SIMPLIFY: 8 Steps to a Simpler Home and Life

Let’s declutter, destress, and develop more productive systems and routines to help you S.I.M.P.L.I.F.Y. your home, family, and life this year and beyond (plus, get a free printable below!)

Over the last decade, it’s become a trend in the online world to choose a “word for your year”, and while I’ve never personally participated in this trend, I do have a word I use every year.

SIMPLIFY!

Yep, it’s my “word for the year” this year and all the years… and it might just be the perfect word for many of you too.

The concept of “simple living” is not new for me… in fact, “simplify” is the word that motivated me to start my in-home organizing business back in 2007, the word that eventually led me to venture into the online world in 2010, and the word that has shaped every piece of content I’ve shared here in my little corner of the internet.

More than all of that, it’s the personal mindset I have for everything I do.

If I can simplify something, I know I’m more likely to follow through and actually stick with it… and less likely to feel stressed, anxious, exhausted, or resentful about doing it (whatever “it” is).

If you like the idea of simplifying your home, your schedule, and your life, but aren’t sure where or how to start, I’ve created an acronym that should help!

While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to simplifying, organizing, or better managing your time, the ideas and concepts I share below should serve as general guidelines as you embark on this exciting life-changing journey.

I’ve included links to additional resources that will help you dig deeper in certain areas — feel free to bookmark this post and come whenever you need a little extra encouragement or motivation to keep pluggin’ away.

Ok… let’s simplify!

S. = Start Small

Starting is often the hardest part because everything feels more overwhelming before you start… but you can’t make any progress unless you start, right?

I suggest starting somewhere small — your bathroom vanity, sock drawer, or purse — so you don’t start a massive project you can’t finish in a reasonably short period of time.

Pick one small yet specific area that bothers you and just get started. Pull everything out, purge what you don’t need, want, use, or love, prioritize the rest, and put it away.

Or, pick one small change in your schedule, routine, diet, or family life and work to make noticeable progress in that ONE SMALL area before moving on to something else.

When you start small, you make faster progress, enjoy the benefits sooner, and are more motivated to keep going.

I. = Immediate Action

My motto for life is similar to Nike’s “Just Do It” tagline… only I would add “Just Do It NOW”.

Get started on that one small area of your home right now… literally, take 10-15 minutes after you finish reading to declutter one small space today.

While I realize there are situations when we literally can’t implement immediately, I also think we make too many excuses as to why we can’t “do it now” because it feels overwhelming (see S. above).

My general rule of thumb is that if I can do it in less than 3 minutes, I’ll do it immediately. If it will take longer (and I don’t have longer at the moment) I immediately add it to my to-do list instead.

When we do something immediately, we don’t need to think or worry about it later. The mental load of remembering is gone, along with the physical load of actually doing the thing that needed to be done. Win-win!

Stop wondering when you’ll wash the handprint off the window, pick up the clothes on your bed, scrub that sticky spot on your kitchen floor, tackle that pile of dishes, take out the trash, or change that lightbulb… just do it immediately. Right now!

M. = Make time for Maintenance

Enjoying the benefits of an organized, streamlined, simplified life requires maintenance… and not just a 20-minute refresh at the end of each month.

I’m talking daily, sometimes hourly, ongoing maintenance.

Before you get too bent out of shape, consider the last time you ate something or the last time you showered. I dare to bet you’ve done both within the last 24 hours… and you’ll do both again within the next 24 hours.

Does that upset you?

Probably not.

We accept that we need to eat and shower daily… so why do we get frustrated when we need to clean, tidy, and straighten the same areas of our homes day after day?

A lived-in home will get dirty, dusty, messy, and disorganized again and again and again — that’s normal. It doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong.

Make time for maintenance in your daily routine — before or after meal times works well for many families, and certainly before bed — and you’ll continue to enjoy the benefits of your efforts to simplify and get more organized.

P. = Plan + Prepare

Planning ahead helps to create a framework that supports a simpler, more organized home and life. Period.

Here are just a few of the many ways planning ahead can help you simplify:

1. It reduces stress: Knowing what to expect and having a plan can alleviate anxiety for everyone in your household, offering a sense of control over your time and tasks.
2. It improves time management: Outlining your priorities helps you allocate time effectively, ensuring you focus on what truly matters and avoid last-minute rushes.
3. It helps you steward resources more wisely: Planning ahead helps you identify what resources (time, money, energy) you need and allows you to use them wisely, avoiding waste and maximizing effectiveness.
4. It improves decision-making: Planning ahead allows you to think critically about your choices in advance, reducing impulsive decisions that might complicate your life later on.
5. It increases productivity: With a clear plan, you can work more efficiently, completing tasks in a timely manner and leaving more room for leisure and relaxation.

Have I convinced you yet?

If you don’t know where to start… here are a few ideas:

• plan 5 simple meals for the week (make sure you have the ingredients)
• pack lunches the night before
• encourage everyone to pick out their clothing the night before
• discuss your weekly schedule with the family over dinner
• wake up 20 minutes earlier to give yourself a buffer

I’ve never regretted the time I’ve spent planning and preparing as it saves me so much time, energy, and stress in the long run.

L. = Let it Go

After you finish belting out the song from Frozen, consider how much simpler your life would be with fewer things, to-dos, and commitments.

• Fewer toys mean it’s less overwhelming and time-consuming to tidy up.
• Fewer commitments mean more free time.
• Less clothing means less decision fatigue when it’s time to get ready (and a lot less money spent on clothing).
• A smaller to-do list means less stress and overwhelm.
• Fewer things to clean around and organize mean more energy for other activities.

Letting go of a commitment, a to-do you feel like you should do, or a physical possession is rarely easy… but it feels so great after you finally let go and move on.

Also, consider “letting go” of non-physical things that drag you down mentally and/or cause chaos or angst in your life — switch to a more positive NEWS source, leave social media for a week (or more!), put your phone away for a few hours, and limit contact with people who negatively impact your daily life.

Get started today! Grab a donation bag, take 15 minutes to go through one (small) area of your home, and fill the bag with anything you can “let go” today — anything you don’t currently need, use, want, or love.

• Let it go, even if it was a gift.
• Let it go, even if it’s still in perfect condition.
• Let it go, even if there’s a tiny chance you could use it again in 3 years.
• Let it go, even if it might be a collectible item.
• Let it go, even if… (insert whatever excuse you can come up with)

Just let it go and feel your spaces and your mental load instantly lighten.

Also, I strongly encourage you to get these items out of your home as quickly as possible in the simplest way possible.

• Don’t hang onto them until you find someone to give them to or until your children or grandchildren finally agree to take them off your hands.
• Don’t put them for sale unless you’re committed to offering a low price to ensure things sell quickly.
• Don’t save them for a garage sale.
• Don’t drive around town making dozens of stops to donate individual items to various organizations.

Just take the entire load to one location, drop it off, and drive home. You’ll save so much time and stress, and I promise it will feel amazing!

F. = Focus on the Facts

When you consider which items to declutter, focus on the facts so your emotions don’t overpower your more rational decisions.

• Do you actually use/wear the item? If not, it should go.
• Do you currently need/want the item? If not, it should go.
• Do you truthfully love the item? If not, it should go.
• Do you realistically have space for the item? If not, it should go.
• Do you have the time/energy to continue cleaning and maintaining the item? If not, it should go.

When you stick with the facts, it’s easier to part with your items — even if they were gifts, even if they bring back fond memories, and even if they hold sentimental value.

They are just things and you don’t need to hold onto things to hold onto the memories.

Similarly, stick with the facts when you consider adding something to your schedule.

• Is this something you truly have time for right now? If not, don’t say yes.
• Is this something you feel very passionate about? If not, don’t say yes.
• Is this an opportunity that fits your current season of life? If not, don’t say yes.
• Is this something you must do now or you won’t have another opportunity to do it in the future? If not, don’t say yes.
• Is this something only you can do? If not, don’t say yes.

Focusing on the facts helps to reduce guilt when you need to say ‘no’ to your in-laws, your persuasive neighbor, or the very persistent lady from your kid’s school who keeps asking you to do “one more thing”.

Y. = Know Your Whys

The steps above will help you to make massive strides in your effort to simplify and organize your home and life… but to make lasting changes in any part of your life, you need to dig a bit deeper and determine your “why” (a.k.a. “Y” — get it!) 😉

Why do you want to simplify your life and streamline your schedule?

• would you like to eat dinner together as a family at least 4 nights per week?
• would you like more time to devote to a hobby or volunteer opportunity?
• would you like to spend more time traveling?
• would you like to start a business or head back to work again?
• would you like to simply be able to cross your to-dos off each day and not feel like you’re “burning the candle from both ends”?

Why do you want your home to be less cluttered and more organized?

• do you want to feel more at peace when you’re at home?
• do you want to entertain more easily?
• do you want extra space for guests to stay?
• do you want to declutter now so your adult children don’t get stuck with the task later?
• do you want to downsize and have less to maintain?

Why do you want to give up your valuable time and energy to go through your kitchen cabinets and basement bins to declutter and organize?

Why do you want to put yourself in the uncomfortable position of saying “no” to something good so you have more time for something better?

Pinpoint your “whys” and keep them at the forefront of your mind — if you do, you’ll be much more likely to stick with it, even when it’s hard, even when you’re tired, and even when you really just want to give up or give in.

A Free Download!

Download and print this cute printable and put it on your fridge, by your computer, or wherever you need a little reminder to S.I.M.P.L.I.F.Y.

It’s totally free!

NOTE: if you print as-is, it will fill an entire 8×11 piece of paper. However, you can make it much smaller by adjusting the size/percentage within your print window.

Whether you’re looking to fine-tune a few areas of your home and life or things are spiraling out of control, I encourage you to give these S.I.M.P.L.I.F.Y. steps a whirl.