Have you ever been out in different social circles and wondered how it’s possible they’re all taking about the same things? Lately, I’ve been meeting people who all have one main focus in their lives right now – making it simpler! Maybe it’s because of my age (41) that more of my friends and colleagues are looking to make life a little less complicated so they can enjoy more of it.
These are interesting times that we are living in. We have so much technology that has been designed to make life easier. In some aspects, it has achieved that mission, in other ways; it has made our lives more complicated.
There was a time when you left the office at 5; you were done for the day. Now, we have access to our work email from home, be it on our phones or laptops. We feel the need to be “on” at all times. We have so many gadgets and these days it seems like they hold us hostage. We’ve all seen couples and families out for a meal where everyone has their eyes glued to their phones, fingers going madly as they post or send messages.
For many of my friends and colleagues (myself included) exhausted has become an all too familiar word in describing one’s current state. How is it possible that at a time when we have less to do manually, we’re all so tired? Even with all the innovation taking place, many of us are still wishing for an extra day in the week and a bonus hour each day.
I think we need to stop putting pressure on ourselves to get it all done TODAY. We’re stressing ourselves out and it isn’t helping our productivity. We need to stop glorifying “busy” and really start to focus on what makes us productive.
I know that I do my best work when I’m focused on one thing at a time. I used to think that multitasking was the way to get things done. I’ve come to realize that laser-like focus on a task makes a huge difference in my productivity. I’m less stressed, and solutions to problems come a lot quicker that they did when my mind was trying to juggle 20 things at once.
What can you do to simplify your life? Maybe it’s giving yourself a cut-off for when you check your work email once you get home. Look at your goals. Are you trying to do too much and as a result not getting anything done at all? Pick one or 2 things to focus on in the next 3 months, and see what a difference it makes!
Life doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether we realize it or not, we often do it to ourselves. Look at ways you can simplify your life: ask for help, get clear on your priorities, establish boundaries, limit your time with your devices, enjoy the great outdoors or spend more time with your family. Simplifying our lives doesn’t have to cost a lot or add more stress to our lives.
What will you do to simplify your life? ♥