Photo courtesy of lee_sie
With the beginning of a new year, come new resolutions. Many of us are once again, looking to better our lives by adding more to it. Before you embark on your goals, I suggest you take a step-back and take stock of your current inventory. Look at the areas in your life where you can have less, instead of more. By removing, substituting or decreasing particular factors in your life, you will put yourself in a better position to add the new habits and goals that you desire. Remember, a masterpiece is first started on a blank canvas. You can't create the masterpiece of your life if your canvas is already cluttered with paint.
Often when we try to improve our lives we look at what we can add to it - a new car, a new house, new relationships, more money, more friends. We think that by obtaining more, our lives will be better and therefore, we will be happier. More often than not, our "improvements" have the opposite effect. Instead of adding to our lives, the new items bog us down. They become a burden. We are left with more bills, more repairs, more responsibilities and more headaches. What we thought would make our lives richer has instead made our lives more stressful. Tyler Durden, in the movie Fight Club explains it nicely, "the things you own, own you."
This article will look at ways you can streamline your life. Efficiency is an overlooked point when it comes to life improvement. An efficient engine is one that can get the most work done with the least amount of time and energy. Maximize your potential, by making your life more efficient.
Donate/Sell/Discard Used or Unwanted Items
In the past year, I've donated countless bags full of clothes. I never realized how much clothes I had until I went through them all. I was actually a little shocked. Some items I had never worn. With some, I couldn't remember how I obtained them - did I buy them? Was it a Christmas gift? A birthday present? Who knows? Many yet were worn only once and then forgotten. By donating the clothes that where no longer a match for me, I have given myself the opportunity to receive new and better clothes.
Equally important, is that I have come to make smarter decisions when it comes to buying clothes. I realized that much of the clothes I didn't want were of lower quality. The clothes I now have in my closet are better made and of higher quality materials. They also fit me better. By getting rid of my old clothes, it freed up my energy to receive items that are a better match for who I am.
It has also made me a smarter shopper. I came to see that I bought a lot of clothes on impulse. I was shopping for the sake of shopping and not really considering if I really wanted these clothes. I was a sucker for a good bargain. If something was a "steal," I just had to have it. I felt like I was actually doing myself a favor by spending money on clothes that were on sale. As those very same pieces of clothes were placed into my donation bag, I realized I had spent money on something I never even wore. How's that for saving money?
Donating your used or unwanted items not only benefits you, but benefits the people who need these items as well. It's a win-win situation for everyone.
Cutting Ties With People Who Hold Your Back
When we move forward in our lives, our friends, families, peers and lovers may not want to come along for the ride. They may disagree about our growth, hiding their resentment behind a facade of friendship and love. In these situations - it is best to loosen the ties you associate with them. Don't allow other people to bring you down.
You always have the power to choose. And choosing a supportive group of people who you spend time with is one of the best choices you can make. I know, you can't choose who your family is, but you can choose how much time you allot with them. Often times, the people who love us the most, unknowingly hold us back the most. They either don't want to see us get hurt or they don't want to see us succeed. In either case, you must remove yourself from that environment. You deserve to be in fulfilling, supportive and loving relationships. Don't deny yourself that experience.
Breaking things off with people you care about is not the easiest choice you can make, but is beneficial for both parties. I know you care deeply about them and your best intentions are to help, but the best way to do that is to rise above and inspire them from above to do the same.
You may find that your time spent apart with them will bring you closer together later down the road. In the present moment, you must do what is best for you. Making the most out of your life is the best thing you can do for yourself and in one way or another, will eventually help everyone around you.
Purge. Eliminate Wasteful, Non-Productive habits.
Like old clothes that no longer fit, there are habits and activities we do that may no longer be a match for the person we currently are or want to be. The number one New Year's resolution people have is to get into shape. These people buy new gym clothes, get a new gym membership, buy the latest exercise equipment, or buy a new diet book. They obtain whatever they think will help them. But guess what? They failed to remove the old habits from their lives. They still drink soda, don't get enough sleep, eat fast food, etc. If you want to be a healthy person, then you must first get rid of your unhealthy habits.
Bad habits also eat away at our time. Whatever resources we are short of, we can always find a way to get more. However, one resource we can't get more of is time. We have a finite amount of time here on earth. You can't complain about not having enough time do the things you want, if you spend most of your time watching tv. Get rid of tv watching or web surfing, the top time-consumers. Go a few days without tv and see how much more free time you have. Not only will you free up your time, but you will do your mind a favor by not bombarding it with the useless and harmful programming that's out there.
Outsource/Delegate
When it comes to do doing things we hate, most of us just grit our teeth and bear it. It doesn't have to be this way. Living a life you enjoy means not having to put up with things you hate. What's the point? How beneficial is it to anyone that you do something you despise? It's definitely not beneficial to you. How could it be beneficial to your loved ones if you are unhappy? It's not beneficial to the people who receive the end result of your work because if you are doing something you hate, then you are most likely doing a second-rate job.
Do yourself and everyone else a favor by outsourcing or delegating the activities you don't enjoy doing. Yes, there is someone else in the world who will do it for you and there are even people who will enjoy it. Let's not deny these people the pleasure of doing the work you dread. By giving them your work, you are increasing the happiness in the world.
With the internet and next-day shipping, we can get anything we want and connect to people all over the world in an instant. For a price, you can pay someone to do almost anything you despise for you. You don't have to pay an arm and a leg either. You'd be surprised how affordable a personal assistant is.
Strapped for cash? That's what's friends are for! Most of your buddies would be willing to help you do almost anything - from moving out of your apartment to bailing you out of jail. The most it might cost you is a lunch. If you have kids then it's even better. Free labor! Teach your kids the value of hard work by having them mow the lawn, take out the trash and vacuum the house.
The point is, you don't have to do chores that you despise or dread. By delegating or outsourcing these tasks, you free yourself up to do more of the things you love and enjoy.
Declutter
Go Digital. In this day of digital technology, we really don't need to hold onto physical paperwork anymore. By going digital, not only will you save planetary resources, you will simplify your life. You will not have to deal with the hassles of owning physical assets, including storing, searching and moving them. Start with your bank statements. Most banks want you to go paperless since they will save money on mailing expenses.
Pay your bills online. Most every bill you currently pay can be paid online. You will save money on stamps and the hassle of going to the post office. Set up automatic payments and you won't ever have a late bill again - sparing you from those outrageous late fees.
Sign up for no mailing list. Save yourself the time having to sort through the endless amount of junk traffic you receive and sign up for a no mailing list. You will also save resources and prevent yourself from signing up for a credit card on impulse.
Consolidate.
Google Voice. I've just started to use google voice and have to say that I am impressed with what it offers. Aside from the useful features, the main selling point for me is to be able to consolidate all my phone numbers into one number. The ability to manage your phone/text communications through one portal makes things easier.
Merge your credit cards. If you have more than two credit cards, do yourself a favor and merge them. Everyone and their mom now offer credit cards. Why? Because they make tons of money on their sky-rocket interest rates and their vomit inducing late fees. Don't fall into the trap. And if you already did, then get yourself out. Find one card that offers the incentives you want and use that. Have another debit card and a business credit card if you have one. That's it. No worries and no getting yourself into more debt.
Minimize.
Slim down your wallet. Are you one of those guys who carry a wallet the size of a loaf of bread? Do your back a favor and replace it with a slim card wallet. No, you don't need to carry photos of your family or your grocery store rewards card. All you need in there is some form of id and one or two credit/debit cards. If you can, carry your wallet in your jacket pocket. Sitting on a wallet is not only extremely uncomfortable, it is also bad news for your back.
Use a money clip. By money clip I don't mean a rubber band. Pick one that suits your taste. You can get a separate money clip or you can get a slim card wallet that also has a money clip on it. Not only will you free yourself from having to carry a big wallet, but flashing a money clip looks pretty darn cool.
Lose weight/body fat
Now that you've removed all the excess around your life, let's not forget removing the excess on yourself as well. Lose weight, but more specifically - lose body fat. I'm not going to go into all the health benefits of having less body fat. Read my article on the importance of physical fitness. If you want some advice on losing weight, then read this forum post - how to get a toned body.
Free Your Energy
Holding onto things requires energy. We must give them our attention, even if it is just to maintain them. Instead of wasting your energy and power on things that no longer matter to you, remove them from your life. Realize that all your possessions represent who you are. You are always sending out a signal to the Universe. If you are holding onto things in your life that you no longer want, you are saying "I want better, but I am settling for less." Is that the type of vibe you want to send out to everyone you come across? How would you feel about somebody who has this mentality? Are you more likely to think highly of them? Would you want to spend more time with this person or less time?
If something is no longer of value to you, or worst, is holding you back from getting what you really desire, then you must free up your energy that you use to maintain that item so that it may be directed towards getting what you want. Our attention is limited. You must make the most out of it by using it to focus on the things you want. It is a freeing feeling to let go of objects that no longer serve you. You feel lighter. You have more energy.
When you start to feel better about your life, you begin to enjoy your life. When you enjoy your life, you create a better life for yourself. By creating a better life for yourself, you create a better life for everyone as well.
