3163: 8 Little Ways to Simplify Your Life by Courtney Carver of Be More With Less on Minimalism

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[00:01:40] It's a minimalist Monday edition of optimal living daily episode 31 63

[00:01:44] 8 little ways to simplify your life by corny carver of bean more less comm

[00:01:50] Anime narrator Justin Malik reading you articles every day of the year usually covering minimalism on Mondays

[00:01:56] So with that let's get right to it as we optimize your life

[00:02:00] Eight little ways to simplify your life by corny carver of bean more less comm

[00:02:11] Simplicity isn't always easy if you're considering or in the midst of a big project to simplify your life like

[00:02:18] Downsizing or paying off your debt it might feel like there is no end in sight

[00:02:23] Even though these big changes will add tremendous value to your life the little changes are just as important

[00:02:29] Not only do they encourage the big changes, but they are meaningful all on their own

[00:02:35] Little changes can be accomplished quickly which adds fuel to your simplicity fire by making a list of five to ten little things and knocking them out

[00:02:43] You'll build momentum and inspiration for the big stuff

[00:02:47] You'll also create more time and space so you can more thoughtfully approach the other ways you'd like to simplify and live your life

[00:02:53] Identify little changes as things you can complete in an hour or less

[00:02:58] Use this list make your own or mix and match

[00:03:02] number one

[00:03:04] Negotiate holiday gift giving

[00:03:06] If you're attempting to own less or pay off debt the holidays and traditional gift-giving

[00:03:12] May cause some anxiety and complicate things

[00:03:15] Craft an email give a one less gift certificate or call your friends and family and see if they would be open to a new way to enjoy the holidays

[00:03:23] Don't make the focus about that changes you want to make in your life

[00:03:27] But rather the impact giving differently may have on your relationships and the way you experience the holiday season

[00:03:34] For people who live close by creating experience together in lieu of gifts for people who live far away

[00:03:41] Collaborate to give back and create a campaign for the hope effect

[00:03:45] For others simply agree to exchange well wishes or big hugs

[00:03:49] number two commit to a weekly media fast

[00:03:53] The news Facebook updates and other media can feel overwhelming

[00:03:58] Take a break for 24 hours a week to be free of the onslaught of incoming information

[00:04:03] number three clear up a misunderstanding if your mind has been occupied by an uncomfortable conversation

[00:04:10] argument or misunderstanding

[00:04:12] Make a phone call you don't have to come to a resolution or ever completely agree on the disagreement

[00:04:18] It's usually enough to agree that you really like each other and want the weirdness to go away. Don't wait

[00:04:24] number four schedule a solo date

[00:04:28] When was the last time you took yourself out to lunch for a walk through a museum or to explore a new neighborhood?

[00:04:34] Author Julia Cameron calls this an artist state

[00:04:37] She says quote the artist date is a once weekly

[00:04:41] festive solo expedition to explore something that interests you the artist date need not be overly

[00:04:48] Artistic think mischief more than mastery

[00:04:51] Artist dates fire up the imagination. They spark whimsy they encourage play

[00:04:56] When choosing an artist date, it is good to ask yourself what sounds fun and then allow yourself to try it end quote

[00:05:04] Number five take a forest bath. I

[00:05:07] Discovered the idea of a forest bath in Jonathan Fields new book how to live a good life

[00:05:12] The Japanese phrase for forest bath is Shinrin Yoku and

[00:05:16] Fields shares that forest bathers experience tremendous health benefits quote increased happiness and pleasure

[00:05:23] improved sleep and energy and a calmer more relaxed state of mind and quote good health makes everything simpler

[00:05:30] Just getting outside and into nature will help for added benefit notice your surroundings with wonder and gratitude

[00:05:36] Even if you've seen them a thousand times before if you can't get into a forest add plans to your living and workspaces

[00:05:43] It makes a difference

[00:05:45] number six write down all the things

[00:05:49] Get it off your mind and onto paper

[00:05:52] Don't worry about where to put the commas or censor yourself in any way

[00:05:56] Calm your frantic mind and ease a worried heart just by writing what you are thinking

[00:06:01] You'll be surprised how senior thoughts in writing puts them in perspective and provides clarity on what to do next

[00:06:07] It might lead to a better night of sleep too

[00:06:10] number seven engage in a rapid-fire decluttering session

[00:06:15] Decluttering a whole home takes time

[00:06:17] But you'll be surprised how much you can accomplish in a small amount of time set your timer for 10 to 30 minutes

[00:06:23] Turn on your favorite music and go

[00:06:25] Fill up a box or bag with stuff you don't use or enjoy

[00:06:29] number eight boycott busyness

[00:06:33] Take the busy boycott challenge and trade your busy life for a full one

[00:06:37] There's a big difference between a busy and full life

[00:06:41] A busy life distracts us from what we really care about and who we really care about

[00:06:46] A busy life is all about piling it on catching up

[00:06:49] Falling behind and waking up tired to do it all over again

[00:06:53] A full life invites us to engage in what we really care about and spend time with who we really care about

[00:07:00] A full life isn't about doing it all

[00:07:02] But falling asleep at the end of the day content with how you spent your minutes and hours

[00:07:07] And a pleasant anticipation of the day to come

[00:07:14] You just listened to the post titled eight little ways to simplify your life by corny carver of beanmoresless.com

[00:07:21] And i'll be right back with my commentary

[00:07:24] Thank you to Courtney

[00:07:25] I'd recommend only picking one of these instead of trying all of them quickly and having none of them stick over the long term

[00:07:31] For me writing things down without worrying about punctuation or grammar does help a lot

[00:07:37] I learned this method in college. I think in anthropology class where the professor said that

[00:07:43] For around five minutes, we're going to write everything that enters into our brain

[00:07:47] And we have to keep writing the pen can't stop moving

[00:07:50] Even if it means writing, I don't know what to say over and over again. Just keep writing

[00:07:56] And the results were pretty surprising

[00:07:58] First of all, it was rare that I didn't know what to say because the mind is always moving from one thing to the next

[00:08:03] It would be like, hmm. This is a weird assignment

[00:08:06] Why are we being asked to continue to write without lifting up our pens?

[00:08:09] This is kind of hurting my hand now. How long has it been?

[00:08:13] I'm hungry

[00:08:14] The pen just kept going

[00:08:16] But what I found is that if you're not in the best of moods, this is a great way to let it all out

[00:08:21] Let the brain get it out on paper

[00:08:23] And then he stops stewing in these thoughts afterwards

[00:08:27] It works for me. So if you haven't tried it, I'd recommend it

[00:08:29] Well, leave it there for today. Thank you for being here

[00:08:31] I'll be curating articles for you here again tomorrow

[00:08:34] So have a great rest of your day and I'll see you in the Tuesday show where your optimal life awaits