31 WAYS TO FOCUS ON SIMPLIFYING THE LITTLE THINGS

It’s so important to focus on simplifying the little things this time of year. August can be a very full month for most. It’s the end of summer and we often have a few summer plans that we need to fit in. It’s also time to start preparing for back-to-school, which includes getting that back-to-school shopping done. 

But rather than filling these last moments of summer with overflowing to-do lists, make a point to slow down and be present. Take the time to be grateful for all that summer has to offer before it’s gone.

When you focus on simplifying the little things each month you know that you’re making time for what matters most. You also make sure you’ve scheduled time to be present and enjoy your people and your life.

So to help you focus on simplifying the little things, here are 31 ways to slow down and savor the last moments of summer!

So be sure to download the free simplicities calendar for the month of August by clicking the image below. Print out the calendar and use it all month long.

If you missed July’s calendar you can find that here.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you purchase something mentioned in this post. See more details here.

1. Set up a Family Photo Session

Time goes by so fast and you want to capture all the memories you can. I love looking back at old family photos and seeing how we’ve all changed as well as reminiscing about the various life events going on at that time.

If it’s been a while since you’ve taken a family photo, schedule one this month. As an added bonus you can get the kids back to school photos taken at the same time!

2. Take a Solo Trip

This is something that should be done at least twice a year. Taking a solo trip is one of the best things you can do to prepare for the coming season. If you’ve never done this you’ll be amazed at how much it puts things into perspective.

It also serves as a much needed time for both refreshment, reflection, and planning. Even if it’s just for a night, I promise, you’ll be so glad you took the time for a mini solo trip!

3. Declutter Old Electronic Cords and Accessories

The other evening I was cleaning out my son’s room and came across a box he had of just old electronic cords and accessories. There we so many. It had me going through other areas of the house and pulling out various charging cords and other accessory items for electronics that no longer even worked.

We live in a digital world and I’m sure you’ve got your own collection going as well. So today go through your house and gather all those electronic cords and accessories. Then place them into a bag and drop them off at your local recycling center on your next errand day. (Please note these items should never be tossed into the trash).

4. Plan out Your Month

I realize we’re already 4 days into the month, but if you have not set up a plan for your month, do it today. Going into the month with a plan keeps your focus on simplifying the little things. By having a plan you’re able to make room for those things that matters most.

Look at your month and list out on your planner those must-do items (think about things like back-to-school shopping and registration). Next start scheduling those activities you want to do. Write them on the calendar and keep them the same as you would any other appointment!

5. Make Your Favorite Food for Dinner

When planning out my meals each week, usually I focus on planning meals that I know my family enjoys. Everyone has a favorite meal and I rotate those throughout the month. However, rarely do I purposely plan to make my favorite meal. But you know what, I deserve to make my favorites every now and again and so do you!

Whatever you have planned for dinner tonight, make sure it’s one of YOUR favorites.

6. Schedule Nothing

One of the problems with our society today is the idea that having all the spaces on our calendar filled, is a badge of honor. A blank or white space on our calendar somehow means we’re failing. Let me tell you nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, this is the reason we’re stressed out and overwhelmed.

It’s time to simplify your life and stop the busyness for the purpose of being busy. For today, take anything you’ve scheduled off your calendar and schedule nothing. Just enjoy the moments that come!

7. Make a List of What Matters Most

The reason to focus on simplifying the little things is so that you have time for what matters most in your life. However, if you’re not clear on what those things are, you’re going to have a hard time making them happen.

To make sure you’re clear on what matters most to you, and planning those things in your life, spend some time writing out a list of what your priorities are. Now look at that list and make sure your life reflects that focus. If not, it’s time to make some changes. Here are some ways to help you make time for what matters most to YOU!

8. Take a Slow Drive

This was something I did often when I was younger. I’d love to get in the car and just drive. Sometimes I’d end up at the beach and other times I’d end up at Denny’s restaurant 40 miles away. I’d often just turn around and drive back.

So often when we’re driving it involves rushing through traffic and being stressed out. Driving slower with no particular destination can be so peaceful. Anytime we’re able to slow down something we’re used to rushing through makes everything feel a little simpler!

9. Plan an Afternoon Date with Your Child

This is the time to be fully focused on your child. Do something you know they’d love, but also something that will allow you to have a conversation. Ask questions and listen more than you talk.

This will help you really get to know your child and make them feel loved and cared for at the same time!

10. Declutter Socks and Under Garments

This is an area that’s easy to forget about. I feel like I always find items with more than a few holes when I declutter this area. Both socks and undergarments have a tendency to stretch out and need to be replaced more often. Freshen up these items by tossing anything that’s ripped, stretched out, or in need of replacing, then go ahead and replenish what you need.

11. Plan a No Spend Week

This is always a good idea to do on a regular basis. If you’ve never planned a no-spend week there are some good articles out there on how to make it happen. Debt Free Forties has a good article explaining the benefits and strategies as well.

To make it even better, take the money that you saved and donate it to a cause that’s near and dear to your heart!

12. Try out a Relaxing Facial Mask

Set the tone for your week with a relaxing face mask. This one is my current favorite!

If you really want to focus on simplifying the little things, what better place to start than with a little self-pampering!

13. Take an Evening Stroll

One of the things that makes summer special is late evening strolls. The days are longer and the weather cools down in the evening, which makes it the perfect time for a nice stroll through the neighborhood or even along the beach or a lake.

Whether you prefer to stroll alone or with a special someone, enjoy this unique summertime activity before summer comes to an end!

14. Take a Nap

There’s something about taking a summertime nap that just exudes simplicity and slow living. Laying down and doing nothing for 15 to 30 minutes will renew your energy well into the evening.

15. Automate Bill Payments

When I think of the various ways I’ve sought to simplify my life over the years, I have to say paperless and automated billing rank at the top! Not only does it eliminate paper clutter and avoids late fees, but it also saves me sooo much time. I can literally pay my bills from almost anywhere with the click of a button.

If you have not signed up for paperless or automated billing you need to do that today!!!

16. Be Positive

There’s a lot of truth to the adage that we are what we think. A negative mindset causes stress and a host of other issues. On the other hand, a positive mindset helps you move forward, and boosts your motivation and productivity.

Instead of staying in a negative space that will do nothing to solve your problems, focus on the positive, and lay those heavy burdens at the feet of Jesus. Once you do everything will feel a whole lot simpler.

17. Declutter Purses Handbags and Backpacks

This has never been a huge area of clutter for me. I’m not one to change pursues often and I usually make my kids wear out their backpacks. However, I know that for some of you, this could be a big job.

Well no matter what size the job is, today is the day to tackle it. Start by taking out ALL pursues and bags. Toss any items that are damaged and you know you’ll never repair.

Next, be realistic, is the clutter worth having a purse to match every outfit? When we talk about ways to focus on simplifying the little things this is one of them. 

Pick out just a few favorites that are of good quality and let go of the rest. 

18. Plan a Bulk Cooking Day

No matter how much time I’ve spent simplifying life, there are those days when it’s just busy. The end of summer and heading back to school is certainly one of them. It’s during these days that you arrive home around dinner time and exhausted from the day’s events that you will be so thankful you’ve got a freezer full of meals ready to go and very little clean-up to follow.

You can either spend a day making a week’s worth of meals for those busy nights or my personal favorite is to double up a few recipes during the week. Just stick the extra in the freezer.

Once again, this is a perfect way to focus on simplifying the little things.

19. Be Creative

Both my Husband and Children and insanely creative. They are great singers, they play musical instruments and can draw almost anything. I, on the other hand, have zero musical gifts. I couldn’t sing on key if my life depended on it and well, I struggle just to draw stick people.

Nevertheless, I still love to be creative within my limited abilities. I can color, make crafts, and I love to decorate and style my house. Whatever it is, it’s a great way to slow down and simplify. Creating anything reduces stress and helps you to focus on simplifying the little things.

20. Meet a Friend for Breakfast

Visiting with a friend is such a great way to start your day. I always feel like my whole day is just a little simpler when I get the opportunity to meet a friend for breakfast. Plus it frees my day to take care of other things that may need to get done.

Call a friend and make a plan to get together for breakfast. You’ll be so glad you did!

21. Celebrate Someone

Far too often we wait to celebrate the important people in our lives until it’s their birthday or some other special occasion. But why wait? Celebrate someone important to you for no reason other than you think they deserve it.

You can go all out with a full party, or keep it small and make them a special meal or find them a special gift. Just do something to celebrate someone you appreciate!

22. Set up a Landing Space

A question I hear often is “how do I keep my dining room table free of clutter when my family walks through the door all their stuff ends up on the table”. Can you relate to this? If so, to avoid the dreaded clutter creep all over your dining room table set up a landing space.

Essentially, this is a spot for everyone’s stuff to land when they come through the door. Even if you have a small space you can do this.

Find a small bookshelf or end table and place a simple basket on top to hold keys, mail, and other small items. Pursues, Backpacks and other larger items can be stored on the shelf below.

Having a specifically designated landing space will keep your dining room clutter-free.

23. Tidy as You Go

Messes accumulate because we leave items out until we’re ready to clean the room. However, developing the habit of tidying up as you go about your day will save you hours of cleaning time each week.

When you’re done using an item, instead of placing it down on a flat surface, put it away right then and there, in the end, it’s so much easier. I also schedule two 15-minute times in my day, one in the afternoon and one in the evening just to tidy up anything that may be left out. It’s been an excellent way to keep the house mess-free!

24. Declutter Old Receipts and Coupons

Most of us keep way more paper in our house than we actually need. A lot of it tends to be small loose pieces of paper, like receipts and coupons.

Today’s the day to go through all those little papers and get rid of anything that’s expired or no longer needed. If you do have receipts that you need to keep for tax records take a few minutes to scan them or take a photo and toss the original. You’ll feel so much better having that area clean and clutter-free.

25. Plan goals

If you’ve read any of the previous months’ simplicity calendars, then you know I encourage you to plan out new goals each month.

When you set goals each month in the important areas of your life, you keep your focus on simplifying the little things by making sure you’re working on what’s most important. The areas I try and set goals for each month are the area of relationships, home environment or projects, health and fitness, finances, spiritual growth, and self-care.  

I want to challenge you to spend a little bit of time today thinking through and setting goals in each of these key areas!

26. Wake up Early and Enjoy the Quiet

Unless you live alone it’s not very often that you have a completely quiet house. And even if you do there is something about the early morning hours that are so restful.

Waking up a little early than everyone else every now and again is a fantastic way to focus on simplifying the little things. Whether you choose to just sit and enjoy the quiet, meditate, pray or read, set your alarm 30 minutes earlier and enjoy the peace the morning will bring.

27. Acknowledge What You’ve Already Got

So often we get hyper-focused on setting goals and achieving the next milestone, or even on simplifying our life that we forget how much we already have. No matter where your life is right now you’ve achieved some amazing things. To truly focus on simplifying looking back on the little and big things you’ve accomplished is important.

Today take the time to reflect back on all you’ve accomplished and look around at all you’ve got!

28. Delegate What You Can

I’ll confess, I’m really not very good at delegating. But, I’m working on being better because it’s so important. It’s especially important when you want to focus on simplifying the little things. The more you can remove from your do-to list by delegating, the more time you make for what matters most.

Whether you have the budget to delegate cleaning tasks to a cleaning service or order groceries online to be delivered, it helps make things feel simpler. Even if you have a low budget, start delegating tasks to your kids, I promise they can do a lot more than you think they can!

29. Sign Up For Amazon Prime

Speaking of saving time with online grocery shopping, Amazon Prime has been a lifesaver when it comes to simplifying. I absolutely love the ease and convenience of doing the vast majority of my shopping online, and then most of that with Amazon.

Amazon Prime allows you to get free two-day shipping on virtually anything you need. Plus there are also a host of other benefits that come with it. If you don’t have Prime, it’s worth signing up for when you’re trying to simplify.

30. Frame Your Child’s Artwork

How often does your kids’ artwork end up in a folder stored away somewhere in your house? This is what creates clutter. You’re keeping their artwork because it means something to you, however, you’re not enjoying it. Why not pick out some of your favorite pieces for framing?

It’s one of the best things you can do to make your kids feel special and loved. And it’s so simple to pick up a few frames and hang them in different rooms.

31. Write down Your Favorite Memory from August

It’s time 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, 31 ways to focus on simplifying the little things in the month of August!