How to Live Simply and Still Get More Tasks Done

Photo by XPS on Unsplash

The three big one's in life are wealth, health and happiness. We pursue them in that order but their importance is in the reverse. Naval Ravikant

In today's world, so many people buy into the hype that being noticed as a super-achiever, with a fully booked schedule or having the ability to multitask and complete more tasks is the best route to navigate in life.

While this may work for some, we need to sit down and imagine how living simply could improve our lives. Living one day at a time without excessive pressure to outperform another person and just be ourselves, without the constant distractions that come with a modern lifestyle.

The lessons of the COVID pandemic include living life at a slow pace and enjoying the experiences we once took for granted.

Suicide was fast becoming a norm until the pandemic because more people felt they were not achieving m and gave up on life, the same life everyone wants to hold unto presently. 

What could have been the problem?

Our answer is not far fetched, modern lifestyle requires a level of financial independence which is obtained by forfeiting some levels of relationships. A young person living alone or even with others may not forge lasting relationships with others other than their office colleagues who themselves are busy trying to stand out.

This has dealt a blow to communal lifestyle and family discussion time which encourages communication between people instead of the impersonal trend of messaging. 

Apps that promote interpersonal conversation had more activity and recorded more profits because everyone is encouraged to talk to loved ones to reduce the negative effects of being forced to stay home alone. 

Living in an age of information overload need simple tactics that ensure you pick only things that are of importance to you while you throw out the rest. This allows you to enjoy the little gains, appreciate the wins, and move on to try again the next day even if you lose.

There is no rule that can be said to apply to all persons, so the pace at which we move in life should not be the most important thing to us. Striving and struggling for or over material things at the expense of your health, and peace of mind is definitely not worth it.

Following social trends and opinions of others, who may be exaggerating their achievements should not be what is important, because it may just be the one limiting factor to our living a full simple life. Having tried to multitask several, I had occasion to celebrate it's a success but I still recorded failures several times.

The impact on my life

With the failures came moments of insecurity, self-doubt, and the many other questions that pop up in your head.

• Why was I not making the kind of money my colleagues are earning?
• Do I not qualify for the good life?
• What more do I do to live a good life?

This entailed more sacrifices, and every other important and date didn't seem so important again Until I made a complete turnaround and chose the simple option. Live simply, one day at a time. 

I have truly enjoyed peace, get to spend quality time with friends and family, and surprisingly made more connections that helped me.

Here is the basic routine I followed to live a simple life.

1. Start every day by connecting with God.

I am aware that not everyone believes in God, I do. I believe that connecting with him each day makes my day easier. Make out time every day to meditate and fellowship with God. 

There are things that have to be attended to the moment you wake up from house chores, chats, and messages that need urgent attention, unfinished projects... the list goes on.

Talk to God about your insecurities, doubts, unfinished projects, your expectations for the day, and get that relaxed atmosphere which signifies that God is now in control. 

Once you have set the stage on the spiritual level, you can proceed to handle the physical angle.

2.  Break your day into Segments

Allocate time for the different tasks to be accomplished each day. Clearly spell out what you want to accomplish within a particular time frame. If you assign two hours per day for social networking or personal development, stick to the schedule and enjoy every bit of it.

3.  Limit time spent on Social Media

Except for your line of business requires prolonged periods of time on social media, it is necessary to stay off social media sometimes because of its addictive nature. So many people cannot do without their phones. Comparing the level of accomplishment when on and off social media revealed that I was able to complete tasks faster, and take on assignments that I loved without the usual distractions and sometimes unhealthy competition that social media presents.

4.  Live Minimally

Too often we pressure ourselves into buying items and gadgets which we may never need more than once or twice. Why not buy only the things you really need and save up the extra cash. 

The gadgets and items that are no longer needed could be sold to raise cash or better still donate some to families that need them around you or to charities. 

Those with a long string of friends could cut down on the number of friends especially when they do not serve any useful purpose. This will create more time for you on your daily schedule.

5.  Choose Assignments that Matter

Simple living requires that we make daily choices. These choices ultimately how we end the day. Choose tasks that give you joy on completion. Begin by making a list of tasks you want to be completed for the day, next you arrange them in their order of Importance. Then pick the most important one and complete that. This removes the self-imposed pressure of having to do everything and buckling under its weight.

6.  Create a boundary between Work and Personal time

Deliberately mark out time allocated for work and personal matters. Using personal time for work-related matters could complicate your life. Switch off from work and fully enjoy time with family and friends. Use this time to unplug from the fast pace of technology to read a book with your loved ones or spend this time doing what you love.

7.  Forgive yourself and others

Forgiveness makes our lives easier. Forgive all who may have hurt you in time past even though some may never ask for it. You do not need the extra baggage that it brings. Make up for your own shortcomings and apologize to others whom you hurt. Our lives would be beautiful if it is lived worry-free. Anger and resentments only harm us further.

8.  Live within Your Means 

Stay away from the temptation to want and get things by all means, especially when you do not have the means to pay for such things. Avoid bad credit positions.

Live on what you have, make your meals, and cut costs that would have been incurred by purchasing fast food. Work out ways to pay debts and try not to take on more.

Related posts 

How to Find Clients and Jumpstart your Freelance Career. 

Why sleep is important to your health.

Eat these super foods to relieve stress.

How to manage mental stress

How to show your body the love it deserves