Simplify for Stress Relief

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New Year's resolutions are often about adding new things to your routine: A new workout, a new diet, a new activity... These additions can be very helpful if they are sustainable, but most people give up on their goals within the first few months. If you're looking for a way to change your life but already feel too busy to fit in anything new, make simplification your resolution!

Are you having trouble feeling grounded? Earthing as a daily practice can obviously help...but you may find sustained peace by clearing out a cluttered space. Being surrounded by unorganized stuff can create a hectic energy, making it hard to focus and feel balanced. Plus, fewer things in a room (or house) also mean less to keep track of and less to clean. Marie Kondo's books can offer guidance if the thought of decluttering is overwhelming, but at the end of the day, the goal is to simply let go of what's no longer serving you. 

Besides improving your own clarity, decluttering can help others as well. Sell items in good condition to not only earn some extra money but also give them a new life with people who will enjoy them. Drop off gently used clothes and goods to thrift stores, or post them on the Buy Nothing Project or Craigslist Free Stuff. Donate old clothes, towels, and sheets to a local animal shelter. Anything that you can do to repurpose your things decreases the need for others to buy new, helping the environment and making an impact on consumer culture. 

All of us go through busy seasons in life in which it seems there is not enough time in the day. Ideally they would be short - such as the weeks spent packing for a move or the first few months at a new job - but when busyness becomes your way of life, it's worth taking a look at what can be cut from your schedule. 

Boredom can lead to imagination and creativity, and silence can be healing. Constantly rushing from one thing to another deprives the body and mind of their chances to reset and can take away from time with friends and family. Think about what matters most to you, and then make a list of your priorities. Start saying "no" to invitations that don't line up with them, and cut back on obligations that draw you away from the things that bring you the most joy. 

Cardio, weight training, stretching... there are many aspects to consider when aiming for peak physical fitness. If striving to cover all of them gets you overwhelmed to the point of quitting, take a step back! Forcing yourself to the gym might work for a bit, but you may give it up if you don't love it. Focus instead on what type of exercise makes you happy, whether it be walking outside with your dog, dancing to your favorite music, or playing a team sport. Any movement is better than no movement, and you can easily squeeze in what's lacking, for instance by spending a few minutes stretching in the morning, doing a few reps of squats or other exercises in your spare time through the day, or balancing on one foot while brushing your teeth at night.

Nutrition can be complicated, and it often seems like experts in the field make it even more so by giving conflicting advice. Our palates are also confused by an overexposure to sugar and other addictive substances in modern-day food. Instead of aiming to master complex recipes, make it a goal to return to the basics. One of our new favorite books about Chinese diet therapy posits that restaurants push the boundaries of taste in order to keep their customers interested and that recipes for home-cooked meals tend to follow the same trend. However, these gastronomic innovations confuse the body, which was designed to handle simple meals. (One of the things that people in the Blue Zones have in common is a diet of whole foods.)

While there's no "perfect diet" for everyone, everyone could benefit from eating fresh, nature-given foods. Vegetables, nuts, seeds, meat, whole grains, etc., cooked in ways that let their inherent taste shine through instead of being manipulated by many methods and flavorings. Eventually eating this way should reduce physical stress on the digestive system as well as the emotional stress of being bored with food, but it may take some time to appreciate the simplicity again. Give yourself a few weeks to retrain your tastes - and microbiome - and ease into the change instead of trying to overhaul your habits all at once. 

It's easy to get caught up in the hustle culture, laden with endless distractions and the fear of missing out. Only you know what's in your heart, though, and what will make you feel fulfilled. Simplifying these four areas will give you the time, energy, and clarity to go after what you truly want.