Simply letting go

Our civilization is constantly making us richer in terms of material items and obligations. Without ever coming to rest, our daily routine is filled with activities and rituals that need to be questioned.

Reflecting on our routine activities and limiting ourselves to our essential needs can give our lives significantly more depth. With this attitude, routine activities can be changed in small steps.

Exposing time thieves

Many time and energy thieves hide invisibly in our daily routines and calendars. Typical time thieves are watching TV, surfing the Internet, maintaining devices that you basically don't need, and searching for disorganized items. It is important to realize that every new item you acquire needs to be maintained, and that this side effect will take time and energy. These “thieves” can prevent you from fulfilling the really important things in your day.

Break the habit of procrastination

Many activities and behaviors are simply “reeled off” without questioning, even though they are redundant or even a burden. These include, for example, shopping rituals at the weekend, the cult of the car and holding on to memorabilia without function or quality. Basic life circumstances such as our job, our relationships with our fellow human beings and unrealistic expectations for the future, which, when carefully analyzed, have no chance of being realized, must also be critically examined.

Often, less is more

Studies have shown that the Pareto principle also applies to possessions. According to this, we only use about 20 percent of our items with pleasure and frequently, while 80 percent of our possessions are not used and are blocking us. Classic examples are items of clothing that have not fit for a long time or have gone out of fashion. Discarding is usually the best solution. If in doubt, a “temporary throw-away” helps: store items in the basement and dispose of them after a year if they have not been accessed during that time.

Take the initiative early

By postponing important tasks, they can “grow over your head” and become unsolvable. Repetitive small tasks should be done immediately, for example, used items should be put back to their original place. The key is to prioritize the important projects in your life early on, according to the principle of “important before urgent”. Both points require constant reflection and self-discipline. However, it is easier to maintain habits than to get involved in the uncertainty of something new.

Lose ballast

The burden of tasks we carry daily is often too heavy. It is therefore consistent to clear out our own lives by eliminating unnecessary activities and throwing away useless objects. Every external change also makes us feel positive on the inside, makes us free and creates valuable rooms for the future.

Tags: Letting go, Time thieves, Decluttering