The 10 Most Important Things to Simplify in your Life | Joshua Becker, Becoming Minimalist

Simplicity brings balance, freedom, and joy. When we begin to live simply and experience these benefits, we begin to ask the next question, “Where else in my life can I remove distraction and simply focus on the essential?”

So begins blogger Joshua Becker. To aid readers in living "a more balanced, joyful lifestyle," he lists his 10 most important thing to simplify your life.

Here's a summary of his suggestions:

1. Your Possessions - Too many material possessions complicate our lives to a greater degree than we ever give them credit. ...
2. Your Time Commitments ... When possible, release yourself from the time commitments that are not in line with your greatest values.
3. Your Goals ... Make a list of the things that you want to accomplish in your life and choose the two most important. When you finish one, add another from your list.
4. Your Negative Thoughts ... Forgive past hurts and replace negative thoughts with positive ones.
5. Your Debt ... Sacrifice luxury today to enjoy freedom tomorrow.
6. Your Words – Use fewer words. Keep your speech plain and honest. Mean what you say. Avoid gossip. [As a writer, editor and plain-language advocate, I especially like this!]
7. Your Artificial Ingredients – Avoid trans fats, refined grain (white bread), high-fructose corn syrup, and too much sodium. ... 
8. Your Screen Time – Focusing your attention on television, movies, video games, and technology affects your life more than you think. ...
9. Your Connections to the World ... A steady flow of distractions from other people may make us feel important, needed, or wanted, but feeling important and accomplishing importance are completely different things.
10. Your Multi-Tasking - Research indicates that multi-tasking increases stress and lowers productivity. ...

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This article is featured in my daily online paper, Garbl's Simple Gifts -- available at the Simplicity tab above and by free email subscription.
For more information on clear, concise writing, check out Garbl's Plain English Writing Guide.