Tips for a simple easy life

[emerald226]

Your tips please

Learn to drive and get a car.
Do online grocery shopping.
Exercise financial literacy.
Don't commit to things you don't want to do.
Exercise outside.
Declutter.

@Mally100 Such an insightful piece of advice. You truly are a great and worthy oracle!

🙄

Buy less
Same dinner every Friday night - something quick and easy
Get outside every day
Allocate everyone in the family their own type of sock and buy them only that
Everyone on the family has certain jobs and everyone helps to clean the house
Don’t buy presents for friends or their kids at Xmas Get together for a pre - Xmas drink instead
Gratitude journal or just do it in your head each night - 3 things that you have really appreciated during the day.
Get a roll of silver or gold paper for wrapping presents for any occasion.

Declutter by 50%

I've been working a lot on this recently - loving some of these tips. Mine so far are: reduce - if not eliminate - social media (my stress has reduced so much since taking it to the absolute minimum). Set "do not disturb" times on your phone - take control over how contactable you are. Your time is yours - restrict when other people can invade it.

Take time out to exercise - whatever form it may take. You don't have to do classes etc... if it's not your thing. Find what works for you - what it enjoyable - and make it a habit - don't see it as a chore - make it YOUR time to zone out and prioritise you.

De-clutter. This is a work in progress for me - but I'm getting there. A clear space clears my mind and reduces my stress.

Meal plan and prep - helps to save money and to stick to healthier options. If I have stuff prepped and ready to go I'm less likely to get a takeaway or whatever.

Own less stuff — less to manage, clean, and upkeep.

Don’t automatically believe everything you think — staying curious and open rather than making judgements is the path to mental freedom.

To echo PP, it has been my experience that being single is much, much easier, simpler, and more pleasant than the nearly two decades of marriage that went before.

Don't have children. Seriously.

Ruthlessly declutter and then stop buying things you don’t need.

Yes yes yes to decluttering and streamlining your wardrobe. Less stuff and less choices is the best way to live more simply.

Minimise time online and take the time to sit and do fuck all with no distractions. It's amazing how calm you can feel in just a few minutes.

Go for walks. I discovered the joy of walking in lockdown. It's such a simple joy. I'm in peri and I swear my evening walks keep me sane.

Just say NO. If you want a quiet evening or weekend, prioritise it and don't get swayed by people trying to make plans.

Meal plan and batch cook (that's the answer to everything isn't it!) but it keeps life simple. I'm never happier than when I have a bolognese sauce defrosting on the side 😆

Make a plan for housework. Yes it's fucking boring but I feel calmer if I know I just need to do floors today, beds tomorrow, bathroom on Saturday or whatever. Basically get one job done per day then it doesn't build up.

pants can be worn 4 times before needing to be washed.

Placemarking I need all these!

Say no. The world really wont end.
Don't be a people pleaser.
Get rid of cheeky fuckers, users , manipulators.
Get rid of 'friends' who never share the driving ( or never contribute to fuel if they can't drive) always forget their wallets, are always late, bring along boyfriend, random extra friend you have never met.
Don't go to things you don't want to attend.
Never ever be a martyr. If you are hosting a family thing share the food prep, delegate the tidying, share the clearing up. Don't insist on taking it all on and then whinge forever about it

If there's a machine that does the job for you, get one.

Try and make exercise part of your routine eg cycling to work.

Put everything on direct debit.

Good advice there from @ohfook

Time is worth more than money. Be precious with your time. Don’t easily give it away to things/people that aren’t of value to you. Rather, use that time to do something that does enrich you/make you happy/bring you pleasure. Don’t work full time if you can get away with it.

Er...no. Unless you mean trousers?

Most clothes can be worn more than once before needing a wash but socks and pants have to be fresh every day!!

Get rid of 50% of your wardrobe, and only keep things which go together. If you work, create a work uniform which saves thinking time every work day. I wear grey or navy trousers with blue, lilac, purple or grey tops.

If your overwhelmed by your possessions, get rid of 50% of everything.

You are not obliged to spend your time at any event and your do not have to give a reason why.

A simple no thank you to an invite is sufficient.

Making excuses is stressful and wastes time.

Do just a little bit, but do it often.

That goes for all things:
Wine
Exercise
Decluttering
Cleaning
Etc

Don't compare yourself to others and run your own race.
When most people we know were moving to bigger houses and committing to private school fees for 10 or more years we moved to a slightly smaller house walking distance to great state schools.
It's made our lives so much easier.

Throw the router out. If that's a step too far, limit your time online.

Totally agree with early posts:

Be selective what you say yes to - don't sign up for every PTA/community volunteering going. Just one, and agree to things you do easily. Don't be treasurer if you are rubbish at maths or campaigner if you are shy.

Keep clutter to a minimum.

Also: pick your arguments. We have a very peaceful family because we just never ever shout about the small stuff. If DC leave towels all over the bathroom floor I just say in a non-accusatory voice: 'Love, you left towels on the floor. I need you to pick them up right now so I can clean/use the bathroom/put on a wash load.' And they always do without a row because there's no power struggle involved.

Have small, simple routines. I like Flylady's room rescues and weekly house blessing. Get everyone to help clean the house for 30 mins on a Saturday - DC and DH too. If everyone works together, the house is transformed in under an hour and then you can all go about your days and come home to a clean, sweet-smelling home.

Other things:

Make easy weeknight dinners - chicken or salmon tray bakes or one pot casseroles, stews, chillis, ragus etc. Have one night a week of ready meals - either supermarket takeaway indian/chinese food or just cheese, crackers, fruit etc or frozen fish and oven chips - stuff that takes 5 mins to prep.

Make boring things fun. Put on great music or podcasts when you clean the house. Reward yourselves for doing dull stuff like clearing the garage or decorating a room with a night out.

If you do routine stuff as you go along you have far, far less ‘chores’ to do. Carry your laundry down and stick it in the machine as you get ready to go out: laundry done. Wipe down the kitchen as the kettle boils, make packed lunches while the kids eat their tea and you chat.

never walk up or down the stairs empty handed.

Get a fab cleaner and make sure you let her/him know that you value them. This makes life so much easier.

Be proactive, not reactive.

Lists, lists and more lists.

Actively knock things off your lists.

Learn to say no thanks.