When we simplify our lives we are free to spend more of our time doing the things we love and being with the people we love and less time dealing with day-to-day details. Below are three easy ways to simplify your email, postal mail and meals.
#1 – How to Simplify Your Email. First off, there are 3 types of emails.
1. Junk
2. Emails that require a response or action
3. Emails that you would like to read or use as a reference (these emails do not require a response or action).
Delete the junk immediately. Respond to the action items immediately. Store the ones you want to read or reference in a “To Read” folder. Make it your goal to clear out your inbox at the end of every business day.
Some Helpful Tips:
* Start by scanning your inbox and deleting the junk
* When possible, do important action items immediately
* Don’t feel obligated to read or respond to forwards. If you are interested in a particular one, but don’t have time at that moment to read it, move it to your “To Read” folder. Schedule time in your week to clear out your “To Read” folder by reading and deleting what’s in there.
* Never put any emails that require an action or response in your “To Read” folder
* Respond to personalized emails right away
* Stop responding when an interchange has served its purpose
#2 – How to Simplify Your Meals
When you make supper, consider double or tripling the recipe. Divide up the extra portions into containers, label and freeze them. If you were to triple your meals everyday for a week, you would have two weeks worth of frozen meals that just need to be heated up and served. Another way to simplify your meals and save money is to plan ahead. If you are making rotisserie chicken tonight, then set some aside for chicken salad sandwiches tomorrow night.
You could also make a new triple sized recipe two nights per week and simply heat up and serve already prepared meals the remaining days of the week. Just add a fresh salad on the side. Your family gets the benefit of delicious and nutritious homemade meals and you get the benefit of only cooking two nights per week plus saving money.
#3 – Simplifying Your Postal Mail
Create a specific place in your home where you deal with your postal mail. Keep a recycling bin, garbage can and paper shredder in or near that area. When your mail comes in, take just a few minutes to toss, recycle and shred. Shred all documents containing your personal information, as well as, credit card applications. Currently 68% of identity theft happens as a result of documents being stolen from recycling and trash bins. Shredding your personal documents is an easy cheap way to protect yourself.
Next, set up an “Active File System”. It’s were you keep all of the papers that you need to take action on, bills to pay, forms to complete and so on. This “Active File System” is different than your long-term file system where you keep things like policies, owners’ manuals, taxes and that sort of thing. The “Active File System is just for the day-to-day paperwork, most of which require actions from you. Keep your “Active File System” in a small portable file box in the area that you deal with your mail. This will keep your organized and help to eliminate piles of papers on your counter tops and tables.
By simplifying your life, you will free up some of your time and you may even feel calmer and happier.
“How we spend our days is of course, how we spend our lives.” – Annie Dillard
Heidi is a professional organizer, creator of The Fast-Filing Method home filing system, & publisher of Life Made Simple e-Magazine. Heidi energizes her readers’ lives by teaching effective organizational systems to help you accomplish more & GAIN peace of mind! Visit ClearSimpleLiving.com to get a complimentary subscription AND a FREE Home Organization Kit.