The 7 Secrets to Simplifying Your Life With Systems

Secret #2: Keep it Simple

The best systems are the ones that are easy and fit well into your current lifestyle. A crazy complex system does you no good because it’s not practical and it’ll be too hard to keep up with. The system should be working for you; not the other way around.

Let’s say you want to improve your system for meal planning, and you start researching and come across some really great systems, but they seem like they’ll probably be a pain to maintain. Run girl! Run far, and fast from any system that is overly fussy or complex. It’ll just be hard to maintain in the long run. This will only lead to more stress.

I’ve heard productivity gurus talk about the “least viable product.” THIS is what we’re going for. It basically means what’s the very least you can do and still provide a solution to your problem.

One thing that helps to keep a simple system is to automate it. Whenever you do a particular thing at the same time each day or each week it eventually becomes part of your daily or weekly routine. You’ll be more likely to stick with a new system for planning dinners if you plan to do it the same time every week.

Is dinnertime stressing you out? Find a SIMPLE meal planning system to stick to.

Tired of constantly running late everywhere? Come up with a SIMPLE system to help you become more punctual. I could give a few more examples, but you get the point, right? Whatever system you’re creating just KISS it: Keep It Super Simple.

THINK ABOUT IT: Remember that simple doesn’t mean effortless. Although you want to strive for simple systems, you still have to put in the work to make it work.

Secret #3: Start Small

It’s best to start small by working on just one or two systems at a time. Once you’ve proven to yourself that you can maintain those systems (probably after a few weeks) then move on to a new one. Success breeds motivation, and the more that you stick with the simple systems that you create, the more likely you’ll be motivated to stick with a new system.

When I was overcoming constant overwhelm, I started with creating just one new system, and I stuck with it for several months. I wasn’t too focused on anything else, but I realized that by creating a system around my time, I was experiencing a positive ripple effect as a wife, a mom, and also as a teacher.

Starting small is the twin sister to keeping it simple. When you’re ready to begin simplifying your life with systems you may feel tempted to overhaul so many different areas of your home life and create several new systems all at once. Resist the temptation. I repeat: resist the temptation! Doing too much too soon is the perfect formula for instant overwhelm.

THINK ABOUT IT: What is one system you can create that would have a positive ripple effect in different areas of your life? Grab one of your many journals, and write it down…then get to work sis!

Secret #4: Say it out Loud

Before your system becomes a habit, you can easily forget it. When you open your mouth and say out loud what you’re going to do, you’re reinforcing your new system!

For example, when I decided to revamp my morning routine and not get back in the bed once I was up, I had to literally talk to myself at night right before I went to sleep. I would say “Dee, when you wake up in the morning you’re not getting back in bed. We’re gonna wake up and get up.” This was the last thing on my mind before I went to sleep so it was also the first thing on my mind when the alarm went off in the mornings.

Sometimes we all need a good pep talk, and who better to do it than yourself. I don’t know a lot about the science of the brain, but I do think that hearing yourself articulate your new process or routine can be a powerful reminder that you’re shaking up some things, and doing them differently.

What you’ll notice is that after awhile you won’t need to keep talking to yourself because your new system will become routine, and you won’t need that audible reminder anymore.

THINK ABOUT IT: What’s a good one liner that you can use to remind yourself to stick with your new system?

Secret #5: survey your social media friends

When you have different parts of your day that drive you crazy it’s probably time to implement a new system to solve the recurring problem, but it can be challenging to know where to begin.

Enter your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, (insert your favorite social media platform) friends/followers, etc. In July I noticed that every few days I was searching for my keys. It’s annoying, and it’s a huge time suck, especially when I didn’t budget extra time into my schedule for locating lost keys. I made a simple two sentence post on Facebook, and I was surprised by how many people responded, and how quickly I solutions started pouring in.

People love giving advice; even when it’s not solicited, so imagine the creative solutions and ideas you’ll get when you actually ask people to share what’s working for them. There were a lot of people on my Facebook thread that mentioned using a key rack. That’s pretty obvious, but I don’t like the idea of prominently displaying the tiny item that gives access to my most expensive things in my life (my home and my cars).

Even though lots of people suggested the key rack, a couple of my friends suggested changing my pattern of thinking. That was just what I needed to hear. I’m glad to say that since I implemented my new system about two months ago, I’ve only had to search for my keys two or three times. That’s actually pretty good, especially since I was previously misplacing them at least two to three times a week.

THINK ABOUT IT: What’s a system that’s not working well for you that could use some tweaking. Reach out to your people on social media and solicit their ideas. Trust me; they’ll be happy to help!

Secret #6: systems are a Two-for-One

Systems and habits are like a needle and thread or a lock and key. They just go together. When you’re creating a new system, you’ll also be forming a new habit. Something important to note about habits is that they become more effortless and automatic over time. At first you’ll need to be super aware of what you’re doing so that you’re able to keep up with your new system.

Back to me losing the keys again: when I first started the new system for keeping track of my keys, I had to talk to myself every time was about to walk into my house. My one-liner was something like “first the door then the keys.” This was my audible reminder to put my keys away as soon as I walked in the door. Now I’m in the habit of always putting my keys in the same place so I don’t remember exactly what I used to say, but I do remember that I had to be keenly aware of what I was doing so that I didn’t revert to my old ways.

Once you get to the place that your routine has become an involuntary habit, you’ve definitely hit the sweet spot, and it may be a good time to start working on another system. This is how you can start slowly and work toward a more simple way of everyday living.

THINK ABOUT IT: What new habit will you have to adopt to go along with the first system you’ll establish for a more simple life?