I'm very excited to introduce a new friend of mine, Liz Smith, who has recently started a lovely and heartfelt blog called The Less Busy Life. The following guest post from Liz will help us all learn how to free up our lives by simplifying, making choices, and going for it. Enjoy.
Procrastination can be a major roadblock for many who seek the less busy life. There are so many factors at play within the mind of a chronic procrastinator, that despite a deep wish to experience life in a different way than their current state, the first steps may seem too much to bear.
We commit to change in our life, either running from pain or embracing the pleasure of new possibilities. Whether it's pain or pleasure, change is a motivating force that needs to be experienced with all of the emotion you can muster.
Choosing to move towards a less busy life can be liberating. You will learn to intentionally slow down, create space, and better define your values. Your choices will be a truer reflection of you and all that you hold dear. There is real joy in living less busy, knowing that all that you do is connected to something greater. For a procrastinator, embarking on a life less busy can be full of challenges, tough decisions, and feelings of overwhelm. It can be enough to make you stop, before you even begin.
If you feel a pull to the less busy life and it sits somewhere on your to do list, then let's look at some small steps you may want to try. The ideas below are not new; however many of them were a turning point for me to experiencing more joy, peace and fulfillment, as I dance between being a wife, mum, writer, daughter, student and much more.
- Social Media. Turn off your e-mail notifications and reduce your screen time. Personally, I have kept my Facebook friends to a minimum. It's made a big difference in the frequency with which I visit there.
- Social Life. If life is feeling full, try saying “No, thank you,” to kids' birthday parties, the social calendar at work, or any invitation where you find yourself saying “should go” over “want to go.”
- Exercise. Move in a way that you enjoy. I always imagined myself as a runner but I got bogged down in the detail. Instead of tracking pace, distance and speed, I committed to just getting out the door and bit by bit, I've become a runner.
- Wardrobe Declutter. When it came to my clothes, I thought about who would benefit from the garments I no longer needed, loved or wore. In the early days, those thoughts kept me focused when the decisions were tough.
- Phone. Keep your phone out of your bedroom. Create a space between the moment your eyes open and your first action of the day (see “keep your phone out of your bedroom”).
- To do list. Do just one thing. Start with the easiest task and become accustomed to the sense of accomplishment that comes with getting the necessary things done.
- Mealtimes. If deciding what to cook for dinner puts you in a cold sweat, this tip may be for you. Simplify mealtimes by creating a go to list of 8 meals that are rotated and repeated. Food is fuel for the body. Nourish yourself with great food and let go of complicated cooking. The truth of this has been a breath of fresh air for me.
Grab the one idea that jumps out at you. Be aware of how you feel when you consider the possibilities of more time, more space and more joy that doing this one small thing may bring you. If you don't feel excited, curious or motivated then don't choose it. Write down your own idea for small change towards a less busy life. Once you have manifested the excitement that is going to move you forward, hold on to it and cultivate it each time you bring that step into your day.
Hold on to the possibility that this idea will work for you.
Liz Smith shares her experiences on creating a simpler life with less busyness and more creativity and connectedness on her blog www.thelessbusylife.com You can also follow her on Twitter @thelessbusylife.
