Do you have a pile of papers sitting on your desk or kitchen counter? Too much to do and too little time to do it? Do you keep hurrying to finish your To-Do list, yet never have time to relax any more? Then it’s time to simplify your life-once and for all!

If you feel life is too stressful and complicated these are a few tips to simplify your life:

• 1. Have a clear vision of where you want to go in life. You don’t need to know how you will get there yet, just know where you want to go. Have a clear understanding of your values and what is important to you.

• 2. Write a list of goals you’d like to achieve. Focus on doing a few really well, rather than a lot in an average way. You can’t add hours to the day, but you can cut down on activities.

• 3. Learn to say “No”. People agree to requests from others because they like to please them. Instead, realize that you have a right to say no. Creating plans or policies makes saying no easier.

• 4. Do the Hardest Tasks First. Put those dreaded tasks at the top of your “to do” list and take care of them first. Procrastinating only makes them seem harder and can keep them on your list for weeks.

• 5. Limit your television viewing to only the shows you really want to see. The television is one of those devices that can suck our energy and time away with hardly any effort at all. How many times have you spent an evening sitting on the couch flipping channels because there was nothing good on TV? Schedule your TV watching for those programs that you really like and then turn the TV off.

• 6. Stop being a slave to communication tools. Do you really need an office phone, a home phone, a cellular phone, pager, fax, e-mail and internet ICQ technology?

• 7. Stop spending time to save money. Instead, spend money to save time. Don’t drive across town to save a few cents on a grocery item. It’s not worth your time. Do hire someone to do chores you’re not fond of.

• 8. Practice gratitude. When you’re grateful you’re less impatient — you’re not constantly thinking you should be doing or getting something else. It’s all about being in the moment — being happy with what you’ve got.

• 9. Find 10-20 minutes each day to sit and relax, do nothing, or meditate. This is a few minutes to reflect on your day, your vision and to clear your mind.

• 10. Delegate responsibilities at home to other members of the family. Delegate responsibilities at work as much as possible.

• 11. Organize your finances. Stop wasting money on late fees and overdrafts. Cancel memberships you don’t use to save money.

• 12. Limit the time you spend online. You can sit down to answer email, and hit a gossip site. Before you know it, an hour has just flown by. Computers are a great tool, but we need to keep how much of a role they play in our lives in check.

• 13. Know that where you are right now is exactly where you should be. Don’t worry if you haven’t accomplished what you think you should have or what others expect you to accomplish. Be okay with where you are and work forward from there.

• 14. Use your vacation time. Some people are proud to declare that they haven’t used any vacation time in two; three, or even four years but that really shouldn’t be a source of pride. There is no glory and benefit in working constantly, never taking a break from the daily routine. Plan time for a vacation every year.

• 15. Don’t nuke your food. We don’t need to go and light a fire to cook a meal, but how about avoiding the microwave? Do you ever ask yourself what’s in the food I’m eating? We are so civilized that we can’t even pronounce the stuff we are putting in our bodies. Simplify: veggies, fruit, protein, and a non-white starch.

• 16. Avoid Unnecessary Conflict. If we value harmony in relationships, life will be immeasurably simpler. The nature of relationships with others, is that there is always the potential for getting involved in minor personality conflicts. Instead of arguing with others, we need to be detached and willing to be tolerant of others. If you feel disharmony with others, just try looking for some of their good qualities.

• 17. Make a plan for the weekend that doesn’t involve work. Plan to spend more time with your family or with people who make positive contributions to your life. Stop spending time with people who are a drain on your energy or vitality.

• 18. Be spontaneous. Routine is good to a certain extent, but sometimes you just need to break free and do something different. Let yourself be spontaneous, choosing what to do and how to do it based on your own wishes rather than someone else’s wishes. You’ll feel more in control, have more energy, and lift your spirits immediately.

• 19. De-clutter. Begin by grabbing an empty shopping bag. Walk around your home. Fill the bag with anything you don’t use or love. Place the bag in your car and drop it off at a charitable organization. Repeat weekly.

• 20. Focus on an area each day. Rather than worrying about everything you’d like to organize and/or clean in your home or office, choose just one area each day and focus on it for a minimum of 15 minutes, and a maximum of one hour. This will help ensure you don’t feel overwhelmed, and will also give you a rewarding feeling that you worked on something that has been on your mind.

• 21. Ask yourself – before you do something, check in with yourself. Is it true to who you are? Is it making your life easier? Is it helping you simplify?

• 22. Understand that simplifying your life is an ongoing process. Keep at it and continue to work at making your life simpler and more satisfying.

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