Recent Ways I Have Simplified My Life

In recent months, I have made several changes that have simplified my life for the better. I’m sharing only for inspiration. None of us have to be just like each other doing things exactly the same way! 

The first was to overhaul my diet. This one goes back to January 2022. I needed to lose weight, so I chose to eat only whole foods. I primarily ate meat, vegetables and some fruit. I didn’t eliminate dairy, but I did reduce it. I also chose to stop snacking, keeping my eating to just three meals per day. I eliminated entire products like sugar, wheat and nearly anything processed coming in a package. I did lose weight, and I saved money and guilt by eliminating processed foods which I know are not good for my longevity. 

At the same time I changed my diet, I stopped drinking alcohol. I had stopped drinking soda the year prior. At this point, my beverages consist of water, coffee and tea. I avoid for the most part buying liquids in single use containers. This has reduced what we need to buy and recycle each week! 

I previously mentioned cutting back on social media by unfollowing accounts that didn’t inspire me. I’m still on social media, but by eliminating the accounts I follow, I have less there that I interact with and spend less time there. Twitter is basically out now. I generally look at Instagram for 30 minutes at the most in the morning. I have just a few tasks on Facebook each day. I’m looking to reduce my time on YouTube, but I am grateful for how I have currently simplified. We are all a work in progress!

The decluttering done during the recent daily challenge, A Journey to Peace in Our Homes, was a phenomenal clearing out that I am continuing. While I was able to clear out about half a van load of things, I am most pleased with how it has simplified my mind. I had many of those things on my mind…knowing I needed to deal with them. Ah, seriously, so grateful for how simplifying relaxes my mind. 

I stopped getting a receipt for purchases at Target. I use the Target app when I pay, which has all their coupons and my card attached. Scan and go. I simply make a point to record the receipt in our budgeting app before I pull out of the parking lot. I can use the app to return any item as well, so the receipt isn’t needed. One less piece of paper to carry around, just to later throw away. 

This last one is the most recent and is, well, simple! I started using reusable bags again at the grocery store. I had six brand new ones, bought for another reason, that I was able to just start using. While I do need to remember to take them with me, this has simplified the closet which would get packed with excess bags. We use some for trash cans, but they come in faster than we use them! Plus if I would forget to take them back for recycling the closet would get worse. By using the reusable ones, I have simplified the space. Turns out I’m more likely to remember the cloth ones, then taking back the used ones. 

I wish to be in harmony with my mind and home, as a result I’m always on the lookout for ways to simplify life. Have you found new ways to simplify in your life recently? What is working for you? I’d love to hear about it. 

Getting Things Done: Uplight

Wow! We are already 9 days into this month's Getting Things Done series. I am getting a lot done. I hope you are inspired and getting your things done too.

My husband wanted an uplight for a corner in our living room that is dark. And he's wanted one for awhile. I put it on my list to get done this month. It's just a matter of taking the time to shop for one and make the purchase.

My favorite way to buy is online and have it shipped.  In this case, I found one online that was available at our local Lowe's Home Improvement store. We picked it up while out running other errands yesterday.

This was more simple than I had in my mind. I thought it would be much harder to find. And maybe it would have been if I didn't pre shop online first. The best part is it is done! Another thing off my Getting Things Done list. 

Do any of your tasks this month involve shopping? Will you look online first, before driving all over town? 

Gift Shopping Complete!

I did it! I'm done shopping for gifts BEFORE December 1st. I think it's the first time that has ever happened. And it feels good!

I picked up two stocking stuffers and two gifts at three different stores yesterday. I tried to find another item in a store that I thought would take a coupon, but sadly no. I ended up buying that gift online through Amazon. I was also able to order another gift at a steep discount because of Cyber Monday.

I'm going to spend a little time wrapping the items I already have later today or tomorrow. There are quite of few things coming in the mail and it would be good to be caught up. And having some wrapped gifts means the tree (once we put it up) will look even more put together. I'll share tree pictures with you next week!

Do you have a goal besides December 24 to complete your holiday shopping? Have you started wrapping your gifts?

Baking Begins

As I previously planned, I have started my holiday baking! Two loaves of banana bread are complete. Both loaves are wrapped in foil and double bagged. And now frozen in my freezer for later use this holiday.

I plan to make two batches of mint chocolate chip bars later this week! I can't wait because I plan to eat a few bites before I get them frozen.

I did some deep cleaning of my hardwood floors yesterday after the baking. They needed to be done, but I tried to look at it as preparing for Christmas or Thanksgiving guests (not that I'm having any guests). And to be honest, I put some holiday music on! Yes, I know only the middle of November, but it did make me feel festive!

I have placed another order online for some gifts requested by my daughters. I'm making good progress. I'm on hold with ordering much more as I don't want packages arriving while we travel for Thanksgiving.

It feels good to check some more preparations tasks off my list!

Day 16: Smarter, Not Harder

I'm calling it. We've made it through HALF of October. It's day 16 of the 31 Days of Decluttering and Organizing. Thanks for reading and following along.

Found this little guy or gal on our porch today. :)

I've been thinking about the topic about working smarter, not harder. We have limited time. And many of us are busy!! 

Shop online 

Just yesterday I bought a pair of shoes online at Kohl's. I could go to the store nearby, but it's a 20 minute drive there and then another 20 minute drive back. That's not including the time I would spend in the store. And I didn't have other reasons to be in that area of town. I was able to use the same coupon I would in the store. Now I did go searching for a better coupon and found one that was 30% off and had free shipping. Makes buying them online even better than what I would have paid in the store. It is possible the shoes won't work for me, but it is a brand I've bought before. If they don't fit or I don't like, I will go to the store to return when I have something else to do in the area.

Combine Trips
If you still need to shop in stores, considering making multiple stops in one outing rather than all over town with out a plan. I try to combine errands with trips I make to get pick up my kids. When they had dance class, I would stop by to get gas on our way home. Or if I need an item from the grocery store I will swing by just before I have to pick up my daughter from band practice rather than leaving the house twice to accomplish the same things. It's kind of part of planning ahead like I mentioned in yesterday's post.

Cook Once, Eat Twice

Double recipes when you can. Cooking a double batch of something usually takes the same amount of time as if you were making one. Eat one portion one evening and freeze the remainder for later in the month. This will come in really handy around the holidays or any other time you want to be ahead on meal preparation. I do double batches of baked goods, soups and meats. Meats are easy to prepare in a slow cooker, too. Saving even more time!

Skip the Extras
This can mean lots of things. But primarily it means it is okay to say no. No to volunteering, no to an invite, no doing extras after an event to celebrate. It is okay to say no if whatever the 'thing' or 'something' is will impact your limited time. If it brings you stress and is unnecessary, say no. You don't HAVE to send holiday cards, or birthday cards if it isn't your thing. It's really hard to define what the extras might be for you. But evaluate and watch the kinds of things you spend your time on and decide if those are extras. Do you want to keep doing those things? You could try to skip whatever it is once and see what you think.

Have Less
Having fewer things is part of working smarter, too. The fewer decor items I have on my fireplace mantel the easier it is to dust.  If my child has ten t shirts rather than twenty, those are easier for the child to decide on and put away. And the child is still dressed, right? Less makeup, less time spent digging for the items you need. Less collectibles, should mean more money in your pocket and time on your hands. Enjoy what you already have. Or downsize and keep your favorite. And finally, less stuff just looks more organized. You don't even HAVE to organize it. It just looks better when there is less.

I'm sure there are plenty of examples of how working smarter, not harder is a good mantra for organizing and keeping a household running well. Do you have one to share? Do you double recipes or combine trips? Are you good at saying no? Do you see how having less is better?

We'll get back to more decluttering ideas tomorrow. I promise!!