Sep 18, 20203 min read

5 Ways to Simplify Your Life

From decluttering your space, to living frugally and becoming more self-sufficient, we look at five ways to simplify your life – and get the most out of it.

COVID-19 has given us all a taste of a slower, gentler pace of life. And with the country now in recession, it’s a great time to embrace a simpler lifestyle. Living simply can help reduce stress. It can also put our focus on things that matter, like family and friends. A simple life can also mean you have time to pursue hobbies and activities that make you happy. Here are five ways to take the complexity out of your daily life.

1. Get rid of what you don't use

Declutter your space. It may take a while initially – but once you’re done, you’ll save hours searching or finding a place for things you don’t need or use.

To declutter effectively:

Start slowly – one cupboard, shelf or drawer at a time.
If you haven’t used an item recently or are unlikely to in the future, put it in the ‘throw-out’ pile.
Be ruthless: Get rid of the scented candle from a Secret Santa work party, old birthday cards or ‘thinspiration’ jeans you’ve had for years.
Find a place for everything.

Book a hard rubbish collection for your large unwanted items like furniture or electrical items. Take the rest to the op shop, sell them or give them away.

2. Mend, borrow, reuse, recycle

While decluttering is a great idea, it doesn’t mean throwing away things needlessly. Living simply also means learning to live frugally and make do with what you have.

If something is broken or damaged, consider mending it before throwing it out (if it’s safe to do so). Alternatively, consider borrowing or sharing things you don’t use much with neighbours or friends.

A lot of everyday objects that usually end up in the bin or recycle can be used again – saving you money and reducing waste. Use egg cartons to freeze small portions of things, or to start seedlings for your garden. Old t-shirts work well as dusters, while gift-wrapping or brown paper can line your cupboards and shelves. And if you like to cook, wash out jam jars and bottles to store home-made preserves and sauces.

If you must buy something, try to get the best quality item you can afford – it will likely last much longer than a cheaper version. This will save you money in the long run – and reduce the world’s alarming amount of landfill too.

3. Get self-sufficient

Whether it’s growing your own veggies, building a bookshelf, knitting a jumper or making a meal from scratch, nothing’s as satisfying as being self-sufficient. If it’s all new to you, start small. Grow some herbs in pots, take up hems or restore an old piece of furniture before moving onto bigger projects. YouTube is also a great place to find helpful videos on gardening, cooking, sewing or renovating.

Being self-sufficient can also be financially rewarding. For example, by deleting the Uber Eats app and downloading some easy-to-follow recipes, you could build your culinary repertoire – and save in the process.

4. Spend your time wisely

Many of us are over-committed, leaving us with little quality time for ourselves. If that’s you, work out which activities bring joy or value to your life – and stop or delegate those that don’t.

If you’ve been hibernating in front of the TV all winter, cancel your streaming subscriptions, and get out for a walk or a bike ride in the evening. Other activities like yoga, meditating, painting, crafts or reading a novel can be a great way to wind down in the evening. Meanwhile, old-fashioned board games are a fun way to bring family members or flatmates together.

5. Simplify your money

Money worries are one of the biggest causes of stress – especially during uncertain times. So do what you can to simplify your finances.

If you have debt, make a plan to start reducing it. This could include consolidating your debt into one easy-to-pay loan, or trying to pay off debts with the highest interest first.

Go through your monthly expenses and see where you can reduce spending. This might mean cancelling subscriptions you don’t use, or saving money on food delivery or impulse buys. Put aside any money you save into an account, or use it to pay off the credit cards.

If you have trouble keeping track of your spending, consider downloading an app to do it for you. By tracking where your money goes, you’ll become mindful your habits – and how you can better use your money.

We can help you simplify your money – by making sure your finances are aligned with your goals and dreams. Speak to Verve Group today to find out more.