ASAP
Debt can make life incredibly stressful and challenging, particularly when we’re struggling to pay it off and live below our means.
However, see what you can do to pay it off as soon as possible, even if it’s just increasing your payments by $50 a month.
Every dollar counts and brings you closer to a debt-free life.
Going debt-free is one of the best things you can do to keep life simple and calm!
Keep life simple quotes
Now that you know how to keep life simple, you might need to get motivated or inspired to take action.
What better way to do that than to read inspiring quotes on the topic?
Make sure to read these 50 simplicity quotes!
They will inspire you to simplify things and apply minimalism to your life.
Final thoughts on how to keep life simple
I hope you’ve found this article helpful and that it helped you keep life simple in this complex world.
In today’s society, it can be difficult to simplify life and live that way in the long run.
However, it’s definitely possible if we take action toward simplicity and live with intention despite what other people tell us to do.
What are your favorite ways to keep life simple?
Please leave a comment!
Don’t forget to share this blog post with your friends so they can live an uncomplicated, simple life too.
