We've all heard the song by Lauryn Hill that starts off, "It could all be so simple, but you'd rather make it hard." That one sentence is my take on life. Some people believe that life is too good to be true if they don't face difficulties when achieving goals or pursuing relationships. Sadly, we've seen our elders or loved ones struggle so often that we don't realize that life really can be easy.
When was the last time you took advantage of the simple things in life like relaxing and enjoying family time without negativity and social media? Have you considered taking the time fill up your gas tank for the week rather than adding small amounts of gas several times in the week? You would be surprised at the difference a simple Sunday fill up would make on a hectic work week. Imagine waking up late or encountering an unexpected thunderstorm and having to add gas to your car in the midst of that chaos. Meanwhile, your card is in the back pocket of your jeans that are draped across a chair at home. OMG! Can this get any worse!? Well... yea... to add to that, you're caught in a traffic jam because of an accident on your way to work. Now you're late and out of gas on a rainy day. Simply filling your tank at the beginning of the week will eliminate one of the unknown stressors in the week ahead. Moreover, you're actually saving money by filling up at once rather than adding small amounts several times - especially with the way the gas prices have been fluctuating.
The simple family time is another stress-reliever. I've learned that my kids (and husband) tend to behave better when I spend simple family time with them. This time usually involves us sitting together to watch a movie or a few episodes of our favorite shows. We eat our favorite snacks, and we leave all electronics in our bedrooms. This time is priceless (and inexpensive). Simple family time doesn't mean we have to get dressed up and go out and spend hundreds of dollars. It's just taking time away from writing books, painting portraits, playing video games, doing homework, and playing on cell phones. It's taking time to simply enjoy each other.
What can you change in your routine to make your life simpler? When was the last time you simply got quiet to avoid an argument? Do you take the time to do "nothing" together with your family? How can you simplify your weekly routine to relieve stress? A small change can make a big difference in your life. Nobody said life would be easy -- but they didn't say it would be hard either... Have a great week by doing something simple! (Be sure to let me know how this worked out for you...)