{"id":87419,"date":"2021-03-07T18:18:28","date_gmt":"2021-03-08T02:18:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/?p=87419"},"modified":"2021-03-11T07:52:52","modified_gmt":"2021-03-11T15:52:52","slug":"how-to-simplify-your-life-and-be-happy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/how-to-simplify-your-life-and-be-happy\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Simplify Your Life And Be Happy"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

It takes courage to admit there is the need to simplify our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I think that finding ways to live more simply is something that all of us can benefit from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It may look different for folks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For some, it may mean having fewer material things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For others, it might mean spending less money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It could be removing certain activities or relationships from your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, we are creatures of habit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boy, do we like consistency and being comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Change is uncomfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Change is what makes it so hard to simplify our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I can promise you that on the other side of being uncomfortable is freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had my first experience with this back in 2006.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I lived in New Zealand for 18 months, and I only had a suitcase and a large backpack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I remember getting home and immediately thinking, “what is all this crap?!?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I started tossing and selling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it took me living without it for over a year to realize that I didn’t even need it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So let’s discuss some ideas that will allow you to get free and simplify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe, just maybe, we’ll even get a bit happier in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step #1: Toss, Sell, or Give and Feel Good About it<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I know this is a tough one for most people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“But what if I need it?” (I use this one too).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have a one-year rule in our household.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we haven’t used it in the last 12 months, it gets tossed, sold, or given.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’ve never regretted this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With clothes, this can get a bit tricky, so I have a trick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the beginning of the year, I turn all of my hangers in the opposite direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I wear an item, the hanger gets turned back around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After 12 months, I know what hasn’t been worn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tossed. Sold. Given.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another recent epiphany has allowed me to part more easily with items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s say I have a loveseat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After two years, our child is now getting bigger, and we all want to sit on the furniture together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We need a couch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I paid $750 for that loveseat, but I’m seeing that I can only get $500 for it in my local resale market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many have a hard time with this as they don’t want to ‘lose’ $250.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I’ve begun looking at it in a different light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I just paid $125\/yr for the right to use a couch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I could even say I ‘rented’ it for $125 a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can now take that $500 and get what we need for our family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’ll be happier because we’ll get to sit together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It will be a refreshing change in our home, which also provides a positive internal feeling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But you’re not always going to lose money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recently, I sold an antique leather chair (I loved that chair!) for $100.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I purchased it a year before that for $30.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I loved telling my wife, “Hey honey! I got paid like $6 per month to sit in that chair!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She wasn’t as amused as me, but my point is that it can happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re a savvy buyer, you can profit from these flips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enough about money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s move to time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step #2: Manage Your Time Properly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Time management is one area where there is always room for improvement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don’t manage your own time, other things and people will. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most interesting part is that if you are spending your time on things that you don’t value, your stress level will go up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if we can focus on spending time on things (and people) that we value, then you’ll get the benefits of simplifying life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And don’t forget, this might not mean fitting everything in better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It might mean cutting some things out of your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step #3: Cut Down Distractions <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wikipedia defines it as ‘something that prevents someone from concentrating on something else<\/em>‘. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a simple definition, but isn’t that what we’re going for here?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, good things can become a distraction if it rules over other important things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anything good and healthy (like reading blogs) can become unhealthy if not done in an appropriate order of importance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I feel that we are expected to be available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In real estate, I’ll often get called, texted, and emailed within 3 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ve trained for nothing to be an emergency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just because you can be reached doesn’t mean you have to always be available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, I miss 95% of calls that I initially receive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because if I’m in the middle of a project (like writing this article), then stopping to take a phone call is a distraction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[Unless it’s my wife calling back to back — that means it’s important!].<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’ve never been more ‘available’ in history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s something to think about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step #4: Establish Some New Routines<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It’s challenging to begin doing new things – or stop doing things that you’ve been doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You’ve got to create new habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It will take time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s say you want to wake up 30 minutes earlier every day to have quiet time to focus and prepare for your day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But you don’t like getting up early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wow, this is going to be hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s ok.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe the first three days you snooze (which I’d recommend not doing — just move your phone across the room).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On day four you’re up, but it’s tough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By day 14, you’re still getting up and disliking it, but somehow you’re doing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But having that early morning cup of coffee in a peaceful house is magic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s something almost spiritual about seeing the sun sneak through the windows before the house stirs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And that’s the part you fall in love with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By day 30, it’s just what you do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congratulations, you’ve just formed an excellent new habit<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

These are some of the proven tips you can use to simplify your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But don’t just read this article and go about your way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Write down three things that you can start this week.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let me know what you’re going to try – I’d love to hear about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And what are your favorite rules for living a more simple life?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Brooks is an entrepreneur, sponge, father, husband, & follower of the golden rule. \u00a0 He\u2019s also addicted to starting new businesses and any food that includes chocolate and peanut butter.\u00a0 He\u2019s a firm believer in creating multiple streams of income and creates content on\u00a0his website<\/a>\u00a0to help other hustlers in the areas of entrepreneurship, marketing, and personal finance.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It takes courage to admit there is the need to simplify our lives. But I think that finding ways to live more simply is something that all of us can benefit from. It may look different for folks. 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