Getting Your Housemates On Board The Simplification Train

I have a client who is trying to simplify her life, and she would be succeeding at it beautifully, if it weren't for her family! Sometimes, it can seem like your housemates are hell-bent on making your life more complicated -- bringing in tons of unnecessary clutter, expecting you to pick up after them, and creating chaos in your schedule. For a simplicity strategy to really work, the whole team has to be on board...

Are You Making Your Days Harder Than They Need To Be?

I posted a great quote of the day this week -- "If you experience stress, you're doing it wrong." (Jay Conrad Levinson) A friend of mine thanked me for reminding her of this concept, and it made me think about how complicated our lives become without us even realizing it. So let me take a second today to remind you to K.I.S.S.

Are You Spending Too Much Time Cleaning Up?

Now that I live in a 29-foot Airstream, my cleaning routine has shrunk to nearly nothing -- and it's fabulous! My husband and I used to spend the whole weekend working on the house, just to maintain a basic level of cleanliness. Now, a complete scrub-down takes about an hour. I know that not everyone can downsize to this degree, but there are still some steps you can take to cut down on the time you spend cleaning.

Your Morning Routine Shouldn't Be That Complicated!

Are you one of those folks who takes forever to get out of the house in the morning? Is your "getting ready" routine so complicated that you have to start a good 2 hours before you need to leave in order to be on time? Do you annoy your friends and housemates, because you're constantly running late? Perhaps its time to find a simpler morning solution...

Ways To Bring Less Paper Into Your Life

Junk mail is a modern-day plague -- no vaccine will protect you from it. But there are steps you can take to cut down on the amount of unsolicited mail you receive, if not entirely eliminate it. Fair warning -- if you are currently inundated with junk mail, it will take a bit of patience and perseverance to get off all the mailing lists, but it's well worth the effort in the end, when all the stacks and piles are gone.

Spend Less Time In The Kitchen

There's a reason why so many people live off of fast food and frozen dinners -- cooking can eat up (pun entirely intended) a tremendous chunk of your life if you let it! We all know that homemade is healthier -- but who has time for grocery shopping, planning, preparing the ingredients, and cleaning up? You do, if you're organized. Here are some quick tips for reducing the amount of time you spend in the kitchen.

What's Your Personal Organizing Style?

Anyone who tells you that there is only one right way to organize is wrong -- there are as many organizing styles as there are people on the planet. The trick is to discover your own personal organizing style and make use of those tools that complement your strengths and bolster your weaknesses. Here are a few tips for making the most of your own personal preferences...

How Much Is Disorganization Costing You?

We've all heard that we should try to be more organized, but do you actually know why? It's not because a tidy room looks nicer -- it's because disorganization disrupts your life and robs you of precious resources. Have you ever calculated the price of disorganization -- to your wallet, your relationships, your schedule? You might be surprised at some of the ways clutter and chaos cost you...

Getting Organized To Reduce Stress

Feeling "stressed" is common complaint these days -- in fact, many people have begun to think of stress as an unavoidable part of life. But how many of your "stressors" are rooted in poor organizational habits? Disorganization puts tremendous pressure on both the mind and the body -- and just taking the time to organize your life can lift a great weight off of your shoulders. Take a few minutes to examine your life and see where you might be able to make some of these adjustments.