Emily Ley has twin toddlers and a 6-year-old, runs a business that employs five people, writes books and creates the popular organisation range Simplified Planner. To make it all work and still have time for a life, she’s simplified in as many ways as possible.
After reading her latest book, A Simplified Life: Tactical Tools for Intentional Living, I spoke with her at length about where those of us who don’t even know where to begin should start. What follows are her suggestions for 10 easy, bite-sized ways to jump-start a simpler way of living. Do just one each day as a New Year 10-day challenge or, if you’re on a roll over a weekend, complete a handful in a row.
Why simplify?
People juggling work, home life and other commitments can feel frazzled and “like our hair is on fire,” Emily Ley says. “Creating some margins gives us time to breathe, to love and to be creative.” Ley’s “margins” include a gap in the schedule, an empty shelf or a clear email inbox.
Simplifying life at home requires ruthless clearing out, whether it’s a drawer, a wardrobe, the photos taking up space on your phone or time commitments on your schedule. But the thought of where to begin can be overwhelming.
Ley recommends starting with your house. “After you get your house in order, it will inspire you to create margins in other parts of your life. It will happen naturally,” she says.
- Grab a rubbish bag
“Go through all the rooms in your house and look for rubbish,” Ley says. “You’ll be surprised at what’s just lying around.” Whether it’s expired coupons, boxes, empty shampoo bottles in the shower, dry-cleaning tags, a dead plant or wastepaper bins that need emptying, just taking this first step will make you feel better.
You may even decide you’re ready to make a second round with a light look for items you can donate, such as books you’re never going to read again. “This will ease you into the process,” Ley says.
- Stop stuff from coming in
You can get started by curbing junk mail. “If you notice certain companies sending you catalogues too often, take the time to call them up individually and get off the mailing lists,” Ley advises.
- Attack kitchen drawers
“This one is easy – there’s so much extra stuff you don’t need in the kitchen,” Ley says. “Take everything out and realise you don’t need three carrot peelers or two ice-cream scoops.”
Keep a donation box or bag nearby, so you can put extras in there straight away. When you’ve finished, put the box or bag in your car so you’ll have it handy next time you drive by a charity shop.
- Organise your food
Once you’re done with the drawers and cabinets, attack the food in the pantry, fridge and spice cabinet. (You can break this down and do just one of these a day for a while.)
Take it all out and chuck anything that’s expired or stale. If there’s an unopened ingredient that will work only for that impossible recipe you’re never going to whip up or is something your family just won’t eat, put it in a bin for the food bank.
- Get a handle on laundry
“This is one of my favourite tips that I learned from my mother,” Ley says. “Start a new habit of throwing one load of washing in the machine every morning. This keeps you from having to tackle a mountain of it on a Sunday.”
With a household of five people, Ley has no time for sorting, so she uses a colour catcher product (there are several available in supermarkets) that allows her to run mixed loads.
- Turn off the noise
Make more time for family and friends by turning off mindless TV, letting go of your phone and rethinking your social media habits. “There are things from your life that don’t have to be out there for all to see. When you post it all, you start to lose intimacy,” Ley says Constantly thinking about our posts and documenting everything takes time and focus away from what we’re actually experiencing. To ease yourself into a new perspective, she suggests taking a complete break for 24 hours – or better yet, an entire weekend. She deletes social media apps off her phone for these breaks.
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