18 Tiny Tasks That Let You Succeed at Simplifying Your Life

I can't do it right now and maybe you can't either.  This isn't the time to go big or go home.  It's not the time to buckle down, push through, or make a big splash (except in a swimming pool somewhere).

I'm talking about the typical American whole new you, change yourself overnight, fix your life NOW plans that you may have been contemplating for your home, your bills, or something else.

I've done it – or tried to do it – myself.  I've gone on crash diets and thrown myself into challenging exercise regimens and debt-reduction schemes.  They're exciting, of course, and the anticipation is wonderful.  But the reality is less so.  When I fail to achieve stunning results, the letdown is huge.  My self-esteem is trashed, and once that happens, I go right back to my usual habits.  Probably with some added "bad" behaviors, just to punish myself.

Maybe you've done that with decluttering or a diet, and then life happened and you got busy, or a little less vigilant, or just tired.  And the clutter (or sugar) came back, and brought extras along.  Now you feel stuck.

The problem

Maybe you think you're the problem.  "I just love my snacks."  "I can't resist a big sale."  "I'm just too sentimental."  "I'm naturally disorganized."  "I'm a clutter bug."

I know these names you call yourself are just for protection.  If you label yourself, you don't have to feel bad about not changing.  It is what it is.  There's nothing to be done.  C'est la vie.

But the problem isn't you.  The problem is your approach.  You're starting too big and moving too fast.  Big, sweeping changes don't usually last long.  Just as a deep relationship takes a long time to grow, with lots of encounters and shared conversations and experiences, so does a life change.  Step by step, over and over, little by little.  That's the route to lasting change.

Make tiny changes, one after the other.  You don't have to impress anyone, you just have to show up.  And for that, you need tiny tasks, so small you can't fail.

Change isn't about being remarkable, it's about being reliable.

Karen Trefzger

The benefits of tiny tasks

Small really is beautiful.  When you take tiny steps to simplify your home and life, there are some pretty great results.

• Tiny tasks don't wear you out.  They let you use whatever time and energy you have, and remind you that slow progress is still progress.

• Tiny tasks are easy to repeat.  It's easier to be consistent when the action you're trying to replicate is small and simple.

• Tiny tasks give you a lot to celebrate.  Instead of waiting to be completely debt-free, you can be happy about the extra $20 you paid this month, or the impulse you resisted to buy that thing you don't really need.  Instead of waiting until you've lost 50 pounds, you can be proud that you resisted dessert and ate an extra serving of vegetables.  Instead of waiting for a big "minimalist home reveal," you can applaud the handful of kitchen utensils or extra coats you decluttered.

18 tiny tasks to help you simplify

1.  Write a note.

Remind yourself why you want to simplify, what you want to make space for, and what you're looking forward to.  Include a bit of encouragement, such as a quote or affirmation.

Having a simplified, uncluttered home is a form of self-care.

Emma Scheib

2.  Create a sanctuary.

Find one tiny space that will remain clutter-free starting today.  You could clear off your favorite chair in the living room, or your bedside table.  Maybe you'll choose a bathroom counter or a corner of your desk.

3.  Enjoy a simple pleasure.

Don't wait until life is perfect to enjoy it.  You don't want to miss the simple pleasures that are available every day.  Pay attention so you won't miss things like the feel of the sun on your face, a child's smile, cheerful birdsongs, a delicious aroma, or the taste and juiciness of a ripe peach.

4.  Spend just 5 minutes decluttering.

If the very idea of cleaning out the garage or digging into that back closet exhausts you, think smaller.  Make a list of tiny areas to declutter such as one junk drawer, your purse, or a shelf in your pantry.  Do just 5 minutes of decluttering every day – that's 2.5 hours a month, or 30 hours by next year!

5.  Remove one pair of shoes.

Instead of tackling your entire closet, remove just one pair of shoes.  You know which ones hurt your feet, or which ones don't really go with anything.  How about the ones that are so worn out they should be tossed?  Donate if you can, and recycle or trash if you must.

6.  Flip your hangers.

This is Oprah's method for clearing your closet.  To start, turn all your hangers the wrong way.  Then when you wear something, turn its hanger back facing the usual way.  If you can add folded clothes to your closet, this works even better.  Then when you wear a tee shirt or a nightgown, return it to your dresser drawer.

At the end of a month or a season, notice everything that's still hanging backwards and consider letting those items go.  Chances are you're wearing the same things over and over again, so you've gained a clearer view of your favorite colors and styles.

7.  Put down your phone.

This doesn't take effort or time, only the will to do it.  Turn your phone off or put it on a "do not disturb" function.  If you feel nervous about missing a call or a text, set a timer for 5 minutes and see how it feels to disconnect for that time.  When you're ready, try longer periods.  Make more time for real life.

8.  Deal with paper.

Mail, school work, receipts, notes, freebies – in spite of modern paperless options, paper piles up quickly.  Always open mail over a recycling bin so you can ditch junk immediately.  Then:

• Designate one spot where you put bills to pay.
• File papers or receipts you need to keep.
• Have a basket where kids can put school work.  Recycle all of it every month, keeping only one or two favorites.
• Record all appointments and meetings on your calendar so you can recycle the paper reminders.
• Keep the refrigerator door clear, and create an attractive bulletin board for recent photos, greeting cards, meal plans, etc.

9.  Find homes.

We all have a few things that never seem to get put away.  Choose three commonly left-out items, like remotes, keys, jackets, hobby supplies, stuff you bought in bulk, etc.  Find homes for these things that are easy to remember and access.  Now practice putting them away every time they're used.

10.  Pack a box.

Walk around your house with a box or bag and fill it up with things you don't use or really care about.  Donating it right away might feel like a big (or scary) step, so simply store it for a month or two.  If you don't miss anything, donating will feel tiny.

11.  Sticker it.

Get a pack of multi-colored sticker dots and mark your stuff.  Start in one room and use green stickers for anything you love and use, red stickers for things you don't need or like, and yellow stickers for stuff you're not sure about.  Then box up the red items and get them out.  Enjoy more space and freedom right away.

12.  Set a boundary.

Setting a limit can help you declutter until you reach a manageable number of items.  Maybe you decide that two sets of sheets per bed is ample, and the excess can go.  Or maybe you'll keep just one decorative pillow on your bed and three on the couch.  Choose your favorites and donate the rest.  Whether limiting stuffed animals to just one bin or tee shirts to one drawer, a boundary lets you focus on function and quality.  Keep the best while removing the rest.

13.  Make it fun.

Instead of begging or shaming your kids or partner into cleaning and decluttering, make it fun.  Offer a prize for every 10 (or more) things they can collect for donation.  The prize can be their favorite meal, a neck and foot massage, or playing a game together.  If you have more than one child, offer a bonus if everyone meets the goal to encourage them to work together.

14.  24-hour shopping ban.

You might not be ready for a Buy Nothing Year.  But what about one day?  Can you go one day without buying something?  Keep a list on your phone or on paper of anything you want to buy.  Maybe it's something you see advertised.  Maybe it's something you remember wanting.  Maybe it's just a latte.  Don't add it to a cart – add it to your list.  Review the list later so you can appreciate how much money you saved.

Then repeat, as often as you can.

15.  Add an extra $5 to your payment.

Unless you're using couch change to buy milk, you can probably come up with an extra $5.  Skip a latte.  Cancel that extra streaming service.  Colorfully hand-letter and illustrate your own greeting card instead of buying one.  Come on, make debt payment a priority and get creative.  You can do it.

16.  Just eat an apple.

Instead of reaching for pricy, nutritionally questionable processed foods, choose an apple or another simple, unrefined food.  In fact, make real food the backbone of your menu.  You'll eat healthier and save money without being a slave in the kitchen.

17.  Take a break.

We're all busy, and for most of us, continual hurry and stress are too much.  If you need to, give yourself permission to take a break.

• Carve out 15 minutes in the morning or before bed to be offline, still, and quiet.
• Take a stroll at lunchtime (don't worry about heart rate or steps).
• Sit in a park and just observe.
• Consider opting out of just one obligation or activity you no longer love.
• Take a nap.

When all of your free time is spent catching up, it's not free time.

Courtney Carver

18.  Choose gratitude.

If you want to be satisfied with less, you need a new mindset.  There are many things in life we can't control, but we do have power over our own thoughts.  Start with a simple gratitude practice:

• Say grace at meals.
• List 3 things you're thankful for.
• Write a note or send a text thanking someone who has blessed you.

Don't worry about buckling down, pushing through, or making a big splash.  Use these tiny tasks to develop a long-lasting relationship with a simpler life.

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* This blog is reader-supported.  If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission.