How Intentional Simplicity is Changing My Life

Today I am sharing how intentional simplicity has transformed my days and reduced decision fatigue. It’s totally possible for anyone!

Did you know that it’s estimated that the average adult makes about 35,000 conscious decisions each day? Researchers at Cornell University estimate that we make 226.7 decisions each day on food alone. Unbelievable right? No wonder at the end of the day we’re mentally exhausted and can’t handle one more thing. We’ve made 35,000 decisions in the 16 or so hours we’re awake. So how can we combat decision fatigue? Intentional simplicity, that’s how.

What is intentional simplicity? I’m glad you asked…

• Intentional: Done deliberately; intended.
• Simplicity: The property, condition, or quality of being simple or uncombined. Absence of luxury or showiness.

In a nutshell it is simplifying on purpose. Simplifying with the intention of making some of those 35,000 decisions just a whole lot easier. Ask yourself this question, “Will simplifying this area of my life make some of the decisions I make every day easier?”. Being mindful when we simplify our lives, homes, and calendars is what intentional simplicity is all about.

So how has simplifying on purpose changed my life?

No more, “what am I going to wear?!”.

For starters, when I wake up I don’t have to sift through mountains of clothing. Getting dressed is a no brainer. I’ve simplified my wardrobe to make every day a breeze. Read how you can simplify your own wardrobe here: How To Minimize Your Wardrobe in 30 Minutes or Less!

A good example of this is last weekend. We attended my husband’s company’s Christmas party. Usually this would have been very difficult for me. I would’ve torn everything out of my closet, and declared that I had “nothing” to wear. I would’ve then gone shopping. In previous years I’ve always bought a new dress for this occasion. I’ve never spent much money on them (is anyone else a clearance rack shopper?), but I usually only wore them once.

This year, however, I had two choices in my closet since I highly simplified my wardrobe. A black and white plaid dress, or a gray sweater dress. I chose the black and white plaid dress, and grabbed a pair of my favorite dress boots. By simplifying my options, I was able to quickly and easily make a choice. I didn’t spend any money on something I won’t wear again, either. When I created my wardrobe I was very intentional about the pieces I kept, and their versatility.

No more, “what are we eating for dinner?!”.

Another perfect example of intentional simplicity at work is my menu rotation. Roasted chicken, tacos, spaghetti, pork chops, meatloaf, soup, homemade pizza. Those are the items on our menu in rotation over and over again in the winter. I jot what we’re having down in my planner (I correlate what we’re having with the days of the week. Mondays are roasted chicken or pork chops, Taco Tuesday, Soup or Spaghetti on Wednesday, etc.), I pull anything that needs thawed out of the freezer the night before, and I’m set. Intentionally simplifying our family’s menu has dramatically reduced decision fatigue. Anyone else get lost in the never ending Pinterest scroll looking for something for dinner? Just me? I do the same for breakfast and lunch.

These are just two simple examples. There are so many more ways to simplify on purpose!

Here’s what I’ve learned. By making some of these “mundane” decisions no-brainers, I’ve got more “capacity” to tackle the bigger decisions. I no longer feel mentally drained at the end of a normal day. Sure, there’s still stress. There are still days I feel like my brain will explode if I have to make one. more. decision. Overall though, intentional simplicity has saved the day. Instead of binge watching Netflix, or mindlessly scrolling social media because I’m mentally exhausted, I’ve found I can focus more on the people and things I love.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this concept, and if you’ve implemented anything like this before. Decision fatigue is real, and I’m positive we can combat it by intentionally simplifying our lives.

Here’s an image to pin for later…