Not later, not next year, not even tomorrow. Because you deserve to have that sigh of relief, as soon as possible.
This is easily the best time of year – but as with all things, even the good stuff can get overwhelming. Call it the gift searching and giving, prepping to see extended family, the general busyness and hustle and bustle of everyday life, and for fellow entrepreneurs, the end of year wind down – the holiday season can be beautiful, and boisterous.
I’m not sure about you, but this year I’m committing to enjoying this holiday season to the fullest! In the past few years I haven’t had much time to bake, spend lazy days cozied up on the couch drinking hot chocolate, or drive through the neighborhood just looking at holiday lights. As a solopreneur theres always something else to do. Well, let’s be honest, as an adult there’s always something else to do! But this year I’m ready for more down time and really planning on soaking in the simple things that the holidays bring!
If you’re like me and you’d also like to make the move to a simpler, clearer life (and mind), I’ve got 4 quick and easy tips for you to implement, right away.
My only request? Make a commitment to yourself before you read these four things. Whether that commitment sounds like, “I promise to just try one of these,” or, “I’m going to implement all of these things,” just remember… progress always comes before perfection. ✨
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4 Easy Ways to Simplify Your Life
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1. Leave your phone in another room when you go to bed.
That means you may have to buy an actual alarm clock again (oh the memories), but that also means that you’ll stop scrolling your phone right before bed and first thing in the morning. Think about replacing that habit with a healthier one like reading, connecting with a partner or pet, or even just taking some time for yourself. You might decide to make time to stretch, do those deep breathing exercises you have saved on your Pinterest board, or even some skincare.
Whatever it is you want to do, it’s up to you! The important part is clearing space and making time for it.
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2. Turn off all of your phone notifications.
Remember this post about avoiding social media overwhelm?
Oh, and turn your ringer off for unknown callers!
We all get soooo many spam calls! Every time our phones ring, they distract us and reinforce the habit of looking at our phones repeatedly. Just let the technology do the hard work for you, and turn off your ringer for unknown callers.
Personally, I couldn’t love this feature on my phone any more! If that call does end up being important, they’ll leave a message, or send you a text. You can always call back during a time that’s convenient for you.
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3. Unsubscribe from email lists that provide no value to you.
Let’s clean up our digital clutter together! If you find yourself just bulk deleting emails lately, it’s time to start using the “unsubscribe” button. You’ll save yourself a ton of time in the long run!
Afraid of losing out on discount codes? You can always sign back up if you want to purchase something – trust me, that brand will be more than happy to have you back.
But seriously, the amount of email we get on a daily basis is pretty insane, and obviously overwhelming. It’s no surprise that our minds feel completely cluttered!
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4. Outsource one task.
Seriously, just one. You can easily do that!
A lot of business owners are afraid of letting go, but trust me it feels so much better once you do. (Remember that sigh of relief I mentioned? Yeah, I experienced a huge one when I started outsourcing!)
And if you’re not a business owner, you can STILL outsource tasks! Think yard work, home improvement, cleaning, laundry, child care, food prep (meal delivery boxes), and grocery delivery.
The important thing to remember? At the end of your life, you won’t get an award or gold medal for doing it all. So, what’s ONE task in your life or business that you dislike the most? Take that, and find someone else that can do it for you!
And if you take nothing else away from this blog, I want you to remember one thing: your time is valuable, and you deserve to create some peace, quiet and simplicity in your life!
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I’m Sarah, a vibrant photographer for joyful couples and creative brands in the San Francisco Bay Area. Check out my Whimsical Photo Art Gallery here and add a little color + happy to your life!
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