Title: 22 Effective Ways to Simplify Your Life

Author: Joan Yankowitz

Article:
Life in the 21st century has us all frazzled. Between cell
phones, email, long work hours, and taking care of our children
and aging parents, we've all become overextended. Sometimes,
it's all we can do to keep from screaming.

Here are 22 effective techniques that will help you to simplify
your life.

1. Make a list of goals you'd like to achieve. Then, prioritize
the list and focus on just your most important goals. Don't try
to do them all. Remember, you can only squeeze so many
activities into a 24-hour day.

2. Don't say yes when you want to say no. It's easy to say yes
just to please others. But you have a right to say no when you
don't want to do something.

3. Stop checking your email so often and turn off your cell
phone during the weekends and when you're on vacation. And give
yourself a break from constant communications with your office.

4. Delegate non-priority clerical work to others so that you can
focus on your most important tasks.

5. Don't drive all over town to save a little bit of money. Your
time is worth more than the few cents you'll save. And you'll
save money on gas, too.

6. Cancel subscriptions to magazines you never read. And read
only one newspaper per day.

7. Reduce the amount of time your watch television. Get up off
that couch and do something else. And cancel the extra cable
packages you rarely watch.

8. Clean out and organize your office. Get rid of anything
you're not using. Be ruthless.

9. Quit any organization that isn't fun or contributing to your
advancement.

10. Set up automatic bill payments and investment deposits. Try
to automate your other repetitive tasks, too.

11. Make it a policy not to work on weekends. This will force
you to complete your work during the week.

12. Stop spending time with people who drain your energy and
vitality. Eliminate negative people from your life.

13. Clean out your wallet or purse and get rid of unnecessary
credit cards and clutter. 14. Don't check your financial
portfolio every day. If you're investing for the long term,
checking your results daily will add stress to your life and can
lead to expensive and unnecessary changes.

15. Set aside time each day for yourself. Do something you enjoy
---- go for a walk, reflect quietly, plan for your future, or
meditate.

16. Track your expenses for a month, then cut back spending on
items you don't need.

17. Put your credit cards in a spot where you won't be able to
use them until you're debt-free.

18. Rent a vacation home instead of buying. You'll eliminate the
time and cost burden of maintaining the home, and you won't be
tied down to just one location for future vacations.

19. Take a vacation every year. It's no badge of honor to skip
vacations. You need to rejuvenate your body and spirit.

20. Reduce your children's planned sports and after-school
activities. You shouldn't have to use a time planner to schedule
their activities, and you shouldn't have to spend most of your
time ferrying them around.

21. Live closer to your job to reduce your commute.

22. Take a moment each day to be grateful for your family and
health.

If you use these techniques to simplify your life, you'll soon
see great results.

About the author:
For time management tips and resources, check out Joan
Yankowitz' free  "How to
Manage Your time More Effectively" Kwik Guide.