Simplicity is ultimately a product of focusing on what matters.
NOTE: This post has been updated with new information and moved to here:
25 Lessons You Will Appreciate When You’re Ready for a Simpler Life
Photo by: Julia Caesar
Practical Tips for Productive Living
Simplicity is ultimately a product of focusing on what matters.
NOTE: This post has been updated with new information and moved to here:
Photo by: Julia Caesar
Amandah says
lovely.
Marc Chernoff says
I couldn’t agree more with your sentiment, Amandah. And thank you for the continued support.
Wayne Slay says
thank you. nuff said.
Gabrielle says
I’m celebrating you today, Wayne Slay! I love it when people overcome. Best of success in this new chapter of your epic life story.
Marc Chernoff says
You’re welcome. Like Gabrielle, we’re celebrating your personal progress! Keep going, Wayne! 🙂
Denise says
Good one. Perhaps one of your best!
Sandra Pawula, Always Well Within says
I love this definition of simplicity: “Simplicity is ultimately a product of focusing on what matters.” Like you and Angel, I’ve also been working steadily on simplifying my life and very so much more nourished in doing so. I’m very keen on #3 in particular: leaving certain things undone.
sherill says
Hi, I love reading your blog; it always motivates me. #22 I totally agree that learning from our mistakes makes a big difference in our life. I once read a quote that says ” If we learn from the worst times of our life, we are ready to go to the best times of our life” … which is so true. Thanks for sharing another great and informative post.
Rosie says
They were all great ideas, personally and professionally, I try to keep my life simple,; clutter free in all areas. I like first things first and do not take anything personally, sometimes hard to practice. As a counselor, I share these two ideas all the time. Thank you for your writings. 🙂
( It would be hard for me to give up cable, but I see your point.)
Annie says
I’ve complicated the past three years of my life by agreeing to meet an old boyfriend from two decades ago whilst we were both married to wonderful spouses. Number 24. The truth and listening to my intuition is the one that resonated with me. As well as ‘identifying what is important’ and ‘eliminating everything else’. Though he managed to convince me at some point that we were soulmates and i was the love of his life and we must get married, the truth is once the affair began, my life was like a runaway train. My soul tore with the events that unfolded.
Letting him go has been a relief despite the fact that the letting go process has been excruciating. Now i focus on what is truly important.
Identifying that loving my children was number 1 for me, and thus loving their dad too, helped focus my awareness during the painful times of letting go. I’m sharing this, as honestly as i can, to help anyone who may be on the path that i was.
Maria Medina says
Wow, your words are amazingly helpful and healing. Read all, #3 and #20 are my picks. Thank you. Is your book available digital for my I pad?
Marc Chernoff says
Thank you Maria. 🙂
And yes, our eBook is available and works on the iPad. You can get it here: https://www.marcandangel.com/book/
Christinec says
Just breathe… yes… thank you for the reminder.
Laura says
Most of us do #16. I use to. What you share with us is spot on!
Grounding and gratitude with splashes throughout my day of space.
Those precious quiet moments of nothingness that allow me personally peace and reflection. I am a social person, but I enjoy my “space immensely”. Thank you again for sharing your insights.
Brittany says
#16, 20 & 25 are what I most relate to. A recent horoscope of mine said to consider getting a life coach. But, I an’t afford one and like to think that I can take control of my life.
But, I do need help and reading this blog helps me everyday.
Thank you.
Lisa J. says
I’m working through #15 right now and am actually reading The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. I have been struggling with getting rid of and letting go of clutter since my husband passed away 5 years ago. This book is really helping me. I had been picking away at the clutter, but when I came home after an unexpected surgery to the rooms of clutter I had a long talk with myself, ordered the book and I’ve been letting go every day since.
I think I realized that while I was in the hospital I was in a very clean, clear space and my mind was at complete peace and I was relaxed in spite of the procedure I had to go through. Coming home threw me back into a down cycle and it’s time to change. I have my life back physically, now I want to be clear mentally and move forward and make up for lost time.
Thank you for your site and your words of wisdom.
Sunny says
I resonate with several lessons, particularly #4 by over committing and filling up the to do list followed by the self talk when it doesn’t all get done. Most of all I am reminded in #17 of the gift of time and how precious and irreplaceable it is. Thank you.
Brooks says
Hi!
I want to first thank you both for your posts, website, suggestions, et al, as well as those who “guest post”. I read them when I can and the posts have an uncanny habit of being exactly what I need to read at that moment. Your posts have helped to save my life, literally, over the last 2 years in dealing with my CRPS condition, for I thought it was a death sentence mentally, spiritually, and of course physically. It changed my life and abruptly stopped it dead cold, for there was no escape from the unimaginable pain (highest on the McGill scale) and my bedroom. Lets just say extremely bad chronic pain. Yet, I have found strength here when I thought I had none. I’ve been able to literally bounce back with the help from your affirmations & lessons, a Higher Power, and my medical team. It’s difficult and challenging on a daily basis, but life is progressing (happily at times, I dare say).
Practice, Practice, Practice; Never Give Up and Never Stop Exploring. I garner as much as I can from the posts and implement them into my life as best I can. At times all I can manage is clicking open post and try to read the goodness within…and it never fails to change the situation within me. As you say, “Your greatest struggles develop your greatest strengths. In the end, you are not what you have done, but what you have overcome.” Thank you Thank you Thank you! Bless you both! You’re doing invaluable work. Keep it up please!
Be well Be kind Just BE
-Brooks
Marc Chernoff says
You’re welcome, Brooks. And congrats on the progress you’ve made over the past two years. Angel and I are both honored to have been a part of your growth and healing process.
Laura says
I have chronic pain issues too…two things that have helped are CBD oil and Kratom….there is a ton of info on youtube if you want to research either of these…they have helped me so much!
Christy King says
While all of your suggestions are good ones, I think that for me, #21 (gratitude) has made the biggest difference. Life is so much better when you focus on the kindness and beauty around you.
Marc Chernoff says
I couldn’t agree more, Christy.
Ruby says
I like No. 24. Thanks for this article!
Davi says
The article is fantastic! Please, however, reconsider the comment regarding “poverty”. I realize the intent but poverty is a sickening sight and has nothing to do with your wonderful words.
Heather Newman says
I love your posts, your site, all of it. numbers 22, 23, 24 for me are the ones – making mistakes and continuing on the path and listening to yourself. I post something from your site every Mon on my personal Facebook page and it has opened up so many great conversations between me and my friends. the one thing I did post there in a comment that I’ll repeat here is: The only other thing about truth that isn’t in this article that I have learned is that not everyone is able to handle or digest your/one’s truth and they will make it about them, so I say be brave – live it and share but be careful to whom and how much.
Marc Chernoff says
Thank you for sharing our work, Heather. I’m so glad doing so has inspired healthy conversations in your social circle.
Salena says
#19 … “simpler, more positive mindset can be created anytime and anyplace with a change in thinking. Because frustration and stress come from the way you react, not the way things are. Adjust your attitude, and the frustration and stress evaporates.” What a great philosophy to live by 🙂
BlackDiamond says
Another timely, great post. I’ve been actively working on simplifying my life. These 25 suggestions and reminders are great and I’ve already been putting some into practice and will add more that are relevant to my journey. Thanx guys.
Ethan says
I really appreciate that rising earlier helps. To me it creates a perfect timing for everything–the wonderful feeling of getting up early, and the perfect intervals that would follow for breakfast, work, lunch, and so on… Waking up late, like 10 am, creates an imbalance, although the waking up part feels great. I’ve had a good run with this in the past, but I’ve been staying up late at night again recently, thus wake up late in the morning. I keep “forgetting” this part. Thanks for that reminder! Nice post!
Marc Chernoff says
Ethan, I think you may find value in this article too: 9 Things You Should Do Every Day Before 9 A.M.
cheryl says
4 A.M. wakeups here…and out the door for a run, swim or bike ride (yes it’s dark!) makes the being at work by 7 a.m. DOABLE! Try it-you won’t regret it…but it sounds as if you don’t have to be anywhere. Still do it tho.
Jon Lee says
Hey Marc,
Great and thought provoking article as usual! I have no idea how you come up with so many thought provoking points so often but I’m glad you do!
I really identified with point # 12 the idea of shopping not being therapy. I used to deal with stress by buying things I wanted online and justified that I worked hard and deserved it, but it ultimately left me more stressed out by my soaring credit card statements!
I’m gonna post this on my google + for others to think about
Best,
JL
Marc Chernoff says
Thanks for sharing our work, JL. 🙂
Bethany McGrath says
I learned awhile ago about filling every moment with distractions. Now my hour commute to work is filled with silence instead of the radio, and I order my thoughts, or just let them wander. Either way, it is useful time to reconnect with my inner voice and center myself.
Jamie says
Sitting around thinking and worrying, while I should be out there doing. But, I always need my therapist Kathleen to help me. But she is no longer helping me… 🙁
Mary says
I truly love your blog. I have been reading it for years!!
free says
May God bless you both for all the inspiration and hope
cheryl says
Well- I kicked my ex out (a long time ago) and sent his clutter with him-and my daughter and I lived a “just the two of us” life for a long time. She attended the school where I worked through elementary years, then once she got to middle school and busier with her friends and ballet, things became a little more difficult time wise. I still found my time to run early early or while she was at ballet and we still hiked to gather on the weekends. She is pretty zen as an adult-lives in a small small space with just the necessities, and loves yoga and the outdoors still. We have both committed to a life of service with our careers-her just starting out and me ending in the near future. The man I chose to live the rest of my life with is NOT into material possessions-we like to DO things together!
Gena says
Decluttering. That is true of items in my home especially in the basement. I have unsubscribe dot many emails I get and don’t look at. Our home phone is disconnected. I would get rid of cable but my husband doesn’t know how to declutter, hence the basement being full of items he collects just to collect.
I have found that if I take control of the things I can I am more able to deal with and handle the things I cannot control.
I have never been a person to keep lots of things, buy just to buy. When I make a purchase I figure out if it is a need or a want. If I need it, why do I need it, is it a necessity for instance. If I want it what purpose will it serve. Will I use it once I buy it.
I have also decided once I buy something it should be used and enjoyed. The China should be used on sepecial days but also just because.
Mike says
I love this list thanks! The one about rising early as helping definitely resonates. A few moments of gratitude, unhurried routine sets up my day for good things as well.
Laura says
#13 I like best. I resonate with that most, & #3 is next. Traveling light, in life & in the airport, has always appealed to me. Needlessly complicating life has been over-thinking & “collecting” & filing information, digitally & hard copy, all the things I think I need to know & remember.
Stephanie L says
About #3…. I remember the shocking, freeing, joyful moment after college when I realized I didn’t have to finish a book if I didn’t want to!
I’m counting today as a mile-marker in my quest for a more simple lifestyle. It’s tax-free shopping day here in Georgia and the traffic around shopping centers is insane. I wasn’t going to shop anyway, because I don’t need anything, but I realized it’s simply a 7% off sale. That’s it. And you know what? I shop on MY schedule!
And now, back to my to-do list and grabbing a swim.
Kim A. Hazel says
I think ##17 and 19 are similar and usually come up in the context of my full-time job. I especially need to remind myself about that I don’t need to spend the energy or time on nonsense; but I can use energy and time on creative and positive pursuits.
K. Lisa Daley says
Great points! I’ve read the book, “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up”, and completed the process on May 1. Doing that has changed my life in wonderful and amazing ways. But I’m still short on time to spend on what I really love, so I found this the most helpful in your post:
Identify what’s most important to you.
Eliminate as much as you possibly can of everything else.
That’s brilliantly simple and I’ve written it down.
Thank you,
xo,
Lisa
Jade Vowles says
I love this, my life has felt so hectic and cluttered recently #5 is a big one for me, I fill my head with ideas of things I see people doing and I want to try and achieve them myself all at once. I loose sight of the things that truly matter to me.
And #16 I am certainly guilty of overthinking and over complicating situations, I am definitely going to start making a conscious effort to change these aspects of my life.
Laura J. Tong says
This is such a fabulously comprehensive list of strategies to simplify life – love it! We’ve found ‘letting go’ is fundamental – and that includes ideas, opinions, less than wholesome relationships, projects, others’ ideals and expectations, houses, cars, STUFF galore!, even bank accounts – our journey to simplifying has been a lesson in opening our eyes to duplication. Your phrase “Don’t numb yourself with noise” really stood out to me – thanks for a truly great post Marc.
Jessica says
I love this and I love simplifying but I’ve reached a hurdle in my process that I’m not sure how to climb over. My husband is very much the typical “guy’s guy”. We are surrounded by many people who love us and invite us to do “exciting” things, however I am often experiencing an inner battle. Taking part in so many adventures and activities can leave me feeling drained financially, physically, and spiritually. I identify that I can’t change him or make him want to simplify but I also struggle with disappointing him if he doesn’t understand my decision. Could you write a blog post on growing at a different pace than your partner or communicating growth they may not understand? I would love it!
Claudine says
Hi
Good post !
I definitely resonate with over-committing and distractions. I’m taking 2 months off of to do list planning for the future… And it’s scary and it feels good.
Samantha says
This is just what I needed to read. I have de-cluttered a lot of physical stuff, but recently I have decided to quit social media. For me it is just to much of a distraction.
Gary says
Gratitude always makes life easier to deal with. Because happiness comes easier when you stop complaining about your problems and you start being grateful for all the problems you don’t have.
Tracy (from Bliss This Home) says
Great list! And reminds me of a quote (not sure whose): “Simple is not always easy.” But I think so worth it. Personally, I struggle most with 16 and 20. Thanks for articulating several values/strategies that I hold dear yet hadn’t crystallized.
sassy says
Sooooo great
Laura says
Loved the one on overthinking!