Simplify: One resolution at a time

With the New Year rushing in on the heels of the holiday season, we always end up resolving to start fresh at a time when we’re also trying to decompress from the hectic pace of the holidays. We’re eager to wind down, but we can’t help but imagine what might be achieved in the coming months. There is so much unspoiled territory ahead. Imagining the possibilities, and resolving to meet them is exciting but also a little overwhelming. Those ambitious midnight declarations may dawn on us the next morning with unexpected weight — did I really mean to go for all that glory today? So I say we skip the pressure this year. Instead of striving for sky-high summits, why not bring our expectations down to earth, closer to home? There are a million small measures each of us can take to scale down a bit more, to clear away clutter and to connect with family, friends, and our passions — the stuff that really matters. A simpler lifestyle isn’t something that we can accomplish all at once. It’s an evolution, an awakening that occurs as we take small strides to work more efficiently at what we love, curbing excesses and cultivating our hearts’ desires. This can be the year we start simplifying, one resolution at a time. 7 Resolutions for a Simpler New Year 1. I will buy less and spend smarter. Before buying anything, consider how much it means to you. Will it substantially benefit your life? Does it support simple living? Reducing your consumption of advertising will also help squelch the nagging “need” for something new. Switch off TV commercials, and remove your name from commercial mailing lists with the help of DirectMail.com. When you do buy, opt for quality products that last, and bulk quantities of items that you use on a regular basis. 2. I will schedule daily downtime. Make room for 20 full minutes of stillness and solitude every day. Shut the door on distraction, or better yet, head outside. No phone calls, no family matters. This is your time to get back in touch with yourself, to tune into your own longings. Daydream, relax, lay back and watch the clouds. Figure out who you are underneath all of the hustle and bustle so that you can focus on the simple pleasures that make your life worthwhile. 3. I will seek like minds. “Simple minds, simple pleasures.” I’ve heard this saying spoken disparagingly, but I’ve never understood the negative connotation. How sweet it is to surround ourselves with others who enjoy life’s simplest pleasures! Whether your simple pleasure is gardening, painting, crocheting or horseback riding, there is a wonderful sense of support and validation in sharing your joy with other “simple minds.” Gather up friends with whom you can share the scenic road to simplification. 4. I will prioritize my passions. Make a list of your top five passionate pursuits in order of their importance. Sometimes, just writing them down can help you clarify and evaluate your current commitments. How can you restructure your schedule to allow space for activities you truly love? Redesign your day by dropping excess busywork and declining unnecessary obligations so that you have more time and energy to devote to your dreams. 5. I will limit tech time. Simple living becomes increasingly elusive when our to-do lists include never ending phone calls, e-mails, text messaging and Web surfing. The boundaries that once made it possible to take a breather have become blurred. At first, try avoiding e-mail and switching off your cell phone for just 15 minutes a day, increasing the duration of quiet time when you begin to crave more of it. Designate certain times when you will accept phone calls and answer e-mails. And instead of turning to TV for relaxation, try tuning into one of the five passions you’ve prioritized. 6. I will shed “stuff.” Get your proverbial red pen out and edit down your home, room by room. Over the years, we can accumulate so much clutter that we feel crowded and unproductive. It is incredibly liberating to shed unnecessary stuff. Suddenly, long-forgotten physical and mental spaces open wide with possibility. Edit closets, corners, shelves and drawers with vigor. Sell items on eBay, organize a garage sale, or donate to a local charity to lighten your heart even more. 7. I will s-l-o-w down. Peace rarely accompanies a speedy pace. Rushing revs up our stress levels and leaves little room for simple pleasures. We’re too busy hurrying to smell the roses. Eat slowly. Drive slowly. Walk slowly. Breathe slowly. Putting on the brakes takes practice, but before long, you’ll realize that you’re paying full attention to each task at hand. In Thoreau’s words, you will begin to “live deliberately,” enjoying every morsel of time.