How To Simplify Your Life (+ live with intention)

How to simplify your life..it sounds dreamy (it sounds impossible).

It’s 2020. A new decade. Which is bananas. Even more bananas is the fact that I’m quickly coming to the end of my 20s. And honestly? It feels good. I’ll write a little bit more about this in a couple weeks when I hit my 28th birthday, but I’ve felt like my 20s have definitely been a time of exploration and curiosity. The last decade for me signified going out on my own. In 2010, I graduated from high school and moved out to go to university. I learned how to pay my bills (and barely make rent); I explored my sexuality, and experienced my first long-term relationships (both with women). And then I saw my sexuality swing the other way, and explored dating men. Let’s see, I:

became a holistic nutritionist.
recovered from an eating disorder.
moved.
went to culinary school, with a focus on nutrition.
experienced a major breakup.
moved.
became a food stylist at an agency.
went to Spain–my first international trip.
got robbed.
went to England–my first international trip on my own.
got a job at a nutrition-focused restaurant as their menu developer + nutritionist.

And I met so, so many people who shaped who I am and how I perceive the world. So many wonderful friendships. So much learning. God, so much learning.

IT HAS BEEN A DECADE. And you know what I’ve realized? Big changes happen in slow, deliberate steps. When I looked back, I realized I accomplished a lot of things I set out to do (and there’s an even longer list of goals I haven’t even touched). But little by little, they add up. This is how life experience works, I suppose. And ten years later, I have a bit of that. Life experience. A small dose. Enough that I’m more cautious than I was in my teens, but probably more idealistic than I’ll be in my thirties and beyond.

So what do I want for the next decade? The two biggest things I’m working towards are 1) FINANCIAL FREEDOM (as in no student debt, and enough savings and investments to support the life I want) and 2) A PURPOSEFUL + CURATED LIFE.

What does that mean? I really had it to dig deep: I wanted to live simply. So how to you simplify your life? You start living with intention. Focusing on the things that matter. In the last decade, I explored and tried new things and new experiences. And while I hope to never stop exploring, I do have a more clear idea about what matters to me. About what I want from life. My goals are big, but they are less in number. I think I have more ease with myself. More self-acceptance.

So this list here, is a list of practices I currently use and try to embrace so that I can continue to pursue a life that fulfills me. Here’s how you simplify your life.

HOW TO SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE

CLEAN OUT YOUR WARDROBE

A clean closet really does change the game, doesn’t it. For me, my style has not changed too much in the last 5 years. So why hold on the to the short-cut party dresses of my early twenties that I never want to wear now. There is no reason. KonMarie your wardrobe, and start looking at pieces as a reflection of yourself. Who are you? What makes you feel best? For me, it’s almost also a neutral sweater (often sleeveless) with (faux)leather somehow thrown into the mix. And if I need a dress for an occasion that I don’t have? I’ll usually borrow for my more fashionable friends (looking at you, Emma).

PICK 1 PROJECT AT A TIME + GET IT DONE

I used to, and sometimes still fall victim to creating these endless to-do lists with big projects. I want to start them ALL. RIGHT. AWAY. The result? I get about 1/3 into each project and then I get burnt out. I never finish anything. I’ve learned that it’s better to pick 1 project and put more energy into it, instead of trying to accomplish multiple goals at once. Don’t get me wrong, I still have multiple goals, but I’m working at finding better balancing and FINISHING a project before I move on to the next.

INVEST IN MAKEUP THAT YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT

I didn’t wear much makeup in high school. I went all natural for a few years at the beginning of my twenties. Then I got really into makeup and spent an easy grand on makeup at 23 (I made VIB Rouge at Sephora in 6 months). Once I learned how to wear makeup, I was no longer excited. So most of my beautiful, shimmery palettes were left untouched. At 27 (almost 28), my makeup routine has been the same for the last 2 or 3 years, and I very rarely switch up products. I go with what works my skin, my style and I try to use products that are as healthy as possible (while still being effective).

I’ve realized that often in the past when I shopped for makeup, I was shopping for a feeling. I’ve worked to let that go. It’s a goal in process (every once in awhile a product, probably a Bite Beauty lipstick calls my name..) but simplifying my makeup routine means I can get ready relatively quickly and I feel comfortable in my own skin.

…SAME WITH SKINCARE

Again, early twenties: I splurged on masks and skincare. But I’m just not diligent enough to use things that aren’t part of my routine on a daily basis. So they often sat in a box until the expired. Now I have my routine pretty nailed down, and I only use about 5 skincare products on a daily basis, with a couple others that help when my skin needs a little extra love. Again, most of the time, we don’t need another product. We really just need to remember we probably bought something similar to it (and its collecting dust somewhere).

SCHEDULE 3-5 TASKS A DAY (and put away the never-ending to-do list)

Again, focus on what tasks actually matter. And get the easiest one done first. Okay, I know people often say do the hardest one first, but in my experience I’ll find away to procrastinate that. Instead, I start with easy things (like take out the trash), so I already start the day feeling accomplished. From there, I’ll tackle the bigger projects (like writing 3 blog posts for Impact Kitchen).

COOK AT HOME

This one, I’m (perhaps surprisingly) awful at. I think anyone who tests recipes and cooks for a living can relate. When you do it all day for work, it’s way less appealing to come home and cook. But, as my Uber Eats receipts love to aggressively point out: getting someone else to make your food is expensive. So one of the many reasons I decided in 2020 I wasn’t going to take on side jobs (unless they resonated with my goals) was because I was working so much, I never had time (or desire) to cook. I like to cook for the people I love, but I want to cook for myself.

And vainly, I want one of those perfectly, curated fridges that only wellness icons like Joy McCarthy seem to have. (We’ll get there.)

WRITE OFTEN

Lastly, journaling has been such a powerful tool for me to reflect on what I want, how I’m doing and what are the steps I need to be taking to feel my best. I try to write most mornings, but more often than not it’s when I feel motivated or inspired to write. I write down my thoughts and feelings, and my goals, and I try to ask myself if it’s something I really want, or want because I know it looks good. Or worse, sometimes I won’t admit there’s something I want because I’m afraid I can’t achieve it. (You can do anything, just not everything.)

SO THERE YOU HAVE IT. I hope this inspires you as we kick off 2020 to really embrace that powerful, slow, reflective energy that comes with winter. How to you simplify your life in a way that resonates and truly matters to you? Let me know in the comments. And if you haven’t already, be sure to sign up for my free monthly newsletter, for the latest health + wellness posts!

With love,

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