Is
your day-to-day life full of stress and chaos? Are you scrambling to find a
peaceful moment in the day when you can put your feet up and relax? Are you
rushed, stressed out and ready to call it quits.
Why is
that so? Who is responsible for it? Why have we made it so difficult?
The
solution is simple: simplify your life. It’s the implementation part that is
hard, but here are my top tips to help with that:
#1 Believe in yourself, but be aware
of your limitations
The
first step to accomplishing all your goals and making your dreams come true
starts with this simple realization that you are human: you are not perfect and
you can’t do everything alone.
Always
keep things realistic. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself that you find it
hard to move; trust yourself to deliver what you need to, but also be prepared
to cut yourself some slack.
• Own up when you make a mistake
• Set goals, and enjoy the journey
#2 De-clutter & simplify
You
have a thousand different things screaming for attention: Deadlines,
presentataions, Sales closing, Inventory, and products health. You have to
organize your calendar and make room for more appointments; make time to
socialize; help the kids with homework.
Let’s
get one thing straight—you cannot accomplish anything unless you get yourself
some of the clarity that comes from creating space in your life, in your
relationships and your environment. You need to reduce, cut back, simplify—only
then will you stop the feeling of being overwhelmed and rushed.
• Give anything you haven’t used for the
past 3 years to charity
• Get organized
• Enjoy the concept of enjoying without
owing, and appreciating without acquiring
#3 Use everything in moderation
This
is something I live by, be it work, socializing, family commitments,
overeating, shopping, or watching too much TV—it helps with every single thing.
Embrace the philosophy of “having enough”: there’s no need to go to extremes,
so exercise common sense and learn to curb any obsessive behavior.
• Spend less money than you make
• Watch your diet
• Watch less TV
#4 Keep things in perspective
I
admit there will be times when nothing will go your way, and you will find
yourself fighting battles, fixing problems and minimizing damage all day long.
We all have those days, and it is too easy to get caught up in the drama. Get a
handle on things: this, too, shall pass.
Your
child will get better soon, the noisy neighborhood parties will end, business
outlook will improve (Achche DIN), and there will be actual days where you tick
off all the items on your to-do list.
• Don’t sweat the small stuff
• Have an open mind
#5 Treat others how they want to be
treated
You
might end up getting in trouble if you try treating others how you want to be
treated, instead of how they would like you to treat them. For instance, if you
are not a phone person, you might not call your friend because you assume that
they feel the same way you do, which may not be the case.
Try to
be sensitive to the needs of others, and occasionally going out of your way to
do something for them.
• Try not to judge
• Be generous; try to do something nice
for somebody on a regular basis
#6 Family first
As I
keep repeating to you all…keep it sorted
1. Your health
2. Family
3. Job
How
important is it to you that you spend time with your family? Are you making
sure that your work doesn’t prevent you from doing just that? What sort of
arrangements have you made to make it happen? You don’t have to stop living
your life for your family members, but you’ll feel far less guilt if you priorities
and make time for them.
#7 Pay attention to the moment
Stop
thinking about what happened in the past, or worry about what might happen in
the future. Live in the moment and learn to savour each one.
#8 Have a positive mindset
You
are what you think all day long. If you have nothing but negative thoughts
racing through your ahead, then that’s what you are going to get, so try
shifting to a more positive outlook on life. You will be surprised to see that
whatever you wished for will start to manifest itself around you.
“Whether you
think you can, or you think you can’t—you’re right.” ― Henry Ford
#9 Educate yourself
The
most interesting people are the ones who take an interest in life and never let
go of the “beginner’s mind”. They discover learning opportunities and continue
to grow, both personally and professionally.
Be a
life-long learner. You don’t have to get old to become wise.
• Read good books
• Try to learn something new every day
• Take courses in subjects you enjoy
#10 Be passionate about something
There
are some people who are so bursting with energy and vitality that others feel
compelled to listen to them, and feel drawn to them. Passionate home cooks,
budding interior designers, gourmet chocolate lovers, antique collectors,
Fitness freaks —just try asking them a question about their interest and they
will talk your ears off.
You
want to be that person: someone who’s full of love for something significant.
Have one meaningful hobby that encourages you to follow your passion, and
you’ll begin each day looking forward to something special.
#11 Always be reflective
Do you
ever think about yourself in moments of solitude? What makes you, you? What
makes you tick? What bores you to death? What sort of things do you dream of?
What can’t you get over? What regrets do you have of your past? Take some time
to think about those things and you’ll understand yourself more clearly and
deeply. You’d be surprised at the life-changing impact such reflection can
bring.
• Consider doing a Myers-Briggs Type
Indicator (MBTI) or another personality assessment to develop true
understanding of your self
#12 Surround yourself with
supportive people
3
things can change your life: friends, books & your thoughts. Choose them
wisely.
• Avoid naysayers and party-poopers
#13 Banish the word “perfection
Listen
to what you tell your children: always do your best and forget about the rest.
• You are expert enough
• Strive for excellence, not for
perfection
#14 Fix it, or deal with it, but stop
whining about it
Nobody
likes a person who complains all the time. If you look around you, you’ll see
many people who have been dealt a bad hand, but are making the best of things.
• Don’t blame others for your problems
• Don’t make excuses
• Don’t be overly sensitive
• Don’t be a drama queen
#15 Remember things that you are
grateful for
Try
this exercise: whenever you are feeling low, make a list of all the things that
make you happy, joyous, and grateful. A beautiful family, adoring kids, kind
friends, health, happy home, a job that pays the bills, surprise dinner
prepared by a loving spouse, a blog, favourite books and keepsakes, unexpected
Rs 100 note in your jeans pocket. Everything counts.
After
you’ve done this, consider what has happened to the feelings of doom and gloom:
it is impossible not to be cheered up after remembering all the fantastic
things you have in your life. Be grateful, and always make room for more
happiness.
#16 You can have it all, just not at
the same time
There
is no greater truth than this: you cannot have everything at the same time. You
have only 24 hours in a day and need to take care of your relationships, work
and spirit. On any given day, the focus will shift: some days your children
have to go to after-school care because you have an important meeting, while
other times work has to take a back seat because of a sick child with a high
fever. Sometimes you just need to chill with your girlfriend because it has
been ages since you last took a break.
You
don’t have to do everything all at once, and life doesn’t have to be
complicated. Simple living is mindful living.
Happy
practicing..
amit
