7 Ways to Simplify Your Life

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Life – ah, it can get stressful at times, can’t it? After last night’s election, I think we all are feeling the post-election stress hangover! If you follow me on Twitter, than you likely saw my slew of tweets and retweets throughout the night. In most parts of my life I try to eliminate stress – but, I just couldn’t tear myself away – no matter how much of a headache it was.

Aside from politics, stress is something I have actively tried to eliminate from my life. Over the last few months, I’ve felt myself go through waves of feeling totally in control of my life – and then waves of chaos, clutter, and finally peace. I shared recently how I achieve balance in my life, but one of the other things I promised myself this year though was that I was going to try to simplify and de-stress my life, take in the good and toss out the bad. For the most part, I think I’ve got it down – but of course, there’s always room for improvement!

Simplifying your life can be reduced to many different things; maybe it’s letting go of relationships, getting rid of that old t-shirt from the early 2000’s, or simply taking the time to better organize your home. For me, simplifying my life has been a mixture of those things, and trying to be more conscious in choosing what I bring into my life. Today I am sharing 7 easy ways you can simplify and de-stress your life – so if you’re like me, and feeling the need to alleviate your post-election stress hangover than scroll on down!

Stop Doubting Yourself

The best way to simplify your life and eliminate stress? Stop questioning yourself. As someone who struggles with anxiety, I know how easy it is to get stuck on questioning yourself until you feel like you’re going to go crazy. Part of living a simpler and happier life though is finding your confidence in what you do, think, and say. It can be challenging, but the next time you’re going off the deep end questioning yourself – stop. You are strong, you’re smart, and your opinions matter.

Embrace “Chill” Time

Schedule in a bit of time to relax. This could mean having a movie night, spending some time reading a new book, or even just giving yourself a few moments to go on social to catch up on what’s going on in the online world. For me, I love going on Instagram and Snapchat to catch up on what has been going on in my friend’s life this week. I love seeing their life updates in photos – their coffees, shopping excursions, or their pets. It’s fun and allows for a little mind break during the work day.

De-Clutter

A cluttered space stresses me out, and makes it nearly impossible for me to focus. That’s why this year, I’ve decided to go through nearly everything in our home and really access whether or not it is needed. Do we really need that old blanket we bought years ago but has been tucked away in storage since? Do I really need that blush that I once suspected gave me hives? Nope, I don’t! I’ve found that if there’s ever anything in our home which I see and say “I like it but…” than it should go. The “but…” makes it instantly apparent that it’s an item I will always find an excuse not to use, so why not pass it on to someone who will use it?

Put Positivity out in the World

Let’s be honest, after the election last night – there’s a lot of negativity, fear, and hate going around. And, I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t had my moments of worry too. But last night, as I went to bed, I promised myself that no matter what happens in the next four years I would try to put out as much positivity as I always have. The world is scary, and sometimes what’s happening feels terrifying, but I know that there is nothing stronger than when people come together, and already we can see people (in particular women) around the world banding together. Simplify your life by choosing to project positivity and strength rather than fear, even in these often scary times.

Hold Yourself to Your Healthy Routines

Part of simplifying your life is appreciating the routines in your life that make you feel your best. For me, that’s attending exercise programs and keeping a sleep schedule – but for you it could be a weekly coffee meeting with friends, or Friday night date night. Healthy routines keep your attitude positive. They are a simple way to keep your mind happy and healthy.

Unplug Everyday

At a certain point every day, unplug and unwind. Turn off the computer, the TV, and power down your phone. We are now so connected to our work through our phones that it’s nearly impossible to really get away from it all – and that’s why it’s so important for you to force yourself into having some peace and quiet. Especially before bed time, try to give yourself a break from viewing your phone (ahem, scrolling through Instagram!) so that you can ease into a good night’s rest.

Embrace Your Go-to’s

When I talk about go-to’s I mean style, beauty, diet, – anything and everything that you rely on to make you feel your best. Rather than always feeling the need to revamp your beauty routine, embrace your go-to look! For example, for years, I was on the hunt for a bright lipstick that would totally suit me – and just recently I realized part of why I’ve never found one that’s totally “me” is because I really hate the maintenance of wearing a bright lip. The fact is, a bright lip will never be my go-to. My hunt for the perfect “go to” bright lipstick ended then and there. I tend to be pretty natural with my day-to-day makeup and hairstyle, which is why I recently shared my easy go-to No Makeup Makeup Look Tutorial and Side Rope Braid Hair Tutorial. We all put pressure on ourselves to revamp ourselves – but instead, I challenge you to accept yourself as you are.

outfit details: Chicwish Time to Relax Knit Sweater c/o, Similar Showpo Light Wash Ripped Jeans, Richmond & Finch White Marble Iphone 7 Case