It’s a new year, friends. Although all our problems aren’t going to magically disappear with the turning of the calendar, there are some things we can do in our homes and with our families to make it a simpler, more joyful 2021. 21 Simplifying Tasks are a good start.
“Of all modern notions, the worst is this: that domesticity is dull. …Inside the home, they say, is dead decorum and routine; outside is adventure and variety. But the truth is that the home is the only place of liberty, the only spot on earth where a man can alter arrangements suddenly, make an experiment or indulge in a whim. The home is not the one tame place in a world of adventure; it is the one wild place in a world of rules and set tasks.”
GK Chesterton
Home is the one place it can be whatever we want it to be. That’s no small thing, friends. Here are 21 Simplifying Tasks to simplify and live a little more life.
***Note: This is NOT a to-do list. It’s meant to inspire you to try a task or make up your own. The intent is for it to be purposeful and fun. Give a task a go, or make you own path…it’s up to you!
21 Simplifying Tasks
1. Name your why.
If you want a simpler life, why? Less stress? Less cleaning? More time with your people? Take a minute and really think about why you want a simpler life and write it down.
2. Get rid of 10 things right now.
Grab a grocery sack or Amazon box and grab 10 things you no longer need or want. Motivate your kids to do the same. This is a surefire way to build momentum towards a simpler home.
3. Set Quarterly Goals
It’s a New Year and Quarterly Goals is one way to live life a bit more intentionally. You have not missed the bus if you didn’t set goals on January 1st. Check out how we set Quarterly Goals.
4. Clear a surface.
Clutter affects us. For women, the amount of stress we feel at home is directly proportional to the amount of stuff we have. Choose one surface to clear and keep clear. The dining room table, the kitchen island, an end table. Clear spaces lead to a clear mind.
5. Say yes to your kids when you want to say no.
Play the game of Monopoly, build the snowman, play cars, bake brownies. Saying yes is powerful, strengthens relationships, and creates memories.
6. Rethink where your stuff lives.
Do you have to walk downstairs to get the art supplies or down the hall to gather the tile cleaner for the bathroom? Many times we move into a home and put things away not knowing how we will use each space. Begin in one corner of one room and evaluate if the stuff there serves you and your family in that room. Re-think where your stuff lives and decide if it makes sense to move things around.
7. Do a Daily Delete.
At the end of each day, go through your pictures and delete the duplicate pictures or the ones with eyeballs closed. Only keep your favorites. It’s a great task while you catch up on The Crown.
8. Choose a book to read and actually read it.
Some on my list for the next few months: You Be You, Rhythms of Renewal (rereading this one), Becoming Mrs. Lewis, The Library at Mount Char, New Minimalism.
9. Find and listen to a podcast that fills you up.
Some of my favorites: uncomfortable, Minimalist Moms Podcast, The Lazy Genius Podcast, Read-Aloud Revival, MommyLogians, and ClutterBug Podcast.
10. Plan an adventure.
Plan an adventure with your people or maybe just your spouse. I know many aren’t traveling right now, but hopefully that will be more of any option soon. Whether it’s across the street, across town, or across the country, plan an adventure to do this next year. Simply planning and anticipating an adventure can make you happier.
11. Write a letter.
In a time when snail mail is one of the biggest gifts, write a letter to a loved one. A beautiful card with some kind words can do wonders for the people we care about.
12. Rethink towels, pens, and kitchen utensils.
These are small things, but they add up. Go through your linen closet and ditch any ratty towels. Ruthlessly declutter the pens in the junk drawer. Do you really need 13 spatulas? You will feel lighter after letting go of the excess.
13. Watch a documentary.
What do you care about? Chances are there is a documentary out there pertaining to the issue. Take time this month to sit down and watch it. Some of my favorites about simplicity: Minimalism, The Social Dilemma, and Less is Now.
14. Choose one space to declutter.
Choose one room, drawer, or closet that is driving you bananas. Focus on the space and commit to completing it before starting any other projects. As you edit the stuff in the space, ask yourself these questions about each item: Is it beautiful or useful? Do I love it? Have I used it in the last 90 days or will I use it in the next 90 days?
15. Learn something new.
What have you always been wanting to learn to do? Bake? Sew? Make homemade pasta? Snowboard? Knit? Paint? Gift yourself the time and space to play around and learn something new.
16. Create a toy closet.
Are you tired of picking up a million toys at the end of every day? Rotate toys out of a toy closet. Take half the toys and house in a toy closet, organized by whatever system works for you and your family. Bring out new toys every few weeks to a month and be sure to put some toys in the toy closet that are currently being played with. ‘New’ toys can equate to hours of play.
17. Go for a walk.
My daughter’s Quarterly Goal is to get outside 30 minutes everyday. I should join her. Walking improves your mood, not to mention the physical health benefits like strengthening your bones and muscles. Bundle up and take a walk, even when you don’t want to.
18. Tackle your closet.
The t-shirt with the stain that won’t come out. The holy jeans that weren’t meant to be holy. The sweater from junior high. It’s time to let those things go. Do a closet overhaul and only keep the things you love, that fit well, and that you would buy again.
19. Call someone important to you.
It seems that phone calls are things of the past, but they don’t have to be. Take 20 minutes to call someone you’ve been meaning to call or haven’t talked to in longer than you’d like to admit. Make it a priority and invest in a relationship you value.
20. Be still.
Mindfulness is a way to be present and fully live. Be still and listen. Where does your mind go? What is God whispering in your heart? Start with 1 minute and build up to 10 minutes each day, being still, quieting your mind, listening, and being present in the moment.
21. Create something.
I was chatting with a girlfriend the other day and she said something that had me nodding my head and saying YES: God made us to work. Although that work looks different for all of us, he put us on this earth for a purpose. Take a minute, an hour, a day to create something on your own or with your kids. A batch of chocolate chip cookies, a drawing, a flower arrangement, a curated shelf in your dining room, a delicious dinner, an art project with your kids. Find joy in creating something.
This list isn’t meant to be checked off. Choose one thing or let the list inspire you to create your own task. 2021 will be what we make it. Although there will be things out of our control, we can choose to live each day thoughtfully, intentionally, and joyfully, especially at home. What tasks speak to you?