3307: 6 Practical Steps to Start Living More Simply by Julianna Poplin of The Simplicity Habit on Minimalism

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[00:00:38] [SPEAKER_00]: It's a minimalist Monday edition of Optimal Living Daily, 6 Practical Steps to Start

[00:00:43] [SPEAKER_00]: Living More Simply by Julianna Poplin of TheSimplicityHabit.com and I'm Justin

[00:00:49] [SPEAKER_00]: Malik, your personal narrator, reading to you with permission from the authors.

[00:00:53] [SPEAKER_00]: On Mondays I usually cover minimalism, one of our most requested topics so with that,

[00:00:57] [SPEAKER_00]: let's get right to the minimalist Monday post as we optimize your life.

[00:01:06] [SPEAKER_00]: Six practical steps to start living more simply by Julianna Poplin of TheSimplicityHabit.com.

[00:01:14] [SPEAKER_00]: In recent years, the idea of living a more simple life has gained more traction

[00:01:19] [SPEAKER_00]: and become increasingly appealing.

[00:01:21] [SPEAKER_00]: And it's easy to see why.

[00:01:23] [SPEAKER_00]: Modern society is busy, frantic, stressful.

[00:01:27] [SPEAKER_00]: Between demanding jobs, overbooked calendars and messy homes, finding a moment to truly

[00:01:32] [SPEAKER_00]: clear your mind and relax can feel challenging if not totally impossible.

[00:01:38] [SPEAKER_00]: While some people thrive on that kind of chaos, most of us weren't really meant

[00:01:42] [SPEAKER_00]: for that kind of ever-present stress in our lives.

[00:01:45] [SPEAKER_00]: At our core, we need ease, comfort, simplicity.

[00:01:50] [SPEAKER_00]: We need time to focus on the things that truly matter to us, to live intentionally,

[00:01:56] [SPEAKER_00]: not chaotically.

[00:01:58] [SPEAKER_00]: If you're ready to start living a more simple life, you've come to the right place.

[00:02:02] [SPEAKER_00]: Keep listening to learn how you can truly simplify your life.

[00:02:07] [SPEAKER_00]: Why should I live more simply?

[00:02:09] [SPEAKER_00]: While some people immediately see the benefits of living more simply,

[00:02:13] [SPEAKER_00]: others aren't quite convinced that simple living is the right choice.

[00:02:17] [SPEAKER_00]: But the truth of the matter is virtually everyone could benefit from a little more simplicity.

[00:02:23] [SPEAKER_00]: Living a simple life means focusing on the things that really matter,

[00:02:27] [SPEAKER_00]: your values, your relationships, your dreams.

[00:02:31] [SPEAKER_00]: It's getting rid of the clutter and the noise so that you're left with the things

[00:02:35] [SPEAKER_00]: you cherish the most.

[00:02:37] [SPEAKER_00]: It's giving yourself the space, the time, and the freedom to truly enjoy those things

[00:02:42] [SPEAKER_00]: without the distractions that modern living brings.

[00:02:45] [SPEAKER_00]: And the best part?

[00:02:47] [SPEAKER_00]: Living more simply doesn't have to be hard, but even when it does feel challenging,

[00:02:52] [SPEAKER_00]: it's completely worth it.

[00:02:55] [SPEAKER_00]: Six steps you can take to live a more simple life.

[00:02:58] [SPEAKER_00]: Ready to start living more simply?

[00:03:01] [SPEAKER_00]: From cutting back on your physical possessions to saying goodbye to some of your ongoing obligations,

[00:03:06] [SPEAKER_00]: there are lots of different ways you can simplify your life.

[00:03:10] [SPEAKER_00]: Not sure where to start?

[00:03:11] [SPEAKER_00]: Here are a few steps you can take to make your life a little bit simpler.

[00:03:16] [SPEAKER_00]: Number one, embrace having less in your home.

[00:03:21] [SPEAKER_00]: One of the easiest ways you can make your life a little more simple is to simplify your home.

[00:03:27] [SPEAKER_00]: Many of us fill our homes with stuff, cabinets filled with dishes and glassware,

[00:03:32] [SPEAKER_00]: linen closets overflowing with extra bedding, gallery walls filled with photos.

[00:03:37] [SPEAKER_00]: It all adds up.

[00:03:38] [SPEAKER_00]: If you're living with a lot of clutter, there's a good chance that it's causing you

[00:03:42] [SPEAKER_00]: unneeded stress even if you don't actually recognize the cause.

[00:03:47] [SPEAKER_00]: Having too much stuff in your house can be overwhelming, and it's a great place to

[00:03:51] [SPEAKER_00]: start if you're trying to start living more simply.

[00:03:54] [SPEAKER_00]: By getting rid of the things that don't bring you joy,

[00:03:56] [SPEAKER_00]: keeping counters free of clutter and common areas tidy,

[00:04:00] [SPEAKER_00]: and choosing a few tasteful accents to decorate,

[00:04:03] [SPEAKER_00]: your home can reflect the simple lifestyle you hope to achieve.

[00:04:07] [SPEAKER_00]: Number two, start saying no.

[00:04:11] [SPEAKER_00]: While saying yes isn't a bad thing, it's an easy way to find yourself overwhelmed,

[00:04:16] [SPEAKER_00]: over-scheduled, and overworked.

[00:04:19] [SPEAKER_00]: If you're ready to live a more simple life,

[00:04:21] [SPEAKER_00]: it's time to embrace the idea that you don't have to say yes to everything.

[00:04:25] [SPEAKER_00]: You can and should reassess your commitments to decide

[00:04:29] [SPEAKER_00]: what fits with your values and goals, and what doesn't.

[00:04:33] [SPEAKER_00]: You don't have to go to every single dinner or party you're invited to,

[00:04:37] [SPEAKER_00]: and you don't have to sign up for that class.

[00:04:40] [SPEAKER_00]: You don't have to buy that stuff, I'm talking to you Amazon.

[00:04:43] [SPEAKER_00]: As difficult as it can be at first to say no, it's like a muscle.

[00:04:48] [SPEAKER_00]: The more often you exercise it, the stronger it becomes.

[00:04:51] [SPEAKER_00]: Turning down invitations and plans might feel tough at first,

[00:04:55] [SPEAKER_00]: but with a little practice, you'll be a pro.

[00:04:59] [SPEAKER_00]: Number three, simplify your meals.

[00:05:02] [SPEAKER_00]: If you're hoping to create a more simple life for yourself,

[00:05:05] [SPEAKER_00]: it's important to factor in the foods you eat.

[00:05:07] [SPEAKER_00]: After all, you likely spend a good amount of time meal planning,

[00:05:11] [SPEAKER_00]: preparing food, and eating.

[00:05:13] [SPEAKER_00]: It's important to not only consider your meals,

[00:05:16] [SPEAKER_00]: but also the food you consume.

[00:05:18] [SPEAKER_00]: Focus on simple foods that can stand alone

[00:05:20] [SPEAKER_00]: or easily pair with others to make a meal.

[00:05:23] [SPEAKER_00]: Stock your fridge with fresh fruits, veggies, and essentials,

[00:05:27] [SPEAKER_00]: and keep your favorite seasonings and spices on hand.

[00:05:30] [SPEAKER_00]: Make a list of go-to meals you can pull together

[00:05:33] [SPEAKER_00]: without much stress or hassle,

[00:05:35] [SPEAKER_00]: and you'll be well on your way to a simpler diet and a simpler life.

[00:05:39] [SPEAKER_00]: If team nights work for you, that's another great way

[00:05:42] [SPEAKER_00]: to simplify meals and meal planning.

[00:05:44] [SPEAKER_00]: Think Meatless Mondays, Taco Tuesdays, etc.

[00:05:48] [SPEAKER_00]: We have a long-standing tradition of doing breakfast for dinner

[00:05:52] [SPEAKER_00]: on Sundays for Movie Night, which we've enjoyed.

[00:05:55] [SPEAKER_00]: Do what works for you and your household.

[00:05:57] [SPEAKER_00]: Take it a step further by getting together with friends

[00:06:00] [SPEAKER_00]: to prepare freezer meals or arrange a meal swap.

[00:06:03] [SPEAKER_00]: Create a system with like-minded friends who want to simplify meals

[00:06:06] [SPEAKER_00]: so that you can all enjoy the benefits.

[00:06:09] [SPEAKER_00]: To create a more efficient kitchen,

[00:06:11] [SPEAKER_00]: keep the essentials and declutter unnecessary items.

[00:06:16] [SPEAKER_00]: This is especially important if you're working in a smaller space.

[00:06:20] [SPEAKER_00]: Cooking is more enjoyable when you're able to find the items you need

[00:06:23] [SPEAKER_00]: and you have countertop space available to do your prepping.

[00:06:27] [SPEAKER_00]: Number four, get your budget under control.

[00:06:32] [SPEAKER_00]: Making and managing a budget is an incredibly effective way

[00:06:35] [SPEAKER_00]: to support your goal of living a more simple life.

[00:06:38] [SPEAKER_00]: If you don't check your bank account often,

[00:06:40] [SPEAKER_00]: you might be shocked to see where your money is actually going.

[00:06:44] [SPEAKER_00]: Chances are you'll find a subscription or two that you don't actually need.

[00:06:48] [SPEAKER_00]: You might be surprised to see just how much you spend on frivolous stuff,

[00:06:51] [SPEAKER_00]: clothes you didn't actually need, or a fast food lunch you didn't even really want.

[00:06:57] [SPEAKER_00]: And for the stuff you actually do need to stay on top of, like your electric bill?

[00:07:01] [SPEAKER_00]: Take advantage of auto pay and stop stressing about missed due dates.

[00:07:05] [SPEAKER_00]: By automating the process of paying your bills, you'll save time and energy.

[00:07:11] [SPEAKER_00]: By getting your finances under control, you can streamline and simplify your budget and expenses

[00:07:17] [SPEAKER_00]: and eliminate a lot of unwanted stress and stuff from your life,

[00:07:20] [SPEAKER_00]: all while saving more money.

[00:07:24] [SPEAKER_00]: Number five, simplify your morning routine.

[00:07:28] [SPEAKER_00]: One unexpected source of stress and overwhelm in our lives

[00:07:31] [SPEAKER_00]: can be our wardrobe and getting ready routine.

[00:07:34] [SPEAKER_00]: If you've got a closet bursting at the seams with options,

[00:07:37] [SPEAKER_00]: that might sound like a good thing, but really it makes it difficult to find what

[00:07:41] [SPEAKER_00]: you're actually looking for and creates unnecessary mess and clutter.

[00:07:46] [SPEAKER_00]: If it takes you longer than you'd like to get ready for your day,

[00:07:50] [SPEAKER_00]: or you're guilty of keeping way too much stuff in your closet,

[00:07:53] [SPEAKER_00]: it's time to streamline and simplify.

[00:07:56] [SPEAKER_00]: Getting rid of unwanted clothes makes getting ready much simpler and less stressful.

[00:08:01] [SPEAKER_00]: Another way to simplify your mornings is to make planning for the following day

[00:08:06] [SPEAKER_00]: part of your evening routine.

[00:08:08] [SPEAKER_00]: When you've already thought through what you need to have ready

[00:08:11] [SPEAKER_00]: and have mentally prepared for the day the night before,

[00:08:13] [SPEAKER_00]: the morning runs much more smoothly which sets the tone for the rest of the day.

[00:08:19] [SPEAKER_00]: And number six, create boundaries with technology and social media.

[00:08:25] [SPEAKER_00]: One more important way to start living more simply is to be thoughtful and intentional

[00:08:29] [SPEAKER_00]: with your social media usage.

[00:08:32] [SPEAKER_00]: It's easy for technology to take up a significant amount of our time

[00:08:35] [SPEAKER_00]: and attention if we allow it to.

[00:08:38] [SPEAKER_00]: Create boundaries for where and when you will use your devices.

[00:08:42] [SPEAKER_00]: Protect your meal times and allow plenty of screen free time in the evenings before going to bed.

[00:08:48] [SPEAKER_00]: How you choose to use technology impacts your relationships,

[00:08:52] [SPEAKER_00]: but also can influence your well-being.

[00:08:55] [SPEAKER_00]: Be selective with who you follow and what you allow into your mind.

[00:09:00] [SPEAKER_00]: Be intentional with your time spent online so that it furthers your goals,

[00:09:04] [SPEAKER_00]: rather than steals your time.

[00:09:11] [SPEAKER_00]: You just listened to the post titled Six Practical Steps

[00:09:14] [SPEAKER_00]: to Start Living More Simply by Juliana Poplin of TheSimplicityHabit.com

[00:09:19] [SPEAKER_00]: and I'll be right back with my commentary.

[00:09:22] [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you to Juliana.

[00:09:23] [SPEAKER_00]: All great steps to take if you're actively looking to simplify your life.

[00:09:28] [SPEAKER_00]: We've definitely talked about a few of these before, saying no more often,

[00:09:32] [SPEAKER_00]: having less of course, working on our morning and evening routines,

[00:09:36] [SPEAKER_00]: social media, one that can be really important,

[00:09:39] [SPEAKER_00]: and I talked about this recently, is tracking your expenses and working with a budget.

[00:09:45] [SPEAKER_00]: I don't find a budget necessary if you start the first habit of tracking your expenses because

[00:09:50] [SPEAKER_00]: just by tracking you might find that your average month is quite good,

[00:09:55] [SPEAKER_00]: so budgeting might just be overkill on a waste of time.

[00:09:58] [SPEAKER_00]: But you'll never know unless you do take that first step

[00:10:02] [SPEAKER_00]: of seeing how much money comes in and then goes out on a day to day basis.

[00:10:07] [SPEAKER_00]: I used to do it manually with Excel.

[00:10:10] [SPEAKER_00]: If you listened to this podcast before,

[00:10:11] [SPEAKER_00]: you might have heard me talk about my Excel spreadsheet,

[00:10:14] [SPEAKER_00]: but tools and apps have become so good now that I switched over to an app

[00:10:18] [SPEAKER_00]: and it's made the whole thing a lot more simple and enjoyable really.

[00:10:24] [SPEAKER_00]: You can see the one I use at oldpodcast.com slash track,

[00:10:28] [SPEAKER_00]: doing taxes every year is now a breeze since every penny is already accounted for.

[00:10:33] [SPEAKER_00]: And I do think it's a great way to start living more simply,

[00:10:35] [SPEAKER_00]: figuring out exactly what's coming in and knowing how much is going out

[00:10:40] [SPEAKER_00]: and then deciding if setting a budget is best for you.

[00:10:44] [SPEAKER_00]: So do try it out as an experiment if you can, tracking your income and expenses.

[00:10:48] [SPEAKER_00]: Again, you can see what I'm using at oldpodcast.com slash track.

[00:10:54] [SPEAKER_00]: And have a great rest of your day.

[00:10:55] [SPEAKER_00]: I'll be here curating articles for you again tomorrow where your optimal life awaits.