SLT074: 3 Simple Living Habits You Can Use Right Now

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Simple Life Together

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When it comes to simple living, we can all use a few more tips to help us along. We’re going to share 3 more simple living habits you can start using right now for a better today and tomorrow. One of our most popular shows was Episode 55, 7 Habits for Highly Effective Simplicity. We passed along what we feel are the top 7 habits you can develop to bring some serious simplicity into your life. That show was shared thousands of times...over 2300 times on our Pinterest page alone! Well, today we’re going to share 3 more. So let’s jump right in!  Read More... Note: Get a copy of Supermom vs Super Mom for yourself or gift it to a Mom who needs a little "less" in her life. It's less than $5 and will save you countless hours and effort! Buy Supermom vs Supermom Topic:  3 Simple Living Habits You Can Use Right Now Habit 1: When searching for a solution, start with yourself first. Chances are, just like Dorothy with the ruby slippers in the Wizard of Oz, you had the power all along. Tap into resources you already have. Shop in your own closet, pantry, etc… When you work to solve your own problems, you are exercising your innovation muscles! Too often we ask someone else for an answer. At least Google it before you ask. By looking outside yourself, automatically you established a need...a need that didn’t exist. That makes you a consumer instead of a producer and plays right into the hands of the marketing messages we’re subjected to 3-5000 times a day. Habit 2: Often, establishing a simplicity habit involves establishing a framework that helps you deal with things in a predictable manner. Try experimenting with different frameworks to see what works for you! Here are 3 we use: The W-I-N Framework: One I’ve been using more and more lately is the WIN framework. WIN stands for “What’s Important Now” and Vanessa first heard about it in Greg McKeown's excellent book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less. The Eisenhauer Matrix Framework: You’ve probably seen this one before, but just imagine a simple foursquare matrix. The vertical axis plots importance and the horizontal axis plots urgency. So if you picture the four squares, the top/left square is Box 1, Urgent & Important box. The top right is Box 2, Less Urgent & Important. Box 3 on the bottom/left is Less Important & Urgent. And finally, Box 4, Less Important & Less urgent, is on the bottom/right. The folks over at Eisenhauer.me did a great little video: Isn’t that the truth! “What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important.” The S.I.M.P.L.E. Method of Organizing Framework: Another framework is Vanessa's S.I.M.P.L.E. Method© of organizing which she breaks down in great detail in her book Super Mom vs Supermom: Simplicity Tips for Busy Moms Here’s an outline: Strategize: • What are your needs? • How do you want your space to look, feel, and function like? Identify: • What’s working? • What’s not working? • What are your limitations of the space? • Draw or take pictures of the space. • Take measurements. Make Piles: • Clear your space one area at a time. • Work from left to right and top to bottom. • Sort into general categories…like with like. • Don’t edit yet! Make the piles first to see what and how much you have. Pare Down and Edit: • After you make piles then tackle one pile at a time…one item at a time. • Decide: Do I USE it? Do I LOVE it? Do I NEED it? • If yes…KEEP it! • If no…LET it GO! • When you’re done editing, remove unwanted and unneeded items immediately! Let's Organize: • Assign zones. • Keep like items with like items. • Put it where you use it. • Put frequently used items within arms reach. • Make sure things are easy to get to…think accessibility; open bins, simple systems, etc. • Don’t compromise safety for organization. • Use containers and containers within containers. • Label, label, label! Evaluate and Maintain: • Establish routines. • Develop habits.