Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify. ~ Thoreau
“I’m so overwhelmed that I can’t think straight.”
This is what someone said to me last week. And I recognized how this has been true for me…and some days still is my truth.
We all get pulled in so many different directions every day, stretching ourselves thin and doing a pretty rotten job at managing all our tasks. And then we’re surprised that we’re totally exhausted and stressed out.
Many of us are like hamsters on a wheel running furiously and getting nowhere fast. And it’s hurting us.
If you’d like to stay healthy and stress less then it’s time to start simplifying and this means dumping all the things that aren’t essential for a peaceful, happy life.
So what to do? So where to start? It’s really not as hard as you think…
Stop doing things that aren’t fulfilling in any way. Eliminate the things that clutter life leaving you with time to spend with those you love and those things that bring value to you; the things that matter most.
In a nutshell.
What are the most important things in your life? Concentrate on those things and eliminate everything else…so says Cary Richards in The Joy of Less. Then you’re done!
But we all could use a little more clarity than that I know, so here’s some of the things that might apply to different areas of your life to help you shake off exhaustion and stress.
1. List your top priorities
The things you hold most dear. The things that will still be important to you in five years. This is the starting point because these are the reasons you want to eliminate all the ‘extra stuff’ so you have more time for the things you value. Keep it simple, 3,4 or 5 priorities are enough for starters.
Time is your most precious resource that once spent, you can never get back.
Tweet This
2. Focus on the work day essentials
I write them down because I’m easily distracted by the next new shiny object and I have an agreement with myself not to look at, engage in or otherwise connect with anything else until my essentials are done! You don’t need an entire to do list. Keep it really small. Weed out the inessentials.
The goal isn’t perfection, just to be the person who has created the space to live the best life possible for them.
3. Declutter your home
A seriously bursting at the seams closet is as stressful to your spirit as a seriously jam-packed ‘to do list’. Invest some time in deciding what you want to keep and clear out the rest. Give things away, don’t keep duplicates. Turn your closet into an oasis of delight.
It will please your heart and soul every time you enter and bring a moment of peace to you. Create an added blessing to your life and take the time to accept and appreciate.
4. Read life changing books
We must use some of the time we claw back from our hectic lives and invest it in studying those with great ideas. Gather information, wisdom and clarity and read the books!
If you’re one of those people who find tidying up an energy-sucking experience. Yep, that’s me…then a book filled with wisdom and support would be The life changing magic of tidying up. It reminds us to surround ourselves with things that spark joy.
I know I’ve added a task to your simplifying schedule. But…
Never, ever give up reading because all of the books that you will ever need to make you happy, rich, healthy and as successful as you want to be have been written.
5. Be teachable
Re-inventing the wheel is a waste of your precious energy. Reaching out to an expert can be the beginning of a wonderful journey of self-discovery and new knowledge. And it simplifies your life.
I recently decided it was time to set some social networking goals on Facebook so I turned to an expert. I discovered a programme designed by someone with over 1 million likes, and an income of over $100,000 per year from his Facebook page, just what the doctor ordered. So I signed up.
If you want to know more there’s a link right here… Your Digital Formula.
The learning process plays a major part in our life, but you don’t have to go it alone. Allow someone with more expertise than you to kindle the flame.
6. Manage your digital packrat habits
Be honest. Couldn’t you use a little computer clean up? Maybe you have too many files and a lot of disorganization. A cluttered computer is slow, stressful to you because you can’t find what you want, and complicates life more than you need.
Begin with e-mails. Clear out your in-box. Be ruthless.
Unsubscribe from everyone who’s sending you e-mails and you can’t remember why. Not from mine of course!
For greater ease try this app https://www.unroll.me/
There are plenty of other ways you can clean up your digital clutter and make life easier all around. Head over to http://www.wikihow.com/Stop-Being-a-Digital-Packrat for some expert advice. (Read #5 again!)
There are lots of things that hold you back in life, but being a digital packrat doesn’t have to be one of them.
7. Spiritually speaking
Getting from exhausted to energized isn’t about seeing how little we can get by with…that’s not simplifying that’s choosing poverty. It IS about putting first things first. Those things we love and value, like family, friends, a trip we’ve always wanted to take, a book we never had time for, or just a simple walk in the woods.
We give our lives to the things that we spend our time on. It’s time to stop letting the things that matter most be a distant second to the things that matter least. When you’re clear on your priorities, you can painlessly discard whatever isn’t in harmony with your values, whether it’s a cluttered closet, computer or commitments.
Over to you:
Do you have any tips on simplifying live and making room for your values? I’d love to hear them.
Encourage one another.
Love Elle
xoxo
P.S. If you have a friend, client or colleague who struggles to the point of exhaustion and stress please share this post. It may be exactly what they need to take back control over their own time and energy.
Author information
ElleSommer
Elle is the founder of Reflecting A Life which has recently evolved into Live Purposefully Now. She is living proof you can have the life you want! In the midst of great loss, many setbacks, roadblocks and challenges, she learned how to use age-old principles to manifest a wonderful life, including homes in Hawaii, and New York; cruises to Europe; financial freedom and BEST of all new love and great spiritual growth.
You can use these same principles in your life and create magical momentum. Join her…but be careful, you might for ever change your life.
| Twitter | Facebook | Google+ |
The post 7 Simple Ways to Get From Exhausted to Energized appeared first on Live Purposefully Now.
