Trying to juggle every facet of modern life isn’t easy, but there is a way to uncomplicate your life without changing a task. As a recent Inc. article found, the answer is to alter your approach. By making a conscious effort to step back, simplify, and structure your to-do list, you can prioritise what’s important, delegate what other’s can help with, and simplify your life. Read on for the top ways to eliminate unnecessary complication from your daily life, stat!
1. Approach challenges head on. When we’re stressed and overworked, it’s easy to avoid or reject a new task. Avoidance can lead to more stress, so rather than run away from a new responsibility, face it head-on. Approach it with an objective and calm mind, and consider the fastest, most measured way to complete it.
2. Write down your core values. Pressure mounts when we do things that go against what we stand for. Take a moment to consider your core values. Life feels more complicated when we stray from that list.
3. Ask for more information. Before you reach a tough decision, make sure you’ve got all the facts. Unnecessary complications arise when we make assumptions.
4. Under-promise and over-deliver. If you work with the goal of being realistic with what you promise others, you’ll exceed expectations.
5. Let go. Yes, it’s easier said than done, but life can feel more chaotic when we hold onto frustration and resentment. Practice mindful meditation to focus on staying present and leave past pressures behind.
6. Learn to delegate. You don’t have to do it all! Write down your to-do list and look at it objectively. Are there jobs you could share with others to reduce your load?
7. Focus on what you can control. One of the most damaging character traits is feeling like the world owes you something. Shake a sense of entitlement by flipping your mind-set and focusing on what you could do for people you care about.
8. Stop comparing yourself to others. Valuing yourself based on those around you can make you feel unsatisfied. Rather than looking for validation from friends, family, and co-workers, look inward. Take the time to reflect on how you handled a particularly difficult situation. Were you happy with how it went? Is there a way you could improve for next time?
9. Move past perfectionism. Some personalities are more prone to perfectionism than others, but it’s a trait that could cause you trouble. A great way to overcome it is to start numbering your to-do list. Reorder your tasks from most important to least important so you can visually see which top level jobs require scrutiny and which don’t.
10. Respond with positivity. So much of our life is controlled by the way we think. When a difficult task presents, make a concerted effort to consider why it might be positive. Learning to reframe a situation is a powerful tool to make life seem less complicated.