Whenever I make intentional efforts to simplify my schedules and surroundings; allowing more time and energy for the things, people, and activities that are most important to me, my life always feels much better.
It’s ironical that living a slower and simpler lifestyle in today’s fast-paced world, calls for a huge amount of effort and intentionality! It’s always work in progress.
Even though this list includes a handful of specific things that have worked for me in my own journey, it won’t apply to every family, individual or situation. nevertheless, I hope some of the ideas are helpful for you!
1. I Avoid Overstimulating Situations
It took me several years to come to a realisation that I am easily overstimulated by loud, messy, chaotic, and cluttered spaces and people.
As a result, I am more conscious of my surroundings and make a solid effort to avoid spending long periods of time in overstimulating environments whenever possible. And yes, this does apply to my own immediate family too (they tend to be very loud and messy at times). It’s one reasons I get up very earlier that my family members so I can enjoy some quiet time.
2. Keep My Environment Clutter-Free
I tend to feel much calmer and more productive when my surrounding spaces are visibly free from clutter and have a sense of order to them. Since my surrounding spaces are usually my home, I put in much effort to keep it neat, organized, and clutter-free for the greater part of the day.
3. I Try to Get Enough Sleep
I am the type of person who prioritizes my sleep. Of course there have been those times in my life when I have had to put my sleep needs aside because of a sleepless child. During those phases, I pay attention to how much tired or rested I feel and get to bed early based on body demands. It increases my productivity greatly.
4. Eat Simple Foods At Home
Godwin and I have never been fans of going out to eat — in fact, we enjoy it less and less as we add more children to our family! We prefer to dine at home.
We get to drink lots of water and eat lots of simple meals that include fresh fruits and fresh veggies, most of which are grown in our backyard. I choose foods that can be prepared ahead of time so there’s not a last-minute rush to get dinner on the table, and I serve the food already on plates so the table isn’t cluttered up with pots and pans while we eat.
5. I Say “No” Regularly
Over the course of my adult life, I’ve gotten better at confidently saying “no” when a decision doesn’t align with my current season of life. Saying “no” is a very important skill we all need to develop to avoid living in chaos.
Its so much more than shrugging off responsibilities. In my opinion, the ability to say “no” shows a high level of self-respect and self-control. For example, you might say no to a vacation that isn’t in your budget — alleviating stressful debt in your life. You might say no to hitting the snooze button one more time and thus, starting your day on a more positive note. The fact is, we are always saying no to something. Just don’t let it be your family or yourself!
6. I Monitor My Media
I don’t know the latest movies, the up-and-coming music artists, the newest fashion trends, or the popular toys. I also don’t know many current events or world news — and I’m OK with that. I have one Christian news source that keeps me in the loop on the basics, but other than that, I focus my mental energy on what’s going on in my home, in our church, school and local community.
I’m not saying this is the best or right approach to media, but my brain truly can’t deal with all the problems of the world (or even all the problems of my Facebook friends). At this point in my life, monitoring my media helps me stay sane and makes me a better mother, wife, and friend (to the people I actually see in real life).
7. I Plan Ahead
Without planning ahead, I wouldn’t be able to do nearly as much for our church, our schools, our community, our family, or even for myself. I would end up overcommitted, stressed out, and very unhappy.
Without planning ahead, I wouldn’t have the time or energy to keep my home neat and orderly, I wouldn’t be able to go to bed at a reasonable hour because I’d be playing catch-up all day… which means I wouldn’t be able to wake up as early either. I wouldn’t have time to cook and bake, to grow my own veggies to entertain, or to bring meals to others.
