S.I.M.P.L.I.F.Y.

It’s something which we all aspire to do. But it’s one of those things that is often easier said than done, especially in today’s fast-paced world.

Not only do we have to deal with the outside factors that the world throws at us, we also have to deal with inside factors as well — namely, ourselves.

In general, human beings are inclined to over-do everything. We over-commit, over-schedule, over-analyze, over-achieve, and over-complicate (just to name a few). And all of these, in turn, lead to over-whelm.

So herein lies the million dollar question: how do you live simply?

And the answer: make conscious choices to do so.

Jon Kabat-Zinn, founding director of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness, once explained his philosophy on simplicity as “…seeing less so I can see more, doing less so I can do more, acquiring less so I can have more.”

Hmmmm….Let’s rewind and read that one more time.

– SEEING LESS so I can SEE MORE.

– DOING LESS so I can DO MORE.

– ACQUIRING LESS so I can HAVE MORE.

Let me ask you — do you tend to complicate your life by seeing more, doing more, and acquiring more than necessary? If so, your challenge for this week (and hopefully for long-term as well) is to simplify something.

– If you’re tempted to buy something, think twice. Is this item going to truly add value to your life?

– If you’re tempted to do something, think twice. Is this task essential to your goals?

– If you’re tempted to look at something, think twice. Is this visual going to distract from your productivity?

From this point on…when you are tempted, err on the side of simplicity! Making conscious choices to do so will bring positive change into your life in a BIG way.

Carmen Coker is a professional organizer who helps individuals find the motivation and know-how to get organized and stay organized. To learn how to save money, create more space, and manage your time through organization, claim your “FREE Tip Kit: 10+ Pages of Tips and Tools to Help You Get Organized — Finally!” at www.OrganizeClutterbugs.com