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I remember the day I googled ‘how to simplify and slow down’. For some reason it’s etched in my memory. I was pregnant with our second child and feeling the weight of the life behind me and what was ahead. It felt heavy. Unbearably heavy. And that was the moment that I decided I would do whatever it took to simplify my life.

I was done with ‘crazy busy’.

I wanted more time and space. Less ‘stuff’ around me and less on my to-do list. More quiet moments of noticing. Less ‘busy-work’.

So bit by bit I simplified things and slowed my pace. And I haven’t looked back.

Here are 6 ways I’ve simplified my life since that day.

Clutter

Being a Highly Sensitive Person I’ve always been overwhelmed by too much in my environment so clutter was never a big problem for me. But it’s still incredible how much one (let alone a family of 4, or more) can accumulate in a short space of time.

Over the years I’ve donated thousands of items to our local thrift shops. My only regret? Not starting earlier. I didn’t realise until it was gone, how much space that ‘stuff’ was taking up in my brain.

How can you get started?

If you are wanting to simplify your life then decluttering physical items is a great way to start.

I recommend starting small. Perhaps your car or even smaller – a kitchen drawer – you know that annoying one with too many wooden spoons and the oversized can opener that gets in the way every time.

Or you could participate in a challenge. I have played the Mins game (by The Minimalists) a couple of times and love it. On day 1 you pick one thing to discard or donate, day 2, two items, and so on, until day 30 when you get rid of a whopping 30 items.

Finances

I’m still a long way off where I want to be in this area but there’s one thing I’m doing more now that’s made a world of difference.

I introduced my finances to mindfulness. A match made in heaven. I’m far more intentional and considerate (most of the time) about the money I spend. Long gone are the days of shopping for shoppings sake.

How can you get started?

Keep a record of what you are spending. Draw up a budget if you haven’t got one. It only takes 5 minutes at the end of every day to note down every purchase you’ve made. You’ll soon start noticing patterns and areas where you can cut back.

But most importantly, you will be noticing. Not mindlessly spending. No more ignoring those credit card statements! Okay?

My clothes

I’m a recovering clothes horse. I could wear the same shoes and bag forever, and I don’t care for jewelry – but I LOVE clothes, especially new clothes. Needless to say I lived with an overflowing wardrobe and bulging drawers for years.

These days I choose carefully before buying. I’m happier wearing well worn favorites and many of them are thrift shop finds. My wardrobe is now, at most half full and some of my drawers are empty. This extra space makes me feel calm and makes it easier to see what’s there.

How can you get started?

Have a go at the Project 333 challenge. This is a wardrobe challenge started by Courtney Carver of Be More With Less. Her challenge is to live with 33 items (including shoes and jewellery!) for 3 months.

Food

It’s funny how food, necessary to our survival can be the cause of so much complication in our lives. Low fat or low carb? Paleo or Whole 30? Let my kids go hungry when they refuse what I cook, or offer them other options? Eat as a family or feed the kids first?

Food choices are absolutely on the top of my list of stressors. But these two things help keep it simpler for me.

Eat the same things. I know it sounds boring but our whole family tends to stick to the same foods. Breakfast for me is blueberries and some other fruit, coconut yoghurt and a homemade nut/seed muesili. My daughter is currently into grated cheese and carrot in buns for lunch. And that’s what she’s getting, until she tires of it. Easy and simple.

A moderate amount of veges is enough. Both my kids are fairly fussy. And i’ve wasted countless hours stressing about this and how they aren’t getting enough variety or nutrients. I’m over it. These days I aim for between 4-5 meals per week with a minimum of two different veges. The rest? Toasted sandwiches, pancakes, picky plates (thing carrot sticks, cheese cubes, blueberries – whatever they like that’s healthy!)… and once every month or so, takeaways.

How can you get started?

If food is a stressor for you too then I definitely recommend starting with meal planning. It’s not something I do year-round, but when I do it regularly, it reduces the stress around food.

Gratitude

At first glance, starting a gratitude practice may seem counterproductive to simplifying. But adding this into your life helps you to focus on the essentials. The things we are truly grateful for are often the simple things too. Many of my gratitude points are for things like my childrens smiles, a great conversation with someone who understands, or a beautiful tree.

Gratitude has a way of bringing us down to earth. It tends to give us perspective. Even when our day has been full and overwhelming, this simple practice helps bring us into the present moment and drowns out the noise of the overwhelm and ‘busy’ from our day.

How can you get started?

Grab a notebook and pen. Put it on your nightstand or on the floor next to your bed. At the end of everyday, write down 3 (or just start with 1) things you feel grateful for.

It’ll be a hard ask after a crap day. You’ll feel like you are really scraping the barrel. Some days you might just be grateful for the breath that comes in and out of your lungs. Or the sunlight. That’s okay. Keep going. Bigger gems will come. (But then, fresh air and sun are actually pretty darn good gems!)

Nature

One of the easiest ways to simplify my day and shake off the dust is to get outside. Walk or run, or even cycle in the fresh air. My favourite place in the whole world is our local mountain biking park.

When I enter the park I feel like I’m entering a different world. One that’s void of problems, stress and overwhelm. One where the trees are king and the birds woo me with their sweet serenade. It’s calm, it’s peaceful, and it feels pure.

When I am truly overwhelmed by the weight of life, immersing myself in nature is the fastest and most effective intervention.

How can you get started?

What’s outside your front door? Even if you don’t have a yard, perhaps there’s a green space a block away. Or maybe you could get off the bus a few stops earlier to spend some time walking outside.

I’m so excited to be on this journey of simplifying and slowing down with you. I’m glad I’m not alone and I hope you feel the same.

If you are ready to dive deep into simplifying your life you might want to check out The Slow Living Toolkit. This 8-week self-paced course that will help guide you on your journey to slow living.

Find out more & enrol HERE. I’d be honored to journey with you to a slower pace of life.