Strategies to simplify your life
Last week, I came across this photo of my boys dressed up as The Incredibles. It made me so happy to see this memory. They believed they were saving the universe.
As I looked through more photos, I was reminded of just how much stuff we had in our house. Every corner was filled with toys, games, costumes, crafts, books, and more. I remember most of my time was spent sorting, cleaning, and organizing. Yes, it was exhausting. Floors were messy, shelves were packed, and counters were littered with stuff.
Yes! Even professional organizers can have messy spaces.
I believe that learning to simplify is a process. It requires trial and error, testing, experimenting, and figuring out what works and what doesn't work within your household. There were many days I didn’t get it right, and that’s ok. I kept trying and eventually, figured out systems that worked for our family. I’ve learned to lean into those things that work and let go of things that I simply can not do. I’ve come to the conclusion that simple is best and standardize where I can. Here are a few things that help me keep it simple:
Digital Lists:
Some of my Project Lists
A fabulous app that manages all my lists. I use two different apps. One for work (Asana) and one for personal (ToDoist). I have shared lists, personal lists, and even a list of funny things my kids have said. My lists go with me everywhere. I can access them on my computer or my phone. If something pops into my head, I write it down. Both have a free version. I can sort, organize and manage my tasks efficiently in one place.
Google Calendar:
The tool that helps me manage my time. When I switched to Google in 2018, it was a big deal for me. I've been an Outlook user for years but transitioning to Google allowed me to streamline and save time (for reasons that aren't relevant). I use my calendar to schedule client meetings, travel time, project time blocks, and reminders to spend time doing recurring tasks like paying bills, invoicing, and weekly planning. If there is an action I need to perform, it's probably blocked in my calendar. Honestly, it's the only way I can guarantee something gets done.
Scanner:
I went paperless in 2007 and never looked back. I actually won the scanner at a conference and I love it. It’s a Fujitsu iX1500. Living in a paperless environment simply means I don't keep all paper long-term. It doesn't mean I don't use paper. I love paper. I just don't keep it (I scan it). My scanner connects to my computer wirelessly (and I love that). The process of scanning and saving documents is very simple. Scanners can be helpful if you want to reduce your paper files, scan photos (just get a photo scanner for photos), and scan and share documents.
Meal Planning:
Even though my kids are grown and rarely eat at home, I still plan weekly meals. I spend about 30 minutes planning each week. I check the freezer and pantry first, make a list of what I have and then plan out dinners for the week. Much of my planning revolves around my schedule. If I'm working out of the office late (or have a meeting), I'm planning for an easy quick meal; whereas, on days that I have more time might include something more intricate. Meal planning saves time and money every time.
Dropbox:
Dropbox is an essential part of my file management. It's cloud-based storage that allows me to access files from anywhere. Because it’s cloud-based, I’m not overloading my computer and it’s easy to use when collaborating on a document. I have the app on my phone which makes accessing information from my mobile device seamless. Photos are one of the biggest resource hogs, so most of my photos live on the cloud, and are not downloaded onto my device. In fact, Dropbox serves as one of my backup options! I could not live without it.
Anytime you google “how to streamline my life” you’ll find tons of suggestions to declutter, delegate, eliminate, clean out, or toss. Of course, doing those things will make life easier, but sometimes it’s better to look at the systems or processes to help streamline. Focus on the framework and organization will follow.
