Get Organized: Take a 10-Day Simplification Challenge
Emily Ley has twin toddlers and a 6-year-old, runs a business that employs five people, writes books and creates the popular organizer line Simplified Planner. To make it all work and still have time to have a life, she has simplified in as many ways as possible.
After reading her latest book, A Simplified Life: Tactical Tools for Intentional Living, I spoke with her at length about where those of us who don’t even know where to begin should start. What follows are her suggestions for 10 easy, bite-size ways to jump-start a simpler way of living. Do just one each day as a New Year’s 10-Day Challenge, or if you’re on a roll over a weekend, complete a handful of these in a row.
Photos by Gina Zeidler
Why simplify? People juggling work, home life and other commitments can feel frazzled and “like our hair is on fire,” Ley says. “Creating some margins gives us time to breathe, to love and to be creative.” Ley’s “margins” include a gap in the schedule, an empty shelf or a clear email inbox.
Simplifying life at home requires ruthless cleaning out, whether it’s a drawer, a closet, the photos taking up space on your phoneor time commitments on your schedule. The thought of where to begin can be overwhelming.
Ley recommends starting with your house. “After you get your house in order it will inspire you to create margins in other parts of your life. It will happen naturally,” she says.
1. Grab a trash bag. “Go through all the rooms in your house and look for trash,” Ley says. “You’ll be surprised at what’s just lying around.” Whether it’s expired coupons, boxes, empty shampoo bottles in the shower, dry-cleaning tags, a dead plant or wastebaskets that need emptying, just making this first step will make you feel better.
You may even decide you’re ready to make a second round with a light look for items you can donate, like books you’re never going to read again. “This will ease you into the process,” Ley says.
2. Stop stuff from coming in. You can get started by curbing junk mail. Register at DMAchoice.orgto help stop the flow, and then take it a step further.
“If you notice certain companies sending you catalogs too often, take the time to call them up individually and get off the mailing lists,” Ley advises. “And put your number on the National Do Not Call Registry.”
3. Attack kitchen drawers. “This one is easy — there is so much extra stuff you don’t need in the kitchen,” Ley says.
“Take everything out and realize you don’t need three carrot peelers or two ice-cream scoops.”
Keep a donation box or bag nearby so you can put extras in there right away. When you’re done, put the box or bag in your car so you’ll have it handy next time you drive by Goodwill.
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4. Organize your food. Once you’re done with the drawers and cabinets, attack the food in the pantry, refrigerator and spice cabinet. (You can break this down and shoot for doing just one of these a day for a while.)
Take it all out and chuck anything that’s expired or stale. If there’s an ingredient that works only for that impossible recipe you’re never going to whip up or is something your family just won’t eat, put it in a bin for the food bank.
Get It Done: How to Clean Out the Pantry
5. Get a handle on laundry. “This is one of my favorite tips that I learned from my mother,” Ley says. “Start a new habit of throwing one load of laundry in the washing machine every morning. This keeps you from having to tackle a mountain of it on Sunday.”
With a household of five people, Ley has no time for sorting, so she uses a product like Shout Color Catcher or Carbona Color Grabber that allows her to run mixed loads.
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