Simple can be harder than complex. You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.
-Steve Jobs
Did you come up with your focus word for 2020? I have been doing this word of the year thing for the last few years, and I usually find it fun and helpful. (Although ironically, I can’t remember any of my words from years past at the moment).
I chose simplify this year to really help me stay focused on what’s most important in my life, and so far it has been quite helpful.
Here are some areas of my life where I’ve been testing out my new word (over the past month):
- Morning exercise routine- instead of trying to cram in too much in the mornings, I’ve started choosing between either my normal workout of running with my dog, weights and sit ups, or driving to the local yoga studio I recently joined and participating in one of their classes. (I’m prone to wanting to do both).
- Daily mantra- It used to be “don’t let yourself get so busy that you lose sight of what’s most important in your life. It’s now been simplified to “Don’t lose sight of what’s most important.”
- Work- I’ve spent time and energy simplifying the content on my website. It’s much more focused and streamed lined now, which I love!
- Travel- for an upcoming ski trip, we’re going to splurge on lodging by the ski hill, as it will simplify the whole experience for all of us (and skiing tends to be much too complicated to begin with for our family!).
- Home- I tried to simplify my morning routine by taking out some of the products I usually use. After a week of bad hair days, all normal products are back in my morning routine!
I love the word simplify because it helps me get down to what’s truly most important at this moment in my life. However, I also realized that I could take this too far, and over-simplifying left me wanting more in some areas of my life. So, I also gave myself permission to revert back to what was working in the past, if need be. It’s definitely been a learning experience thus far, and I plan to stick with it. Here’s to simplifying the next eleven months of my life too!
