3655: 7 Little Ways to Make Life Simpler by Marc Chernoff of Marc And Angel on Reducing Daily Stress

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER_00] Before we start, please check out our new podcast, Good Sleep. Have you ever noticed how a calm mind can really set the stage for a good night's sleep? That's the idea behind our new podcast, Good Sleep. Greg, our host from Optimal Relationships Daily, is here to help ease you into a peaceful night's rest with some positive affirmations. And these affirmations aren't just comforting, they can help ease anxiety and nurture positive thoughts, setting you up for true good sleep.

[00:00:25] [SPEAKER_00] So press play on Good Sleep tonight because a good tomorrow starts with a good night's sleep. Just search for Good Sleep in your podcast app and be sure to pick the one from Optimal Living Daily. This is Optimal Living Daily, 7 Little Ways to Make Life Simpler by Marc Chernoff of MarcAndAngel.com and I'm Justin Malik, your very own personal narrator. I read to you from some of the best blogs in the world every day, covering personal development and growth, lifestyle, minimalism,

[00:00:55] [SPEAKER_00] and more. If you enjoy the show, please share it with someone, anyone. That's how I keep this podcast going, it's with your help. But I'll keep this intro short for this Friday, so let's get right to it and continue optimizing your life. 7 Little Ways to Make Life Simpler by Marc Chernoff of MarcAndAngel.com Anyone can make today more complicated than it has to be, and most people will. It takes a touch of wisdom to do the opposite.

[00:01:26] [SPEAKER_00] Our days fill up so fast and are so frenzied and jammed with drama and distractions, they often seem to be bursting at the seams. And the craziest part of it all is that we get so accustomed to this kind of chaos, we think it's normal. We go about each day without ever questioning why we feel so darn stressed out. Angel and I lived this way for many years, until a time came when we were dealt a series of harsh reality checks that forced us to re-examine everything.

[00:01:51] [SPEAKER_00] One of the key lessons we learned through this re-examination is that it's not terribly hard to make our lives a whole lot simpler and happier one day at a time, one step at a time. Today, I encourage you to join us on our daily journey of living a simpler, happier life by following the seven steps I've outlined. Keep in mind, however, that while Angel and I have fully incorporated each of these steps into our daily lives, we did so gradually. I suggest you choose one right now and begin working on it.

[00:02:21] [SPEAKER_00] Then revisit this list when you're ready to take the next step. Number one, identify what's most important and eliminate the rest. This may sound like a drastic measure to some, but it's really not. Today will quickly fill up with time-wasting activities if you aren't careful. Thus, you must remember that being productive isn't just about getting things done, it's also about leaving things undone. The simplicity and efficiency of today relies heavily on the elimination of non-essential tasks.

[00:02:50] [SPEAKER_00] You must identify what's most important to you and then eliminate as much as you possibly can of everything else. Number two, declutter your physical space. Decluttering your physical space not only makes things more organized, but it also leads to a less cluttered mental space. The visual distractions in your environment pull on you and distract you in more ways than you likely realize. If you're holding on to things you don't need, let go and donate them to someone who does. Give yourself some extra breathing room.

[00:03:20] [SPEAKER_00] And remember, it's not just how many or how few things you own that matters, it's whether you make those things count. For example, it's better to have three great books on your bookshelf that you're actually going to read rather than 300 that only take up space. Read the more of less for decluttering strategies that work. Note we read an advanced copy of this book and it's a must-read. Number three, schedule at least one distraction-free time block each day. Distractions are nothing more than complications.

[00:03:48] [SPEAKER_00] So once you know you're focusing on what's important and your space is relatively clutter-free, eliminating all distractions for a set time while you work is one of the most effective ways to get things done. Just lock your door, put a sign up, turn off your phone, close your email application, disconnect your internet connection, whatever it takes. You can't remain in hiding forever, but you can be twice as peaceful and twice as productive while you are. Number four, leave space between everything on your to-do list.

[00:04:17] [SPEAKER_00] It's tempting to fill in every waking minute of the day with tasks. Don't do this to yourself. Leave space. The space between the things you do is just as important as the things you do. Remember, your overarching goal is living a life uncluttered by most of the things people fill their lives with, leaving you with space for what's truly important. A life that isn't constant busyness, rushing, and stress, but instead mindful contemplation, creation, and connection with people and projects that bring meaning into your life.

[00:04:47] [SPEAKER_00] Number five, disconnect from the drama. When your day gets stressful and the people around you aren't helping, keep in mind that the battle you're going through is never fueled by the things other people do. It is fueled by your mind that gives these things importance. Even if you have a good reason to be angry and resentful, don't. Channel your energy into thoughts and actions that actually benefit your life. Build positive daily rituals that build you. And as you move forward positively, remember,

[00:05:15] [SPEAKER_00] there's a huge amount of simplicity and freedom that comes into your life when you take nothing personally. Angel and I build positive daily rituals with our students in the goals and growth module of getting back to happy. Number six, let go of life's uncontrollable outcomes. When you attempt to control too much, you complicate things, and thus you enjoy too little. Sometimes you just need to let go, take a deep breath, and love what is. Make mistakes, learn from the realities around you,

[00:05:45] [SPEAKER_00] laugh about it all, and then move along. Waste not a minute on outcomes you can't control. This, I've learned, is the best way to be in all walks of life. You can stop trying to change people and just let go and dissolve into their presence. Just notice who they truly are. Just appreciate every idiosyncratic quirk. You can stop complaining about your life circumstances, about your losses, about how the world is, and just let go and love what is. Just be, just accept, just appreciate.

[00:06:15] [SPEAKER_00] And number seven, reflect on the goodness. One of the primary reasons we complicate our lives is because we become ungrateful. We lose our enthusiasm, and then we go looking for it in all the wrong places. We think we need more of everything to find it again, when in fact we need less. We need less clutter, less distraction, less drama, and less busyness, so we can create the space we once had to appreciate what we have. And what we have is always more than enough. Reflect on this.

[00:06:43] [SPEAKER_00] Never let all the things you want make you forget about all the things you have. Consider how very fortunate you are. Consider it every day. Angel and I discuss this in more detail in the simplicity chapter of 1,000 Little Things Happy Successful People Do Differently. You just listened to the post titled, Seven Little Ways to Make Life Simpler, by Mark Chernoff of markandangel.com, and I'll be right back with my commentary.

[00:07:13] [SPEAKER_00] And thank you to Mark for list style posts like these. Just like you mentioned, I'd recommend keeping the list somewhere, but only start with one and see how it works for you. Try to tackle it slowly, see if you're able to do it, then move on to the next. And I think you did a good job with this order, where each one can kind of build on to the next. I love the line about how decluttering your physical space will help you declutter your mind. It's so true for me. I feel so much less cluttered in my head when my space is clutter-free. So try these out. I think these are great ones,

[00:07:42] [SPEAKER_00] and always happy to hear what's working for you if you want to share with me. I'll leave it there for today. Hope you're having a great Friday, and I'll see you over the weekend, where your optimal life awaits. I'll see you over the next few months, and I'll see you over the next few months and a half minutes. Let's go.