What if you did less? What if you got really clear and cut out the extraneous, made things repeatable, simpler? 

So often we don’t do the things that really matter, because we’re too busy trying to do all the things. We just keep pushing … when we could actually pause and make things easier. 

10 Ways to Simplify

Let’s push back against hustle culture by finding some ease. Let’s lean into focus culture by making time for the things that help us have a real impact!

1. Just don’t do it.
   You don’t have to do everything. You can say no to requests that don’t align with your goals. You can eliminate features from a program. Cross stuff off your to do list just because you decide it isn’t going to get done. If you want to simplify, starting with a critical look at your lists and plans is a great starting point!
2. Make decisions once.
   Theme days are a way to make decisions once that simplifies things at work and home. For example, Taco Tuesday makes meal planning easier. If you think you’ll be bored, you can still mix it up with fish tacos one week and ground beef the next … but you’ve narrowed down the options. And scheduling a block of time for Financial Friday means you won’t get behind on money stuff — and if bills or invoice or expenses come up during the week, you know you have time to address them and can keep your focus elsewhere the rest of the week. 
3. Create routines.
   Routines mean you get into a habit that serves you. Take my closing routine: I take 15 minutes at the end of my workday to review what I got done that day, celebrate my wins (we don’t do this enough), check my calendar and write out a to-do list for the next day. Then I straighten my desk, recycle or put away papers, bring dishes to the kitchen, plug in my devices to charge, and set up what I need to start the next day. This routine simplifies things for the next day AND triggers my brain to know that I’m done with work.
4. Use templates and recycled copy.
   You don’t have to recreate the wheel every time you do something. I’m a huge fan of templates to make writing easier. For example, how many sales emails, private invites, welcome sequences have you written? How many times have you sweated over a difficult situation email? Email templates can cut down on writing time and make things easier. And if there is copy you use over and over again — your bio, the elevator pitch for your signature program, a tip or mantra you share with clients again and again — collect that for easy access for you and/or your team. 
5. Set up a system.
   Setting up a system itself can take time, but once it’s set up, a system saves time by cutting out repetition or having to think through a process each time you do it. Systems also make it easier to delegate (see #7) part or all of a process. Anything you do over and over again is ripe for a system. Your system could be as simple as a checklist of steps for setting up your blog. It could also be a template of how you onboard clients in ClickUp or swipe file emails for sales (see #4). 
6. Focus on just the next step.
   Do you ever get stuck because there are so many things to do? What is the next thing you need to do? Do you need to make a decision? Get more information? Set up a call? Make a plan? Write down the ONE thing you need to do next. Do that one thing. Repeat. 
7. Delegate.
   We said before that you don’t have to do everything. That can mean eliminating to dos — or it can mean getting things off your plate. Not sure where to start with delegating? Try the thing that’s easiest to hand off OR the thing that you hate doing the most. Like many of these tips, this one works for work or home. Delegate making lunch to your kids. Delegate setting up all emails to a VA. 
8. Schedule things.
   Sometimes it’s not about what we need to do, but when we’re going to do it. Getting real about time and putting things in our planner helps us actually get things done and feel less overwhelmed. It also helps stay focused when other things come up. Focus Sessions are our favorite way to schedule the things we want to get done. 
9. Make a later list.
   Have you ever sat down to do some focused work — visioning for your new offer or writing your new landing page — only to think of something you need to remember to do? (Note to self: Call the orthodontist) If you’re like me, your instinct is to do the thing when it pops into your head. We know that task switching wastes time, but we think we’ll forget if we don’t do it now. Enter the later list. Keep a notepad on your desk to capture all those “need to remember to” tasks (or even brilliant ideas you want to share with a client or work into your new podcast) in a Later List. Use a clear the deck session to take care of the things on your Later List. 
10. Do Less Better.
    If we wanted to simplify this list, it would come down to this one mantra. You can streamline. You can get strategic about what you do, when you do it, and how you do it. Forget about doing it all. Decide how you want to do less and do it better. 

Wondering how to actually implement any of these ideas? Feeling stuck on simplifying? Sometimes fresh eyes or talking through things can help. Focus PLUS includes weekly drop-in coaching to help you find more ease and get past roadblocks—and in our Monday planning sessions, we schedule time for the things that matter most. 

It doesn’t have to be hard. You don’t have to do all the things. You can make it simpler and make an impact.