We have some difficult news to tell you—you’re not getting any younger. But it’s okay because you’re also approaching retirement (if you haven’t reached it already). You’ve put in your fair share of hard work, and now you deserve to live your best life. The problem is that many of us can’t live our best lives because we’re overwhelmed with stuff that’s keeping us from doing what we want. We can all benefit from paring down our lives, including you. Hey, maybe those millennials were onto something. We put together a list of powerful ways to simplify your life below; read on to learn more.
Declutter and Be Real With Yourself
If you want to simplify your life, you need to start decluttering. Most older folks are guilty of keeping everything and anything “just in case.” Start going through rooms one at a time. If you tackle the entire house at once, you’re going to overwhelm yourself and won’t accomplish anything in the end. Start with your closet, then your kitchen, then your living room, and so on. When you go through each room, be realistic. Ask yourself if you’ve used the item in the last 30 days or if you will in the next 30 days. If the answer is no, get rid of it.
Define What’s Most Important To You
While many of us unconsciously know what’s important to us, do we know why? Typically, that’s a trickier question. Take out a good, old-fashioned pen and paper, and write down three to five things that are most important to you and why. For you, it might be family, traveling, food, or the outdoors. Once you name what’s important and define your reasons, you can build the rest of your life around those fundamental principles so that you can achieve them.
Move Into a Tiny Home
We know what you’re thinking—“I could never live in a tiny home”—but hear us out. There are several benefits of living in a tiny home, such as affordability and reduced maintenance. Once you get rid of a lot of your stuff, you might realize that a tiny home is feasible after all. Plus, not all tiny homes are on wheels and 100 square feet. A tiny home is anything that’s 400 square feet and under, so don’t knock it until you try it.
Change Your Mindset
Simplifying your life goes beyond the tangible items. If we don’t have our minds in the right place, virtually nothing matters. Many of us are guilty of holding onto the past, grudges, or pessimistic thoughts; that’s no way to live. Practice gratitude and positivity daily—you’ll be amazed at how much it changes your life.
Everybody deserves to be happy and feel like they can conquer anything. Unfortunately, many of us restrict ourselves with stuff and a less-than-ideal mindset. With these powerful ways to simplify your life, you’ll completely transform it. Now, go show retirement who the boss is.
