Simplify

On Thursdays I share a quote that I hope will inspire, make you think or just make you smile. Here is this week’s quote:

“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler.”
- Albert Einstein

(photo by Sarah Jane, on flickr)

On Thursdays I share a quote that I hope will inspire, make you think or just make you smile. Here is this week’s quote:

“I adore simple pleasures. They are the last refuge of the complex.”

- Oscar Wilde

(photo by laffy4k, on flickr)

(photo by kk+)

I’m nice, really I am. But there are times when I hide. I just don’t want to engage… know what I mean? As I was sitting here in my office, a friend came online and I changed my Yahoo messenger to “invisible” and shrugged off the twinge of guilt I felt. It’s not that I didn’t want to chat, because ohhhh I do. It’s not even that I didn’t like this friend, because I do. It was that I was in the middle of something and I just didn’t want to be interrupted.

Have you felt this way? That move title, “Girl Interrupted” comes to mind (note: I’ve not seen the move, just like the title). In this age of digital convenience, “crackberries” and instant messenging you can feel slightly overwhelmed and want to get away from it all. It’s no secret that these conveniences can make life more complicated and wreak havoc on your productivity. No fun. No fun at all. So, how can you boost your productivity using avoidance? Here’s a few tips:

1. Step away from the IM: You know who you are, you are a voracious IM’er (and you just might be on my buddy list). You have a buddy list as long as your arm… not that there is anything wrong with that. But when you are on a deadline or trying to get stuff done, IM is a distraction so turn it off for a short while.
2. Put your phone on silent mode. There’s this great invention we have, it’s called “voice mail”. It will be your friend and your assistant while you are getting work done.
3. Your calendar is your friend. Be real about how much you can do in one day. Can you really get 37 tasks done in one day and still be sane at dinner time? Use your calendar, spread things out a bit and be sure you create some white space in there so you aren’t overwhelmed and want to hide away from the world.
4. Don’t feel guilty. If you avoid people in the grocery store, use your caller ID to screen your calls or simply don’t pick up a call - you are not a bad person. You don’t have to be available 24 hours a day or 7 days a week. Save some time for yourself or you’ll be headed for disaster and then you won’t have anything to give anyone.

Now, I gotta go because I’ve got work to do!

Have you ever had an incredible opportunity land in your lap? Have you been faced with moving to another town or another big life change? How do you keep your sanity with all this change? Life changes, and sometimes in wonderful big ways. It’s all in how we look at handling it. So, how can you prevent yourself from feeling overwhelmed? I’ve got three suggestions to help you simplify your life when something grand rolls your way:

1. Is it a great opportunity for you: So, that big promotion or business opportunity comes your way. It’s a big one, and you know it’s great. The question is, does this opportunity make sense for you? Many people get into situations or “force it” . Things like buying a bigger house or car than they can really afford. Down the line these things can bite you in the the you-know-where, so make sure this opportunity feels right and makes sense for you and your situation.
2. Balance: So, you’ve decided to take the offer, and you know it’s right for you. However, your plate full. Time to think about some elimination. Do you need to downsize in some other areas of your life to make room? Balance means whatever you take it to mean, and you know when you don’t have balance.
3. Sometimes, sacrifice comes with great opportunity. With the presidential race this year, I am fascinated by it all. What a thrill it is to run in that race, actually get elected and reach the seat or Mr. or Ms. President! I also think about the family of the candidates. They are also giving a considerable sacrifice of privacy and one crazy schedule. Inevitably, something will have to go so you can maintain balance and peace of mind. Make sure you’re taking on what you can actually handle, or your great opportunity can end up a great stresser instead of an opportunity of a lifetime.

Take some time to think things through, and make the best decision with the information you are given. If you go into it with your eyes wide open, you’re sure to get farther. One thing about life is certain, and that’s change. Doors close in one area and open in another. Keep a look out for the ones that have your name on it.

Have you ever taken your shoes off in the grass? The cool blades curling under your feet, tickling the sides of your toes. There’s some kind of freedom in being barefoot, and I have to smile when I see my son’s cute little toes without shoes or socks on. There is some kind of beautiful innocence about it.

It’s not often we have rain-free days here in the northwest, and today was no different. Before the rain started today, we went out and walked around the neighborhood. It seems like every few steps, my son would say, “Look, mom, look…. a tiny little rock… a waterfall… that big pipe… a cute little bird…” The innocence and sense of wonder is intoxicating if I take time to really enjoy it.

I lived in Japan for a year as a teenager. I had a friendship with an Englishman, named Jim, who was in my town to teach English for a couple years. Every so often, we would go to a local jazz-themed coffee shop. A fellow English teacher of Jim’s would come there and join us sometimes. His name was Fujita Sensei. One time during our visit, Jim mentioned how he loved beautiful roses. Fujita Sensei turned to him and said, “Ah, you must have time to enjoy them.” Jim was annoyed by this and said, “No, I just think they’re beautiful. Why would I need time to enjoy them? I just look and them and notice I like them.” It didn’t occur to me until years later what Fujita Sensei may have meant.

It’s easy to notice beauty in nature, in the face of another person or in a painting. It’s quite another to have an appreciation for the beauty of something. In passing, noticing the beauty of a flower is easy, but a breeder of roses has quite a different appreciation for a new breed of rose they have worked so hard to cultivate. A mother has a greater appreciation for the kindness of a child they have nurtured to be a loving person. And an artist has an appreciation for Monet’s work that an average ten year old has not yet developed.

As I understand it, “having time” to appreciate beauty in something is recognizing where it comes from, and what it took to accomplish, grow or simply exist. It’s that stopping to smell the roses before you miss them kind of thing. Kind of like appreciating cool green grass between your toes in the spring when it’s finally warm enough to take off your shoes…

(photo by orangeacid)

I came across this site, Authentic Living, through an article I read by Melissa at The Inspired Room. I felt like this page was a reflection of my own mind and how I think about life. Have you ever had that happen?

I wrote a while back about how my life changed when I started organizing my home office. I feel strongly that many people go through life living unconsciously, wandering around like zombies…. sleep, wake, eat, work, eat, work, eat …. repeat. What would life be like if we stopped for a moment and asked ourselves, “Am I living the life I want?” It’s a dangerous question! Why? Because what if the answer is “no”? Would we have to do something about it? Would we feel compelled to change something?

Maybe we don’t have to do something drastic to live more authentically. It could be something as simple as looking at things from a new perspective. If the way we live our life isn’t authentically us, what could change - right now, today? Maybe it’s as simple as ordering a coffee that’s new, organizing and purging a bedroom, taking a walk for lunch or writing a note to someone from the past.

To me, living authentically means listening to that soft whispering voice inside. Listening and watching for inspiration will come if we’re tuned into that deepest part of ourself. Then, creating a home or work space that is a reflection of who we truly are. Getting rid of what doesn’t matter and giving honor to what does; isn’t that what life is all about?

Have you ever had a day when you just plain ol’ don’t feel well?  The last few days I’ve been under the weather, and today I’ve all but lost my voice.  It started me thinking about how fast life moves, and how we can simplify and slow down once in a while.

As a home office professional, I’ve got lots going on.  Anyone out there know what I mean?  My head is running in all directions, and flooded with ideas.  It’s crazy!  So, when the body gives out and needs some downtime, it can be tough.  So, how do you simplify when you’re not feeling well?  Here’s some tips:

• Let the phone ring.  It’s not that you don’t want to talk to people, but getting better is hard when you’re constantly fielding phone calls.  Take it easy, and let voicemail get it.
• Easy up on electronic communications.  If you normally check your email ten times per day, this is a good time to cut it back altogether for the day.  If you just can’t do that, consider twice during the day.  When you do read your email, sort thru your messages ruthlessly and let some things go (do you really have to read every Google alert today?)
• Reschedule  what you can.  Even if you had a full, packed day scheduled it might be in your best interest to reschedule some things.  Take the day (or two) to recuperate and renew yourself.
• Get some rest & comfort yourself.  This seems simple, but it’s surprising to me how many people don’t take time to rest.  It could be your body is trying to tell you to slow down, so listen.  Make yourself a cup of tea, or a hot bowl of soup.  It could be just what you need.
• Let some stuff slide.  It could be the laundry, fixing a gourmet dinner or whatever you had planned.  Leave it till next week or eliminate it all together.

If you’re not feeling well, it might be you need to slow down and rest.  I’m guilty of that!  I’m well aware that last week I was up way too late for way too many nights in a row.  So, if you’re nodding your head right now, think about slowing down to get better.  Ok, I’m off to take a nap. 

This blog is was originally titled “Organize.Simplify.Transform”. Why did I choose this name? It’s how it all started for me, and how it can start for you too. This is my story.
Six years ago, I was burning the candle at both ends. You know what I’m talking about: working 8-5 in Cubicle Nation at a job that wasn’t all that fulfilling (although I liked the people there, and still do) as well as volunteering for a start-up project (with my husband) and spending most of our free time there. I was exhausted, and about to find out what sleep deprivation was really all about - we were going to be parents. But, that’s another story…

Where it all began…

I came home on maternity leave and was sitting in my living room. I even remember I was wearing a red shirt and khakis, and I looked up as I leaned my head back to rest. I looked at my ceiling fan and there was a ridiculous amount of dust on it. This bothered me. A LOT. Why? Who knows. People swore I was “nesting”. Ok, maybe. But I started by not only cleaning that fan (not really a good idea in retrospect I grant you, being that it was 11 feet off the ground and my 9 month pregnant body was not exactly balanced) but then I took off around the house. That’s where my life began to change - under the microscope of sorting through most everything I owned. [click to continue…]

I read this post today about editing things out of your life. This could not have come at a more interesting time. For the last three months, I have been in a “Simplifying” mode. So what does that mean? Well…..

• Losing weight: What does that have to do with simplifying your life? For me it meant out with the excess - food, etc. It meant taking out things that aren’t helping and putting in things that do.
• Less “yes”: I learned an important lesson a while back: if you say “no” more than you say “yes”, your “yes’es” mean so much more. Doing more than you should doesn’t make you nicer, cooler, smarter or better - it just makes you tired and bitter.
• Getting rid of stuff I don’t need: We’ve all got stuff and still now, 7 years after I started simplifying my life, I am working thru the layers of “stuff” I have. It’s still amazing to me how stuff gets in the way. It clutters up our minds and our space. A willingness to part with it, even a little at a time, moves us forward.
• Not giving into pressure: Think peer pressure goes away when you’re an adult? Nope. Not only that but the obligation or personal pressure we put on ourselves to perform, go to things, do things, buy things, eat things - whatever. Life is too short to do things on other’s terms - own your own life! Get rid of the things that aren’t taking you higher and focus on the things that are.
• Asking for help. Sometimes you need help to take the next step. Whether it’s a coach, friend or loving spouse, everybody needs encouragement and help. Reach out and grab it. If someone in your life is dragging you down, it might be time to re-evaluate.