We’re at the halfway mark. Does it feel like this year is already flying by? Yes, I feel it too. Even when the days feel long, the months go so quickly. This is why I believe it’s so important to use these life hacks to simplify.
Life goes at such a fast past that if we’re not intentional in simplifying, we miss the important moments amongst all the busyness. Let’s be purposeful this summer in creating space to enjoy the best parts of life.
30 Simple Life Hacks to Simplify Your Month This June
Our monthly series continues with 30 simple life hacks to simplify your month. Download the free simplicities calendar for June. You should print out the calendar and hang it on your fridge or keep it in your planner and put it to use all month long.
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1. Declutter Your Shoes
Gather all your shoes and boots in one place. Look for shoes with wobbly heels, or those which have become misshapen over the years. Determine if they are worth fixing, if not toss them.
Next, make sure they still fit, the last thing you want to do is walk around wearing a torture device. If that’s the case either donate or toss them. You also want to make sure the shoes you’re keeping are still in style and go with more than one outfit, if not there’s no reason to keep them.
Finally, you want to declutter any shoes that no longer fit with your lifestyle. When I was working full time in a corporate office, I wore a lot of pumps, today I’m all about flats and comfort. If you’re still holding on to shoes that no longer fit your lifestyle, it’s time to get rid of them.
2. Create a Summer Meal Plan
The last thing I want to do in the summer is to turn on the oven. This means my summer meals look very different than the rest of the year.
One of the best life hacks to simplify this month is to make a list of your favorite summer meals. When you do, you’ll put an end to so much of the weeknight stress of trying to figure out what to feed your hungry people!
3. Take Something Off Your To-Do List
Our to-do lists are one of those things that seem to be never-ending. There’s always something that needs to be done. But give yourself a break today and remove one thing from your to-do list. Choose to be intentional with your time, it’s a limited asset.
4. Buy Fresh Flowers
Fresh flowers are the best. They instantly bring a sense of beauty and calm to any space. In fact, fresh flowers are probably one of my favorite ways to treat myself.
It’s a simple life hack to simplify and lift your spirits for the entire week. So next time you’re at the grocery store, stop and pick up a bouquet of your favorite fresh flowers!
5. Do Something Nice For A Family Member
Because we see them all the time, if we’re not purposeful it’s easy to forget to show a little extra kindness to the ones we love the most. Take this opportunity to do something special for a family member. A little special today gift, do their chores, or just send a text letting them know you love them.
6. Plan a Catch Up Day
Before the craziness of summer goes into full swing use today to catch up on a few tasks that need to be completed. Think about a few things you’ve been putting off and get them done today. I promise, once they’re done, you’ll feel so much lighter!
7. Take a 20 Minute Walk
Get those positive endorphins flowing and get your body moving. Exercise is so important to not just your physical health but also your mental health. Taking a 20-minute walk will help you clear your mind and feel renewed.
You’ll be amazed at how much simpler things feel by taking time for yourself and getting your body at its best. It really is one of the top life hacks to simplify!
8. Declutter Your Closet Shelves
The top of our closet shelves often holds all those things we have no place else to store. How many of the items stored here do you really use or need? If you don’t even remember what’s up there it’s time to declutter this area.
Take everything off the shelves. Anything that’s up there that you didn’t know was there get rid of. If you didn’t know it was there you don’t need it.
9. Do a Mid-Year Review
We are officially halfway through the year. This is an excellent time for a mid-year review. If you want to accomplish your goals you need to come back and check in on them.
Look at some of the goals you set at the beginning of the year, how are they going? Do you need to make some adjustments or are they still relevant? What could you be doing better, do you need to make a renewed commitment to working on them?
Spend some time today answering these questions. Then make a plan for what you need to do to make them happen before the end of the year.
10. Go to Sleep Early
Is it just me or do you feel like you’re getting less and less sleep as the week progresses? There’s always going to be something to stay up a little later for. Instead, make a choice to go to sleep a little earlier tonight. A full night’s rest is not only good for our health, but it does wonders for our attitude.
The next morning you’ll be ready to take on the day. Getting some extra sleep is a simple life hack to simplify your day.
11. Have Dinner Outside
Summer days are here and the weather is warming up. Make dinner time a little extra fun by a change of scenery and eating outside. It will feel like a special evening, use a citronella candle and you can even light a tiki torch. If you have kids they will love it!
If you don’t feel like cooking, visit a cafe that has outdoor seating.
12. Do Something Outside Your Comfort Zone
Have you read Do It Scared? It’s all about facing your fears and doing those things that scare you so you can go after your dreams. The book encourages you to stop sitting on the sidelines of your own life and go outside of your comfort zone and start living the life you’ve dreamed of.
There’s no better time to start than today!
13. Eat an Ice Cream Cone
One of our favorite summer traditions is to walk to the local tasty freeze and get ice cream cones. Enjoying an ice cream cone is a simple treat that’s inexpensive and marks summertime. Make a plan tonight to stop by your favorite ice cream shop and treat everyone to an ice cream cone.
14. Throw a Small Dinner Party
Simplifying life is all about making time for those things that matter most. What matters more than the people in your life? Show them you enjoy spending time with them by inviting a few people over for a simple dinner party.
Make something easy, like a taco bar, and just enjoy visiting and spending time together.
15. Declutter Your Books
If you’re a book lover like myself this can be quite challenging. Here’s what I want you to do, gather all your books together in one place. Take all books that you’ve read, love, and know you’ll re-read or refer back to and place them in one pile.
Now make a second pile for those books you haven’t read yet but want to. Finally, make a 3rd pile of books you know you’ll never read again. Now it’s pretty simple to declutter all the books from pile 3. See that wasn’t so bad!
16. Amend Your Budget
The mid-year point is the perfect time to go back over your budget and make any necessary adjustments. Unfortunately, prices are always going up and budget adjustments must be made.
Look over your budget and make sure it’s still working for you. Nothing makes life more complicated than not having a handle on your finances. Working on the budget may not be the most exciting thing you do, but you’ll feel so much better when you do.
17. Work on a Home Improvement Project
Our home is at the center of life. It has a big impact on how we feel. I firmly believe that simplifying life begins with simplifying your home. This is because if your home is not in order, life feels hard and complicated.
Spend today working on something to improve your home. It doesn’t need to be a big project or anything expensive. It can be as simple as cleaning out a particular area or adding some indoor or outdoor plants.
18. Don’t Forget Your Water Bottle
With our busy schedules, it’s easy to forget to drink enough water until we find ourselves thirsty. By the time you’re feeling thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. Make it easy on yourself, and bring your water bottle with you. Staying hydrated is important!
19. Have a Social Media Free Day
So many people are literally addicted to their social media feeds. Make sure you’re not one of them and declare a social media-free day.
Social Media not only complicates life by taking so much of our time, but it also leads us into the comparison trap. Instead of going there, simplify your day by ignoring all social media accounts.
20. Try a New Recipe
Truth be told, cooking is not my thing and I’m not very good at it. However, something that does make it a bit more fun is trying out new recipes. It’s an easy way to take the drudgery out of preparing nightly meals.
Think about your favorite type of food and do a Pinterest search for a new recipe to make tonight.
21. Go To a Farmers Market
This is one of my favorite ways to spend a Saturday morning. I love strolling through a farmer’s market enjoying all the fresh produce of the season and the beautiful flowers. My favorite farmers’ market also has wonderful handmade items from skilled artisans. Everything about a farmers market says slow and simple.
22. Declutter Old DVDs and CDs
These days there’s really no reason to hang on to any DVDs or CDs. They can all be accessed online or through the cloud. However, if you want to keep a few favorites do the same thing here that you did when we decluttered the books.
Make your three piles and let go of everything you know you’ll never watch or listen to. For those that you want to keep consider digital uploads. At a minimum get rid of all the cases they came in.
23. Plan Out Next Month’s Goals
When you set goals each month in the important areas of your life, you keep your focus on what’s most important. Today, plan out monthly goals for July in the area of your relationships, home environment or projects, health and fitness, finances, spiritual growth, and self-care.
This is a simple life hack to simplify your life by ensuring you make time for what matters most!
24. Get a Pedicure
It’s time to get those feet summer ready! After all, a big part of simplifying involves self-care. Taking the time to take care of yourself makes a big difference in how you feel throughout your day. If you’re feeling like a salon pedicure might be a little too indulgent, you can always do a pedicure at home.
25. Make a Summer Bible Reading Plan
Nourishing your soul is the single most important thing you do to simplify life. I promise you, that if your spirit is lacking nourishment, life will feel complicated.
Spend regular time this summer feeding your soul, by making a reading plan. Pick up a small journal, and take some notes as you read. Write out a prayer based on what you are reading and note how you’ll apply the passage to your life.
26. Order Take Out
Give yourself the night off and order take-out for dinner. What’s more simple than that?
27. Hug Someone You Love
Sometimes we need to hold on to the ones we love, literally. Next time you give a hug, hold on a little tighter and a little longer. Let them feel how much you care for them. If you’re not used to this it may feel a little awkward at first, but I promise they’ll feel loved!
28. Go Swimming
What better way to celebrate the first month of summer than to jump in the water and go for a swim. Swimming is great exercise and relaxing at the same time. Whether you go to the beach, a lake, or a swimming pool dive in and make this your best summer yet!
29. Declutter Your Craft/Hobby Supplies
This could be one of the biggest projects you have. Decluttering craft or hobby supplies is HARD! Often we have many supplies that we have every intention of using when we make the purchase. Instead, they remain unfinished projects and unfinished projects are hard to let go of.
But it’s those unfinished projects that keep you weighed down. For this reason, clearing out the craft supplies may very well be one of the best things you can do to let go and simplify!
30. Write Down Your Most Memorable Event From The Month
This is something I do each month. It only takes a few moments to reflect back on the month. This helps you focus on the positive and see how your efforts to simplify really are moving you closer toward those things that genuinely matter most.
There you have it, 30 ways to simplify in the month of June!
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