If you are stressed out, simplify!

The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak, Hans Hofmann.

Are you stressed out because you have so many responsibilities and people relying on you, you are afraid or unwilling to say “no” to anyone, you’re overcommitted at work, your boss expects the impossible, and you have too many things on your plate? Here are some ways to tackle it.

• Consider what is essential or very important and what is not.

• Eliminate unnecessary and time-consuming tasks from your agenda. Embrace a less is more philosophy! Outsource or automate some of the tedious, difficult, repetitive or time-consuming tasks.

  When you are overwhelmed, tired or stressed, the solution is almost always… less. Get rid of something. Lots of somethings, Margery.

  

• Delegate some activities. For example, assign your children certain chores and pay or reward them for doing so. They will feel more important, competent, and confident. Delegate well and, I can assure you, you will never feel overworked or burned out, and better yet, you will be able to focus on those tasks that are really essential or require your participation, creativity, or skills.

• Learn to say no. Stop before saying “yes” to a new task, accepting a new position, an extra holiday job, or volunteering for something. Think long and hard about what you are going to commit to and make sure it is the sensible and reasonable thing to do. Before you say yes, take a deep breath, and remember you have a choice. We always have a choice.

  We are not machines, we are human beings, super busy days and jam-packed agendas, in the long run, do more harm that good.

  

• Decide how much time you should assign to those peripheral, non-essential tasks and do not give them one minute more of your valuable time. Do not try to excel on them, challenge yourself to do these tasks as quickly and efficiently as possible.

  

• Use Time Multipliers to make the most of your time. They are strategies or tools that create more time for you in the future. You need to ask yourself, What is the most important thing I can do today that would make tomorrow better and more effective?

• Be intelligent and efficient especially in non-important tasks.

  For example, be more effective in cleaning your home. First, be sure to use the right products and cleaning supplies and that they are always in the same place, easily accessible and ready to go - Always keep cleaning products away from children’s reach!

  Declutter your home: give away, sell or throw away anything that you no longer use or like; less is more, too much stuff drains your energy and time. Leave your shoes at the entrance, replace them with household slippers, socks or simply go barefoot; avoid garden and pets; encourage your kids to help you with household chores.

  Declutter your computer and smartphone: search and remove old and unused apps, clean up your browser (clear browsing data, delete unused browser extensions) and inbox, delete unnecessary files and directories and organize your files, get off unwanted mailing lists, prevent programs launching on startup, declutter your desktop, turn off notifications, use productive apps (espanso, ShareX, Google Drive, Everything, use a Launcher, etc.)

  

  When it comes to shopping, you should always have a shopping list with you and stick to it. Buy more in less time and in fewer places.