Life can be complicated enough without our making it any harder. And between everything we need to do and everything we somehow convince ourselves we should do, it's easy to spend far more time and energy than we'd like just trying to keep up.
For those of us living with chronic pain or other ongoing challenges, finding easier ways of doing things often becomes a necessity. But really, who couldn't benefit from making everyday life a little less demanding? Even without those specific challenges, there's something to be said for choosing the simpler route when we can.
Last week, I wrote about the importance of reducing the demands we place on ourselves, including the things we might be able to stop doing. (If you missed it, you can find that post here.) This week, I'd like to take that idea a little further and look at practical ways we can make life easier — not so we can add one more thing to think about, but so we can enjoy a little more breathing room.
Here are ten possibilities worth considering.
1. Make your everyday routines simpler.
We all have routines we follow without giving them much thought, but that doesn't mean they're necessarily working well for us. Maybe our morning routine takes longer than it needs to, or we spend too much time preparing meals, cleaning up, or getting ready for the day. It's worth asking ourselves: Is there a simpler way to accomplish the same thing? Often, even a small adjustment can save time and effort every single day, and those little savings can really add up.
2. Prepare ahead when it makes tomorrow easier.
Sometimes a few minutes of preparation here and there can make a big difference later on. We might set out what we'll need in the morning or make enough dinner to have leftovers the next day. Even taking care of a small chore before it turns into a much bigger one can be a relief. Of course, the idea isn't to add more tasks to our already busy days. It's about recognizing those moments when doing a little now can make life considerably easier for our future selves. You might even discover a new kind of gratitude for having thought ahead!
3. Stop treating every message as something requiring an immediate response.
Just because our phones ping or a new email appears doesn't mean we have to drop everything to respond. (Yes, I’m reminding myself of this one, too.) Most messages aren't nearly as urgent as they might feel, and constantly interrupting ourselves can make even simple tasks take longer. It's perfectly okay to finish what we're doing, take a short break from electronics, or simply wait until we're ready to reply. To help keep things in perspective, remember this: The world isn’t going to stop turning if someone has to wait an hour or two to hear back from us.
4. Make your home work for you rather than the other way around.
Our homes are supposed to make our lives comfortable, but sometimes the way we've arranged things creates more work than we realize. Maybe a piece of furniture makes it awkward to move around the room, or the way we've organized a space no longer suits how we actually use it. There's no rule that says we have to keep things arranged a certain way just because that's how they've always been. A few simple changes can make our living spaces easier to navigate and more enjoyable to spend time in. I’ve even found that it makes my home feel a bit freshened up, too.
5. Keep frequently used items where they're easiest to reach.
How often do we find ourselves bending, stretching, climbing, or rummaging through cupboards to retrieve things we use every day? I used to need a stepladder to reach even basic items in my kitchen. Keeping frequently used items within easy reach can eliminate a surprising amount of unnecessary effort. It sounds obvious, I know, but it's amazing how long we can put up with inconvenient arrangements without thinking to change them. That might mean moving everyday dishes to a lower shelf, keeping cleaning supplies in the rooms where we actually use them, or finding a more convenient spot for the things we reach for often. Remember: There's no prize for making ourselves work harder than we need to!
6. Let some things be good enough.
Not everything we do needs to be done perfectly. (Yes, this is coming from a recovering perfectionist.) Sometimes a quick tidy-up really is enough, a simple meal is perfectly fine, a ponytail looks just as nice, and an email doesn't need to be rewritten five times before we send it. We can spend an awful lot of time and energy trying to get things just right when, in reality, good enough would serve us just as well. This isn’t to say we should never do our best or take pride in what we do, but it's worth remembering that not everything deserves the same level of attention and effort.
7. Stop automatically volunteering for additional responsibilities.
It's a wonderful thing to be helpful, but sometimes we're a little too quick to offer our time and energy before considering whether we actually have either to spare. We hear about something that needs doing and immediately think, Oh, I could take care of that! (Guilty. 😅) Before we know it, we've added another obligation to an already full plate. And while our intentions may be good, we don't have to be the first person to raise our hand every time. Sometimes it's worth waiting to see whether someone else will step forward. They might be perfectly happy to help — if we give them the chance.
8. Choose convenience when it's worth the cost.
Saving money is important, and we value being thrifty when we can. Still, the least expensive option sometimes comes with a cost of its own. Whether it's paying a little extra for grocery delivery, buying the pre-cut vegetables, or replacing something that's become more trouble than it's worth, convenience can be a worthwhile investment. We do still have to work within our budgets, but when we can afford to make something easier, there's no reason to feel guilty about it. Our time and energy have value, too. For those of us with chronic conditions, this can be a real game-changer.
9. Give yourself permission to change your mind.
Just because we've made a decision doesn't mean we're obligated to stick with it forever. Maybe we've agreed to attend an event, taken on a project, or made plans that no longer feel manageable. Circumstances change, priorities change, and sometimes we simply realize that something isn't working for us. While we still want to be considerate of others, there's nothing wrong with reconsidering a decision when we have good reason to do so. Changing our minds doesn't automatically mean we've made a mistake. Sometimes it just means we're paying closer attention to what we need now, rather than what we thought we'd need before.
10. Leave some room in your day for absolutely nothing.
It's tempting to fill every available moment with something productive, especially when our to-do lists never seem to end. But not every spare minute needs to be “put to good use.” Sometimes we can simply sit with a cup of tea, watch the birds outside, or put our feet up without feeling obligated to accomplish anything. We don't always need a plan or even something to show for our time. Sometimes doing absolutely nothing is exactly what we need.
Living with chronic pain may have taught some of us just how important it is to conserve our energy, but making life easier doesn't have to be something we do only out of necessity. We can choose to do it simply because it makes really good sense, regardless of our circumstances. And we don't have to overhaul our lives to make a difference, either. Sometimes all it takes is questioning an old habit or making a small adjustment, and giving ourselves permission to do something the easier way. After all, life comes with enough challenges of its own. There's no reason not to simplify things whenever we can.
With you on the journey,
Julie 🍃