This is a general rule for anything to do with my life. In simplifying, it gets me the answers I need.

simplifying creates clarity in all things

I know it’s a bold statement, but let’s look at why!

When you simplify, it creates room for something new. It allows you the space to move forward, whether the space be in your mind, life or the material world.

my definition of simplifying – the art of removing something to lighten your burden

So, if you simplify, you are removing a process, getting rid of stuff or eliminating information that you know longer need. In doing so you have create one less thing to worry about.

If you rinse and repeat, it allows you to see more clearly. You know longer have the burden of maintaining one or multiple things.

Word of caution – just because you removed something, doesn’t mean you need to add something new.

Try it.

Try decluttering. Try making a process easier by removing steps. Free up your time, money and free up your mind.

Get the clarity you need….just by simplifying.

Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Simplicity is productivity. Let me explain. Simplicity by definition is the absence of complication or clarity of expression. So, if we reduce or eliminate complications we should be more productive. Right. For instance, if you eliminate a task that consumes excessive time, you have bought yourself more time or increased your productivity on a different task.

Simplicity by definition is the absence of complication or clarity of expression.

Don’t get Overzealous!

But a problem arises. Humans by nature seem to have a need to replace things. So, when one task is eliminated we add another. We haven’t really resolved anything, have we? It doesn’t end there. We also have a tendency to overfill the plate. Guess what happens – we get full, oh and sometimes we get fat. Works for the short term. In the long run it causes burnout or other consequences.

When I first started blogging, I was excited. I discovered one new thing after another and wanted to try them all. A good learning curve but then I started formulating plans and devising schemes and analyzing. I was going to build so many web sites and write so many articles….STOP.

Be Productive

Before I knew it I had this master plan with lists of things and dozens of  ideas to pursue. We tend to want to take all of our ideas and start working on them simultaneously. When you realize that you only have so much time and ability to get your work done you will recognize a need for a more simple plan.

As an avid believer of the short work day/week, my goal always involves optimizing for efficiency. Concerted efforts will help you do more in less time. Vlad Dolezal of Fun Life Development has some interesting posts on productivity, focus and getting on with life. His execution of actions are generally simple, so naturally, I love them.

Learn to Focus

When you have the concept tweaked you can then add another idea since the original one has been implemented – this is known as focus. It’s easier to maintain focus if you are targeting a single idea instead of chasing random thoughts. Stick with one thing, keep it simple and you will be more productive. In our next article we will share with you some ideas of how to free up your time to focus on the things you need to do.

simple siment – pick one thing you want to focus on and get it done.

During this season the birds and animals forage, they raise young and teach them how to survive. These young explore their surroundings, frolic, play and rest. The plants grow, flower, seed and provide nutrients for the soil. It is all part of the process.

Learn and Connect

We could all take a lesson from this. We can connect with our children too – teach and play. We can also learn from them, it should not be one directional. We can share time and play with our partners.  We can learn to relax and enjoy life and our surroundings, take time to smell the roses, something we should practice all year round. We can explore and visit – friends new and old. We can rest. It’s time to release your inner tortoise.

This simple process of slowing down and taking time off allows us to continue for the long winter ahead. It connects us with the earth and with people. Every summer, I have specific events and times that I go to. It is precious to spend time with friends to enjoy the outdoors. Connection. It gives me time to reflect and realize what is really important and why I exist. It helps us get strong.

Make a Pledge to Slow Down and Take Time Off

So, I hope each of you will, if you haven’t already, set some time aside and do something (or perhaps don’t do anything). Here’s a simple suggestion list:

1. Spend quality time with a friend or family member
2. Learn something new
3. Go out and explore
4. Watch your children, grandchildren or friends children play (and go play with them)
5. Read a good book
6. Get off the computer and be active
7. Volunteer or help a neighbour
8. Sit out in the backyard or at the cottage and watch the world go by
9. Cook and share a good meal, hopefully fresh and local
10. Release your inner tortoise

I’m Slowing Down

For the next couple weeks, until the middle of August, I will be visiting with family and friends. My daughter is visiting, to share time and enjoy life. I generally go at a slow pace anyway, life is too short, not to enjoy it. I have however, scheduled a couple regular posts to keep you informed and share with you, but it is unlikely that I will communicate with social media and email on a regular basis, if at all. You may also have noticed less activity on the site, on Twitter and via email.

Why? Because I’ve already slowed down – my inner tortoise is in full force. I’m enjoying the garden, my guitar, good food, fruit picking, time with friends and the process of summer. I hope that all of you will slow down and take some time off too!

Please share with me what your tortoise is doing.

Are You Ready?

We often hear about a company downsizing but a more recent phenomenon is downsizing your personal life. With the recent Garbage Strike in Toronto, global recession and substantial talk about climate change it is clearly time to think about simplifying. Downsizing your possessions will help bring about a clarity in your life.

We All Have Choices

When a company is downsizing, the reasons are often motivated by lack of sales or a change in  markets. The downsizing often comes fast and hard. It hurts. Many people are devastated when cutbacks happen and there is a negative ripple effect on the people that depend on them. But when an individual decides to downsize it is clearly because change is happening. And change is good. Right! When you make a choice to downsize it is a choice to save money, simplify your stuff (and hence your time), create a lighter footprint and learn to grow as a person.

Enjoy the Process

Downsizing is a difficult thing. It takes time to build up the courage. It is something that I would encourage everyone to do. It is much easier if you do it in baby steps. And it is much easier to do this voluntarily then to be forced to downsize because your situation has changed. If you learn to make it an active part of your life it is actually something that you can enjoy.

When I first started downsizing almost 15 years ago, it was because I was moving out of country. Initially, I got rid of some stuff, maybe 10% and stored the rest in my parents basement or with friends. When I returned, I discovered that most of the stuff was not missed. I had not been using it and it served no purpose. Packing and shipping it was costly, items could get damaged and the space needed to maintain all the stuff was also a factor (not to mention a burden on finance).

Light Bulb!

If only I had the stuff I used, loved and needed; life would be so much easier. And it is. One can make a little bit of money selling the things. Costs are cut dramatically. Moving is a much less involved process. One can enjoy the things they have more. Cupboards have space. Life has less clutter and it takes less time to maintain everything. It also changes  personal spending habits – stuff doesn’t make you happy. An abundant life can be spent doing things instead of acquiring things. Reduced income to maintain a lifestyle is a catalyst for freedom.

Some Lessons and Habits

I learned how to set up a new place quickly with all the things I needed. Furniture is the easiest thing to part with and replace. I have some basic items but I know how to find quality or purpose filled furniture, wherever I go and often for free. I can feel good about donating it when I move on. Just like spring cleaning, I make a regular habit of getting rid of stuff. It’s easier now so I can do it ruthlessly. I don’t suggest a beginner take this approach unless drastic measures are called for. Take your transition slowly over time.

I also learned the true value of my time and the things that I wanted (or should I say wanted to be doing). I kept my guitar, it offers me hours of pleasure and serenity. I kept a few memories, including photos and childhood mementos. I removed old equipment, stopped buying gadgets, simplified to a laptop (though I’m back to a desktop & laptop for other reasons). I reduced massive amounts of paper, magazine and books (hint these are bulky, hard to move, get damaged easily and can always be replaced). I changed my wardrobe to the bare essentials.

Where do I start?

The hardest items are the sentimental ones which often include books or music. For real pack rats things that they perceive as having value are also hard to let go. These things represent us. Instead of removing them, perhaps rethink it’s cost and usage.

Are you ready to just have one big MP3 portable jukebox for all of your music? If you could sell your 5 stereos and only use MP3′s would the sale buy you a single, perhaps portable player that you could use anywhere and meets your needs. Think of the space, the money and the payback.

Books can actually be a little harder. Start with the books that you know you won’t read again and treat yourself to a new book purchase by trading them in at a used bookstore for credit. You get something for nothing. Text books are often hard for some people…you are finished school now, they can go. In a previous post How to Simplify your Bookshelf I concentrated on this because it is challenging to reduce your bookshelf but is a prime example of how you can downsize in steps.

Clothes can be slowly eliminated and gives those that love clothing a chance to get a new wardrobe every once in a while by getting rid of the old and in with the new. Photos can be scanned and saved, duplicates thrown away and those fuzzy pictures…guess what, you don’t need them. There are so many ways to downsize. Start now and take it in little chunks at a time. You would be amazed at the free space, time and abundance of living you create and will find that you can save costs by not having to maintain certain things.

So give your items a rethink. Talk it out with friends. Hire an organizer. Donate. Free up the money and space. Downsizing your personal life will offer you a giant reward, unlike the punishment of being downsized.

In an earlier post, I touched upon spring cleaning and living a simple life with less. Here’s one way to start your process of simplifying. Books are hard for many people to let go of. They have a memory and many people define themselves with the books and library that they keep. Some, don’t even read the book, they just keep it unused in the bookshelf, perhaps as a sign of prestige or to keep up an appearance. Simplifying a bookshelf is a challenge for many people.

I used to have thousands of books. Some of them barely used reference books. A large collection of WWII and escape stories, various philosophical and self help and a wide range of others. I had read them all and only a handful of them were ever touched again. The rest….they got touched when I moved and otherwise the dust was building up on them.

Over a decade ago I started to move from location to location. I noticed the boxes of unopened things and realized all the storage and time they were costing me. Dozens of boxes, back breaking to lift and the cost of gas just to get them from door to door was substantial. They took up space in a closet, basement or storage area. No one was getting the opportunity to enjoy the benefit of reading them – the true purpose of a book. Someone should be enjoying them, I thought.

I wanted to reduce the loads and trips and storage space. The books were the place to start. Eventually, it became one of the key catalyst that helped me to simplify other aspects of my life….but today, let’s start with the bookshelf.

Books, music, files, gadgets and sentimental things seem to be the hardest to let go. But let’s look at the reality of it. If you move a lot and have a large book collection there are a number of downsides.

1. They are heavy (quick moving tip use a wine box, it is about the right size and weight)
2. They take up a lot of space
3. The cost to move and ship them is expensive – pound for pound only heavy furniture costs more
4. They often remain in storage (hint – this means you don’t need or use them)
5. They will get damaged over time with many moves
6. You keep buying books (which are expensive now) and that annual total can really add up

Here’s a few ways to reduce your book collection easily and painlessly (or at least with less stress). Don’t decide to get your 2000 books down to 50 overnight. Do it in stages and ask yourself the following:

1. Are these books getting worn? Time to say goodbye.
2. Could someone else be enjoying and using this?
3. Do I refer to this book anymore?
4. Can I use the Internet as a source for info instead?
5. Do I really need to keep my University text books that you last looked at in 1987
6. Is there a charity sale that would benefit a good cause?

Now start small and get rid of a few at a time. Perhaps the old worn out books first. Then target text books and reference books. Pick the ones you know you will never read again or the ones you didn’t like. When you have your next garage sale, post them as “must go” items. You can even put them in a box outside your house with a note “free to a good home” to encourage people to take them. If you want to make a little money on it, then sell them on eBay or have a garage sale.

If you have a large quantity of books in your first attempt to cull, separate them and donate all the texts to a University Bookstore – they may even pay you for them if they are still on the book list. You will also find several bookstores buy used books or will give you a trade in value.This is a good way to start as you can trade 4 books that you have read for one book that you haven’t. Take the remaining books to a charity store.

So, what can you do to ensure that those books don’t start piling up again.

1. When you read a book, start a pile of “trade-ins” – get replacements only when you get rid of the pile
2. Learn to use the library – they have books there, lots of books, you can return them
3. Do you really need the book or can it wait (how many books do you have unread in your house)
4. Tell your friends and family that you are reducing your clutter and don’t need any more books or would prefer a “gift certificate” or consumable item (perhaps your favourite wine) instead

This is just a start. Each time I move or go for an adventure somewhere I go through my books and reduce them. It is down to about 50 books. Some of these are yearbooks & some are green, writing or web reference books that I use but otherwise I only keep a few of my memorable books. A few will be something different for different people, some a couple hundred and some a handful. I know that I can always buy them again. As for reference…I can always find what information I need on the internet.

It’s time to rethink your bookshelf. You can apply this rule to so many other items of your life. Over time it will become second nature. This will eventually lead to a more simple, peaceful and decluttered world. The end result, an abundant and peaceful life can be achieved with the essence of simplicity. Try it – you just might like it.