There never seem to be enough hours in a day. Sometimes you can’t even remember the last time you laughed or simply enjoyed a moment of doing nothing at all.

    Ever in your car at a stoplight and glance over at the car next to you and everyone in the car looks so happy? You know that feeling of heartache when you wonder how you got to the point you’re at — tired, overwhelmed and frustrated? Perhaps you want to slow things down so you can find your center again. Maybe you want to feel energized or as if you matter in some personally fulfilling and validating way. Is your life lacking purpose, authenticity and balance? You can rediscover your anchor and get off the fast track to nowhere. Simplifying your life doesn’t require kickboxing, feng shui, moving off the grid or quitting your job.

    It’s inevitable that life is going to happen. There are going to be circumstances beyond your control, but you do have control over many aspects of your life. It’s all about identifying, prioritizing and making choices. You can eliminate the excess to find some time for what matters to you. Many of these choices and decisions take little effort.

    SHED A COMMITMENT: Are you buried in obligations that you dread? Take a hard look at your commitments and let go of a single activity that isn’t necessary. Consider whether there are more activities you can limit or relinquish, and decide what obligations are past their useful purpose in your life.

    PURGE CLUTTER: Scale down and get rid of what you don’t need. How much time and energy is your “stuff” robbing from you? You don’t have to purge your entire home in a day. Start out with a decluttering project, such as clearing drawers or closets, first. Then set up a plan to remove clutter room by room. Ask yourself which items have true value.

    SAY NO MORE OFTEN: Create boundaries for yourself. It’s OK to say no. People are going to take however much you’re willing to give. Don’t apologize for it. Send out a strong message to others that you know your priorities and your time is important.

    SAY YES MORE OFTEN:Be spontaneous and remain open to new experiences. Stretch outside your comfort zone.

    CONNECT: Make time for friends and family. How long have you been simply too busy? Whether it’s a handwritten note, phone call or lunch, reach out because you need your tribe. Ask for help when you need it, too.

    DO SOMETHING YOU LOVE: Learn a new skill, or simply spend time doing activities you enjoy or are passionate about. Simplifying isn’t merely about getting rid of things. It’s about prioritizing your values.

    DEVELOP ROUTINES: Routines can help you streamline your day. Managing your time wisely gives you free time for what you value most. Evaluate your current system of doing common tasks. See how you can improve your systems.

    LIMIT YOUR PLUGGED-IN TIME: Turn it off. Limit television, cell phones and computers. You don’t have to be plugged in 24/7. You’ll be amazed how much pressure stems from these sources.

    BE MINDFUL AND GRATEFUL: Take some time to savor your food, enjoy your own backyard, read a book or just take everything in. Do whatever it takes to be in the moment. Give yourself the luxury of time alone. Appreciate and be thankful for what you have.

    我們總覺(jué)得每天時(shí)間不夠花。有時(shí)你甚至記不住自己最后一次笑或是沉在無(wú)所事事之中是什么時(shí)候。

    你可曾在車(chē)?yán)锏燃t綠燈的時(shí)候瞥見(jiàn)旁邊車(chē)輛里的每個(gè)人都很開(kāi)心？當(dāng)你疑惑著自己為何會(huì)處于現(xiàn)在這種疲乏、不知所措、沮喪的狀態(tài)時(shí)，你是否會(huì)感覺(jué)到心痛？也許你想要放慢腳步，因?yàn)槟菢幽憧梢哉业皆�點(diǎn)。也許你想讓自己充滿(mǎn)活力或者看上去是在實(shí)實(shí)在在地工作。你的生活是否缺乏目標(biāo)、真實(shí)性與平衡？你可以重新找到起航點(diǎn)，離開(kāi)那條快速卻又沒(méi)有終點(diǎn)的軌跡。使生活變簡(jiǎn)單并不要求你會(huì)跆拳道、懂風(fēng)水或是辭職。

    生活總是要繼續(xù)。你不免會(huì)遇到自己掌控不了的狀況，但你不得不克服。這就要靠你去辨別、區(qū)分事物優(yōu)先次序并且作出選擇。你可以通過(guò)剔除額外事省下時(shí)間做對(duì)自己重要的事。而你只需花一點(diǎn)點(diǎn)功夫就能做出這些選擇和決定。

    拋棄一項(xiàng)承諾：你是否被埋沒(méi)在你所恐懼的義務(wù)之中？回顧下你所許下的承諾，拋下一件對(duì)你而言并不重要的事。想一想，你是否可以限制、拋棄更多的事，再?zèng)Q定有哪些責(zé)任對(duì)你的人生至關(guān)重要。

    清除混亂：按比例縮小甚至放棄對(duì)你而言無(wú)疑義的事。你的工作剝奪了你多少時(shí)間與精力？你不需要在一天內(nèi)整理完整個(gè)房屋。首先，你的目標(biāo)就是把房間理理整齊；所以你可以先整理抽屜或是壁櫥；然后，計(jì)劃一個(gè)個(gè)房間挨個(gè)地整理。試問(wèn)自己哪件事是實(shí)實(shí)在在有價(jià)值的。

    多說(shuō)“不”：要為自己劃分界線。說(shuō)“不”是沒(méi)問(wèn)題的。人永遠(yuǎn)不會(huì)嫌自己拿得多。別為此抱歉。你得言辭激烈地告訴別人你的時(shí)間很寶貴，你有重要事要忙。

    多說(shuō)“是”：要主動(dòng)接受新的經(jīng)歷，對(duì)此保持歡迎的態(tài)度。擴(kuò)大自己的舒適區(qū)。

    聯(lián)系：為朋友、家庭留下時(shí)間。你忙了多久了？不論是手寫(xiě)留言、電話還是午餐，你都應(yīng)該通過(guò)這些方式與別人多聯(lián)系，因?yàn)槟阈枰�有自己的部落。需要幫助的時(shí)候，你也可以尋求援助。

    做自己喜歡做的事：學(xué)一項(xiàng)新技能，抑或花點(diǎn)時(shí)間做自己喜歡做的事。簡(jiǎn)單生活并不代表你要一味地拋棄，而是學(xué)會(huì)處理最具價(jià)值的事務(wù)。

    養(yǎng)成慣例：慣例可以使你的每日生活變得流暢。理智地支配時(shí)間能夠幫助你騰出時(shí)間做有意義的事。自己評(píng)價(jià)一下現(xiàn)在處理平常事務(wù)的方式，觀察一下那里可以改進(jìn)。

    限制緊張狀態(tài)：關(guān)掉電視、手機(jī)和電腦。你沒(méi)必要一星期每天24小時(shí)地處于緊張狀態(tài)。你會(huì)很驚異地發(fā)現(xiàn)，這些東西給你帶來(lái)了多大的壓力。

    多留心、多感激：品味你吃的菜，在自家后院享受自然，看書(shū)等等。做一切你覺(jué)得享受的事。讓自己體味時(shí)間的華麗。感激自己所擁有的。