You can simplify life in many areas—not only the physical things. Minimalism involves finding out what adds value and being intentional about what we let into our lives.
If you’ve read 5 Areas of Life To Simplify and become intentional in these areas, then here are 5 more ways to simplify.
1. Simplify your diet.
This can be everything from simplifying your meal plans for a week or the individual foods you eat. Adapt this to the part of your diet that you need to simplify most. If you’re someone who doesn’t like cooking, then know that meals don’t have to be complicated.
Find meals that are easy to prepare and don’t take too long to cook. Find recipes that have simple ingredients and simple instructions. There is the added bonus that many of the most simple foods are also the healthiest. Even though we all love junk food every once in a while, whole foods and fresh foods come with more nutritious value.
2. Simplify your budget.
Know where your money is going. Having a monthly budget goes a long way in keeping finances under control. When you have a clear list of all expenses, it’s much easier to see exactly where your money is going every month. Money can be a huge cause of stress in relationships, but if you have a clear budget it becomes easier to communicate, discuss, and make changes as necessary.
You can also make saving part of the monthly expenses so that it’s something you are forced to budget for regularly. If you start to go over budget, you’ll see this more quickly and hopefully be able to adjust accordingly.
Budgeting is a complicated area, but living within your means is the key here. It doesn’t matter how much money someone earns, they can always get into financial trouble if they spend more than they make.
3. Simplify your debt.
Debt holds us down; There’s no other way to say it. My husband and I have been in a fair bit of credit card debt before, and it’s not fun. It’s a burden to carry and an obstacle to doing the things you really want to do in life. Not to mention that it is a huge task to get out of debt.
Avoid debt at all costs if you can. If you have debt, make strides to pay it off and have a goal of living debt-free. If you need to take on debt for a purchase (perhaps a house or a car) then really evaluate if it’s for a need or a want. Can you make the purchase amount smaller so that the debt is smaller too?
4. Simplify your shopping.
There are some easy ways to reign in the shopping splurges or grocery bills. Firstly, go shopping with a list and try to stick to it. If it’s not on the list of ‘needs’ then maybe it’s not so crucial right now.
Secondly, try to shop when you’re not hungry, stressed, or tired; it might reduce the chances of impulse purchases.
Finally, if you find you are someone who uses ‘retail therapy’ as an excuse to buy more, then work at really being mindful about the times when you want to shop. Reflect on why you feel stressed, anxious, or bored and then see if there is something else you could do to fill the void.
5. Simplify your decorations.
Think about how many decorations are around your house and on the walls. Then maybe take a walk through the house with this in mind. Sometimes things are in front of us for so long that we stop seeing them.
Consider taking down one item in each room and see if it opens up the room more. Or be choosy about the art and decorations that you do keep. Be more intentional about what decorations are on display in your home and question if they add value, have a special meaning, or bring you joy.
Apply minimalism to these areas and try to simplify life, slow down, and become intentional. We could all live with a little less stuff and more life.