Happy New Year! I hope you had a restful holiday season. If one of your goals for this year is to simplify your life, you’re in the right place! Today’s post features 52 ways to simplify your life in the coming year, along with a free printable download to help you stay on track.

When I turned 60 last year, one of the life lessons I shared was, “Quality over quantity in all things.” I’m a big believer that by doing less and owning less, we can get more out of our lives. So, if you’d like to have more joy, more focus, more time, and more money, try adopting a simpler approach to life. What have you got to lose?

Without further ado, let’s get to the list!

52 ways to simplify your life this year

I’ve broken the list down into categories so you can start anywhere you like. Where possible, I’ve linked to other posts I’ve written with tips and ideas on how to get started. Are you ready?

Goal setting

It’s New Year’s Day, so let’s start with goals:

• Instead of sweeping resolutions, try setting smaller monthly goals. I’ve been doing that for the last couple of years. It helps me be flexible when life gets in the way, and also allows me to celebrate small wins along with way.
• Whatever approach you take to goal setting, find a way to track your progress. I use a combination of a spreadsheet and a page in my journal.
• Start each day by making a daily priority list.

Time management

Time is the one thing we never seem to have enough of. Here are some ideas on how to make the most of the 24 hours you have in a day.

• Schedule downtime or “me time” in your calendar, and make it as non negotiable as any other meeting or appointment.
• Stop multitasking. Seriously! Science has proven that task switching makes us less productive.
• Make the morning routine part of your bedtime routine. Before going to bed, set out your clothes for the next day. While you’re at it, get out your items for breakfast and your morning coffee. I have a breakfast box where I keep my tea-making supplies.
• Learn to say no. Why is this so hard to do? In his book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, Greg McKeown suggests we focus our energy on the vital few, and anything that isn’t a definite yes needs to be a no. Learn more in this post.

Visit Time management tips to help you get more done today for more tips and ideas.

Money

Money is another thing we never seem to have enough of. Many people find money management intimidating. Here are six ways to simplify your financial life.

• Automate your bill payments so you don’t have to think about them.
• Go paperless for your account statements and bills.
• Reduce the number of accounts you hold. You might be able to lower your fees and you’ll spend less time keeping track of your money.
• Store your loyalty cards in an app. If you’re still carrying around various store loyalty cards in your wallet, try downloading an app like Klarna that lets you ditch the physical cards.
• Make a budget. I can see you rolling your eyes but tracking your spending and making a budget are the best ways to take control of your financial life.
• Lower your fees. Look for a no-fee credit card and shop around for the best deal for your day-to-day banking.

Shopping

From our physical environment to our financial lives, our shopping habits make a huge difference in all areas of our lives. Here are six shopping habits to adopt this year.

• Shop with a list.
• Buy only what you need. Take a look at this post for mindful shopping tips to save you time and money.
• A Buy Nothing challenge can help you examine your shopping habits more closely. Learn more about my Buy Nothing Challenge in this post.
• Rent or borrow items instead of buying. This is an excellent option for items you will use infrequently. Local Buy Nothing groups are a great place to start.
• Discover thrifting. Instead of heading to the mall when you need something, consider the benefits of your local thrift store. It will be good for your wallet and the Earth.
• Use a price matching app to help you get the best deals. Many stores will match competitors’ prices. I use an app called Rebee that lets me search flyers while shopping.

Food

Preparing meals takes time. I admit I could be better at meal planning, but here are a couple of things that have helped me.

• Freeze leftovers in single-serving portions you can easily thaw and heat for a quick meal. This works especially well for my favourite homemade soup recipes.
• Prepare healthy snacks ahead of time. I need to get better at cutting up veggies and keeping them in the fridge to snack on.

Space

No matter how big or small our homes, there never seems to be enough space. Here are some ways to organize and make the best use of your space.

• Declutter! You can’t organize clutter. If you missed my 52-Week Decluttering Challenge, you’ll find my checklists and links to all the weekly posts on my Decluttering page.
• Repurpose existing containers for storage. Before going out and buying fancy storage organizers, take a look at what you already have. Margarine containers, shoe boxes, and boxes from small electronics work well inside drawers.
• Adopt the one-in-one-out rule. Better still, try the one-in-two-out rule.
• Make the 2-minute tidy a habit. Every day, pick an area of your home and spend two minutes decluttering and organizing it. In your bedroom, for example, make your bed, clear surfaces, and close the closet door.

Health

Nothing matters more than our health, yet healthy habits are often the first to go when life gets hectic. Here are six simple habits to prioritize your health.

• Work out at home and avoid the drive to the gym and the cost of a gym membership. YouTube has a huge selection of workout videos for all fitness levels. Check out my previous posts for 15-minute, 30-minute, 22-minute, and even Christmas-themed workouts you’ll love.
• Choose water over sugary, caffeinated, and alcoholic drinks.
• Revisit the vitamins and other supplements you take. Do you really need them?
• Build walking into your day. It’s free and it will boost your physical and mental health.
• Prioritize sleep. Restful sleep keeps your brain sharp and lowers your risk of disease.
• Practice mindfulness. If meditation isn’t your thing, check out this post for 10 alternatives.

Clothing

Our fashion choices take lot of time and money and have a huge impact on the planet. Here are five ways to simplify.

• Air dry your clothing. They’ll last longer and you’ll save on energy costs. If you don’t have a clothesline, invest in a foldable drying rack.
• Shop your closet. Instead of defaulting to a new outfit for that holiday party or family celebration, check out what you already own first.
• Wash your clothes less often. Unless you’re doing dirty, sweaty work, you don’t need to wash your clothes every time you wear them. For example, Levi’s suggests you wash your jeans only once every 10 wears.
• Vertical storage can save you time by helping you see what’s in your drawers. Learn how in this post from my decluttering series.
• Carry a smaller purse. For years, I carried purses that looked more like small overnight bags. Switching to a smaller purse will save you time rooting for items. I now carry a small over-the-shoulder bag, and it holds everything I really need.

Travel and entertainment

This is an area that has become a lot more expensive in recent years. Here are some tips to simplify:

• Travel with just a carry on. With a little planning and smart packing, I’ve taken 16-day trips with a backpack and a small suitcase. Learn my tricks in this post.
• Cancel subscriptions to streaming services, magazines, and other services that you don’t use often.
• Read more.
• Use your local public library instead of buying books. While you’re there, check out all the other reasons to love your local library.
• Plan a staycation and check out sights in your local area.

Technology

Technology has the power to save us time and simplify our lives, but it can also do the opposite. Here are six ways to simplify your online life.

• Turn off non-essential notifications on your devices.
• Delete unwanted apps.
• Limit your tech time. If that’s hard, try to at least power down your devices an hour before bedtime.
• Unsubscribe from emails.
• Unfollow influencers. They are being paid to keep you consuming and buying things you don’t need.
• Back up your files on the cloud.

Personal care

Beauty and personal care is big business and definitely an area for simplification. Here are two things I’ve tried:

• Take a serious look at the number of products you use and find ways to reduce. Find out how I’ve replaced 12 different products with a simple jar of coconut oil in this post.
• Embrace your natural hair and skin! Instead of spending time and money straightening, colouring, and curling, consider going “natural” with your hair and skin. I can tell you from experience that it’s very freeing!

Gift giving

The holiday season is behind us for another year. There is no better time to start conversations with family and friends about future gift giving. Here are three ways to simplify:

• Charitable gifts are an excellent option. You’ll be helping out someone who needs it and reducing clutter at the same time.
• Consider a recycled, or white elephant, gift exchange with family and friends. Visit this post for a fun gift exchange game to keep things lively.  
• Experience gifts are a refreshing change from unwanted gifts. This post has ideas that might inspire you.

Your free printable checklist

I hope you found something on this list that will inspire you to simplify your life this year. Whether you choose to adopt one or two of these habits, or all 52, you’ll be on your way to saving time, money and living more intentionally. As I said earlier, what have you got to lose?

As promised, here is a free printable checklist that you can download and keep handy throughout the year. Pin it on your fridge or put a copy on your desk or in your journal. And please share it with your friends. Why not challenge each other to see who can try the most ideas?

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What are your goals for the new year? Which of these 52 ways to simplify your life would you like to try? Drop me a comment and let me know.