It is now November. Haiti is in the middle of a hurricane today. Let us hope that their rainbow comes soon.
For us here in the United States the elections are over. For Republicans it is the rainbow. For me as a Democrat I guess the storm is over.
And, for all of us, the Next Big Thing will be Thanksgiving.
The Family Circle Magazine published some helpful ideas for learning to simplify your life, saying that "it can be easier than you think."
Four general simplification processes are key:
- Conquer the clutter around the house. Coming into the season of giving, start by giving away items you no longer need. The author suggests that you start small with short periods of this activity, enlist the support of friends when you get stuck and give yourself a deadline and a reward for finishing.
- Overcome your work overload. Unless you practice stress management*, you could be on the way to burnout. Perfectionism, over-achiever tendencies and inadequate time management leave us exhausted and vulnerable to illness. The author suggests focusing on what bugs you at work and at home, fixing what you can and letting go of the rest. Delegation can improve your situation and so can a healthy support network.
- Free yourself from mental clutter. Remembering to think positively, giving yourself credit where it is due and writing things down can be helpful, says the author.
- Learn how to say "no." Some of us were conditioned to please others. We do not want to appear to be selfish, we automatically say "yes" to demands or requests. Here are some tactics the author suggests: Learn to say, "Let me get back to you." Or become less available. We all have had to learn how to express our own needs. But it takes application and practice.
*Things you can do to handle stress: Talk it out. Work it off. Watch what you eat. Don't depend on drugs or alcohol. Get plenty of rest. Take a break. Do something for others. Make a change. Accept the things you can't change. Don't try to be perfect. Be a good problem solver.
Next in this series: "Simplify your life this holiday season - You are what you eat."
Posts
