On a scale of 1-10, how stressed are you feeling right now?
Answered higher than a 6 or 7? It’s time to reduce those stress levels! Not sure how? Don’t worry because this post has you covered and your life is about to get a whole lot easier!
Whether it’s conquering your to-do list, living with less clutter or going to bed feeling like you’ve accomplished instead of just spinning in circles, this post has the answers. No matter how busy your schedule might be, the tips and tricks I’m sharing in this post will have you feeling calmer and more organised in no time.
Below are my top 30 best steps you can take RIGHT NOW to make life easier to manage today! Ready to find out what they are? Let’s dive in!
(This post comes with a FREE cheatsheet for you to download so that you can refer back to these 30 awesome life hacks any time you want. Find the link to get your copy at the bottom of this post.)
30 simple ways to make life easier…
#1. | Have a master task list
Feel like you spend more time adding things to your to-do list instead of ticking them off? You need a master task list! Why? Because when your to-do list is a mile long, it can be pretty overwhelming! And when you’re overwhelmed, it can be hard to figure out what your priorities are. And not knowing what your priorities are can really stress you out.
But having a master task list reduces some of that stress. Yes, it’s one more list, but it’s a list you’re going to want to make – trust me! When you have a master task list as well as a to-do list, you’re able to focus on what needs doing WITHOUT getting overwhelmed.
Write out everything on your master task list and use that to create your to-do list. Then, at the start of each day, simply scroll down your master task list. Pick the top three things you need to do and add them to your to-do list. Don’t add anything new to your to-do list until you’ve ticked those three things off.
Do it this way and you’ll feel like you’re achieving instead of drowning. PLUS, you’ll be able to keep all of your to-dos in one place WITHOUT feeling overwhelmed!
ACTION STEP: Download my FREE Master Task List printable and get writing! You’ll find it in my Subscriber’s Resource Library. To get your hands on it, simply sign up for the cheatsheet that goes with this post and gain access to it at the same time!
#2. | Have a five-minute task list
If your to-do list is anything like mine, I bet you have a few items on there that can be done in five minutes or less? And that although you know they could probably be done in the time it takes to boil the kettle, you frequently leave them for another day. How do I know that? Because I do it too!
But do you know what? When those five-minute jobs are done, life feels a lot less stressful! Instead of feeling weighed down by a ton of annoying little jobs we keep meaning to do, we’re free to focus on other more important tasks that need our attention.
To create your five-minute list, scroll down the master task list you’ve just created. Which tasks can be done in five minutes or less? Make a separate list of all those five-minute tasks. Then, next time you have a spare few minutes, pick one and get it done. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you start working your way through your to-do list. No more annoying little jobs stressing you out!
ACTION STEP: Download my FREE Five-Minute Task List printable and get writing. You’ll find it in my Subscriber’s Resource Library. To get your hands on it, simply sign up for the cheatsheet that goes with this post and gain access to it at the same time!
#3. | Eat that frog
You know the Mark Twain saying “Eat a live frog first thing every morning and nothing worse will happen to you for the rest of the day.”? Well, it’s the same whenit comes to your to-do list! Yes, it’s tempting to put off tasks that are difficult or overwhelming. But those are usually the ones that have the biggest impact in moving the ball forward once completed.
Instead of feeling stressed at the end of the day because yet again you’ve not tackled that one important task, take Mark Twain’s advice and eat that frog! Each morning ask yourself what your biggest frog is. Write it at the top of your to-do list and do it BEFORE you do anything else. You’ll be amazed by how much those stress levels plummet – and how more accomplished you feel!
#4. | Adopt the two-minute rule
When we’re tired at the end of a long day it can be hard to follow even the most simplest of tasks through. All we want to do is kick our shoes off, turn on the TV and veg out on the sofa. And so, we leave our shoes by the front door instead of putting them away. We pick up the mail and throw it on the side with the intention of opening it later. We leave our clothes on the floor thinking we’ll pick them up tomorrow. And we leave the dirty dishes on the side telling ourselves we’ll do them in the morning.
But more often than not, we don’t. Despite best intentions, we get distracted or we run out of time. And all of the little tasks we didn’t do the night before lead to mess and clutter building up. And all that mess and clutter stresses us out. Make your life easier and reduce those stress levels by adopting the two-minute rule.
If it only takes two minutes to do something, just do it. Put your shoes away when you get in. Open that mail and file it – or just throw it away. Hang your clothes back up or put them in the wash bin when you take them off. You might not feel like doing it at the time but following tasks through really does make all the difference. Not only will your home stay tidier longer, you won’t be constantly clearing up either. And that’s guaranteed to make life less stressful!
#5. | Batch your tasks
Want to get more done in less time? Try batching your tasks. I discovered this a couple of years ago and I cannot tell you the difference it has made to my life. Not only has it made me more efficient, I’m also able to fully focus on the task at hand without getting distracted. No longer do I spend my days running here, there and everywhere.
For instance, if I have clothes for the clothing bank, I put them in the car and drop them off next time I go to the supermarket. Whenever I have several phone calls to make I set aside a few minutes and do them all at the same time. And if I have multiple errands to run in town, I save them up and do them all in one go. Not only does this save me time, I spend less on parking and less on fuel too. I also spend less time sitting in traffic – which definitely reduces my stress levels!
#6. | Do what makes life easier
We all have tasks that we keep putting off. Things that if we just got on with and did, our lives would be so much easier. It’s tempting to say “not right now”, “maybe later” or “I’ll do it tomorrow”. But if we do that too often, those jobs build up and we start to feel overwhelmed. And when we feel overwhelmed, we feel stressed out too.
Simplify your life by doing what you know will make life easier. What jobs or tasks do you keep putting off? What jobs need doing that would make your life easier to manage? If something is broken, fix it or throw it away and replace it. If the batteries need changing, change them. Need a picture putting up? Put it up. Need to change that dentist appointment? Change it. Do what you know will make your life easier and I promise your life will become a lot less stressful. Resist the urge to do it later!
#7. | Plan your week the Sunday before
Heading into a new week not knowing what you have going on is a sure-fire way to increase those stress levels. But use your Sunday to create a battle plan and you’ll wake up Monday morning feeling organised and in control. Set aside a few minutes every Sunday afternoon (or evening) to check-in with your diary. Ask your spouse what they have going on. Look at what your kids are doing at school. Create a meal plan. Write out your shopping list. Go through your master task list and figure out your priorities.
Planning your week the Sunday before will only take you about ten minutes to do but it’ll save you SO much stress and hassle. There’s no last-minute panics or unexpected surprises. You’re less likely to forget things and you’ll know exactly what you need to do to have a successful week.
#8. | Prep the night before
Just like planning your week the Sunday before helps to keep those stress levels low, prepping the night before makes life easier to manage too. Save yourself from a mad dash in the morning by taking the time to get things ready BEFORE you go to bed. It might seem like too much hassle when all you want to do is go to sleep but you really will thank yourself come morning. Those few minutes prepping for the following day really do make all the difference.
Ask yourself what you need for tomorrow and get it out ready. Need to remember to take something with you to work or the kids need to take something to school? Put it by the front door. Need meat for tomorrow’s dinner? Take it out the freezer and let it defrost in the fridge overnight. Need to make your lunch in the morning but know you’re going to be pushed for time? Prep all the non-perishable items before you got to bed. Have a ton of laundry to do? Put the first load into the machine ready so that come morning all you need to do is hit the ‘on’ button.
#9. | Build buffers into your day
The five-minute doctor appointment with the forty-five minute sit in the waiting room. The phone call that’s supposed to be quick but you’re kept on hold for 20 minutes. Or the meeting that overruns when there was nothing of significance to discuss. Or the haircut appointment you need to get your child to but they’re late out of school and now you’re sitting in traffic.
Why is it that things always take longer than planned? Or that there are delays when we have somewhere to be? Those little annoyances and time stealers can really add up. And if we’re already pushed for time or have a lot on, they can really stress us out too!
We might not be able to plan for every unexpected delay but we can make life easier by building buffers into our day. Have a 20-minute meeting? Block out thirty minutes. Save phone calls for your lunch break or nap time. Have an appointment to get to? Allow travel time in between. Know you’re going to have less time to get dinner ready? Choose a meal that’s quick to prepare or put something in the slow cooker before you leave the house that morning.
#10. | Clear as you go
I don’t know about you but there’s nothing I hate more than coming down to a mess first thing. It just stresses me out and sets me up for a bad day before my day has even started! But there’s one thing that helps me to stop this from happening. And that’s clearing as I go. Just like the two-minute rule and prepping the night before, it really helps keep those stress levels down.
If like me you hate coming down to a mess in the morning, try clearing as you go. Wipe down your counters when you’ve finished cooking. Load your dishes into the dishwasher as soon as you’ve eaten. Fold that pile of laundry as soon as you take it off the line. Take the pile of toys upstairs with you when you go. And reset your rooms before you go to bed – straighten the cushions, put the remote controls away and put empty cups and glasses in the kitchen.
#11. | Use the reminders app on your phone
Remembering everything we need to do when there’s so much going on is no easy feat. But there’s one thing we can do to make sure we don’t drop the ball. And that’s using the reminders app on our phone. This simple trick makes sure I never forget to take my medication or text a friend happy birthday. It also reminds me to take the dinner out of the freezer for tomorrow and when I need to go collect my youngest from school. No more clock watching for me!
If you struggle to remember what you need to do when, or would benefit from a gentle reminder now and then, give it a try. It only takes a few minutes to set up but it makes all the difference. The app is there waiting to be used, so why not use it?!
#12. | Get up earlier
I’m SO not a morning person. Even though I want to be. I’ve tried many times to convert the night owl in me but I’ve not managed it yet. The reality is that I like my bed far too much. It’s just too tempting to hit that snooze button and hide under the covers – especially when it’s cold or miserable outside!
That being said, there’s nothing worse than getting up at the last minute. Hitting that snooze button one too many times means everything becomes a mad rush. And that just stresses me out. And so, as much as I want to stay in bed, I force myself to get up at a decent hour – Monday to Friday at least!
If being a morning person is a struggle for you too, try to resist the urge to stay hiding under the covers and get up. It doesn’t have to be at a crazy hour like 5am. Just a few minutes will help. Ask yourself how much time you realistically need to get ready without feeling stressed or rushed and go with that. If it helps, turn off the snooze function or put your alarm on the other side of the room – that’s what I do!
#13. | Make time for you – fill your cup first
It’s all too easy to bump time for ourselves to the bottom of the list for the sake of getting one more load of washing done. To use that hour during nap time to get the rest of the housework done instead of resting and recharging. But if we don’t take time for us, we’re no good to anyone, least of all ourselves.
When we take time for us, we’re able to regroup. To breath and think and to be still and calm. And that reduces our stress levels. If we’re to be a good mum, wife and friend we need to make our wellbeing a priority. We cannot take care of others unless we’ve taken care of ourselves too. And so if you want to make life less stressful, you need to take time for you. Fill your cup first and see how much easier life becomes.
#14. Plan your meals in advance
The one thing that’s guaranteed to stress me out more than anything else? Not knowing what I’m cooking for dinner! I absolutely hate it when 5pm hits and I have nothing planned. It either means rummaging around in the cupboards or a last-minute trip to the store – which costs me time and money. It’s stressful too because my youngest has to come with me and grocery shopping is definitely not his favourite activity!
But when I plan my meals, things are different. I know exactly what I’m cooking. I’ve bought all the ingredients I need in advance. And I have time to prep the veg in beforehand if I want to. Dinners aren’t a mad, scrambled rush and bedtimes are easier too because there’s more time. If like me you dread 5pm too, try planning your meals for a couple of weeks and discover how much easier it is to get dinner on the table and your kids ready for bed.
#15. | Have a list of go-to meals
Planning your meals in advance is a great way to make life less stressful. But if you want to go one step further, have a list of go-to meals too. Perfect for when you need a little inspiration or your dinners start to get a little samey, a list of go-to meals stops you from being stumped for ideas. Full of meals you know your family already like, they’re pre-approved for fussy eaters too!
What meals do you regularly cook for your family? What meals are quick and easy to prepare and have only a few ingredients? Add them to your list. If it helps, separate your list into type too. Think chicken, pork, beef, fish, vegetarian etc. And any time you make a new dish that’s a hit and easy to make add it to the list. Then, when planning your meals, simply scroll down your list and pick something.
#16. Automate your finances
There’s nothing worse than missing yet another payment because you forgot it was due. Or getting to the end of your month and wondering where all your money went. Save yourself from the stress of late payment charges and feeling bummed you’ve wasted your money by automating your finances.
Set up direct debits for all your bills. Make sure you have a direct debit for the minimum payment of your credit card too. Increase those savings by paying yourself first each month. Set up a standing order that pays a set amount into your savings account as soon as you’re paid. Make Christmas easier to manage by putting away a little towards it every month.
#17. | Track your spending
In addition to automating your finances, tracking your spending is a great way to reduce those stress levels too. Instead of tapping your card hoping for the best, you’ll know exactly how much you have left in your account. It also means that you’ll notice straight away if there’s been any untoward action on your account.
Money is one of the biggest stressors there are but there are things we can do to reduce that stress. We just need to tell our money what to do and where to go. Set a budget for the month, make a note of what you spend each day and check-in on your statements once a week.
#18. | Keep an emergency kit in the car
When my youngest was a baby I had a terrible habit of leaving the house with his changing bag still sitting in the hallway. In the end I decided to keep a spare in the car. Realising that this simple step made my life SO much easier, I took it a step further and created a proper emergency kit. And do you know what? It’s been super useful!
Now, when I say emergency kit I don’t mean tools in case the car breaks down. I mean all the things you and your child might need if you get stuck in traffic or unexpectedly have to stay over somewhere. Our emergency kit currently has:
- Spare clothes and PJs for my youngest.
- A blanket and torch.
- Snacks.
- Bottles of water.
- Spare change.
- Mobile phone charger.
- A pack of cards or drawing pad and crayons.
- Carrier bag and baby wipes in case they feel sick (these are invalueable!).
The items have changed a little over the years based on my youngest’s age but you get the idea. Ask yourself what would be useful for you to keep in the car just in case and store it all in a duffel bag or rucksack. You don’t need to go crazy and fill your boot, but a few essential items will definitly make your life easier should the need arise!
ACTION STEP: Download my FREE Top 10 Must-have Kits for the Home checklist and discover another 9 kits to create that are guaranteed to make your life easier! You’ll find it in my Subscriber’s Resource Library. To get your hands on it, simply sign up for the cheatsheet that goes with this post and gain access to it at the same time!
#19. | Aim for quality over quantity
Quality time with our kids helps make life less stressful and more enjoyable. But sometimes it can be hard to come up with ideas of what to do with them. We think that in order for them to have a great time we have to do something big and grand. But that’s simply not the case. I asked my youngest what he likes to do with me the best and do you know what he said? Drawing, playing Lego and walking the dog! Nothing fancy. Nothing with an entrance fee. And nothing that required too much effort – except for a bit of exercise around the block – which isn’t a bad thing, right?!
The reality is our kids don’t care what they’re doing with us as long as they have our attention. It’s not about how much we spend on them but the being with them that counts. Which is great news. Not only does it make life easier, it’s good for our stress levels too – no more pressure to do so many grand days out!
ACTION STEP: Ask yourself what you can do with your kids that provides quality over quantity. And if you’re stumped for ideas, check out this post on spending quality time with your kids – you’ll never run out of ideas again!
#20. | Disconnect to reconnect
Did you know that we check our mobile phones roughly every 12 minutes? Or that we spend around 24 hours a week online? That’s a lot of time given to our devices and social media! It’s hardly surprising we feel so stressed and harassed when our phones are constantly bonging at us.
If you’re wanting to stop being at the beck and call of everyone else or the amount of screen time your family has stresses you out, try disconnecting to reconnect. Resist the urge to check your phone every five minutes. Make life less stressful by switching it to silent or putting it in another room when playing with your kids.
ACTION STEP:Set a limit to how much screen time you and your family have per day. Save screen-time for when your kids have done their homework and chores. Better still, have a family policy of no screen-time on a Sunday afternoon and spend that time playing games together instead.
#21. Create a bucket list of activities
Keeping our kids occupied and out of mischief can be tough. Especially when you find it hard to come up with ideas of things for them to do. Creating a family bucket list can really help alleviate some of that stress. Not only does it stop those “I’m bored, Mum” whines but you’ll always have plenty of activity ideas to choose from.
Think about all the things you like to do together and add them to the list. Simple activities like going for a walk or playing a board game are a great place to start. Be sure to include indoor and outdoor activities so that you have ideas up your sleeve no matter what the weather does.
ACTION STEP: Download my FREE Family Bucket List printable and make a list of all the things you want to do together. You’ll find it in my Subscriber’s Resource Library. To get your hands on it, simply sign up for the cheatsheet that goes with this post and gain access to it at the same time!
#22. | Encourage imaginative play
No matter how much we might like to, we cannot give our kids our attention all the time. It’s just not possible. There are times where we just have to get other things done and that means sometimes, they need to play by themselves. This might make us feel guilty but actually, them playing by themselves isn’t a bad thing.
Time on their own encourages imaginative play. It teaches them to enjoy their own company and find ways to amuse themselves. It helps us to get all those other things done too. When they’re occupied, we’re free to get on with all the other mum jobs without being interrupted. And that helps make managing home life a little bit less stressful!
ACTION STEP: Look at your day and ask yourself when a good time is to encourage imaginative play. Let your kids play by themselves while you get a few things done.
#23. | Be realistic about what you can accomplish in a day
It can be tempting to fill our to-do list with all the things we want to achieve in one day, but we never get as much done as we think we can. Either jobs take longer than planned or something crops up that diverts our time and attention.
Make life less stressful by being realistic about what you can accomplish in one day. Don’t put unnecessary pressure on yourself by adding more to your list than you know you realistically have time for. Some days all we manage to do is a couple of loads of laundry. And that’s okay. There’s always tomorrow!
ACTION STEP: Download my FREE Daily Planner printable. Use it to write down your three most important tasks each day and track how you spend your time. You’ll find it in my Subscriber’s Resource Library. To get your hands on it, simply sign up for the cheatsheet that goes with this post and gain access to it at the same time!
#24. | Create a support network around you
When you’re surrounded by people who lift you up, people you can count on, life becomes a whole lot easier to manage. Who do you have around you that you can go to when you need a little help or support? They’re your tribe! Look after one another and don’t be afraid to reach out to one another whenever you need a helping hand.
As well as creating a support network, don’t be afraid to remove yourself from toxic friendships too. Life can be pretty stressful at the best of times without taking on other people’s dramas. We all have a friendship or two that is always one way. A friendship where there’s always drama and no matter how much you try, there’s just no helping that person. Do you really need that added stress in your life? If the answer is no, it might be time to walk away.
ACTION STEP: Know that it’s okay to walk away from friendships that no longer serve you. Invest your time instead in the ones that count. Find your tribe and create a support network you can fall back on.
#25. | Choose the less-stress option
The Chinese philosopher Confucius said that “life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated”. And he’s right. Nine times out of ten, there’s usually a pretty simple way to handle the little annoyances life throws at us. But instead, we insist on making things complicated.
If you’re prone to doing this, make life less stressful by choosing the less-stress option. Resist the urge to make things more complicated than they need to be!
ACTION STEP: Next time you’re faced with a task or problem, ask yourself what the less-stress option is. Is there an easier way? If so, make life easier and go with it!
#26. | Always have a back-up plan
Sometimes things happen that we weren’t expecting. And if we’re not prepared, the having to deal with them can really stress us out. It might not be possible to predict every unexpected eventuality but having a back-up plan can help to keep stress at bay.
Say you were travelling somewhere new for the first time. Do you know what route you need to take? And what alternative routes are there if you needed to divert? Planning your route in advance, checking the traffic report before you leave and having a few snacks and drinks in the car in case you get stuck in traffic would make your journey a lot less stressful.
#27. | Let the little things go
It can be incredibly frustrating – and pretty stressful – when our homes are a mess and there’s clutter everywhere. But if we want life to be more enjoyable, we HAVE to let the little things go. We don’t need to do everything all the time.
It’s okay to leave the washing in the machine for an hour while you play with your kids. It’s okay to vacuum after you’ve been to the park instead of before. And it’s okay to snuggle on the sofa for five minutes more. The housework will still be there but you’ll feel happier and more connected. And that means you’ll feel less stressed too!
#28. | Choose progress over perfection
As a recovering perfectionist, my need for everything to be perfect has stopped me from accomplishing so many things. In my twenties and early thirties, if something couldn’t be done perfectly, I’d rather not do it at all. But that held me back in more ways than I can tell you. The need for things to be perfect and then the not doing it in case it wasn’t would really stress me out.
These days though, things are different. I’ve learned that there is no such thing as perfect. That it’s far better to put yourself out there and learn along the way. To choose progress over perfection.
ACTION STEP: Free yourself from the stress of needing everything to be perfect. Know that everything is a work in progress. That you don’t need all the answers – it’s okay to learn along the way.
#29. | Don’t be afraid to ask for help
When we’re feeling overwhelmed it can be hard to ask for help. Not wanting to be seen a failure or like we can’t cope, we put our heads down and we just keep going. And whilst that might work for a while, it won’t work forever. Sooner or later we’re going to need that helping hand. And when we get it, we’ll wish that we’d asked for it sooner.
Make life easier by reaching out BEFORE things get on top of you. It’s okay to admit that you’re having a tough time. That you’re struggling and could do with a helping hand. It doesn’t make you a failure and it doesn’t mean you can’t cope. Truth be told, the person you reach out to is probably struggling too and they’ll be relieved that you opened up!
ACTION STEP: What do you need help with right now? Who in your support network could help? Reach out to them and ask – that’s what they’re there for!
#30. | Give yourself grace
Finally, the most effective way to make life easier? Give yourself grace! We put so much pressure on ourselves to be everywhere and do everything for everyone all the time. But do you know what? We don’t need to. There are only 24 hours in a day and there’s only so much we can do in that time. Not acomplishing all the things we think we should be accomplishing doesn’t make us a failure.
You see, the reality is that it’s the expectations we place upon ourselves rather than the expectations of others that make life feel complicated and stressful. And so, if you really want to make life easier to manage, it’s time to give yourself some grace. Be kind to yourself and free yourself from those unnecessary expectations. Know that you’re doing the best you can. And that really is good enough.
ACTION STEP: Scroll down your to-do list. How many tasks do you have on there that you think you ‘should’ do but if you didn’t the only person that would know is you? Free yourself from the pressure of trying to do it all by taking them off your list!
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