8 tiny steps to help you simplify your life today

Use these tiny steps to eliminate decision fatigue and make progress on your simplicity journey.

While you can easily make your own list of tiny steps, sometimes the hardest part about getting started is making decisions about how to start. Use this list to eliminate decision fatigue and begin to make progress, one tiny step at a time. 

1. Create a simplicity sanctuary.

Find one tiny space that will remain clutter-free starting today. This space might be your kitchen table or a corner of your kitchen table. You could make your nightstand a clutter-free sanctuary or a corner of your living room or office. Remind yourself that clutter attracts clutter and calm attracts calm. By creating a simplicity sanctuary, you’ll encourage yourself (and maybe even family members) to calm other spaces in your home.

2. Write yourself a little letter.

Remind yourself why you are simplifying, why you want to make space and what you are looking forward to on the other side of simplicity. You might also want to include a little love and forgiveness for yourself if you have been here before. Don’t carry the guilt of past attempts to simplify into your new tiny step simplicity. Give yourself the grace you’d extend to a good friend if they were trying to change something in their life.

3. Give yourself a simple pleasure.

Don’t wait until you have simplified your life, decluttered your kitchen or simplified all of your finances to give yourself a simple pleasure. Consider a simple pleasure every single day, not because you earned it or you think you deserve it, just because you want to.

4. Put your phone down.

As tiny steps go, this one has the greatest return for the smallest amount of effort. Turn your phone off or turn on a do not disturb function. If you feel nervous about missing a call, set a timer for 5 minutes and see how it feels to disconnect from your phone for a few minutes.

5. Declutter one small area on most days.

Make a list of small spots in your home to declutter. Instead of setting yourself up for failure by committing to decluttering one room a day every day, think smaller ... think tiny. An example of tiny spots might include your junk drawer, a shelf in your refrigerator, five minutes’ worth of paper decluttering, or a few items from your closet. 

6. Donate one pair of shoes that hurt your feet.

Instead of a full-on closet cleanout, donate one pair of shoes. You likely own a pair of shoes that don’t fit well or they fit so well that you wore them out. If they are in good enough shape for someone else to enjoy, donate them. If they are finished, recycle them. Life is too short to wear uncomfortable shoes.

7. Don’t buy anything for 24 hours.

You might not be ready for a year-long shopping ban, but what about a one day at a time shopping ban? Keep a list on your phone or on paper of anything you want to buy. Before you add to cart, add it to the list. When you think of something you want, before you research it or spend any time looking for it, add it to the list. Keep your list so you can review later and appreciate all of the time and money you saved. Repeat daily (or as often as you can).

8. Hide a box of stuff you never use.

Walk around your house with a bag or box and fill it up with things you never use and don’t really care about. Then, instead of donating it (which may feel like a big step), hide it for 30–60 days. If you don’t miss it, donating it will feel more like a tiny step because you’ll break the emotional hold and realize that you enjoy the space more than the stuff.

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