I’m as guilty as the next person: I get addicted to the rush of constantly being busy. It’s become a badge of honor in our hyper-connected times to say things like “I’ve been so busy lately!” or “My work has got me swamped!” And I am prone to this too. I wake up and jump right into my work after finishing late the night before, like a binge drinker having a cocktail early the next morning to keep the party going. Often, I have to remember to consciously make time to hang out with my kids and my wife.
I used to be much worse, though. I would have feelings of anxiety when my calendar wasn’t completely booked up. If a two-hour window was open, I would frantically fill it with calls to customers or a meeting with one of our staff members. I never gave myself downtime, and I put pressure on myself to be in constant motion.
As a result, I experienced two episodes of stress-induced burnout early in my entrepreneurial career. In fact, over the last half-decade, I’ve had to make some drastic changes to prevent further burnout and make sure I could sustain as an entrepreneur. I’ve settled into certain routines that have worked for me, and I’m regularly evolving and updating this list to remind myself of how to live more effectively, both for my family and for my business. This article explores seven enlightening philosophies that can help you simplify your life, find more joy, and experience lasting peace. From embracing minimalism to redefining perfection, these philosophies offer valuable insights for living a more fulfilling life.
Enlightening Philosophy 1—Don't Try to Do Too Much: The Value of Downtime
In our relentless pursuit of productivity and achievement, we often overextend ourselves and, like I mentioned, pack our schedules to the brim unnecessarily. What we fail to realize is that there's immense value in leaving some breathing room in our daily lives. You can capture this value by doing things like:
- Embrace spontaneity. By allowing unstructured time in your day, you open the door to unexpected moments of joy and serendipity. These unscripted events can be some of life's most treasured experiences. Maybe it’s taking your seven-year-old son to lunch with you in the middle of the day. Maybe you can find a half hour to reconnect with an old friend you’ve lost touch with.
- Reduce stress. Overloading your schedule can lead to stress, burnout, and diminished overall well-being. Giving yourself downtime allows you to recharge and maintain a sense of balance. Take a 20- or 30-minute nap in the middle of the day, or make time for meditation during your lunch break.
- Enhance creativity. Space for spontaneous activities can spark creativity and inspiration. It's during moments of quiet reflection that some of our most innovative ideas arise. Go back over your ideas from last quarter. Take a look at your to-do lists from a month ago. See if anything sparks a new idea or if there's a way to revamp an old initiative. Try to inspire yourself with new ways of thinking about your life and business once in a while.
Enlightening Philosophy 2—Don't Overcomplicate It: Simplicity Always Wins
Simplicity is a powerful tool for decluttering your life, both mentally and physically. Remember the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) method, and focus on the following:
- Reduce frustration. Overcomplicating things often leads to confusion and frustration, not only for yourself but also those around you. Simplifying processes and communication can enhance clarity and effectiveness. Ask yourself, “Am I overcomplicating this issue because I’m addicted to the drama?”
- Streamline decision-making. Simple choices are easier to make and less mentally taxing. By simplifying your life, you reduce decision fatigue and free up mental space for more important matters. There’s a reason Silicon Valley executives wear the same outfit every day. The decision on what to wear is already made, no extra energy-draining decision-making necessary. If you can systematize your meals as well, eating on a schedule, it simplifies your diet and even your digestion by pre-planning what you’re going to eat each day.
- Focus on what matters. Simplifying your goals and priorities allows you to concentrate on what truly matters. You can direct your energy toward your passions and values instead of getting lost in complexity.
Enlightening Philosophy 3—Will This Make My Life Simpler?
When faced with new projects or opportunities, ask yourself if they will genuinely simplify your life or add unnecessary complexity. Recognize that sometimes, the pursuit of challenges can be a form of self-sabotage:
- Avoid unnecessary stress. Be mindful of your motivations when taking on new responsibilities. If you find yourself seeking challenges to validate your worth or competence, consider whether this is a healthy approach. How much do you already have on your plate? You’ve successfully delegated some things to have more time in your schedule, are you sure you want to take this new project just to fill it up again?
- Prioritize ease. Choose options and projects that align with your long-term goals of a simpler, more joyful life. Sometimes, saying no to additional challenges is a powerful act of self-care. When we say “no” more often, we shift the way our brain thinks about situations, empowering us with greater ability to make decisions for ourselves. This allows us to value ourselves more and has an amazingly positive effect on our mental health.
Enlightening Philosophy 4—What Steps Can I Take Right Now to Simplify My Life?
Simplifying your life often involves a process of elimination. Start by identifying areas of your life that can benefit from simplification and take immediate steps to declutter and streamline:
- Clear physical clutter. Begin by decluttering your physical space. Eliminate items you no longer need, organize your surroundings, and create an environment that promotes calm and focus. “Reset” your workspace before leaving for the evening to give yourself a clear space to work tomorrow. Clean the trash out of your car each time you disembark to provide yourself the gift of a clean vehicle for the next time you drive it.
- Streamline commitments. Review your daily and weekly commitments. Identify any obligations that no longer align with your values or goals and take steps to reduce or eliminate them. What if you don’t listen to the sales pitch coming up on Friday? Can someone else run that meeting tomorrow night, so you can take your kids to swim lessons?
- Set boundaries. Establish clear boundaries to protect your time and energy. Saying no when necessary allows you to prioritize your well-being and avoid overcommitting. Our smart phones allow us to be connected 24/7. But is it healthy to answer your texts and emails at 6:30 am and 9:30 pm? How about setting a more reasonable phone schedule of 10:00 am to 7:00 pm or 8:00 am to 5:00 pm? Give yourself a break to spend some quality time with your spouse and kids.
Enlightening Philosophy 5—Don't Confuse Activity for Productivity
In a world of constant distractions, it's crucial to differentiate between being busy and being productive:
- Engage in focus time. Dedicate periods of uninterrupted focus to tasks that truly matter. Allocate three- to four-hour blocks when no one will disturb you to work on projects that require deep concentration. We’ve actually rented a simple one-room office space, 10 minutes from our main office in California, just for our leaders to get away and use it for focus time. During this time, you can design new scripts, create new processes, or draft new ads for recruiting.
- Value quality over quantity. Measure your productivity by the value you create, not the number of hours you spend working. Quality work often trumps sheer quantity. Is this a major or minor conversation or major or minor activity? If it’s minor, cut it short as soon as possible. If it’s major, take some notes and email a summary afterwards.
- Use technology mindfully. Limit your time on digital devices and social media. Constant digital distraction can lead to a sense of busyness without meaningful accomplishments. How often are you fooling yourself into thinking your time on Facebook is actually helping you?
Enlightening Philosophy 6—Everything Is Perfect Right Now
Embracing the philosophy that everything is perfect in this moment can be transformative. It encourages you to question why you constantly strive for improvement when perfection already exists:
- Redefine perfection. Shift your perspective on perfection from a state of flawlessness to one of completeness. Recognize that life, as it is, is perfect in its imperfection. Enjoy the chaos, smile and relax in the moment. Don’t try to fix everything all the time.
- Embrace contentment. Contentment with the present moment is a source of profound peace and joy. Allow yourself to savor the beauty and simplicity of the here and now.
- Let go of constant striving. Release the need for continuous improvement and achievement. While growth is important, it should not come at the expense of appreciating the perfection of the present. Our lizard brain has evolved for optimal survival. It is constantly scanning our environment to find the negatives, to find the threats, to find things that need improvement. This striving has allowed our species to evolve to become amazingly productive and industrious. But for the most productive and industrious among us, it doesn’t allow us much time for satisfaction or gratitude. Take a moment to “arrive.” Realize how good we have it. Every time I go into a coffee shop or a shopping mall, I have this overwhelming sense of “what would our ancestors think of us?” With so much excess, with incredible amounts of leisure time and discretionary money for spending, that most of us completely take for granted.
Enlightening Philosophy 7—Find Joy in the Little Things: Costless Moments of Bliss
Trillions of dollars are spent on advertising each year to make us believe that the fast sports car or the new house or investment plan will bring us happiness. The pursuit of wealth and more material possessions often leads us to overlook the simple pleasures that bring the most joy:
- Spend quality time doing and being with what and who you love. Spending quality time with loved ones, engaging in hobbies, or connecting with nature costs little but can provide immense joy and contentment. The poorest and richest people in the world both have the same access to some of the most incredible state and national parks, including some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
- Value experiences. Experiences such as a leisurely walk in the park, a heartfelt conversation, or a quiet moment of reflection hold far more value than material possessions.
- Practice gratitude. Cultivate a daily practice of gratitude to shift your focus toward the abundance of joy present in your life. Acknowledging the little things can lead to a more content and peaceful existence. Look out into the ocean or down from the mountaintop, and say a prayer of gratitude to God or the universe. Reflect on your life and thank all the people who have helped you along the way.
At the end of your life, what will you remember most? The hours you put in accumulating meaningless possessions? Or the time you spent reading to your five-year old or sitting on the beach watching the sunset and having a deep conversation with your aging parents?
Simplifying your life and finding joy and peace isn't about renouncing ambition or personal growth. It's about recognizing that the most profound happiness often arises from the simplest moments and the most uncluttered minds. By embracing these seven enlightening philosophies, you can declutter your life, focus on what truly matters, and find lasting joy and peace in the present moment. In the pursuit of simplicity, you may discover that life's greatest treasures have been right in front of you all along.
