Simplify & Purge

How much is enough?  Are you sitting in a home with more "stuff" than you need?  If you had to move in 30 days would you take it all with you? 

We go through our lives and accrue stuff for a variety of reasons.  Having a home & a car along with the household furnishings that we need may be important to you.  I remember a time when it mattered to me what type of dishwasher I owned.  As I was climbing the corporate ladder each new rung came with a new toy that I said that "I deserved." 

In the end I had a houseful of stuff....most of which either I hardly used or it was so over the top that it elicited "oohs and aahhs" when people came into my home  None of it however made me happy.

Jack & I are preparing to downsize & move back home in the next year.  I have furnishings for 2 homes (ours and my Mom's), small appliances that I maybe used once or twice and in my case a closet filled with fabric and yarn.  (None of which I will use again!)

It is time to simplify my life and purge out anything that won't make the trip to Oregon.  I figure that if I start now the task won't be as onerous when we put the house on the market. (Clutter doesn't help to sell a house!)

How about you?  Are you ready to clean house?  It is said that you have to get rid of stuff to allow new stuff to enter into your life.  Is there something that you really want that you'll have room for if you purge what you don't need? (Ok i am assuming here that what you want now isn't just another toy that you never use. :))

Try these Simple Steps when you are ready to simplify your life:

• Start with your easiest closet, the smallest type of stuff or just that thing that you never use.  Pack up anything that you haven't used in the last year and take it to a shelter. 
• If you get a hankering to purge in mass collect all the stuff you want to clear out and have a garage sale.  Price everything ahead of time so you are not guessing at the last minute.  Be willing to negotiate.  Besides clearing out large quantifies of stuff you might just make enough money to buy your next heart's desire.
• With collector's items take them to a trade show/exchange or sell them on E-bay. 

Clearing out the clutter in your home is cathartic!  Use it as a symbolic gesture for cleaning out your mind.  When that load is lightened it sure feels better!  Enjoy!

Ideas to Simplify

Our days can be so complicated between family, work, raising children, taking care of parents & grandchildren & so many other responsibilities.  Finding ways to simply our lives reduces some of the stress and gives us time to take care of us.

"When the solution is simple, God is answering." Albert Einstein

Here are a few Simple Steps to streamline your life and give you the needed breathing room:

• "Don't go to bed on Friday night with any chores left to do...then...simply get up and enjoy your weekend! " - Dayle V.
• Start your day with your most important task.  If nothing else gets done add the leftovers to tomorrow's list.  Repeat.  You'll be amazed at how many things never rise to the top.
• Learn to say "No" to anything that you don't want to do.  Do the same for anything that you are asked to do that conflicts with what is important to you.  You have to come first.
• Do one thing at a time and finish it if at all possible.  Loose ends tend to go untied.
• Plan your time. Whether you do so by the day or week is up to you.  When you organize you tend to keep your priorities in front of you.  Make sure that you plan personal time into every day. 
• Turn off your cell phone before dinner every night.  Enjoy your family.  If anyone wants to reach you they can call your home phone or wait until you call them back tomorrow.
• Simplify your meals during the week.  Grill your favorite protein & veggies or add a salad.  Clean up is a whiz.  Save more complicated meals for the weekend when your family or friends can help.  Make extra servings & save them for another meal.
• Automate your bill payments. 
• Turn off the TV.
• Establish routines or rituals that you do everyday.

"Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs." - Henry Ford

• Donate clothes and household articles that you don't need anymore.  Clean out those closets!
• Have routine maintenance done on your car & home to prevent unexpected expenses & time consuming events.
• If you are a goal setter limit your goals to 1-2 at a time.  Put everything else on your "bucket list." When you finish up the initial goals move another goal up to 1st place.
• If you are rushing out for work every morning...do these things the night before:  lay out your clothes, pack lunches and put your books or briefcase by the door or in your car.
• Clean out your car! 
• If you are always misplacing small items such as keys or glasses set up a single place in your home where they go.  If you can't do that then at least state out loud when you put them down, "I am putting my keys on the entry table."  Actually saying the words helps you remember.
• Share tasks with a neighbor or a friend. (Spouse or child too). That way you are all doing what you are good at.
• Don't buy anything new unless you give up, sell or donate 1-2 items of equal merit.
• Cut your hair really short or grow it long.  Either way it will be easier care.
• Down size your living space.  Do you need all that space now that the children are gone? 

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

Simplifying your life should also be simple! These are just a few ideas.  Please post yours in the comment section and share the simple wealth with us!