CHALLENGES

• TO CREATE A SIMPLER
LIFE RIGHT WHERE WE
ARE.
• GETTING RID OF
ACCUMULATION OF
POSSESSIONS.
• CUTTING BACK ON DAILY
AND WEEKLY ROUTINES.
• CHANGING BUYING
PATTERNS.
SIMPLIFYING IS NOT ABOUT GETTING
RID OF EVERYTHING - WE HAVE
WORKED SO HARD FOR

 IT IS ABOUT MAKING WISE CHOICES.

 ACCUMULATED STUFF WHICH HINDERS
ENJOYMENT.
 IT IS ABOUT SIMPLIFYING OUR LIVES WHERE
WE ARE
 WE CAN BEGIN TO MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS
TO OUR:-
 FAMILY.
 COMMUNITY
 ENVIRONMENT.
 THE FIRST STEP
• IT TOOK YEARS TO BUILD
YOUR COMPLICATED, HIGH
PRESSURE LIFE.
• IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO
SIMPLIFY IT.
• DECIDE THAT “YOU WANT TO
SIMPLIFY”.
• SCHEDULE SOME TIME TO
THINK ABOUT IT.
• EACH STEP YOU TAKE WILL
MAKE IT EASIER FOR YOU
TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP.
 SUGGESTED 30 DAYS
PROGRAMME
• GET UP AN HOUR EARLIER.
• STOP WATCHING TV.
• STOP READING THE DAILY NEWSPAPER.
• EXERCISE AT HOME.
• NO CHATTING ON PHONE.
• STOP LISTENING TO RADIO OR CD
PLAYER.
• STOP READING MAGAZINES/ ESCAPE
TYPE READINGS.
• SIMPLIFY YOU FAMILY MEALS.
 SUGGESTED 30 DAYS
PROGRAMME
• DO MINIMUM HOUSEKEEPING CHORES.
• WITH EXCEPTION OF GROCERIES,
ELIMINATE ALL SHOPPING.
• DON’T ACCEPT OR ENGAGE IN ANY
SOCIAL OR FAMILY MEETS.
• TAKE 5 MINS TO SEE IF THERE IS
ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU COULD
CHANGE OR ELIMINATE TO FREE UP
SOMETIME OVER THE NEXT 30 DAYS.
• ESCAPE TO A QUIET SPOT.
ASK YOURSELF
• WHAT IS COMPLICATING MY LIFE?
– IS IT YOUR CAREER PRESSURE?
– YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH BOSS OR CO-WORKER.
– ARE YOU SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME WORKING?
– TOO MUCH TIME COMMUTING.
• HOW CAN YOU CUT BACK IN THESE AREAS?
– NO ONE KNOWS THE MINUTEST DETAILS OF
YOUR DAY OR SECRETS OF YOUR PSYCHE BETTER
THAN YOU DO.
– NO ONE KNOWS THE ANSWERS TO THESE
QUESTIONS BETTER THAN YOU DO
 YOU MAY NOT KNOW WHAT
REALLY MATTERS
• TIME CONSUMED IN SOCIAL ENGAGEMENTS
FRITTER AWAY OUR LIVES. MAYBE THE
FOLLOWING MATTER.
– SPENDING TIME WITH SPOUSE.
– SPENDING TIME WITH KIDS AND SPECIAL FRIENDS.
– QUIET TIME ALONE.
– QUIET TIME FOR READING.
– QUIET TIME FOR PURSUING YOUR HOBBIES.
“AS PEOPLE START TO SIMPLIFY THEIR LIVES, THE
THINGS THAT REALLY MATTER NATURALLY COME
TO FOREFRONT”.
• LEARN TO MAKE GOOD CHOICES.
• GET RID OF CLUTTER.
WHAT IS CLUTTER?
•Things you do not love or use.

•Things that are dis-organised or

untidy.

•Too many things in too small

a space.

•Anything unfinished.
How clutter affects you !!!
• Having clutter can make you feel tired
and lethargic.
• Can keep you in the past.
• Can congest your body.
• Can affect your body weight.
• Can confuse you.
• Can affect the way people treat you.
• Can make you procrastinate.
• Can cause disharmony.
How clutter affects you !!!
• Can make you feel ashamed.
• Can depress you.
• Can create excess baggage.
• Can dull your sensitivity and
enjoyment of life.
• Can make you disorganised.
• Can make a health or fire hazard.
• Can create undesirable symbology.
• Can cost you financially.
• Can distract you from important
things.
 MISCELLANEOUS CLUTTER
•THINGS YOU NO LONGER
USE.
•UNWANTED GIFTS.
•THINGS YOU DON’T LIKE.
•THINGS THAT NEED FIXING.
•INHERITED CLUTTER.
•CLUTTER OF AUDIO-VIDEO
KIND.
•MYSTERY ITEMS.
•BOXES.
 HOW TO CLEAR
CLUTTER?
LET NATURE TAKE ITS
OWN RECOURSE.
WAIT UNTIL YOU DIE
AND LET YOUR
RELATIVES SORT IT OUT
FOR YOU.
TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR THE STUFF AND
CLEAR IT YOURSELF.
 ORGANISE IN BOXES
 TRASH BOX.
TRASH REPAIR
 REPAIR BOX
 RECYCLING BOX
GIFT CHARITY RETURNS
 GIFT BOX.
 CHARITY BOX.
 RETURNS BOX.
 SELLING BOX. NSIT E MMA
TRA DI L
 TRANSIT BOX
 DILEMMA BOX
 STAYING CLUTTER FREE
 A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING AND
EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE.
 GETTING ORGANIZED.
 SIMILAR THINGS TOGETHER.
 FREQUENTLY USED THINGS – WITHIN REACH.
 OFTEN USED ITEMS- EASY TO FETCH PLACE.
 ORGANIZE BY PUTTING THINGS WHERE THEY
BELONG.
 LABEL BOXES TO KNOW ITS CONTENTS.
 ARRANGE CLOTHES IN WARDROBE ACCORDING
TO COLOUR.
 BUY A FILING CABINET. AND USE IT TOO.
 CREATE STORAGE SPACE TO TEMPORARILY
PUT THINGS CURRENTLY NOT IN USE.
STOP CLUTTER BEFORE IT
STARTS.
• THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU
BUY.
• EMPTY THE WASTE BASKET
REGULARLY.
• BAN THE USE OF WORDS
“FOR NOW”.
• MAKE A RULE “ WHEN
SOMETHING NEW COMES IN,
SOMETHING OLD GOES OUT”.
 POSITIVE BENEFITS OF
CLEARING OUT.
• FEEL AND LOOK HEALTHY.
• FEEL MORE BUOYANT AND
ENERGETIC.
• HAVE A STRONG IMMUNITY TO
DISEASE.
• DERIVE MORE NOURISHMENT
FROM YOUR FOOD.
• EXPERIENCE MORE LOVE JOY
AND HAPPINESS IN YOUR LIFE.
• ENJOY MORE SATISFYING SEX.
CLEARING EMOTIONAL
CLUTTER
• Sorting out the clutter helps to calm you down.
• Decide how to forgive and let go. Forgive and
forget helps.
• Clear out your flakey friends.
• End the struggles and dance with life.
• Letting go of emotional armour.
CLEARING MENTAL CLUTTER.
• Stop worrying.
• Stop criticizing and judging.
• Stop gossiping.
• Stop moaning and complaining.
• Stop mental chatter.
• Tidy up loose ends.
• Clear up communications.
• Catch up on correspondence.
• Clear your calendar.
• De-clutter mind for restful
sleep.
• Keep yourself up to date
CHANGING OUR CONSUMER
HABITS
• WHAT CAN YOU DO TO KEEP THE CLUTTER
FROM PILING UP AGAIN?
– KNOWLEDGE OF EXISTENCE OF GOODS.
– DESIRE AND WANT.
– INSTINCTS REACH FOR THE CREDIT CARD.
• YOU BUY IT.
• ADVERTISERS – BILLIONS!!
• THE ONLY CURE FOR “ITCH” TO BUY IS TO
SCRATCH IT.
• WE CAN’T CONTINUE TO BUY ANYTHING.
• 30 DAYS LIST/PUT ON LIST AND EXTEND TO
ANOTHER 30 DAYS.
• MODICUM OF DISCIPLINE.
• NOT ONLY SAVES MONEY – REDUCES
CLUTTER ALSO.
CHANGING OUR CONSUMER
HABITS
• THE LAWS OF DIMINISHING RETURNS
APPLICABLE ON GOODS ALSO.
– REDUCED VALUE OVER TIME.
– RADIO UPGRADED TO TAPE PLAYER UPGRADED
TO VIDEO PLAYER UPGRADED TO CD PLAYER,
NOW UPGRADED TO DVD PLAYER.
• WHEN YOU BRING IN SOMETHING NEW,
THROW OUT SOMETHING OLD.
• CONSIDER LUGGAGE TAGS, POST TAGS,
FLAG INSIGNIA AND POSTAGE STAMPS AS
SOUVENIRS.
• GIFT CONSUMABLES. CAKES TO KIDS,
HAND CRAFTED BIRTHDAY CARDS ETC.
• PUT A MORATORIUM ON SHOPPING.
 USE A MONTHLY
SPENDING PLAN
• USE A MONTHLY SPENDING PLAN.
– TRACKS MONTHLY INCOME AND
EXPENDITURE.
– ESTABLISHES A WORKABLE MONTHLY
SPENDING PAN.
• INCREASE SAVINGS AND CONTROLS
EXCESSIVE EXPENDITURE.
• CONTROL OF YOUR MONEY.
• HAVING THE CONTROL TO
SIMPLIFY LIFE.
LEARNING TO SAY NO
• SAYING “NO!” DOES NOT HAVE TO
BE HARSH.
• IN OUR CULTURE, IT IS MORE
SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE TO BE
NICE THAN IT IS TO BE HONEST
OR DIRECT.
• BEING STRAIGHT IS GOOD AND
PEOPLE WILL RESPECT YOU
MORE FOR TELLING THEM.
LEARNING TO SAY NO
• REVIEW THAT YOU TRULY ENJOY
AND THEN DROP THOSE THAT
DRAIN YOUR ENERGY.
• WE ARE AFRAID THAT IF WE START
SAYING NO, PEOPLE WILL REJECT
US.
• MAKE A PHONE CALL OR TWO AND
TELL THEM THAT YOUR LIFE IS
CHANGING AND YOU CAN NO
LONGER __________.
 SIMPLE TIME
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
 HOW MANY OF US EVER WRITE?
 SPEND TIME WITH KIDS TODAY.
 TAKE TIME FOR SOUL THIS AFTERNOON.
 HAVE SEX TONIGHT.
 FUN AND CHALLENGING ADVENTURE.
 INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO STEP BACK
AND TAKE LIFE A LITTLE SERIOUSLY.
 OFTEN A QUIET SIMPLE MOMENT TO BRING
BACK DEPTH AND MEANING TO LIFE.
 ALLOWS TO CUT BACK ON TIME AND
ENERGY CONSUMING OPTIONS THAT
CONFRONT EVERYDAY.
 SIMPLE TIME
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
• TRAIN OURSELVES TO :-
– MINIMIZE CLUTTER WE
ACCUMULATE
– ACTIVITIES WE
PARTICIPATE IN.
– EXPECTATIONS WE TRY
TO MEET
– AND EXCURSIONS TO
SHOPPING PLAZA.
GREATEST CHALLENGE FACED
• “TO FIND A HAPPY BALANCE BETWEEN
THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE
AVAILABLE TO US, THE MEDIA-
IMPLANTED URGE TO HAVE THEM ALL
– AND OUR OWN DESIRE TO KEEP
FOCUSED ON THINGS THAT REALLY
MATTER”
" You can' t bel ieve how har d it
is f or peopl e to be sim ple , ho w
muc h they fear be ing
si mpl e.. .Cl ear tough- mi nded
peopl e are the most si mpl e." –
Jack Welch
THANK YOU
QUESTIONS PLEASE?