Eight Great Ways To Simplify
Natural Health Magazine, April 2001

Feeling overwhelmed? Here are a few easy ways to streamline your life, find more time, and feel less stressed.

1.
Clean house.
According to feng shui, the Chinese art of placement, the clutter in certain areas of your home corresponds to certain parts of your life that need attention. Key spots include your entrance, which represents the way you approach life; your basement, which represents your past; and your attic, which represents your goals. If these areas are messy, clear them out.
2.
Junk your junk mail.
Keep paper and electronic junk mail to a minimum: Arrange to have some of your bills paid electronically through your bank. Have your name removed from national mailing lists. Or sign up for a junk-e-mail blocking tool.
3.
Use your commute.
Read if you aren't the driver or, if you are the driver, listen to books on tape. If you live within five miles of your job, walk or ride your bike to work when weather permits.
4.
Cook ahead.
Save time and eat healthier by cooking a few healthy meals on the weekend and making enough to freeze for the rest of the week. Soups and casseroles freeze particularly well.
5.
Pare down on pills.
Unless your supplementing to combat a particular ailment, nutritional experts say all you need is a good multivitamin.
6.
Unclutter your mind.
If you find yourself unable to focus, try a simple meditation technique--this can be as simple as focusing on your breath for 10 breaths.
7.
Plan it.
Organize your life with a weekly planner.
8.
Clean out your closet.
Simplify your clothes. Buy pieces that you can mix and match, require little care, and last.