Welcome to the final installment of our 65 Simple Ways to Simplify Your Life series. In honor of our 65th anniversary, we have compiled 65 simple living tips. We hope these tips help you re-energize and enjoy the little moments in life. Remember, living simply may not always be easy, but it is fulfilling!
46. Get up. Go to sleep and wake up at about the same time every day. That jet lag feeling you get on Mondays is due to the fact that you sleep in late on Saturdays and Sundays.
47. Get dressed. You will get more done in work jeans and tennis shoes than you will in pjs and slippers.
48. Do the tough jobs first. Your energy is higher and you are more focused first thing in the day. And you’ll have a great sense of accomplishment the rest of the day.
49. Be realistic. Don’t start a huge project on Friday evening after a tough week at work. Plan ahead and choose a day when you can focus on the project and plan ahead.
50. Lead by example. If dinner time is a cell-phone-free zone, ensure that you are not checking texts and emails at the dinner table.
51. Start the day right. The first words out of your mouth to your spouse or children can set the tone for the whole day. A cheerful “good morning” with a big smile is the perfect appetizer before breakfast.
52. Start a tradition. Have each person say the best thing and worst thing that happened to them that day, during a mealtime each day. It’s a great conversation starter.
53. Hang the laundry out to dry on a warm, sunny day. You’ll not only be saving energy, but the fresh, clean smell will relax your senses.
54. Waste less. Sure, recycling is great, but why not start at the source by creating less waste. Bring your own bags to the groceries, reuse boxes and bags, save bows for re-gifting.
55. Repair it. Instead of throwing it away and getting a new one, see if there is life left in that old product, for its original use or a new use (canning jar = flower vase, for example).
56. Buy in bulk. Make larger batches and freeze or store product for later use.
57. Play music. Instead of the news or a show blasting in the background, find relaxing instrumental music to play as you cook and clean and do chores.
58. Stop comparing. Your career, your house, your looks, your productivity. There is only one you – embrace it.
59. Don’t judge. When we judge others, we create negativity. Do your best to love unconditionally, not because of what people do, but because of who they are.
60. Forgive. When you carry a grudge, you are tying yourself to a negative person and an unhealthy emotion. Forgive others and free yourself.
61. Practice positive self-talk. Your thoughts, created by you, can bring you down or lift you up. Be as kind to yourself as you would to a dear friend who is struggling.
62. Be polite. Chances are 60% of the people you meet will feel neutral about you. 20% will think you are fantastic and 20% won’t care for you. Be polite to all and avoid spending time with the negative 20%
63. Let go. You must be willing to let go of the life you planned for, so you can enjoy the life that is waiting for you.
64. Stop complaining. Start focusing on the things you can control and do something about them. Those who complain the most accomplish the least.
65. Embrace the failures. From the garden that failed to the pie that crumbled to the best-intended constructive criticism that harmed a friendship. Learn from them and move on.
Editor’s Note: Did you miss the first two parts of the 65 Simple Ways to Simplify Your Life series? No worries – you can find them right here: Part 1 and Part 2.
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Glenda Lehman Ervin is the daughter of company founder Jay Lehman and VP of Marketing. “I love talking to people who are on their journey to a simpler life. Step by step, we are all on the path to a meaningful, satisfying life. We are thrilled that Lehman’s can be a part of that journey.” Glenda lives in a woods with her husband and two children, just a few miles north of Lehman’s, in Kidron, OH. They have two cats named, surprisingly uncreatively, Baby Cat and Girl Cat.
