The calendar tells us that we have officially moved from winter into spring, but you’d never know from looking out the window. Usually I am antsy in these early days of spring, but not this year. I find myself intentionally slowing down so I can evaluate and take stock. There is definitely a spring cleaning list in the making, but this year my theme is all about how to simplify.
It snowed yesterday—again. Strange as it sounds, I’m grateful. It’s April and I’m as ready as the next person for warmer temperatures and garden blooms, but the snow has been a gift reminding me to slow down.
Sometimes seasons get busy, especially during the holidays. After months of cold and dark days the body longs for light and activity. Anticipation can rile up the soul, but if you aren’t careful things can run amuck! Ever been there? Yeah–me too.
I feel it in the very core of my being. It’s time to simplify and realign the heart to create space for the abundance of what God has for right now—in this moment. Busyness has a way of blinding you and the relentless crazy of unbridled schedules will suck you dry. Can I tell you something? You have choices. In this season, take a deep breath and remember that truth.
Have you ever noticed how God uses the things in the physical to usher things in the spirit? When life starts to feel like its closing in, that may be a sign that things on the inside are a little clogged up. It’s time to simplify. So here’s my unconventional list of spring cleaning tips for clearing out the heart and resurrecting the soul.
Tip #1: Pace Yourself
One of the best ways to simplify life is to just slow down. Nothing really good comes out of hurrying. Not sure you agree? That’s okay, I get it.
Context is everything, but even in those places where speed matters, there is still a greater goal of excellence—just ask any athlete, who competes on the world stage. Most of us aren’t running a sprint; we’re running a marathon.
Learn to pace yourself. Take time to move low and slow, so you can be present in each moment. Purposeful movement gets the job done, while keeping heart and soul intact.
Tip #2: Create and maintain margin
You are going to have to be realistic as you simplify your schedule. No matter how carefully you plan, there is always the potential of something that can go sideways. I’m not even talking about bad stuff, but when you don’t plan for it, it still creates a ripple effect.
Let me illustrate. You begin your day knowing that the schedule is full and that you need to stay on track in order to accomplish everything. The first stop you make is at the coffee shop, where you grab your favorite latte and a jumbo muffin for breakfast. As you move to head out the door, you see an old friend and so you chat for a few minutes. No big deal, but now you are behind by a few minutes.
All morning you continue to bump into little issues, that seem harmless, except that by midafternoon, you are scrambling to pull the rest of your presentation together. The Wi-Fi goes down, the computer won’t communicate to the copier, and with each minute you waste trying to compensate for all these little hiccups the internal anxiety builds.
Miraculously you get through it all, but now you have to run and pick up your child for an important appointment. It’s that time of day and traffic is heavier. It feels like every, single, driver has nowhere else to be, but in your way. You are trying, but it feels like everything around you is working against you!
I could go on, but I think you get the idea. If you like the idea of flexibility in your life, than create margin for it. You can do that—it’s a thing. Give yourself space to accomplish what’s important to you.
Tip #3: Practice saying “No!”
This one takes a little practice—especially if you are a people pleaser. Really, this goes right along with creating and maintaining margin. After you create margin, you must learn to maintain it.
There are literally a hundred requests that come at you every single day. It doesn’t matter what stage of life you are in, unless you live in isolation, people will want you for something. I need to tell you something: just because there is a need, doesn’t mean you are the solution. There—I said it.
Okay, let me clarify, because I’m not suggesting a self-serving lifestyle. The reality is you will serve others, but you also need to embody the fact that you cannot do everything, for everyone, all the time. You can’t even do that some of the time. Your family and friends need you to be honest and real. Not only that, they can be responsible for some of their own stuff.
My father always said to me: poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine. Learning to say no is an easy way to simplify and breathe life into the soul.
Tip #4: Surround yourself with your favorite things
Another great way to simply life is to surround yourself with your favorite things. It doesn’t matter what, but simple things inspire rest and joy.
I am not a gardener, but I love lavender and daisies. Ryan, my husband, has planted them all over our property so that when I look out the window I see beautiful flowers. It is a simple beauty that just makes me happy.
Two years ago, as we braced ourselves for Ryan’s stem cell transplant, we painted the entire main living area of our home a light sunny yellow color. I covered the walls with pictures of our family and meaningful scripture. The simple shift of color and familiarity created a safe place for healing and renewal.
Life is too short so savor the things you love.
Tip #5: Block schedule rest
Let me just tell you how awesome this is, because regular times of rest is one of the BEST ways to simplify your life. Most people I know are crying out for rest, but never take it. It’s the most absurd notion.
I am convinced that subconsciously people believe that rest is lazy. It’s almost like the very idea of actually resting is unreachable.
The other side of it, of course, is the unrealistic view of what rest is. I was talking with my college age son a couple of weeks ago about summer employment opportunities. As we discussed the details I asked about the kind of hours he might expect. He candidly told me he was going to ask for 30 hours a week, so that he could have some time to rest and hang out with his friends.
Are you kidding me? Sorry kid, not if you plan to go back to school in the fall. Welcome to adulting! Obviously I am still teaching my young adult children about rest, so that they can respect the gift that it is. Rest should be practiced in regular intervals, not in large sittings, although there is certainly a time and place for that too—those are called vacations.
Learn to maintain adequate daily sleep. Go to bed and get up at regular times—you will be amazed at what that will do for you. When that is challenging because of work, family, or health, then you have to get creative to compensate.
Simplify your routines and take little breaks so that you are fueled and ready to go. I have a friend, whose health requires regular intervals of rest for recovery. Blocked times of rest give her the ability to fulfill work obligations and pursue other life-giving things!
Tip #6: Be kind to yourself
When you simplify things, you need to remember to be kind to yourself. What do you find life-giving? Whatever it is, make space for it and guard it. Little things can become big sources of inspiration, especially if you make if practice to collect them all and hold them close to your heart.
No matter what you have going on, there is always a way for you to be kind to yourself. Your schedule may not allow for extra events or hobbies, but maybe you should cut yourself a break and chose an easier way through.
Last November, as we were preparing for extended family to arrive for a couple of days before we all left for Thanksgiving vacation, Ryan informed me that he had arranged for someone to come and clean the house for me. This is not typically my way of doing things, but it had been a heavy couple of months and the days leading up to everyone’s arrival were super full. In that moment I decided to not only accept the gift of help, but to be kind to myself by letting go of inner voice that thinks I should be able to do it all.
Being kind to you isn’t about satisfying selfish desire; it’s about shutting down the voice of the liar. Resurrecting the soul needs the life-breath of truth, so when you simplify expectations you eliminate the enemy’s platform.
Tip #7: Make a List
I am a huge believer in the value of a good list. That said I’m not a slave to it. Shutting down the inner voice and all the self-talk can be really difficult, so I’ve learned that having a place to dump all my thoughts is really helpful. It is important to learn how to simplify all the stuff going on in your head.
I have a bullet journal, which I started using this year. In the past I used to just have a tablet on the table where I’d jot down ideas and thoughts as they came into my head, but there was no good way to keep track of the really important things, so I’d forget and then get mad at myself later.
This journal contains my brain dump, which has become a helpful way to simplify the noise in my head. Once it’s all out I can see it and then organize it. If I try to do it in my head I get lost.
Tip #8: Set Priorities
Once you simplify all your thoughts then you can start to play with them. This is where you set goals and make priorities. When you can clearly see what you value and where you want to go, it becomes easier to walk it out.
You may decide to forego weekly visits to the ice cream shop with a friend because you’ve set some important health goals. You can still be kind to yourself and connect with your priority toward your friendship, without sacrificing your health goal.
When you can see your ideas and goals, it becomes easier to simplify and makes choices that will support what you want to do and where you are going.
Tip #9: Establish boundaries
Boundaries are the healthy lines you establish in relationships regarding expectations. Know who you are and what your gifts are. Embrace your strengths and draw from your experiences. In other words, operate out of your identity.
When you stand firm in your identity—the beauty of who God designed you to be—there is unwavering strength. No matter what commitments and responsibilities you have, you will have a unique way of accomplishing them. Own it and celebrate it. Be you, always leading out of your strength, not someone else’s.
Established boundaries help you simplify your position. This is how you get everyone on the same page. It’s not always easy, but it’s important if you want to be healthy. If this is a completely new idea I suggest you read the book, “Boundaries,” by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. (Note: This recommendation comes without solicitation or compensation. I have personally read the book and found it to be very helpful).
Embracing simple ideas on how to simplify
My brother often talks about how you don’t own things, they own you. I think the same can be said regarding schedules, commitments, and even relationships. It’s all in how you look at it.
How are you stewarding your time?
What about your relationships?
You do not have to go through the motions, resigning yourself that this is just the way it is. You can simplify. And what’s more, you can simplify without sacrificing good things.
The abundance of God is literally in this moment. When you are fully present in this moment with the Father, there is access to something infinitely more valuable than anything this world has to offer.
You have been given the gift of life, time, gifts, and people. Learn to savor all of it by being present. Trim off the excess, because in this case, more doesn’t mean better. Clear out space in your heart for the things that really matter, because this kind of holy surrender activates a resurrecting of the soul.