Simpler is better. When it comes to keeping things simple, you and I both know this to be true, but somehow we often forget it when life gets hectic.

There are so many things competing for your attention that it can be tough to keep things simple and focus on what’s important.

When making an effort to live a successful and happy life, simplicity is often the best strategy. This is even more so when it comes to your personal relationships, careers, and overall lifestyle.

But if you want to live a happier, more productive life, it’s essential to learn how to simplify your day-to-day routine.

One of the best ways to keep things simple is to focus on your priorities. What are the most important things in your life?

Make sure that you’re spending your time and energy on these things. Let go of anything that is not a priority.

What Does It Mean To Keep Life Simple?

But what does it mean to keep life simple? It means stripping away all of the unnecessary distractions and complications that can weigh you down and make you feel overwhelmed.

It means focusing on what’s truly important and letting go of everything else. And while this may seem like an easy task in theory, it can be much more difficult in practice.

The Importance Of Keeping Things Simple

When things are complicated, it can be difficult to know where to start or how to proceed so it’s important to simplify things in life because it makes it easier to manage and keeps stress levels down.

Simplicity allows you to take it one step at a time and focus on what’s important and when your stress levels are low, it is easier to think clearly and make better decisions.

Additionally, It can also make it easier to stay organized. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by clutter or chaos in your life, simplifying is a great way to take back control and improve your overall well-being.

How To Keep Things Simple

woman walking alongside seashore

We live in a world that’s constantly bombarding us with new information, demands, and distractions. It can be tough to cut through the noise and focus on what matters most.

If you want to live a simpler, more fulfilling life, it’s essential that you learn how to keep things simple.

Here are a few tips to help you get started:

1. Get Rid Of Excess Clutter 

Take a look around you and identify anything that’s cluttered, messy, or otherwise distracting and simplify your surroundings. If it doesn’t serve a purpose or add value to your life, get rid of it.

Decluttering your home, office, and other spaces will help you feel calmer. Getting rid of excess clutter can also help you to feel more relaxed and organized. It may not be easy to let go of things, but it’s so worth it.

Start by decluttering your home. Get rid of anything that you don’t need or use. Then, declutter your schedule by canceling any commitments that are not absolutely necessary.

Finally, declutter your thoughts. Practice meditation, prayer or yoga to clear your mind and focus on the present moment.

2. Let Go Of Perfectionism 

Perfectionism is a trait that can be both helpful and harmful. On one hand, it can lead to a high level of productivity and attention to detail.

But it can also lead to anxiety and dissatisfaction with your work and life, as well as a fear of failure.

Perfectionists often have grandiose plans that are simply unattainable. It would be a great help if you accept that perfection is not possible at all, no matter how hard you try.

If you’re constantly setting unrealistic goals for yourself, it’s no wonder you’re not able to meet your own standards.

Related: Let go of Perfectionism

3. Live In The Present Moment As Much as possible 

woman and her dog looking out at landscape

One of the most important ways to keep things simple is to live in the present moment. It can be very easy to get caught up in worrying about the future or dwelling on the past.

But, this only leads to stress and anxiety. Instead, focus on the present moment. When you shift your focus to the present, you’ll find that your life is much simpler and more enjoyable.

Here are some tips to help you live in the present:

  • Enjoy the simple things in life.
  • Appreciate your friends and family.
  • Be grateful for what you have.
  • Live each day to the fullest and don’t take anything for granted.

4. Avoid Over-scheduling Yourself 

scheduled appointments

When it comes to scheduling, it’s important to find a balance between too much and too little. Overscheduling can lead to feeling overwhelmed and stressed, while under-scheduling can leave you bored and unproductive.

Here are a few tips to avoid over-scheduling:

  • Plan ahead – If you know you have a lot of busy weeks coming up, start planning your days and weeks in advance. This will help you avoid trying to fit too many things into one day.
  • Be realistic about what you can accomplish – Don’t try to fit in a bunch of tasks that are unrealistic for you because this will only lead to stress and frustration.
  • Set aside some “unscheduled” time – Make sure to leave some free time in your schedule so you can relax, have fun, and take care of any unexpected tasks that come up.

5. Take Breaks Throughout The Day To Rejuvenate And Refresh Yourself 

woman drinking a cup of coffee

Taking a break is the time when you step away from your work and rejuvenate. When you come back, you’ll feel refreshed and renewed and be able to work more effectively.

Breaks also help you to stay alert and focused. Get up and walk around, stretch your body, have a snack, or just relax for a few minutes.

There are many reasons why you should take breaks throughout the day. Some of these benefits include:

  • Improved focus and productivity
  • Better mood and creativity
  • Decreased stress and anxiety
  • Improved communication and collaboration

 6. Do One Thing At A Time And Give It Your Full Attention

avoid multitasking

Multi-tasking is one of the most commonly named reasons for productivity loss. Despite this, a lot of us still insist on trying to do multiple things at once.

There are a number of reasons why multi-tasking is counterproductive and should be avoided.

1. First, of all, it actually decreases productivity. When you are trying to do multiple things at once, your brain is constantly switching between tasks. This takes up time and energy and leaves you feeling exhausted.

2. Secondly, multi-tasking can lead to mistakes. It’s easy to miss something important when you’re trying to focus on two or more things at once. This can cause problems in both your personal and professional life.

3. Multi-tasking can cause you to lose focus. When you’re constantly switching between tasks, it’s difficult to give your full attention to any one thing. This can lead to problems with completing tasks and retaining information.

4. Lastly, constantly juggling multiple things at one time can lead to stress and can have a negative effect on your health. When you’re trying to do too many things at once, it can be difficult to keep track of everything and leave you feeling overwhelmed and stressed out.

7. Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff 

woman with hand on head and looking worried

You might often get upset over small matters because you’re worried about how they will affect you in the long run.

But sweating the small stuff can actually have a negative impact on your health and well-being. Here are four reasons why you shouldn’t sweat the small stuff:

1. Causes stress and anxiety, leading to other health problems.

2. Ruins your peace of mind and affects your relationships with others.

3. It prevents you from enjoying life to the fullest.

4. It’s not worth worrying about something that you can’t control anyway.

8. Learn To Say “no” When You Need To 

woman putting up her hand saying no

Saying no can be difficult, but it’s important to do so when you need to. When you say no, you’re protecting your time and energy, both of which are valuable commodities.

You’re also communicating to others that you’re not available or not interested.

There are a few things to keep in mind especially if you find it hard to say no. Here are a few tips to help you.

  • Be clear and concise.
  • Don’t apologize for saying no.
  • Stick to your guns and avoid saying yes out of guilt or obligation.
  • Be direct and honest. You can say something like, “I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.”
  • Be polite but firm. Say something like, “Thank you for asking, but I’m not available.”
  • If you need to, set boundaries and explain them to the person who is asking for something from you.
  • Don’t be afraid to disappoint others. You can’t please everyone all the time.

9. Make Time For Leisure Activities And Hobbies That You Enjoy

woman wearing headphones listening to musicng

Leisure activities and hobbies can be a great way to relieve stress and relax. When you take time for yourself to do things you enjoy, it can help improve your mood and make you feel more refreshed.

On top of that, these activities can help you stay mentally sharp and improve your problem-solving skills.

There are many different leisure activities and hobbies that you can try to help reduce stress.

Some popular options include:

  • Reading
  • Playing sports
  • Listening to music
  • Watching television or going to the movies
  • Going for walks or nature hikes
  • Cooking
  • Crafting
  • Spending time with friends and family
  • Going to the beach

Related: What are personal boundaries and why we need them

10. Seek Out Calm And Peaceful Environments 

woman standing on the shoreline looking at the ocean

When you’re feeling stressed and overworked, it’s important to take some time for yourself to relax and rejuvenate. Seeking out calm and peaceful environments to chill out is a great option.

These places can help to soothe your mind and body, leaving you feeling refreshed and restored. By surrounding yourself with things that make you feel relaxed, you can lower your stress levels and find some much-needed relief.

So if you’re looking for simplicity and a way to de-stress, consider finding a place that is quiet and serene. Here are some of the best places to find peace and tranquility:

1. Nature: There’s nothing quite like spending time in nature to help you feel calm and at peace.

2. A Quiet Room: If you can’t get outside, create your own tranquil space indoors.

3. A Relaxing Activity: Sometimes, the best way to find peace is to engage in a calming activity. This could be something like yoga, meditation, prayer, or even aromatherapy.

4. A Creative Outlet: Expressing yourself creatively can also be soothing and therapeutic. If you enjoy painting, writing, coloring, playing music, or anything creative, allow yourself some time to engage in these activities when you’re feeling stressed.

Keeping Things Simple Quotes

1.“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”- Confucius

2. “The key to a good life is to keep it simple, yet creating simplicity is such a complex issue.”- Master Jin Kwon

3. “Keep it simple, when you get too complex you forget the obvious.”- Al McGuire

4. “Life is simple. You just have to stop trying to figure it out.”- Marty Rubin

5. “The greatest step towards a life of simplicity is to learn to let go.”- Steve Maraboli

6. “Keep it simple and focus on what matters. Don’t let yourself be overwhelmed.”- Confucius

7. “Keep it simple, make it general, and make it intelligible.”- Douglas McIlroy

8. “The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.”- Hans Hofmann

9. “It must be a balance in everything we do, not too much of everything, keep it simple, not complicated.”- Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

10. “The greatest truths are the simplest things in the world, simple as your own existence.”- Swami Vivekananda

11. “Keep it simple and keep it real. The more basic we see our connection to God and Spirit, the easier it is to feel like you’re a part of it.”- Jim Fargiano

12 “Keep it simple: own as little as you can get away with, schedule everything, keep a notebook, don’t let technology enslave you.”- Blake Mycoskie

13. “Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler.”- Albert Einstein    

14. ” Our life is frittered away by detail… simplify, simplify.”- Henry David Thoreau     

15. “Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious and adding the meaningful.”- John Maeda                     

16. “The most simple things can bring the most happiness.”- Izabella Scorupco

17. “Possessions, outward success, publicity, luxury to me these have always been contemptible. I believe that a simple and unassuming manner of life is best for everyone, best for both the body and the mind.”- Albert Einstein

18. “The simple act of paying attention can take you a long way.”- Keanu Reeves

19. “Life is like art. You have to work hard to keep it simple and still have meaning.”- Charles de Lint

20. “Any darn fool can make something complex; it takes a genius to make something simple.”- Pete Seeger

Conclusion On Keeping Things Simple

In this fast-paced, constantly-connected world we live in, it can be challenging to keep life simple. But is there really anything wrong with taking a step back and simplifying things? Not everything needs to be so complicated.

Keeping things simple is a great way to make sure that you don’t overwhelm or confuse yourself. Simplifying your life can help you feel happier and content, relaxed, fulfilled and more in control.

What are some of the ways you’re keeping it simple in your life? Let us know in the comments below!