March 4, 2025 • 18 mins
Discover practical tips for simplifying your life and reducing daily stress. We share actionable strategies that enhance your routine and pave the way for more joy and presence in your everyday life.
• Email management through unsubscribing instead of deleting
• Labeling leftovers to eliminate guesswork in the kitchen
• The benefits of automating bill payments and grocery shopping
• Simplifying your wardrobe to ease decision fatigue
• Setting limits on social media usage for a more focused life
• The two-minute rule for efficient task management
If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love to hear your thoughts on simplifying your life, so feel free to share with me what tips work for you. Drop a comment or send me a message on social media!
Todays spotlight:
Apply for an American Express Card with this link. We can both get rewarded if you're approved! http://refer.amex.us/HOLLYCTWZd?xl=cp102b
Happy traveling!
Visit www.hollycurby.com for more information and to sign up for the monthly Holly's Happenings e-newsletter. Holly's Highlights podcast and the opinions and ideas shared within it are for entertainment purposes only. The advice should be confirmed with a qualified professional.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hi friend, welcome to Holly's Highlights, a podcast
designed to encourage, inspireand equip you to intentionally
live your life full of purpose.
I'm your host, holly Kirby,motivational speaker, leadership
cultivator, marketingstrategist and personal
cheerleader.
Let's check out today'shighlights.
I am obsessed with the benefitsof my Delta American Express
(00:25):
Reserve Card From Delta Sky Clubaccess, an annual companion
certificate, discounts whenusing miles for travel, sea
upgrades and so many creditslike Delta State credits,
rideshare credits, resirestaurant credits and so much
more.
Want to start enjoying some ofthese perks too.
Well, sign up for one of theAmerican Express personal or
business card offers using mylink in the show notes and we
(00:49):
both receive bonus miles afteryou meet the specified
qualifications of purchases inthe specified number of months.
Just see the link for details.
Happy traveling.
Hi there, friends, today we'regoing to be talking about simple
ways that you can make yourdaily routine easier so you have
more time, less stress and alittle more joy in your life.
(01:09):
If you're like most people, itfeels like there's never enough
time in the day.
Between work, family, socialobligations and the constant
digital noise, it sure is easyto feel overwhelmed, but it
doesn't have to be that way.
Small changes and simple habitscan make a huge difference.
One that I've embraced thispast year is scheduling
(01:31):
everything on my calendar in myiPhone.
Now for being a calendar on thetype of all person.
It might not sound like a bigdeal to you, but this was a hard
transition and one that Ireally resisted for quite a
while.
But I found that in the longrun, it has truly helped me get
things out of my mind faster,which has helped me not feel so
bogged down with things toremember, but also has helped me
(01:53):
not forget things, which thatis very important.
My daughter and I sit downevery week and we go through
what she has coming up and I getit in my calendar.
My son will hop in the carafter school and tell me he has
this or that on a certain day,and I'll stop right then and
there and put it in the calendarreal quick.
So, just like this new EmbraceTime Saver for me, I thought
(02:14):
we'd dive into some more easyways to make your life simpler,
starting today.
First off, let's start withsomething that's probably a
daily stressor for most of usour email inbox.
How many of you open your emailonly to be greeted with dozens
of promotional emails ornewsletters that you never even
(02:34):
signed up for or you actuallyread.
And what do we do?
We delete them, right?
Well, this just happened withmy dad, where he was receiving
dozens and dozens per day and hewould go in to delete them.
Makes sense, but here's thething Deleting those emails is
only a temporary fix.
The next day, your inbox is allcluttered again.
So instead of just deletingthem, let's talk about the
(02:57):
better option of unsubscribing.
Now I get it.
Unsubscribing might sound like ahassle having to go into the
email and unsubscribe on eachone.
Some have you re-put in youremail but trust me, it is going
to be worth it.
There are some quick tools andresources out there too that can
help you.
Like unrollme to unsubscribefrom multiple email lists at
(03:18):
once.
It's kind of like a springcleaning for your inbox.
Plus, if you're still gettingemails from companies you
actually want to hear from,there's the tool Clean Email to
organize them into neatcategories or simply direct them
to a separate folder.
But by unsubscribing fromthings you don't need, your
inbox becomes cleaner and moremanageable and you'll stop
(03:39):
wasting time on unwanteddistractions.
So that first step on unwanteddistractions.
So that first step unsubscribefrom emails, don't just delete
them.
Second one Okay, here's anothertip to make life just a little
bit easier, especially in thekitchen.
If you've ever stared at acontainer of leftovers and
you've wondered how long hasthat been in there, or are they
(04:01):
still good, or even what is that?
Well, you're not alone.
Our issue is that we have aside-by-side fridge and it just
makes it hard to see what wehave in the fridge.
So getting a new fridge is onmy list, but seeing that we just
got this one about a year or soago, it's not going to be
happening anytime soon.
And the truth is, regardless ofwhat type or style of fridge we
(04:23):
have side by side or not, itcan just be hard to tell when
it's time to toss thoseleftovers we do see or can find,
and sometimes we hold on tothem a lot longer than we
actually should, especially ifthey get lost back in there.
So here's a simple fix Labelyour leftovers with the date you
made them.
Ta-da, it's that simple.
(04:44):
Label your leftovers with thedate you made them.
Ta-da, it's that simple.
Some people like to grab apiece of masking tape or maybe
even a sticky note to write thedate you cooked the meal and
then stick it right on thecontainer when you put it into
the fridge.
That way, when you open thefridge you don't have to guess
when you made that casserole orthat chili.
Now, to make this even simpler,I keep small sticky strips on
my menu board that hangs on thepantry and they're already
(05:07):
written on for each day of theweek Monday, tuesday, wednesday,
so forth.
Then I just grab one for theday of the week that I made that
meal, and when I'm puttingthose leftovers or now leftovers
into the fridge, I just put iton top of that container.
This way, I clean out my fridgeevery Sunday and I know what
needs to be thrown out.
And when we remove the meal toheat it up, we just take off
(05:28):
that little sticky strip and putit back on the menu board strip
to use another time.
So it's such a time saver andeasily, consistently able to
keep going on this, whether itbe me or even for my children to
implement as well.
Now, not only can the smallhabit save you from eating
something that's gone bad, butit's also going to save you the
(05:50):
headache of sorting through oldfood to find something you can
actually eat, especially whenyou're in a hurry.
Plus, it helps you stay on topof food waste, which is great
for your wallet and, of course,for the planet too.
So that second one is labelleftovers with dates.
Our third one let's talk aboutautomation.
One of the best ways to makeyour life easier is automation
(06:13):
and no, I'm not talking aboutrobots doing your chores
although that would be nice butI mean automating simple
everyday tasks that can free upyour brain power for more
important things.
So, for example, how many ofyou have reoccurring bills that
you have to manually pay everymonth?
Well, setting up automatic billpayments for things like
(06:35):
utilities, subscriptions, evenyour mortgage or rent, can save
you a ton of time.
Not to mention, it can also, bysetting these up, you don't
have to worry about forgetting apayment and then having to have
a late fee, so just spendingmore time focusing on other
things as well as perhaps savingyou some money on those late
fees too.
Now, this is pretty simple todo, in the sense of you can just
(06:59):
go on to your online bankingand add in those services that
you're wanting to set up forautomatic bill pay.
So, pretty simple have yourutility bill with you.
You'll have to input, like yourrecord number, your account
number and then how much you payeach month when you want to
have it sent out.
But again, once you get thisall set up through your bank, it
(07:19):
is super simple to then justimplement each and every month,
and you don't even have to thinkabout it.
It does it for you.
Now, another example of savingmoney through automated, simple
tasks would be grocery shopping.
If you have certain items youalways buy, like toiletries,
cleaning supplies or even snacks, you can use services like
Amazon Subscribe and Save toautomatically deliver those
(07:41):
items on a regular basis to you.
You don't even have to thinkabout it anymore.
Even grocery services likeWalmart Plus can help you save
both time and money, andphysical exhaustion too.
If we're being real, not onlydo I value the free Paramount
Plus subscription that comeswith my Walmart Plus, so check
your shopping service to seewhat benefits might come with it
(08:02):
, and so in my case, it reallypays for itself and having so
many benefits that it providesbut I also save time in my day
ordering through the app andthen having the groceries
delivered.
But even it goes a step furtherI save money as I don't have my
kids next to the cart, goingthrough each aisle and being
like can we get this?
Can I have this?
(08:23):
What about this?
Have we ever had this?
And so it just really helps usfocus and get things here Now.
Of course, it saves thephysical demands of loading and
unloading too, and this wassuper helpful after my hip
surgeries.
But basically I can schedulethe delivery for when I know my
kids will be available to helpbring everything in.
So it has no loading orunloading for us.
(08:44):
And again, it's just so supersimple delivering to your home
or wherever you're at.
We've even been at an Airbnbbefore and I've been able to use
my Walmart Plus to be able toget groceries to us.
Arrange for the day the timeagain.
So super simple.
You can check into your localgrocer and see if they have
something like this.
Some even have a pickup optioninstead of delivery or if you
(09:06):
just choose to pick up.
So a lot of different optionsand again, checking those
benefits at your grocery store.
And don't forget about automaticbackups, too, for your devices.
So backing up your phone orcomputer to the cloud can save
you from the nightmare of losingimportant files or photos.
Now, I learned this the hardway when a friend tried to help
(09:26):
me back up my photos years agoand ended up deleting at least
two years full of photos.
Oh my lands.
I still have heartache fromthat.
So Amazon Prime photo backup,buying extra space in your phone
, icloud to backup whateverworks for you.
But these automatic backups canbe a lifesaver or, in my case,
(09:49):
a heartbreak saver.
So the step three automatesimple tasks, from the bill
payments automatic bill paymentsto grocery shopping, to
automatic backups.
They are just going to helpsimplify life.
Number four let's talk aboutsomething that's a little closer
to home, your closet.
(10:10):
If you're like most people, youprobably have a ton of clothes,
yet you still feel like youhave nothing to wear.
Well, it's a classic case ofdecision fatigue, and we
actually have an episode Ibelieve it was in season five
about decision fatigue.
I would highly recommend you goback and check that out, but
it's something that addsunnecessary stress to our
(10:31):
mornings.
Now there are a few fixes forthis.
Some adapt a capsule wardrobe.
This is essentially a small,carefully curated collection of
clothes that you can mix andmatch easily.
The idea is to focus on qualityover quantity.
You don't need dozens of shirtsor pants and shoes, but just a
few versatile pieces that youlove and that can be worn
(10:54):
together in a variety of ways.
The best part, well, a capsulewardrobe helps you avoid
decision fatigue when pickingout outfits, so, which means
less time spent staring at yourcloset and more time spent on
what matters.
Plus, it's a great way toreduce clutter and save money in
the long run.
Another fix if that's not in itfor you if you're like I, have
(11:15):
to have my shoes.
I hear you, I have a lot ofshoes myself.
But another fix for separatingout the clothes can still save
that mindset of just simplyspace for dresses and skirts.
Another for our long sleeveshirts.
Another space for all of yourshort sleeve shirts, or at least
just bundled together.
(11:36):
You know another spot where allthe sweaters and sweatshirts
are next to each other, even thecardigans and jackets put side
by side.
You can do that, or even add tothat color batching your
clothes, and this can be doneusing the type of clothing
separation where all All whitelong sleeve shirts are together
next to all long sleeve blackshirts and so forth.
(11:57):
Or you can even just do itwhere you do your entire closet
as color separation, so youdon't have to separate
necessarily by style of clothes,but you're separating by colors
.
So all blue clothes together,regardless of long sleeve or
short sleeve, or dress, shirt orcasual, they're just all
together.
So when you want to wear acertain color, you easily find
(12:17):
what options you have longsleeve, short sleeve, dress, so
forth.
All together in that color.
Again, find what works for you.
But bringing some organizationto your closet can really
simplify decisions, to make eachday a lot less stressful.
So, number four simplify yourwardrobe lot less stressful.
(12:40):
So, number four simplify yourwardrobe.
Number five, moving on, raiseyour hand.
If you've ever gone on socialmedia to check one thing and an
hour later you realize you'vebeen scrolling aimlessly for
hours.
No, just me, I'm pretty sure weall have our hand raised.
Yes, we've all been there.
Social media can be a huge timesuck and while it's great for
connecting with people, it canalso be a source of stress and
(13:02):
distraction.
So one easy way to make yourlife simpler is to set time
limits on social media.
You can use tools like ScreenTime on iPhones or Digital
Wellbeing on Android to trackand limit your social media
usage.
So maybe try setting a30-minute limit for the day and
stick to it.
When that time's up, put yourphone down and do something else
(13:24):
.
If you're like me and not reallya scroller, I don't really get
on social media to scroll andlook at things, but I have to
get on social media for work orto promote this or that.
Well, we can still getsidetracked.
So even pre-scheduling yourpost, which can be done on
Facebook and Instagram, canreally help us be intentional in
getting what we need completedand not being tempted to just
(13:46):
get on there and be distractedand looking at all these things
when we're just trying to do asimple post.
It'll help you be more presentin the real world and this can
even reduce that mental clutterthat social media can bring.
It's kind of interestingresearch, such as childmindorg
(14:07):
and healthucdavisedu, I believeit is.
Well, they've all shown thatthe more time one spends on
social media, the less happypeople are and even more envy or
depressed or less content theybecome.
It can even increase showing ofanxiety or that all too real
fear of missing out.
So set healthy boundaries forusing social media.
(14:28):
As for how to use it, well,that may just be another podcast
episode altogether, or even youcan check out my book Facelift,
for some suggestions on how touse social media.
But step five set time limitson those social medias.
Number six here's one last tipfor today the two minute rule.
(14:49):
It's a simple concept that canwork wonders in your daily life.
The rule is simple If a taskwill take two minutes or less to
complete, daily life, the ruleis simple If a task will take
two minutes or less to complete,do it immediately.
Now, it sounds simple, but thistiny habit can prevent simple,
small tasks from piling up intooverwhelming to-do lists,
whether it's responding to anemail, washing a dish or even
(15:10):
putting away your shoes.
If it takes less than twominutes, just do it now.
This keeps things fromaccumulating and keeps your
space and your mind clear.
And boy is that a big one forme, keeping space and mind clear
.
Now, every night before bed, Itry to make a simple two minutes
to go through each room in thehouse and tidy up what needs to
(15:32):
be done Laundry taken upstairs,shoes put back on the shoe rack,
dishes even just put in thesink, whatever can help me feel
like I can wake up the next daywithout lots of tasks already
waiting for me to do.
As for a clear mind, I'm oldfashioned and I write things
down, so sometimes we just can'tget things done in two minutes,
(15:52):
or there may not be enough timein our day to complete
everything that's on our mind,but simply taking two minutes to
write down your next day'stasks or even thoughts that are
in your head, well, it can justhelp declutter your mind so you
can find peace and rest andallow some shut off time.
So that number six, the twominute rule, and there you have
(16:16):
it Six easy tips to make yourlife just a little bit simpler
Unsubscribing from unnecessaryemails, labeling leftovers,
automating routine tasks,simplifying your wardrobe,
setting time limits on socialmedia and completing two minute
rule tasks.
These small changes can helpyou save time, reduce stress and
(16:39):
create more space for thethings that truly matter, and to
me, that is being present withmy children.
Now, if you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit that
subscribe button so you nevermiss a new highlight.
I'd love to hear your thoughtson simplifying your life, so
feel free to share with me whattips work for you.
Drop a comment or send me amessage on social media Facebook
(17:03):
, it's at Holly's Highlights,and on Instagram, it's at Holly
Kirby.
That's H-O-L-L-Y-C-U-R-B-Y.
Thanks so much for tuning intoday and as Irish singer and
songwriter Ronan Keating saysand as Irish singer and
songwriter Ronan Keating says,it's the simple things that
matter most your family, thepeople you love, your health and
sanity.
(17:23):
So may all of these tips helpyou live just a little bit more
simpler in being present andwith those that you love.
Until next time, my friend, makeit a good day for a good day.
Thank you for joining me onthis journey of life.
I hope that today's highlighthas been encouraging, inspiring
and equipping so you can go outand live your life full of
(17:46):
purpose.
I'd be honored if you'd take amoment to leave a review or,
better yet, subscribe.
We can also stay in touch byjoining my email list at
hollykirbycom.
We can also stay in touch byjoining my email list at
hollykirbycom.
That's H-O-L-L-Y, c-u-r-b-y dotcom.
Until next time.
Make it a great day for a greatday.
Hi friend, welcome to Holly's Highlights, a podcast
designed to encourage, inspireand equip you to intentionally
live your life full of purpose.
I'm your host, holly Kirby,motivational speaker, leadership
cultivator, marketingstrategist and personal
cheerleader.
Let's check out today'shighlights.
I am obsessed with the benefitsof my Delta American Express
(00:25):
Reserve Card From Delta Sky Clubaccess, an annual companion
certificate, discounts whenusing miles for travel, sea
upgrades and so many creditslike Delta State credits,
rideshare credits, resirestaurant credits and so much
more.
Want to start enjoying some ofthese perks too.
Well, sign up for one of theAmerican Express personal or
business card offers using mylink in the show notes and we
(00:49):
both receive bonus miles afteryou meet the specified
qualifications of purchases inthe specified number of months.
Just see the link for details.
Happy traveling.
Hi there, friends, today we'regoing to be talking about simple
ways that you can make yourdaily routine easier so you have
more time, less stress and alittle more joy in your life.
(01:09):
If you're like most people, itfeels like there's never enough
time in the day.
Between work, family, socialobligations and the constant
digital noise, it sure is easyto feel overwhelmed, but it
doesn't have to be that way.
Small changes and simple habitscan make a huge difference.
One that I've embraced thispast year is scheduling
(01:31):
everything on my calendar in myiPhone.
Now for being a calendar on thetype of all person.
It might not sound like a bigdeal to you, but this was a hard
transition and one that Ireally resisted for quite a
while.
But I found that in the longrun, it has truly helped me get
things out of my mind faster,which has helped me not feel so
bogged down with things toremember, but also has helped me
(01:53):
not forget things, which thatis very important.
My daughter and I sit downevery week and we go through
what she has coming up and I getit in my calendar.
My son will hop in the carafter school and tell me he has
this or that on a certain day,and I'll stop right then and
there and put it in the calendarreal quick.
So, just like this new EmbraceTime Saver for me, I thought
(02:14):
we'd dive into some more easyways to make your life simpler,
starting today.
First off, let's start withsomething that's probably a
daily stressor for most of usour email inbox.
How many of you open your emailonly to be greeted with dozens
of promotional emails ornewsletters that you never even
(02:34):
signed up for or you actuallyread.
And what do we do?
We delete them, right?
Well, this just happened withmy dad, where he was receiving
dozens and dozens per day and hewould go in to delete them.
Makes sense, but here's thething Deleting those emails is
only a temporary fix.
The next day, your inbox is allcluttered again.
So instead of just deletingthem, let's talk about the
(02:57):
better option of unsubscribing.
Now I get it.
Unsubscribing might sound like ahassle having to go into the
email and unsubscribe on eachone.
Some have you re-put in youremail but trust me, it is going
to be worth it.
There are some quick tools andresources out there too that can
help you.
Like unrollme to unsubscribefrom multiple email lists at
(03:18):
once.
It's kind of like a springcleaning for your inbox.
Plus, if you're still gettingemails from companies you
actually want to hear from,there's the tool Clean Email to
organize them into neatcategories or simply direct them
to a separate folder.
But by unsubscribing fromthings you don't need, your
inbox becomes cleaner and moremanageable and you'll stop
(03:39):
wasting time on unwanteddistractions.
So that first step on unwanteddistractions.
So that first step unsubscribefrom emails, don't just delete
them.
Second one Okay, here's anothertip to make life just a little
bit easier, especially in thekitchen.
If you've ever stared at acontainer of leftovers and
you've wondered how long hasthat been in there, or are they
(04:01):
still good, or even what is that?
Well, you're not alone.
Our issue is that we have aside-by-side fridge and it just
makes it hard to see what wehave in the fridge.
So getting a new fridge is onmy list, but seeing that we just
got this one about a year or soago, it's not going to be
happening anytime soon.
And the truth is, regardless ofwhat type or style of fridge we
(04:23):
have side by side or not, itcan just be hard to tell when
it's time to toss thoseleftovers we do see or can find,
and sometimes we hold on tothem a lot longer than we
actually should, especially ifthey get lost back in there.
So here's a simple fix Labelyour leftovers with the date you
made them.
Ta-da, it's that simple.
(04:44):
Label your leftovers with thedate you made them.
Ta-da, it's that simple.
Some people like to grab apiece of masking tape or maybe
even a sticky note to write thedate you cooked the meal and
then stick it right on thecontainer when you put it into
the fridge.
That way, when you open thefridge you don't have to guess
when you made that casserole orthat chili.
Now, to make this even simpler,I keep small sticky strips on
my menu board that hangs on thepantry and they're already
(05:07):
written on for each day of theweek Monday, tuesday, wednesday,
so forth.
Then I just grab one for theday of the week that I made that
meal, and when I'm puttingthose leftovers or now leftovers
into the fridge, I just put iton top of that container.
This way, I clean out my fridgeevery Sunday and I know what
needs to be thrown out.
And when we remove the meal toheat it up, we just take off
(05:28):
that little sticky strip and putit back on the menu board strip
to use another time.
So it's such a time saver andeasily, consistently able to
keep going on this, whether itbe me or even for my children to
implement as well.
Now, not only can the smallhabit save you from eating
something that's gone bad, butit's also going to save you the
(05:50):
headache of sorting through oldfood to find something you can
actually eat, especially whenyou're in a hurry.
Plus, it helps you stay on topof food waste, which is great
for your wallet and, of course,for the planet too.
So that second one is labelleftovers with dates.
Our third one let's talk aboutautomation.
One of the best ways to makeyour life easier is automation
(06:13):
and no, I'm not talking aboutrobots doing your chores
although that would be nice butI mean automating simple
everyday tasks that can free upyour brain power for more
important things.
So, for example, how many ofyou have reoccurring bills that
you have to manually pay everymonth?
Well, setting up automatic billpayments for things like
(06:35):
utilities, subscriptions, evenyour mortgage or rent, can save
you a ton of time.
Not to mention, it can also, bysetting these up, you don't
have to worry about forgetting apayment and then having to have
a late fee, so just spendingmore time focusing on other
things as well as perhaps savingyou some money on those late
fees too.
Now, this is pretty simple todo, in the sense of you can just
(06:59):
go on to your online bankingand add in those services that
you're wanting to set up forautomatic bill pay.
So, pretty simple have yourutility bill with you.
You'll have to input, like yourrecord number, your account
number and then how much you payeach month when you want to
have it sent out.
But again, once you get thisall set up through your bank, it
(07:19):
is super simple to then justimplement each and every month,
and you don't even have to thinkabout it.
It does it for you.
Now, another example of savingmoney through automated, simple
tasks would be grocery shopping.
If you have certain items youalways buy, like toiletries,
cleaning supplies or even snacks, you can use services like
Amazon Subscribe and Save toautomatically deliver those
(07:41):
items on a regular basis to you.
You don't even have to thinkabout it anymore.
Even grocery services likeWalmart Plus can help you save
both time and money, andphysical exhaustion too.
If we're being real, not onlydo I value the free Paramount
Plus subscription that comeswith my Walmart Plus, so check
your shopping service to seewhat benefits might come with it
(08:02):
, and so in my case, it reallypays for itself and having so
many benefits that it providesbut I also save time in my day
ordering through the app andthen having the groceries
delivered.
But even it goes a step furtherI save money as I don't have my
kids next to the cart, goingthrough each aisle and being
like can we get this?
Can I have this?
(08:23):
What about this?
Have we ever had this?
And so it just really helps usfocus and get things here Now.
Of course, it saves thephysical demands of loading and
unloading too, and this wassuper helpful after my hip
surgeries.
But basically I can schedulethe delivery for when I know my
kids will be available to helpbring everything in.
So it has no loading orunloading for us.
(08:44):
And again, it's just so supersimple delivering to your home
or wherever you're at.
We've even been at an Airbnbbefore and I've been able to use
my Walmart Plus to be able toget groceries to us.
Arrange for the day the timeagain.
So super simple.
You can check into your localgrocer and see if they have
something like this.
Some even have a pickup optioninstead of delivery or if you
(09:06):
just choose to pick up.
So a lot of different optionsand again, checking those
benefits at your grocery store.
And don't forget about automaticbackups, too, for your devices.
So backing up your phone orcomputer to the cloud can save
you from the nightmare of losingimportant files or photos.
Now, I learned this the hardway when a friend tried to help
(09:26):
me back up my photos years agoand ended up deleting at least
two years full of photos.
Oh my lands.
I still have heartache fromthat.
So Amazon Prime photo backup,buying extra space in your phone
, icloud to backup whateverworks for you.
But these automatic backups canbe a lifesaver or, in my case,
(09:49):
a heartbreak saver.
So the step three automatesimple tasks, from the bill
payments automatic bill paymentsto grocery shopping, to
automatic backups.
They are just going to helpsimplify life.
Number four let's talk aboutsomething that's a little closer
to home, your closet.
(10:10):
If you're like most people, youprobably have a ton of clothes,
yet you still feel like youhave nothing to wear.
Well, it's a classic case ofdecision fatigue, and we
actually have an episode Ibelieve it was in season five
about decision fatigue.
I would highly recommend you goback and check that out, but
it's something that addsunnecessary stress to our
(10:31):
mornings.
Now there are a few fixes forthis.
Some adapt a capsule wardrobe.
This is essentially a small,carefully curated collection of
clothes that you can mix andmatch easily.
The idea is to focus on qualityover quantity.
You don't need dozens of shirtsor pants and shoes, but just a
few versatile pieces that youlove and that can be worn
(10:54):
together in a variety of ways.
The best part, well, a capsulewardrobe helps you avoid
decision fatigue when pickingout outfits, so, which means
less time spent staring at yourcloset and more time spent on
what matters.
Plus, it's a great way toreduce clutter and save money in
the long run.
Another fix if that's not in itfor you if you're like I, have
(11:15):
to have my shoes.
I hear you, I have a lot ofshoes myself.
But another fix for separatingout the clothes can still save
that mindset of just simplyspace for dresses and skirts.
Another for our long sleeveshirts.
Another space for all of yourshort sleeve shirts, or at least
just bundled together.
(11:36):
You know another spot where allthe sweaters and sweatshirts
are next to each other, even thecardigans and jackets put side
by side.
You can do that, or even add tothat color batching your
clothes, and this can be doneusing the type of clothing
separation where all All whitelong sleeve shirts are together
next to all long sleeve blackshirts and so forth.
(11:57):
Or you can even just do itwhere you do your entire closet
as color separation, so youdon't have to separate
necessarily by style of clothes,but you're separating by colors
.
So all blue clothes together,regardless of long sleeve or
short sleeve, or dress, shirt orcasual, they're just all
together.
So when you want to wear acertain color, you easily find
(12:17):
what options you have longsleeve, short sleeve, dress, so
forth.
All together in that color.
Again, find what works for you.
But bringing some organizationto your closet can really
simplify decisions, to make eachday a lot less stressful.
So, number four simplify yourwardrobe lot less stressful.
(12:40):
So, number four simplify yourwardrobe.
Number five, moving on, raiseyour hand.
If you've ever gone on socialmedia to check one thing and an
hour later you realize you'vebeen scrolling aimlessly for
hours.
No, just me, I'm pretty sure weall have our hand raised.
Yes, we've all been there.
Social media can be a huge timesuck and while it's great for
connecting with people, it canalso be a source of stress and
(13:02):
distraction.
So one easy way to make yourlife simpler is to set time
limits on social media.
You can use tools like ScreenTime on iPhones or Digital
Wellbeing on Android to trackand limit your social media
usage.
So maybe try setting a30-minute limit for the day and
stick to it.
When that time's up, put yourphone down and do something else
(13:24):
.
If you're like me and not reallya scroller, I don't really get
on social media to scroll andlook at things, but I have to
get on social media for work orto promote this or that.
Well, we can still getsidetracked.
So even pre-scheduling yourpost, which can be done on
Facebook and Instagram, canreally help us be intentional in
getting what we need completedand not being tempted to just
(13:46):
get on there and be distractedand looking at all these things
when we're just trying to do asimple post.
It'll help you be more presentin the real world and this can
even reduce that mental clutterthat social media can bring.
It's kind of interestingresearch, such as childmindorg
(14:07):
and healthucdavisedu, I believeit is.
Well, they've all shown thatthe more time one spends on
social media, the less happypeople are and even more envy or
depressed or less content theybecome.
It can even increase showing ofanxiety or that all too real
fear of missing out.
So set healthy boundaries forusing social media.
(14:28):
As for how to use it, well,that may just be another podcast
episode altogether, or even youcan check out my book Facelift,
for some suggestions on how touse social media.
But step five set time limitson those social medias.
Number six here's one last tipfor today the two minute rule.
(14:49):
It's a simple concept that canwork wonders in your daily life.
The rule is simple If a taskwill take two minutes or less to
complete, daily life, the ruleis simple If a task will take
two minutes or less to complete,do it immediately.
Now, it sounds simple, but thistiny habit can prevent simple,
small tasks from piling up intooverwhelming to-do lists,
whether it's responding to anemail, washing a dish or even
(15:10):
putting away your shoes.
If it takes less than twominutes, just do it now.
This keeps things fromaccumulating and keeps your
space and your mind clear.
And boy is that a big one forme, keeping space and mind clear
.
Now, every night before bed, Itry to make a simple two minutes
to go through each room in thehouse and tidy up what needs to
(15:32):
be done Laundry taken upstairs,shoes put back on the shoe rack,
dishes even just put in thesink, whatever can help me feel
like I can wake up the next daywithout lots of tasks already
waiting for me to do.
As for a clear mind, I'm oldfashioned and I write things
down, so sometimes we just can'tget things done in two minutes,
(15:52):
or there may not be enough timein our day to complete
everything that's on our mind,but simply taking two minutes to
write down your next day'stasks or even thoughts that are
in your head, well, it can justhelp declutter your mind so you
can find peace and rest andallow some shut off time.
So that number six, the twominute rule, and there you have
(16:16):
it Six easy tips to make yourlife just a little bit simpler
Unsubscribing from unnecessaryemails, labeling leftovers,
automating routine tasks,simplifying your wardrobe,
setting time limits on socialmedia and completing two minute
rule tasks.
These small changes can helpyou save time, reduce stress and
(16:39):
create more space for thethings that truly matter, and to
me, that is being present withmy children.
Now, if you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to hit that
subscribe button so you nevermiss a new highlight.
I'd love to hear your thoughtson simplifying your life, so
feel free to share with me whattips work for you.
Drop a comment or send me amessage on social media Facebook
(17:03):
, it's at Holly's Highlights,and on Instagram, it's at Holly
Kirby.
That's H-O-L-L-Y-C-U-R-B-Y.
Thanks so much for tuning intoday and as Irish singer and
songwriter Ronan Keating saysand as Irish singer and
songwriter Ronan Keating says,it's the simple things that
matter most your family, thepeople you love, your health and
sanity.
(17:23):
So may all of these tips helpyou live just a little bit more
simpler in being present andwith those that you love.
Until next time, my friend, makeit a good day for a good day.
Thank you for joining me onthis journey of life.
I hope that today's highlighthas been encouraging, inspiring
and equipping so you can go outand live your life full of
(17:46):
purpose.
I'd be honored if you'd take amoment to leave a review or,
better yet, subscribe.
We can also stay in touch byjoining my email list at
hollykirbycom.
We can also stay in touch byjoining my email list at
hollykirbycom.
That's H-O-L-L-Y, c-u-r-b-y dotcom.
Until next time.
Make it a great day for a greatday.
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