I have spent the last 5 years trying to live a simpler life. Years of succeeding at times and failing at times. What is important to note when you want to change your life for the better towards simplicity is that simple living is not necessarily just living with less. Simple living is actually living with more! Let me explain.

What is Simple Living?

Per Wikipedia, simple living is a voluntary lifestyle choice that focuses on being content and satisfied with what one has rather than constantly wanting. Simple living often holds components of minimalism, self-sufficiency, work-life balance, frugality, reducing stress and being more present in life.

In my own words, simple living is about reducing the excess in life so you can savor and enjoy the parts of life that truly matter. It is about reducing the noise so you can be in-tuned to what REALLY matters. Simplifying life is about getting your priorities in order, self care and true PRESENCE to increase your quality of life.

1. Organize your life. Organize can be as simple as clearing out the spam in your email to reduce time waste to literally making your entry way one you want to come home to. I have found getting my schedule in order, decluttering “time-sucks” from my day and making my literal environment less cluttered and more organized a great place to start.
2. Clean up. This can be a daunting task that everyone has an opinion on. I have found just STARTING ANYWHERE and focusing on just that area THEN moving to the next a simpler and less overwhelming process.
3. Declutter your life. We often think of decluttering our home which I have tips for ( here are 6 things to keep in mind before you declutter your home) but what about our MIND? Sometimes first we need to clear out the clutter we carry mentally day to day to feel we can take on the rest of life’s clutter. Once you clear you mind you can also take a wack at decluttering your schedule too.
4. Create a routine. I love time blocking. It helps give yourself the control you need over your time and what you want out of your life. For me too many varied tasks, even if time blocked in a day, create anxiety. I personally do better allotting different days to different tasks with a few repetitive ones at set times daily. i.e. Monday I have meeting in my business and do content scheduling, Tuesdays and Thursdays I am in my studio, morning I do self care, check my emails, evenings I read and drink wine (lol)…you see where I am going with this anyways.
5. Learn what to say YES to. Our YES should be aligned with our values and what we want to create our life to be. YES, I said we GET to CREATE the life we want! As a natural “pleaser” I have learned to think through things much longer before freely giving a YES for the wrong thing. A YES in error is inadvertently a NO to the things in life you want. Better yet-start with jotting down what you WANT in your life, business, motherhood ect – this will help direct your YES.
6. Learn what to say NO to. Saying NO is a beautiful thing. Really this is all about having BOUNDARIES. I will come back to this at a later date and share more on all the tips and tool and wisdom I have gained through years learning and developing this.
7. Create a budget. This is an area I am still learning SO please check out my good friends site at Family Finance Mom – she is an utter wiz in this area. FOLLOW HER AND DO WHAT SHE SAYS, That is all.
8. Set bills to autopay. I just started doing this this year. It saves a TON of time, prevents late payments and makes life easier.
9. Create an auto deposit for your savings. Anything is good but 10% of your income is a great start – heck even 5% then every time you get a raise put half of that in too (a wise financial advisor told me that one).
10. Create a meal plan. Meal planning takes the thinking out of the day to day, gives you a plan to follow and with that plan you can prepare for the week. Sundays work great for getting everything for the week.
11. Switch to grocery pick up. I love this! It saves time and money. I have done it at Fred Meyer and Walmart and they both were amazing. You can do it right from their app and even save your most used items for ordering next time.
12. Use Amazon Pantry for non-perishables. Did you know you can put some of your common monthly needs on auto pilot? Yes you can. Definitely look into it! Time saver for sure!
13. Delegate and outsource where it makes sense in your life. This may be help in your business, childcare, house cleaner- whatever will buy back some of your time and sanity can be a great investment. We just started getting childcare/housecleaning on Saturdays. We then use that day to spend quality time with each child doing something fun and end the day with a date night just my husband and I.
14. Reduce TV time. Less TV means more time for more valuable activities in your life. More rest, more quality time with loved ones, a more efficient schedule or more time to read and learn are just a few benefits to less time wasted watching TV.
15. Reduce social media time. This can be a time suck and a joy suck as you get caught up in all things not related to your life. Set a timer then move on to more meaningful things. BALANCE is key.
16. Prioritize. Often we get discouraged because we thing everything is important but in reality we must choose the top 3 things we want to achieve in a day then be OK if the rest gets done another day. With setting priorities you then feel accomplishment instead of overwhelm.
17. Simplify your time. Time block. Cut out distractions. Make time to do nothing and then also anything you want. Time is a precious commodity – treat it as such.
18. Get a planner. Whether you love paper or digital- get all this information down somewhere to keep you on track. I use paper for some things and google calendar for my business.
19. Slow down. Learn 10 way to slow down and enjoy life more. Take ME time. Take rest time. Take hobby time. Take NOTHING time. Take time to connect AND disconnect.
20. Meditate or pray. This can be in many forms but it is good for you. JUST DO IT…..or don’t. It is up to you – those that do generally feel better.
21. Change your mindset. The way we think and what we say to ourselves IS what we will ultimately do. We act out what we believe to be true. Find a coach, mentor, pastor, good friend and make a point to change and commit your mind towards the better.
22. Ask for help. This is a hard one for many. I like to think of asking for help as a way to bring value to others. We all want to have purpose and impact in others lives in one way or another so why deny someone that when you need it?
23. Reduce commitments. BUSY is not success. Overcommitment can actually reduce the value of the commitment in general. Take things back to a time when people gathered 1-1, had conversations uninterrupted by cell phone and NOISE.
24. Schedule self care. ME time needs to be a PRIORITY you SCHEDULE if need be. If your cup is not full you can’t be who you want to be for others.
25. Schedule slow down time. Whether it be a set time or day, pick a time to rest and stick to it. This may meaning turning off devices and wifi to achieve this. That is OK.
26. Simplify your wardrobe. Less is more. If you have not worn something in 2 years give it to someone in need.
27. Declutter your digital life. You can use services to un enroll you from spam emails, clean out your friends list, get out of groups you don’t utilize that add noise to the time you are on social media, reduce any negative accounts you might be following. Organize the apps on your phone.
28. Do what you love. Is it art, singing, dancing, gardening or??? Do it regularly and schedule it. This brings balance and more peace into ones life.
29. Be present.Being present means truly feeling the breeze as you go on a walk, noticing the new freckles on your child’s nose, the way your bed feels when you lay down at night. Connect in all the ways that help you experience life more richly.
30. Minimalism. This can be truly reducing things but it can also be reducing commitments, stresses and any excess that takes from your joy.
31. Live frugally. Live within your means. Most don’t do this but doing so simplifies life by reducing stress.
32. Find contentment. If you can find joy and contentment where you are then what more that comes is just gravy. Contentment often stems from gratitude.
33. Eat healthy. Fuel your body with foods your grandparents would have eaten. As a Registered Dietitian I could talk for ever on this but that thought is a simple one that truly will make a difference. They often ate less and more wholesome REAL food when they did eat. Start there and drink enough water.
34. Exercise. 30 minutes daily is what is recommended just to stay well and prevent disease.
35. Consider creating passive income. A course, digital product, a site that has ads, real estate – financial freedom does simplify life.
36. Leave space in your life to just BE. To do NOTHING is a beautiful thing. How do you want to just BE and how often do you need this?
37. Journal. This can be done in a notebook, through a blog or social platform. There are so many traditional and not traditional ways to journal and reflect on life. Bullet journaling is something I have been trying lately.

Well there you have it, 37 ways to Finally Simplify your Life. Dovidenia. XO

If you like this article you mat also enjoy my dear friends article that will help you get your house in order:

Best Tips to Keep Your Home Clean and Organized

The post Finally Simplify your Life with these 37 Amazing Tips appeared first on Simple Acres Blog.

The holiday season is upon us! Family holiday traditions and recipes are at the core of what this season is about to families across the globe. Today I want to take the time to reflect AND inspire you with ideas and recipes you want to INCLUDE for your family this holiday season.

I have been blogging for 5 years now. I started as someone not very skilled in cooking, but through the years of cooking and falling in love with food, recipes and creating delicious things for my family to eat (as I was blogging) I have become well versed in using one of my favorite products – McCormick® seasonings and spices.

For decades upon decades, McCormick® has been passionate about flavor, and has been striving to create flavor experiences that make every meal and moment more delicious and enjoyable! If you look in your cupboard now I will bet with certainty you have some of their spices- whether it’s as simple as sage or as delicious as apple pie spice – you have something.

Holiday time is on the way and these spices and seasonings make it into our homes, traditions and memories and serve as a great reminder to the family traditions and recipes we hold dear to our hearts.

Before I get into all the fun family tradition and deliciousness I must give a shout out to Walmart! It has been a go-to place for our groceries for years – especially with my blogging through the years BUT even more so because it serves as an amazing ONE STOP SHOP. I am able to find the spices I need simply every time!

Here are 6 family traditions we love to do this time of year:

1. Intentional gratitude: We try to make gratitude a main focus starting in November. It is a great time to focus on thankfulness. We do this with fun activities with the kids like going on a scavenger hunt and also by reflecting on gratitude with the kids as we start our day.
2. Giving to others: Donations and finding a family in need feels SO good and it models and reminds our kids what this season is especially about-loving others.
3. Thanksgiving: The turkey, stuffing, cranberries and all the fixings; the cozy nights watching movies as a family; my mom’s pumpkin pie – the list goes on. The nostalgia and memories around what is familiar is a beautiful tradition we look forward to year after year. The slowing down and being restful, thankful and present with the ones we love.
4. Making Gingerbread houses as a family: I have been making these since I can remember with my family and now my kids enjoy the same fun. We enjoy the outing of going and picking out the candy then an evening of getting creative while nibbling our masterpieces.
5. Sight seeing lights: We love driving around town in the Winter listening to our favorite music while looking at all the beautiful lights voting on which ones we like best.
6. Baking: The simple act of baking together, listening to music and singing while burning our favorite pine smelling candles is another simple yet special tradition we do every year.

Ok, ok…on to the delicious recipes you don’t want to miss! Pumpkin pie is something, once November starts it may be breakfast, a snack or the perfect bedtime treat. We love pumpkin pie as a family. This season with out it would feel ALL wrong. I want to share a Pumpkin Pie recipe we love and also a delicious Caramel Apple Pice Spiced Cider recipe!

Caramel Apple Pie Spiced Cider Ingredients:

• 4 cups of apple cider
• 1/4 cup caramel syrup
• 1 tsp McCormick® Apple Pie Spice
• 2 tsp McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1 tsp McCormick® Whole Cloves
• whipping cream

How to make Caramel Apple Pie Spiced Cider:

1. Simmer on low for 15-30 minutes all of your ingredients minus the whipping cream.
2. Pour into cups and top with whipping cream and caramel drizzle.  Enjoy!

Pumpkin Pie Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp McCormick® Pumpkin Pie Spice
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 can pumpkin (15 oz)
• 1 1/4 cups of evaporated milk
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 ready made pie crust

How to make delicious Pumpkin Pie:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F
2. In a bowl mix all the ingredients until smooth.
3. Pour mixture into a pie crust.
4. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 425 then decrease down to 350 and bake another 40-50 minutes. You will know its done when you can pull a fork out clean when you prick the pie.
5. Let cool at least 2 hours.
6. Serve or place in refrigerator until you are ready to serve it.

There you have it – a delicious dessert and beverage to enjoy along with a few ideas to inspire you as you lean into the traditions you enjoy this time of year. If you love pumpkin pie you may also love these Pumpkin Cinnamon rolls .

If you love warm delicious beverages you may also like my Homemade Cocoa recipe.

We wish you a very memorable and special holiday season with you and yours. Dovidenia. XO

DON’T FORGET : Visit YOUR local Walmart store to purchase a wide variety of McCormick® Extract, Herbs & Spices, or Gravy products for yourself to fit all of your flavor needs this holiday season!

The post Family Holiday Traditions and Recipes you Don’t Want to Miss appeared first on Simple Acres Blog.

I have been distant here for several years. After losing our daughter two years ago and nearly losing my 9-5 it’s accurate to say I lost some of my inspiration to write and connect as fully as I would have liked BUT I am back. I am back full of (some) wisdom to share, success stories and learned lessons and hope restored. Overcoming trials in life is essential to surpass the status quo and survival. To overcome is to THRIVE.

Two years ago we lost our daughter Tyia to a grave genetic disorder with no chance for survival. You never realize how deeply seeded your love is for your children until they are (what feels like) ripped from your womb, then a seed of hope lost again the very date Tyia was to be born. At that point, I couldn’t even share the miscarriage we experienced after the tragedy of losing our sweet baby girl. In the meantime, I was experiencing lost wages in time lost from my 9-5 as my place of employment went bankrupt and when it seemed like nothing was left and I was in a corner…..

I made a decision. I took a leap of faith.

View this post on Instagram

Man…. we have gone through a lot to be here. But right here is a very beautiful place in life and this sweet rainbow baby is hope embodied. Sometimes things come in life that remind you NEVER to give up. This little man is that for me. Today I want to remind you to cling to HOPE because without it the journey is hard but with it brings JOY. 🌈

A post shared by Stefanie at Simple Acres (@simpleacresblog) on Aug 4, 2019 at 1:15pm PDT

At that time of taking a leap of faith I was newly pregnant with what was to be our sweet rainbow baby we cherish today. My leap was a partial career shift toward content creation and social media management for business owners.

A year later I had a sweet HEALTHY (praise God) baby and a business thriving more than I could have imagined in such a short time.

So that is the short story. I needed to just start connecting here again and felt the need to catch up in a sense before jumping back full steam ahead with yummy recipes, fun art projects and stories on the farm.

Do I feel like everything in my life and business is figured out and perfect? Far from it and NO….BUT…

I have experienced hoping for something and going through something that required a lot of faith and making it to the end with an answered prayer (sweet baby).

I do have a business now that is serving others and helping to support our family.

View this post on Instagram

It’s not uncommon for people to not fully grasp what a social media manager does. Yesterday I had an “a-ha!” to simplifying how to explain it. . . . I help you so YOU can serve your community better. . . . Now to go in-depth : . . . I take time to absorb the heart and mission of your business. . . . From there I express your voice as I connect your mission to the community you get up every day to serve. . . . I TELL YOUR BRAND STORY with images that speak for themselves and copy that EDUCATES, ENTERTAINS and ENGAGES your followers. . . . I help you create a community connected to you. When people feel a part of something bigger YOU have loyalty to your brand. . . . When your people feel heard they hear YOU! . . . This is marketing, this is content creation, this is my media service serving YOU so YOU can serve your community better. . . . When you have the time back to be in your zone of genius you then can continue to serve your community better and better.

A post shared by Stefanie Davis Media (@stefaniedavismedia) on Apr 29, 2019 at 10:16pm PDT

So as I write this I ponder inwardly, “How did I come from a place of fear, doubt and in some instances despair to a place of hope and more confidence? How did I overcome the trials of basically losing a part of myself in a lost child I hoped for and a career I studied years for?”

The answer can be complex in detail but simply put it’s a few very simple things:

How to Overcome Trials in Life

• NEVER give up. Sure, there may be days where you need to allow a retreat, a pity party but ultimately you only allow it short term. If you refuse to give up you CANNOT be overcome by your circumstances.
• Move forward. Look toward your future and what you want and believe in and live today in a way that leads to the future life, you, family, career you want.
• One step at a time. It is overwhelming and impossible to change everything and do everything at once. Start small, even a few minutes a day of something you need to feel better, reach a goal or develop a better habit.
• Be present.Slow down and try to absorb the moment by unplugging from the noise of life and plugging into yourself, your loved ones, nature and what nurtures YOU.
• Give yourself permission to have hard days.I still cry at the loss of my daughter. Nothing replaces her. I still want her so badly. I have days that although I love my new career direction I miss the comfort of a familiar job and I question everything. I have learned this is ALL OK. Let yourself process and feel.
• Don’t ride the roller coaster. Life has and will always have it’s ups and downs but you don’t have to be thrown by it. As time goes by, as you experience more in life you begin to be more sturdy in your  beliefs and your confidence in your ability to survive AND thrive. You ultimately become less moved in life by hardship-which is a good thing in my opinion.
• Never lose hope. I personally can not imagine if I thought there was no higher power or greater good beyond our full understanding. For me taking the promises from a greater power and holding them in my heart gives me strength and a hope that can outweigh any doubt. Find that source of hope in YOUR life and cling to it when times get tough.

So there it is friends, a jumble of two years of some of the most challenging and stressful times in my life yet also the most beautiful, powerful and successful years thus far. When we can look at our trials after the fact as an opportunity to learn we can then take it and possibly help others. It takes time though. Everyone is ready in their own time. I couldn’t have written this before because I wasn’t through it. I had to be amidst the storm and do the things I listed above with all my might BUT now I am here to encourage YOU.

If you are in a storm of life now please know you aren’t alone. Reach out. Don’t give up. Practice self care the best you can. You will overcome! Dovidenia. XO

PS- I look forward to sharing with you my new media website in the coming weeks. If you own a business of any sort you will find a lot of value there, community art classes are coming in September and I am pondering a few group cooking classes too! Thank you all for your love and support through the years! Xo

The post How to Overcome Trials in Life appeared first on Simple Acres Blog.

Mom life with now 4 kids, 3 cats, a dog, a dozen chickens, a couple sheep and a herd of cows can make keeping a clean house hard to achieve. I am excited to share 5 Easy Ways to Keep a House Clean with Pets that will leave you feeling better about your house while you enjoy life with all your furry loved ones!

1. Choose Easy to Use Products

I choose the Libman Freedom Spray Mop because of its’ versatility and ease of use. You can literally use this product on any surface: wood, laminate,tile,marble,linoleum and stone; plus it has a larger mop head to cover more ground. When it comes to choosing your cleaning products, aim for products that do double-duty, like this mop.

2. Keep Cleaning Products Handy

Nothing’s worse than having a pet accident or mess and not having any cleaning supplies handy to quickly clean it up. In my house we love having bins or containers that are designated for our pet care needs. A bin for pet toys in one room, another for cleaning supplies to quickly clean up messes. Cleaning supplies such as paper towels, carpet cleaner and scrub brushes come in handy when they are easy to find and can be used quickly to get rid of even the most stubborn stains.

3. Don’t let the Dirt In

This one is easier said than done, but as mom’s always say, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Trying to eliminate excess dirt and grime entering the house will equal less cleaning up inside your home. Try leaving old towels near doorways and elicit the help of your family to wipe down your furry friends before they come in the house. This can be especially helpful on those rainy days when they can be extra muddy. Place the towel in a cute container or bin by the doorway, or roll up and place in a shoe cubby so that it’s a little more concealed.

4. Choose Easy to Clean Fabrics

Well, this makes sense doesn’t it. I’m not saying that we need to go out and change out all of our furniture to be more pet-friendly, but, prior to making any new purchases it may be handy to research if the furniture is one that is easy to clean. We’ve found for our house that dining room chairs covered in microfiber lead to more stains and messes than we care to try to clean, thus making a wooden chair a better choice in terms of ease of wiping off and cleaning. The most pet-friendly fabrics I’ve found tend to be one’s with a very tight weave, including canvas slipcovers, leather and even some outdoor fabrics used indoors.

5. Pet Beds

Having a cozy bed for your pet can mean less pet hair on your sofa or couch. Make the area extra special by randomly leaving treats for your pet by their bed, petting them while they are laying in their bed or just giving them extra attention while they are lying in their bed to encourage them to spend more time in their bed than on your furniture.

These tips are only a few of many possible ideas for keeping your pet-friendly home a little more tidy and clean. I’m sure there are method’s that you’ve been using that have been saving you time over the years. To save time AND money, The Libman Company is offering a $3-off coupon to those who sign up for The Libman Company newsletter.

I hope these have been helpful tips to keep your home clean and give you more time to enjoy all of your four legged friends. Dovidenia

The post 5 Easy Ways to Keep a House Clean with Pets appeared first on Simple Acres Blog.

Spring brings a fresh new season, more sunshine and outdoor activities and the yearning to have a fresh start in a new season. After Winter with all its dirt brought in from snow days, germs from the cold season and accumulated stuff from the holidays I am left desperate to declutter, clean and minimize! This season can be a busy season so Spring cleaning tasks that can be done in less than an hour is crucial to quench the craving for a clean and less cluttered space. Let me share with you how!

Living on a farm with lots of acreage (dirt), animals and kids can make it a challenge to keep a clean home. One thing that is the cornerstone to making it feel more possible is to declutter and minimize your stuff so it feels less overwhelming to keep what you have organized and clean. Decluttering is coming soon in a series of blog posts but today I am so excited to share with you the simple ways YOU can clean your home in minimal time! 

Life is short and one topic we talk a lot about at Simple Acres is living a present life. A life with the time and ability to be present and engaged with your loved ones increases quality of life and shifts focus to the things that really matter. After years of feeling like all I do is try to pick up and clean after STUFF that never seems done or in minutes from the kids is undone I am really shifting towards minimalism in life. This article takes that aspect and interest focused around cleaning so you can feel less stressed and more accomplished in your home. I feel blessed to get to collaborate with Libman Company with this post. They are a family owned business with a passion for helping you keep a clean space. Right now you can snag a $3 off coupon as well when you sign up for their newsletter so don’t miss out on that great deal!

9 Spring Cleaning Tasks You Can Do in Less than an Hour

1. Vacuum furniture. A quick clean of the seats and backs with a spritze of furniture freshener will do the trick.
2. Dust hidden corners. Get your kids involved with the feather duster by Libman Company. While you are cleaning other spaces the kids will enjoy dusting with this handy tool!
3. Wipe down kitchen cabinets. Just use your favorite surface cleaner and a clean rag to clean this surface. This is another chore I find kids love to do.
4. Freshen up walls and trim work. I use the same thing I used for the cabinets for this job. Focus on your main rooms and gathering spaces at first.
5. Clean off ceiling fans. Tape the feather duster onto the end of the broom and dust those fans easily. If your dust looks more like a one inch layer of dirt you may need to use your vacuum with the soft brush piece on the end.
6. Shine up appliances. I do a quick swipe of these when the cabinets are being cleaned.
7. Clean floors. Use the Freedom Spray Mop by The Libman Company for this job. Once you fill the reservoir with water and cleaner it’s just a push of a trigger as you spray your hard wood floors, tile or linoleum and mop away!
8. Wash windows. This is another task to delegate to a child with a spray bottle of window cleaner and towel.
9. Declutter a junk drawer. Pick the smallest most simple space to clear out. Just doing a drawer here and there feels less overwhelming but gives you a quick sense of accomplishment as you slowly reduce the excess in your home!

There you have it friends, a simple list of Spring cleaning tasks you can do in under an hour! Have fun feeling accomplished in minimal time so you can devote more time to what really brings you joy in life!  Dovidenia. XO

The post 9 Spring Cleaning Tasks You Can Do in Less than an Hour appeared first on Simple Acres Blog.

Often people think that November is the only time to focus on gratitude but I believe it is a year long affair that raises kids and even ourselves to a happy and better attitude in life.

15 Ways to Teach Gratitude to Kids

1. The first simple ideas for gratitude is to create a place on a wall where the family can express gratitude daily in a visual way. Just looking at the wall is uplifting and also serves as a reminder of the good things in ones life.

2. You can make a gratitude tree with your kids. This is a simple craft that is fun and hands on. It leaves your child with a piece of art that they can be proud of.

3. Another idea is to make a gratitude chain craft. Check out this article to learn how.

4. Keep a gratitude journal! Journaling what we are thankful for is a wonderful habit to teach. Learning more about journaling and prompts to inspire gratitude in your child.

5. Do you ever just take the time to reflect and chat about gratitude with your kids? This is one of the most simplest ways to instill gratitude. Here are some gratitude conversation starter ideas here.

6. Make a gratitude garland. You can use and shapes you want to then write something you are thankful for on it daily.

7. Gratitude stones are another great way to practice reflecting on thing you are thankful plus the kids will love painting art on their rocks.

8. Printables for Thanksgiving time are always handy that time of year.

9. Using a Daily Gratitude List printable is another wonderful and convenient tool you can use with your family to bring focus back to being thankful.

10. A kid specific gratitude journal is a tool mentioned in this article. Click through the link to learn more.

The remaining 5 activities to teach gratitude are journals, trees for thanksgiving and year round, a photo scavenger hunt, creating traditions, clay gratitude ornaments and a nature scavenger hunt that all about self reflection and gratitude great for the whole family!

There are SO many ways to teach gratitude! I heard once that the secret to TRUE happiness in life has nothing to do with material things and all to do with attitude. Gratitude is the key to happiness! I hope you enjoy some of these activities. Dovidenia. XO

The post 15 Best Gratitude Activities for Kids appeared first on Simple Acres Blog.

This post contains  affiliate links.

• technology use
• negative messages
• positive messages
• lists

Technology use

• turn off notifications
• delete problematic apps
• track your time and block apps
• create boundaries

Turn off notifications

Delete problematic apps

Track your time and block apps

Boundaries

Negative messages

Positive messages

Make lists

Simple Ways to Declutter Your Schedule

The post How to Declutter Your Mind: 4 Areas of Your Life to Focus On appeared first on Simple Acres Blog.

Do you ever feel like your schedule needs some decluttering? Are you overwhelmed and worn out? Let’s take a look at how to stop over scheduling and make room for margin in our lives.There are simple ways to declutter your schedule...let’s learn more!

There are 5 areas that can be a challenge when it comes to our schedules.

• multitasking
• overcommitting
• reprioritizing
• clarity
• rest and margin

Multitasking

We multitask and wonder why we keep forgetting things or aren’t getting as much accomplished as we’d planned. It turns out, multitasking isn’t actually effective. It is a myth to think we can do multiple things well simultaneously.

Our brains aren’t meant to handle doing various tasks at once. Singular focus is required for achieving optimal results. As women, we feel like we need to multitask often. Children always seem to be asking for or needing something from us. There are instances though where we are multitasking because we are overcommitted.

Overcommitting

Most of us are overscheduled. We are doing too many things and running ragged because of it. Our culture values and idealizes busy. Social media reinforces our desire to not miss out on all the things.

When we say yes to too many things, we are forcing ourselves to try and balance various roles at the same time. Once we’ve overcommitted we are likely to feel burned out, depleted, and sometimes even bitter or resentful for all that we are expected to do.

We also aren’t able to do our best work when we are spread too thin. It’s easy for things to slip through the cracks when there is so much going on. When we feel overwhelmed and like life is out of balance, it’s time to reassess priorities.

Reprioritizing

First, examine your values and priorities. Do you know what your why is? Is your current schedule reflecting your why and your goals? If it isn’t, it’s time to reassess your commitments.

It’s easy to say something is a priority, but if something is important it should be reflected in your schedule. For example, I can say family time is important, but if our schedule shows every person the family doing separate activities constantly, then our schedule isn’t reflecting our values.

We overcommit because we have skewed ideas about what is expected of us. People pleasers have a difficult time saying no. We can feel guilty or think we need to do things that we actually don’t. In order to regain control of our lives and our schedules, we need to practice saying no.

The goal is for your life to be in alignment with your why. See where you may need to cut back to create more space in your life.

Clarity

When you are clear on your priorities, it allows for a new sense of focus. It becomes more readily apparent what is a yes or a no when you’re faced with new opportunities. Does it fit with your priorities and values in your current life season? If it doesn’t, then the answer is a clear no. If it is aligned with your priorities and you have the capacity for it, then your yes becomes easier.

How we spend our time determines how we spend our lives. Don’t live a default life filled with things you never intended. Decluttering your schedule is an important part of living a life of purpose and intention.

“Let’s live lightly, freely, courageously, surrounded only by what brings joy, simplicity, and beauty.” ~Shauna Niequist

Rest & margin

Our culture doesn’t place a high value on rest or margin. While the concept of self-care has become more popular, it often thought of as an additional action item rather than rest or intentionally planning nothing.

If we don’t plan for margin, it is easy to fill in all the gaps on the calendar. When we do that, we lose the ability to say yes when something unexpected comes up. We may miss out on opportunities because we are already overcommitted.

It’s also in the margins that we get to enjoy an impromptu dance party with our kids or get the opportunity to talk with them about challenges they may be having at school. Planning margin in their lives is healthy for them too. Play, rest, and even boredom are actually good for us!

Looking for ways to create more margin?

From February 7-11, fill out the form on my affiliate link and you can get a FREE e-book called Make More Margin with over 75 tips on finding more time in your day!

The post Simple Ways to Declutter Your Schedule appeared first on Simple Acres Blog.

So you’ve been binge-watching Tidying Up and have decided you are going to take on your house. Before you pull out all of your items and put them on your bed and floors, I beg you to slow your roll and think through your process first.

Easiest to most difficult

My recommendation is to start in a room that you know will not be too difficult for you. It depends on the individual what room that would be. If you are very attached to your clothes, don’t start there. If you know the bathroom will be easiest for you to let go of things, that’s your answer. If you are unsure, start with your bedroom to create a restful calming space first.

Make a list of the rooms in your home from easiest to most difficult. The most difficult is usually where the most sentimental items are located. 
The final space would be the garage. It is helpful to be able to use the garage as a staging area when working on the other rooms in your house. Items can be temporarily placed there until you are able to sell or donate them.

I’ve created a Declutter Plan of Attack Worksheet to help you make your plan. After you fill out the form on this page, the link will be sent to you.

Take into consideration:

• your personality
• time available
• space
• other people’s stuff

Personality

The speed at which you will work through your house depends on your personal bent. Some people are ready and decisive and can move through spaces quickly. Most people will experience challenges in at least some parts of the home. That’s ok. It is helpful to know yourself and have already thought through which areas will be more difficult so you aren’t surprised when you slow down.

If decluttering is extremely difficult for you, start with smaller spaces and work for shorter spans of time. It gets easier as you go, but creating a situation that doesn’t overwhelm you right from the beginning is important. Scope your projects smaller so you are able to complete them. Then you’ll feel good about moving on to the next one. Start with one shelf or drawer at a time.

Time available

It’s a terrible feeling to start a project, get halfway into it, and then have to leave things a disaster because you’ve run out of time. The mess does get worse before it gets better so leaving the project midway can feel deflating. There are some cases where you may not be able to get it all done in a day. Just make sure your schedule allows you to complete the project in the very near future. Otherwise, you’ll end up hating decluttering and your house simulatanously.

Wait to start bigger projects if you’re tight on time. If you are watching Tidying Up at 9pm, fight the urge to pull all of your clothes out of the closet and put them on your bed (unless you want to sleep somewhere else that night and don’t care that you won’t be able to find anything in the morning).

Space

Consider the space in your home before you begin. Mentally prepare yourself and your family for the room to be disheveled as you are working through decluttering it. I recommend working in only one room at a time.

Having multiple rooms be a mess is stressful. Most people don’t enjoy being surrounded by unfinished projects (and if there are people who do enjoy it, that’s weird). Think about how the decluttering process will impact the function of the room. For example, if you are planning to make a meal that day that requires a lot of prep work, it’s probably not the best day to declutter your entire kitchen.

Other people’s stuff

Have you ever started trying to declutter a room only to realize many of the things in there aren’t yours? You can work on your things, but don’t expect to complete the room on your own unless your family members have given you free rein to declutter whatever you want (this pretty much never happens ;)). Schedule these spaces when you and your family members have the time to work together.

You can set aside items that other family members need to look over. However, this can be frustrating if you are imagining all of these items leaving your house and the family member doesn’t want to get rid of any of them.

Keep in mind, you can only control your actions and your stuff. Be respectful of other’s things and feelings. Ideally, compromise and work together as peacefully as possible. People’s belongings are very personal and decluttering can bring up a lot of complicated emotions.

Here are a few other articles to help in your decluttering efforts:

Figuring out what clutter is in your home

Do this before you start decluttering

Ready to get going?

Now that you’ve printed out the Declutter Plan of Attack worksheet and thought through your plan, you’re ready to start the process! I’ll talk through that process in the next post. Cliffhanger 😮

The post 6 Things to Keep in Mind When You Start to Declutter appeared first on Simple Acres Blog.

When the weather shifts to cold chilly nights, snow flakes, icicles and rain in the air you crave clothes that are conformable and warm. I tend to love the winter season for all its encouragement to cozy up for a few months. Warm, soft, cozy clothes are my favorite and even better yet if I can layer items under other items. I have shared often on this blog my love for Cuddl Duds® ClimateRight clothes! The Best Winter Clothes that are Cozy and Affordable are now available in a location you may least expect!

What I love is that ClimateRight by Cuddl Duds is now at Walmart for such affordable prices yet maintaining a great quality and line! You can buy options that are fleece, thin thermal and so much more! You can find the items near the pajama and woman’s intimate apparel section of the store!

Here is why they are the best Winter clothes in my opinion:

• They are extremely affordable at around ten dollars per top or bottom.
• They are very comfortable. You can sleep in them, go on a walk in them, wear then under other clothes and layer or wear them alone and not only feel comfy and warm but they are really cute!
• Versatility. You can wear them as an outfit to go into town and run errands, to work outside in in the winter, under snow pants to keep you extra warm and dry or to rest in as you lounge around.

I wore my outfit while running errands, going to work, walking around my farm and loving on my kiddo today! You will love these too. Shop the ClimateRight Collection at Walmart to get yours. 

Happy Winter all and stay warm and cozy! Dovidenia. XO

If you love comfy clothes as much as me you will enjoy these posts as well:

10 Ways to Enjoy Winter More

Simple Style: Essential Layering Fashion

The post The Best Cozy and Affordable Winter Clothes appeared first on Simple Acres Blog.