If you only have one resolution this year, try simplifying your life for 2016. Now I’m really not one for life gurus, motivational speeches and other such bullshit. As a realist I believe in just getting on with it rather than thinking or reading about how you’re going to improve your life. Don’t procrastinate. Don’t put things off. Just crack on and make changes in your life to make you happier. This is a blog post that has been on my mind for many months now and it’s one where I wanted to share my outlook on life with you all. Many people come to me asking how I coped as a single mother for two years and how I manage to run this blog alongside my day-job, running a home and being a Mum. I think people expect me to give some words of wisdom, but in truth – I have no idea! I guess I’ve always been a ‘do-er’ and just get things done – as well as having ninja multi-tasking skills too of course!
Most of you who will read this post don’t know me personally and so I’ve included some of the exciting changes and plans further on in this post. But you’re probably here not to find out more about me, but to read about simplifying your life. I’ve been lucky in my career to have access to some fantastic professional coaches and mentors who have supported be through various changes in my life. My most recent professional coach is Katja Gebhardt and I’d thoroughly recommend her if you too are looking for some guidance. One exercise we did was to list all of the things I do – my various ‘hats’. And then give a percentage of how much time I spend on each of those each week. This gave me a pie chart and gave me a chance to analyze my priorities and my time. By tweaking this pie chart I was able to give more time to what was important to me and therefore gave me more time.
This is the first step to simplifying your life. This year I’m going to add another couple of hats to my wardrobe and the only way I’m going to be able to be productive is to streamline my life and simplify it. If you take a step back and look at your life as a business – you can see where you can make cuts and stop doing the things that don’t matter and don’t give you a decent return. So this is my plan…
Simplifying your life
- De-clutter your home – by having a good clear-out of your entire house and your wardrobe you’ll waste less time. You know all those clothes you haven’t worn in years? Get rid… it’ll mean you can see the clothes you do wear more easily therefore making it easier for you to decide on what you’re going to wear. Clearing out the cupboards, shelves, drawers etc. of all the stuff you do not need or use will make it easier to keep your home tidy. So fill up those black bags and take them to a charity shop – you’re far too busy for a car boot sale!
- Simplify your diet – I love to cook, but I spend too much time preparing delicious meals. I don’t like ready meals and so refusing to go down that road. Instead I’ve decided to save my culinary escapades for the weekends and prepare simple suppers during the week. By cooking an extra piece of fish or meat one night, I can use it in a salad the following night. By eating really simple dished in the evening, it’ll give me back about 40-50 minutes each evening! This is probably much healthier too as simple food tends to have fewer calories. If you have any tips on this, please do let me know by commenting below!
- De-clutter your inbox – I get around 50 emails each day just for my blog. It’s an insane amount of admin that takes up so much time! Anyone who doesn’t have a blog, won’t realise just how much work goes on behind the scenes. I love being a blogger, but I’ve taken a conscious decision to unsubscribe from almost all press releases and other random newsletters that I never have time to read anyway. I’ve done this with my personal email too so that I’m not spending so much time clearing out the clutter each day.
- Look after yourself – It’s my nature to put everything and everyone before myself. I worry too much and care too much for my own good. So this year I’m going to try and be occasionally selfish and put myself first. I’m going to make sure I take my vitamins as I make my son take his. I’m going to invest in a good skin care routine and make sure I do it daily! The same goes for my hair too – the stress of the last few years has really taken it’s toll on my body as well as my mind. I actually started going grey at 31 which isn’t great! I’m also going to start doing yoga as often as I can to relax my mind and body.
2015 saw a lot of changes in my life as I prepared my home for rent and then moved house (and county). I’m a stickler for routine and settling into a new nursery run and 1 hour 45 min commute to work has been really stressful – but I’m getting used to our new home and wasted no time in decorating! The highlight of 2015 was getting engaged to my wonderful fiance in June on my home Island of Cyprus! So wedding planning is inevitable this year as is the possibility of some wedding decor-related blog posts too. If you know anyone in the wedding business who’d be up for a collaboration, just get them in touch with me!
On top of all these other things, I’ve naturally signed myself up for an interior design diploma with KLC which is a prestigious design school based in Chelsea Harbour. But I’m not totally self-destructive and chose the flexible online diploma, so hoorah for me – no deadlines!! My blog speaks for itself of my passion for interiors and I can’t wait to get stuck in to learn the ins and outs of interior design.
So 2016 looks to be an exciting, but super hectic year and only by simplifying your life can I crack on and get on with it all! I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you who read my blog regularly – I couldn’t do it without your support and I’m so grateful! Huge thanks also to my wonderful family and friends for your ongoing support, love, patience and wine!!
Much love,
Natalia xo
