4 Things You Need to Simplify Your Life (And 4 Ways to Find Them)

For nearly four years, I’ve been working with individuals to simplify their homes and lives. Throughout this work, I’ve noticed four things that people consistently need to simplify their lives.1. A place to start.  I’ve presented to hundreds of individuals over the years and all admit that they have something in their life they need to simplify.  But when asked why they haven't taken action, “I just don’t know where to start,” is almost always the response. They’ve typically accumulated so many physical possessions and so many “things to do” in their life that they are speeding down the tracks on the “excess” train and they just don’t know how to jump off. It’s so much easier just to stay put and keep going in the same direction, the one you know. But it doesn’t have to be this way. You can stop the train and you can find a place to start. And most importantly, you can take action and change. The key is, you have to be ready to change…2. Hope. Most likely, our possessions and commitments didn’t become overwhelming overnight. It’s likely been many years of slow growth…one piece of paper, one t-shirt and one “Sure, I can do that,” at a time. The thought of going through years of accumulation can be incredibly daunting and most of us just need hope that it is possible to dig ourselves out from underneath it all.3. A plan. Once you realize you have the power to jump off the excess train and once you have hope, you need a plan.   For some people, this is the fun part (hello type-A readers!) and for the rest, this is where they start to derail. If they could easily create a plan, they would have done it long ago…4. Accountability. Some people can create a plan and stick with it diligently. Most of us can’t (did someone say New Year’s Resolutions???).   Having someone to encourage you as you go, be there when there are challenges (which there will be) and keep you moving forward can mean the difference between successfully simplifying your life and continuing to ride the excess train at full speed.So HOW can you find these four things?1. Decide that you don’t have to keep living this way. It’s that simple. Just make a decision.2. Find others who have done it before. There are plenty, for instance, she has, this family has and this family has. Read books, like this one, these and this one. (I suggest finding them at the library to prevent adding another “thing” to your life.) Read blogs like this one, listen to a Ted Talk like this one or tune into a podcast like this one. See if there is a Meetup group in your community, or find a professional to work with you.3. Clear the fog. You know that feeling when it’s so foggy you can’t even see three feet in front of you? Being overwhelmed with too much stuff is the same. You need to get out of the fog to see clearly. You need to step away from your stuff to figure out what to do with your stuff. What I’ve found most valuable in my own life and for those I’ve worked with, is that the best way to find clarity is to step away from the clutter. Physically and mentally. Find a way to retreat. To get quiet, think clearly and create a plan from a not-in-the-midst-of-it perspective. Whether it’s 1 hour or one week (or maybe a month!), give yourself the gift of stepping away from what’s got you stuck and the plan will come. Have you ever been on vacation and taken time to think about how much fun you’re having with just one suitcase of your stuff? Have you felt light and free? Like you could just keep exploring and making memories? Removing yourself from your stuff allows you to see things in a new light. Intentionally creating a plan from this perspective can serve you well.You might choose to retreat on your own for an hour somewhere quiet in your town, or book a trip away. You might also consider attending one of our Simple Living Retreats on the coast of Maine, where you will gather for a weekend with a small group of like-minded women to focus specifically on simplifying your life.4. Find a connection and hold yourself accountable. A friend, a spouse, a professional, or a group of some sort. Tell them what you intend to do and when you intend to do it by and then report back to them at those times. A good accountability partner will be non-judgmental and supportive. Understand that by finding an accountability partner, you are not placing your burden on them. It’s up to you to do the work and it’s up to you to be accountable to them.These four needs have shown up so consistently in my work over the years, that I’m actually changing the way I work with clients to better support them in meeting these needs. I’ve found that my value is not delivered in physically being with clients in their home, doing the sorting and organizing. Instead, my value is provided through giving them a space to be heard, exploring what has them stuck, empowering them to find hope and collaborating to create a plan that works for them. Then continuing to support them as they work through their plan, brainstorming ideas and offering accountability. And all of this can be done virtually and in retreat settings.If you’re stuck trying to figure out how to simplify your life, rather than starting by simply dumping out a box and attempting to decide if each item brings you joy, start with the steps above. Instead of digging into the box, maybe thinking outside the box and moving forward from there is just what you need.To Simplicity & Joy,Lisa