Live Simply-Ideas for fewer distractions

I am not an expert on living a simpler life, but moving eight times in two years gave me a crash course and humbled my soul.

I hope that I learned what is really important and what is not. However, I feel that “things” will always be a struggle, but it’s a battle worth fighting.  I would like to call myself a minimalist, but seem to fall flat often.

Here is my list that continues to help me on my path to living a simpler life.

1. De-clutter your home:  Ask yourself, “Do I need this?” Go through each room in your house and de-clutter them one by one. If you have a lot of stuff it may be necessary to de-clutter one closet at a time, or one drawer at a time. Clear all surfaces of clutter. Get rid of dust collectors or knick-knacky things. Question everything in each room. “Do I still want this,”  if not, get rid of it. Remove all the plastics and keep things made of metals or wood. Donate it, have a rummage sale, recycle it or just trash it. Don’t wait to donate it, drive it in that very day if you can. That way you can’t change your mind.
2. Stop watching Television/cable: Cut the cable. The average American spends 5 hours on television per day.
3. Get a basic cell phone: Americans spend an alarming amount of time checking social media on their phones-a staggering 4.7 hours per day. If you have a basic phone it will help keep that urge at bay. Learn to turn your phone off. It will still take messages.
4. Get rid of your credit cards: It is extremely freeing not to be chained down to credit card debt and remembering to pay bills. If you must have one, pay the balance off every month. Use a cash budget for everyday purchases.
5. Limit or No social media: Get rid of all your social media accounts or keep only one. Limit the time you spend on social media to less than one hour a day. Limit the time spent on email.
6. Get rid of unnecessary expenses. Pick the same day or days each month to pay your bills. Make a budget. Designate a place to put your mail /bills. Throw away junk mail the minute you receive it.
7. Pare down your wardrobe & shoes: donate everything that hasn’t been worn in the past year. Decide to limit your outfits to 10 complete outfits at a time. Buy cloths that can be mixed and matched.
8. Cut down your beauty products by half. Work on your inner beauty and stop worrying about how you look on the outside. Just be yourself.
9. Reduce the amount of motorized things in your life. Everything that takes gasoline requires a lot of up keep.
10. Plan your meals in advance. Stop eating after 7pm each night. Make a rule that the kitchen is closed. Only go shopping once a week with a list of things needed and stick with your list. Make a meal planning binder.
11. Clean as you go. If you are cooking or doing a project clean up as you work. Don’t leave it for latter.
12. Limit the amount of pets or animals that you keep. Pets can be a joy, but also a huge burden.
13. Only keep items you use.
14. Get rid of things that nag on your mind or remind you of painful events from your past life.

Be Thankful-and make space for only what matters in your life.

Let it go. You won’t regret it.