Jean's Blog

With summer at hand, kids at home, vacations to plan and other responsibilities to juggle, life can become very hectic. Perhaps it is time to simplify rather than multiply your “to do” list.

Following are five tips to help you “do” just that.

1)  Reduce your life’s clutter. While the kids are out for summer break help them out with their boredom.

Assign them a task for one hour a day that will help eliminate clutter and likely be very entertaining for them.

Each morning ensure they have two empty boxes available for their room, or an assigned room in the house.

Ask  them go through the things in the room. In one box place anything not used within the last three months inside. Once the box is filled, tape it closed, label it by room and store it.

In the other box have them place items that they can live without for immediate disposal – whether for donation to a needy family, or to be used in a tag sale for extra spending money.

Keep the stored boxes (one per room) in a central location, a basement or extra closet for example. If after three months, the boxes have not been opened to retrieve an item, toss it without opening it up or considering its contents.

2) Develop a weekly meal plan. If you do not already have a scheduled meal plan process, now is as good a time as any to start one.

A meal plan not only helps take the stress our of meal preparation, but allows for fewer trips the grocery store, saving time, money and energy.

At the beginning of each week sit down and consider, quick, healthy meals and snacks that will serve your family for the entire week. Check your cupboards to generate a shopping list and you are ready to go!

3) Lower or eliminate your debt. Consider your spending habits.

If you use credit cards, consider using only one or two at the most. As you trim your debt, put the extra money normally used for another debt in savings.

Consider buying quality used cars verses new cars when needed.

Live within your means. Do your best to keep from going into debt for an item.

4) Evaluate your job. Do what you love – turn a hobby into a living.

At the very least consider what you can delegate to free up some “me” time in your life.

This can seem to be an impossible goal, especially in these economically challenging times, but it may be your ticket to a simpler, happier life.

As a result of lay-offs and company closures many executives and workers have become more creative than ever before. Check out freelance opportunities that exist in your niche, or temporary and contract jobs in areas of which you would like to be working. Less, not more, is better when it comes to quality of life.

5) Take inventory of your relationships. Often we think being at every social event in our community is necessary to keep us in the loop.

Chances are you have picked up some relationships and events that are draining you. Pick and choose what you want to do with your time and quit worrying about the majority.

Journal, learn to love yourself and your alone time. Evaluate your expectations of yourself and others. Take it easy and give yourself some wobble room.

The adage, this life is not a dress rehearsal, is apropos as related to this post.

Why not stop acting and living.

What are some tips you can offer to simplify your life. Please share in the comments section.

~see you around the path