Life isn’t always simple. Ultimately, we all experience highs, lows, and straight up messy times. You may even feel like you’re going through a funk, but can’t exactly figure out why you’re down. During moments like this, it’s a good idea to have reliable ways to make life easier. Maintaining a routine can be really beneficial, especially when you’re stressed. ☁️
At times, my anxiety makes it hard for me to deal with incoming stressors. On top of that, I’m a highly sensitive person, so an extra workload or a sudden change can shake me up. It’s never been easy for me to make decisions during messier times. But that doesn’t mean I haven’t found my own little rituals to simplify life.
Some calming techniques that clear my mind are journaling, mindfulness, and blogging. They all have this way of bringing me a sense of “normal” when I’m going through a difficult period.
It’s all about those little things in life that provide you with a feeling of comfort and reliability.
Here are 25 ways to make life easier + a checklist for you to print out! 💛
25 Tips to Make Life Easier
1. Buy a planner.
One of the best ways to get organized is to buy an agenda. Keeping one helps you simplify your schedule and put everything down in writing. For this reason, it’s much easier to manage your time. You can color coordinate different slots for work, meetings, events, travel, and more! Many agendas come with helpful stickers to highlight various parts of your week.
2. Declutter your space.
Things always seem a little bit better after a good tidying up session. It isn’t easy to have a productive day if you’re feeling bogged down by your space. Even 5-minute routines help like loading the dishwasher before bed, organizing your desk, or making the bed. Your brain will feel less foggy after taking the time to declutter your space.
I recommended checking out cleaning checklists like this helpful one from Etsy. The seller organized the checklist by daily, weekly, and monthly sections! 💚
3. Set aside time for yourself.
No matter what, make sure you’re setting enough time for yourself. We all need space to decompress from the day. Even taking a small walk or doing a few breathing exercises is super effective. Also, think about some calming hobbies outside of your regular schedule that you enjoy. Maybe it’s gardening, painting, or playing the guitar!
4. Keep a recipe box.
When things get stressful, it’s a good idea to have a few go-to recipes. Search for meals that are quick, easy, and reliable. This strategy comes in handy if you have a lot of other things on your mind. Once you’ve tested out a few, you can start your own at-home recipe book!
A few of my favorite simple recipes:
5. Exercise.
Another great way to make life easier is by having a consistent workout routine. Do what you can to lock down a fitness plan that makes you feel good. There’s something relaxing about taking time out of your day to get your body moving and active!
One of my favorite ways to exercise is by following dance or yoga classes on YouTube. I’ve also been loving cool down routines like this 15-minute stretch! I’m not flexible by any means, but I try my best! 😂
6. Listen to inspiring podcasts.
Listening to podcasts is a wonderful way to inspire you. Here are 15 Top Motivational Podcasts in 2020! 🎧
7. Organize your desktop.
If your mind is feeling a bit scattered, consider clearing out your desktop! Since a lot of out tasks are online, things can get quite messy. Clear out old files you don’t need anymore and organize the stuff you do use in folders! 🖥️
8. Automate things.
One of the most effective ways to simplify your life is by automating mundane tasks. It’s a helpful tactic to save energy throughout the day.
Just a few things you can automate:
- Bills & payments
- Appointments
- Your cleaning routine
- Email messages
- Grocery shopping
Personally, one of the best things I’ve done is to automate my student loans. It’s easier for me to keep track of my repayment plan now because I know exactly when to expect withdrawals. I am better able to prepare for other financial decisions during the month. It still sucks seeing that much money coming out every month, but it’s much less mentally draining!
9. Clear out your inbox.
I recommend Unroll Me to help you filter through emails and clean up your inbox!
10. Keep your water bottle near you.
Staying hydrated throughout the day is crucial. At the same time, it’s easy to forget to drink enough water if you’re feeling swamped. To help this issue, I suggest getting a water bottle with a time marker. Managing your water intake is so much easier!
11. Learn how to time block.
Time blocking is a useful tool that helps you sectionalize your day. The idea is to block out times for daily activities, so that you have more control over your to-do list! Here are some fantastic time blocking tips!
12. Go paperless.
You’ll save so much time and hassle by going paperless! It’s better for the environment and much more convenient. You can reduce paper waste by requesting e-statements, paying bills online, and opting out of junk mail lists!
13. Have a “spot” for important items.
You’re stepping out the door, but can’t seem to find your keys anywhere. Then you have to stop everything just to spot them somewhere deep in your couch 30 minutes later. UGH. Personally, this scenario has happened to me way too many times!
I find that having a “home” for everything makes a huge difference! It’s as simple as using a key cabinet, keeping important documents in a designated spot, etc.
14. Spend time outdoors.
Sometimes, we all need to “pause” after a busy day. Spending time in nature can bring you clarity when thoughts are running through your brain. Step outside for fresh air, take a walk to the park, water your plants….do what you can to get outdoors for a while! 🌳☀️
15. Use self-care apps.
If you’re scrolling through your phone, it’s a nice idea to download a few self care apps. They’ll be a good reminder to slow things down and relax, even just for a little while!
Here is an awesome post featuring quite a few self-care apps to consider!
16. Plan your budget.
Figuring out your budget can really help bring you peace of mind. I’ve noticed it helps a lot to plan things by a monthly basis. You can sectionalize earnings, bills, expenses, savings, and miscellaneous. We find that Google Spreadsheets is a useful tool when it comes to budgeting.
I find that this article breaks down budgeting pretty well and in a comprehensive way!
17. Pick out your outfit the night before.
Choosing your outfit the night before saves you a ton of energy in the morning. You’ll be better prepared to start your day off with efficiency!
18. Do a brain dump in your journal.
Sometimes, it helps to dump out all of your thoughts on paper. By doing so, you can make sense of what you’re really feeling.
Here is my full tutorial on how to do a brain dump + worksheets!
19. Make a playlist for various daily tasks.
Something that makes life easier for me is to create playlists for various tasks. For example, if I’m writing a blog post, I may want relaxing tunes. However, if I’m cleaning the house, I’ll probably seek out more energetic songs. Making playlists for different parts of the day helps you set the tone! 🎵
20. Let go of toxic relationships.
Toxic relationships drain your energy and make you feel down. Do what you can to let go of people who don’t have your best interest at heart. This can include a friend, mentor, or even a family member. I know making a life decision like that isn’t easy, but you deserve to feel valued and loved by the people around you.
The same goes for social media. If you notice that you’re feeling drained by a profile or feed, it’s perfectly okay to unfollow. Do your best to expose yourself to profiles that motivate you and bring joy to your life instead! 💛
21. Create monthly goals + stick them on your fridge.
Ask yourself what you’d like to accomplish this month. Afterwards, take some time to create a realistic “monthly goals” sheet. You can even do this on a piece of notebook paper! Stick the sheet on your fridge, so you can have a little encouraging reminder of your goals!
22. Use Google Calendar.
Google Calendar is a huge lifesaver! Some awesome features include:
- Syncing your calendar to your phone
- Sharing your schedule
- Categorizing your schedule and events
- Enabling work hours
I like using Google Calendar to figure out my content calendar and would definitely recommend!
23. Create a simple daily “to-do” list.
Often times, we try to accomplish too many things during the day. Remember: there are only 24 hours in the day, so be kind to yourself.
Minimize your to-do list and pick 3 things you want to achieve today. Don’t forget to celebrate yourself for completing your goals! If you couldn’t complete all three, remember you can always try again tomorrow!
24. Develop a consistent routine.
It’s a good idea to create a reliable routine during the day. It kind of brings a flow to your everyday activities. Think of some things you’d like to do more of in your routine. Also, consider some tasks you think would be beneficial to eliminate. Once you’ve finished brain storming, put together a realistic daily routine!
Some of my recent “routine” posts:
- Creating the Perfect Sunday Night Routine + Checklist
- My Daily Self Care Routine | Mornings, Evenings + Nights
25. Ask for help.
Finally, know when to ask for help. We’re only human and can’t do it all. I know it isn’t always easy to ask for help, but it’s crucial to know when to delegate tasks. Think about it this way. If your loved one needed assistance, wouldn’t you want them to reach out to you? Treat yourself like a best friend! And just know that there are people around who love you and want to help.
I hope that you enjoyed this post, lovelies! Have a great weekend! x
What are some things you think make life easier?
I love this post and it contains some really useful tips. I think its really important to remember to take time for yourself and I’m definitely guilty of not allowing enough me time
My planner is absolutely my life 😂 I genuinely write everything down in it and it makes things so much easier! Great tips 😊 x
I love my planner too, can definitely relate to that lol! 😂😂Things just seem so much simpler if you write it down or make a list! Thanks so much for reading and hope you’re doing well! x
I love this one!! Never thought of #4,8,18. Those are super helpful!! Thanks for the checklist!!! 😁
Thank you so much, Kiki!! 💓 Glad you found the tips helpful!
Hope you’re doing well, staying safe with all this going on right now, and having a good Wednesday! x
Great ideas Nunzia! It’s true that life always gets easier with a bit of planning and organizing, especially for me! 😊 Having everything sorted out or written down on paper really helps to get on top of things, and I also find it much easier to do small things every day rather than wait too long and then it feels unbearable (like cleaning, tidying, planning, etc.) Thanks a lot for the tips and have a wonderful day 😊
Thank you so much, Juliette! I really appreciate it! 😊
I’m the same way — things are much simpler when you write it down (I’m obsessed with my agendas lol!!) and just doing small things on a daily like you said, rather than having them pile up.
Hope you’re doing well and are having a good week! x
These are all fantastic tips! I have to keep everything organised and tidy or I loose everything and get mixed up. Scheduling things and blocking out time slots for everything is such a great way to keep track and keep motivated.
Thank you so much, Chrissie!! I really appreciate it and am glad you liked the tips!
I’m exactly the same way when it comes to scheduling stuff and keeping things organized!
Hope you’re doing well and having a good week! x
These are all fantastic tips! I have to keep everything organised and tidy or I loose everything and get mixed up. Scheduling things and blocking out time slots for everything is such a great way to keep track.
Thank you so much, glad you enjoyed the tips! 😊
I’m exactly the same way about keeping things tidy lol! It helps keep my mind more focused to have an organized environment.
Thanks again for stopping by and reading the post! I really appreciate it! x
A tone of useful tips here, love posts like this! Time blocking is something I think I mentally do in my mind haha 👍🏻 when I have busier days I enjoy writing a to do list and being able to cross things off when they are complete 😊 it’s amazing what fresh air and the outdoors can do! 💛
Thanks so much for reading, Chanelle! 💛Glad you liked the post! Sorry for such a late response — I’m kinda getting into the swing of things in terms of blogging again. I was a bit unmotivated for a while, unfortunately :/
Writing a to-do list is super helpful, I totally agree! And fresh air definitely helps to clear your mind.
Hope you’re doing well with all this going on right now and having a good week! x