The 4 Most Important Areas to Simplify in Your Life

Here's an interesting paradox.  As people's desire for a simpler, more focused life increases, the amount of material about it has exploded into a huge array of blogs, podcasts, YouTube channels, social media posts, books, and courses.  Minimalism is becoming pretty huge!

And that can be overwhelming and confusing.  Before you have the chance to implement one helpful idea, you're presented with two or three more.

Start here.

The number one important step toward any positive life change is to begin.

But if you want a simpler life, exactly where do you begin?  How do you cut through the noise and get to what's going to make the most difference in your life?  That's the essence of minimalism, after all – focusing on essentials, figuring out what matters, and removing the things that crowd and distract.

If you're newly interested in simplifying your life, but you're unsure where to start, choose one of these four areas.  Pick the one that strikes you as most valuable for your current situation.  Later, the momentum of your first steps will lead you into other areas (or not – it's up to you).

4 areas to simplify

1.  Your possessions

The average size of a new home in the U.S. has more than doubled since I was born.  That's in spite of the fact that the average family has fewer people.  Additionally, more than 1/3 of us rent off-site storage because the things we own won't fit in our big house and three-car garage.

Each item we acquire beyond what we need takes not just money, but time, energy, and attention.  The lack of mental space makes us feel bogged down and stressed by all we own.

Decluttering lets you reclaim focus and flexibility so you can pursue the goals and relationships that matter most.

You can begin by decluttering tiny spaces for just 5 minutes at a time.  This one important question can help you get to less, and here are 5 easy steps to make your home more spacious and supportive of your best life.

2.  Your finances

Apparently, the average American spends almost $18,000 a year on non-essentials like restaurant meals, streaming services, and bottled water.

I don't know anybody who deliberately sets out to waste their money on things they don't need.  But we all do it to some extent without thinking.  It's our lack of attention that lets spending get out of control.  We don't stop to realize how every financial decision matters.

So if we want to have money to afford the things that are really important (maybe a home, education, travel, retirement, or something else), we need to take time to examine our habits.

You can start by looking at your last three months of credit card or bank statements and highlighting every line that was a non-essential purchase.  Then use my 8-step guide to create a plan for using your money in a way that helps fund your priorities.

The hard part is changing your routines and living with your new spending plan.  But knowing where you're starting from and what you eventually hope to accomplish will help you move in the right direction.

3.  Your schedule

About 60% of Americans say they're sometimes too busy to enjoy life, and over half say they're usually trying to do more than one thing at a time.

Our culture seems to glorify being "crazy busy."  We equate personal importance and success with a packed schedule.  And for many of us, the modern gadgets that are supposed to free up time and make life easier actually make it more demanding and stressful.

Of course there are seasons of life that put extra demands on our time.  (Just ask any new mother, the parents of teenagers who don't yet drive, or my husband at report card time.)  But when this becomes our default pattern, we may wind up missing some of the most important things we're meant to do.

Perhaps the first thing we need to realize is that making time to rest isn't laziness.  It's essential for physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Continue by considering how to use your time well.  It's a finite, non-renewable resource, and we need to recognize its value.  There are several ways to proceed:

• Limit stress and create more focus.
• Learn to say no.
• Explore digital minimalism.

4.  Your health

According to the Centers for Disease Control, less than 25% of adults in the U.S. meet the guidelines for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities.  And more than 2/3 of American adults are overweight or obese, including me.

There's a constant stream of new diets, super-food fads, exercise crazes, and ads for gym or meal plan memberships.  At the same time, we're bombarded with commercials for fast food, pizza, and sugary sodas, and point of sale displays in almost every store feature candy, chips, and other snacks.

We only have to look around us to see which campaign is winning!

That's why simplifying health can be a game-changer.  The best exercise routine is one you enjoy and can practice regularly, so something simple like walking, hiking, yoga, pickup games of basketball or soccer, or just doing more work might be a good choice.  The best eating plan is one you can stick to long-term.  So start by listing your favorite fruits and vegetables, and eat more of them every day.  Then remove some of the sugar and processed foods, replacing them with whole grains and legumes.

Instead of jumping on the latest bandwagon for a short time, keep things simple for long-term health.

Not an overnight sensation.

Please understand.  The journey to a simpler life won't happen overnight.  I'm not claiming to be perfect at any of this, and I wouldn't want you to look at the above list and become paralyzed by it.

Change is always a series of small steps repeated.  But there's a ripple effect, and one area can be the door to change in others.  You're going to love the long-term results.

Want more?  I wrote my 7-volume Minimalist Basics series* just for you!  Here are a few highlights:  

• If you'd like a pocket-size guide to decluttering, Decluttering: The Simple Guide from A to Z is the cheat-sheet you've been looking for.

• Minimalism A to Z is the practical handbook that will help you consider all aspects of minimalism.  Much more than tidying up, minimalism helps you find the life you want, with less to distract you from it.

• Minimalism is more than a fad, more than a design statement, and more than decluttering.  It's an effective tool for living an intentional life, and Exploring Minimalism will help you discover the whys, hows, and first steps to a life you'll love. 

• My newest book, Minimalist Hygge, can help you learn to slow down and savor the everyday pleasures of life, finding comfort and joy in the simplest of ways.

Choose a title that seems right for you, and start becoming minimalist today!

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