2022 is in full swing. Everyone is decluttering, setting goals or words, simplifying, and ready for a fresh start. I love this time of year and the feeling of hope that comes with it. Let’s keep the momentum going with 22 Simplifying Tasks for 2022: Part 2.
22 Simplifying Tasks for 2022: Part 2
Clear a surface.
In my humble opinion, clearing a surface is the best thing we can all do for our homes and our brains. Visual clutter causes stress and reduces focus. We can improve our mental health by simply clearing the dining room table. Choose one surface to clear and keep clear. A kitchen counter? The dining room table? The kitchen island? The coffee table? We don’t need allll the surfaces clear, but one or two can make our homes and brains more peaceful.
Make a list of meals.
Getting dinner on the table can either be joyful or drudgery. Some of us love it and others of us just do what needs to be done. Making a list of meals we can use and reuse over and over can be beneficial for people in both camps.
Each season deserves it’s own list of meals. Since we are smack dab in the middle of winter, think warm, comforting foods your people will eat. Chicken noodle soup with biscuits, Beef stew with roasted carrots, Ham and cheese sliders with roasted broccoli, Change Your Life Chicken. You get the idea. I usually make a list of 10 meals I can rotate through every two weeks. You may need more or less depending on your family’s preferences.
Rethink the furniture.
Most of the time when we think of decluttering, the small stuff comes to mind. Trinkets and pens and dishes and toys. But big things make a big impact. Rethink the furniture you have in your living spaces. Is there a piece of furniture not serving your family that could go to a new home? Or maybe a piece of furniture isn’t working in one room, but can solve a problem in another room? Rethinking our furniture can make a big impact in our spaces.
Start a new rhythm.
With winter comes short days and long nights. With fewer daylight hours and colder temps, we are inside more this time of year. Beginning a new rhythm can bring a bit of comfort and joy to our days and weeks. What is something that could bring a little joy into your world? Maybe it’s lighting a candle each morning or evening when the sun isn’t up. Maybe it’s pizza and a movie on Sunday nights before the week begins. It could be turning on twinkle lights and reading for ten minutes after the kids go to bed. Or maybe it’s inviting friends over each week for soup and games. Starting a new rhythm is one small way to be intentional with our days.
Drink more water.
60% of our bodies are made up of water. We need water to survive, function, and thrive. Many of us don’t get enough of it. While how much you need can vary depending on a variety of factors, The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommends 11 1/2 cups for women and 15 1/2 cups for men daily.
Grab a large water bottle and make an ounces goal. I have a 30 ounce water bottle. I try to drink two full water bottles before 8 a.m. each day. And then I drink and sip as the day goes on. Staying hydrated always makes me feel like my best self.
Launch a Daily Delete.
Most nights after the kids go to bed, I pull out my phone and delete unwanted photos from the day. Some days there are no photos and other days there are loads. This simple practice keeps my photos in check and allows me to not feel overwhelmed by the tiny camera in my back pocket.
Call a loved one.
The art of a telephone conversation has been lost a bit with texting and messaging and emoji-ing. I’m not super good at it myself. However, whenever I call a loved one and have a conversation, it fills me up. Who is someone you would like to talk to, but haven’t in awhile? Take some time and make the call. It’s always worth it.
Try a No Spend week or month.
Last spring I did a Low Buy month, which is a version of the No Spend idea. You can find more about it HERE. There are lots of simple living enthusiasts doing a No Spend month right this minute. If you want to start small, try not spending for a week. If that seems impossible, try putting boundaries on what you do spend. For example, maybe you decide to only spend dollars on groceries. Or maybe it’s groceries and gas.
When our family did a Low Buy month, it allowed us to get really clear on where we were spending money as well as where are impulses were. This isn’t for everyone, but is a worthwhile challenge if you’re wanting to change and hone in spending habits.
Declutter and organize a pain point.
We all have a spot in our home that drives us bananas. The drop zone where everyone comes in the house. A storage space. A (not so neat) child’s bedroom. The toy room. The kitchen utensil drawer. Name the paint point in your home and finally tackle it. What are the things needing done? Write down the steps it will take to get that space from pain point to functional. Next, make time for those tasks on your calendar and than follow through and get. them. done.
Take a break from social media.
Whether it’s a day each week or an entire week or month, find some time to disconnect. I am off social media each Sunday and it’s such a good reset for me. I am hoping to do another long term break this year. Do a gut check and decide what kind of break from social media would be beneficial for you. Maybe it’s a day each week or maybe it’s an entire month. While social media is useful and entertaining, it can also be distracting and harmful to our mental health. Taking a break helps us to reflect on what is good about it as well as have more time for the people right in front of us.
Set a timer and play with your kids.
There are moms that love playing with their kids and moms who don’t love it as much. I am in the latter camp. I like to connect with my kids in other ways, but since play is important to them, I do my best to make time for it. Setting a timer to play cars on the floor with my boys is good for all of us. We can be present and enjoy one another and we also know the expectations of the timer. If playing with your kids doesn’t happen as often as you like, a timer is a good way to begin.
A new year means we have space to shape the days ahead into what we want. Let’s be intentional and lean into how we want our hours and days to look. What simplifying tasks will you try in 2022?