Life Moving Too Fast? 10 Simple Steps to Streamline Your Life and Rediscover Joy

By Helena Zachariassen.

In our extremely fast-moving global world, the pressure to do more, be more, and achieve more can feel relentless. When life becomes overwhelming, the solution is not to push harder but to simplify. 

Simplifying isn’t just about tidying your home or reducing your commitments - it’s about creating space for what truly matters and finding joy in the process. 

Simplifying is SPACIOUSNESS.

Through self-awareness, mindfulness, and a holistic approach to wellbeing, you can regain balance and live a life you love without compromising or giving up yourself or your values.  

Here are 10 ways to simplify and streamline your life, starting today:

1. Know what matters most

Simplifying begins with self-awareness. Take a step back and reflect: 

What do I TRULY value? 

Identifying your core priorities - whether it’s family, health, creativity, or personal growth - provides a compass for your decisions. When you focus on what’s most important to you, it becomes easier to let go of distractions and obligations that don’t align with your values.  

2. Declutter your physical space

A cluttered environment often mirrors a cluttered mind. A clear mind is a healthy mind, able to support you at all times.

At My Happy Home, we believe your surroundings profoundly impact your wellbeing. Begin by thoughtfully examining your space and letting go of anything that no longer serves you or brings you happiness. Focus on creating an environment that feels supportive and uplifting and reflects the life you want to live. Start small, perhaps with a single drawer or a specific category, like clothing or books. Each item you release makes room for more emotional clarity and calm. 

Simplifying your home isn’t just about tidying - it’s about crafting a sanctuary where you can thrive and truly feel at ease.

3. Simplify your work life

Wellbeing at work plays a significant role in overall life satisfaction. Assess your workload, your schedule, the meaningfulness of it all and ask: 

Am I focusing on what’s truly impactful and aligned with my values?

Simplify your tasks by aligning them with your core values and purpose. Prioritise what truly matters and let go of the rest. Set clear boundaries, like defined work hours, to protect your energy and prevent burnout. Build in regular breaks to recharge and reconnect with your wellbeing. 

Remember, a balanced mind and soul is just as important as checking off your to-do list, and creating space for rest and reflection will help you stay aligned with what truly fulfills you.

4. Create a balanced wellbeing routine

True wellbeing encompasses physical, emotional, mental, and social health. Simplify your approach by focusing on small, consistent habits that address each area. This part doesn´t have to be complicated:

Eat nourishing meals, stay hydrated, move your body regularly, and get enough sleep. 

Cultivate emotional resilience through any preferred mindfulness practice, and nurture meaningful relationships for social support. Simplifying doesn’t mean ignoring these areas but finding easy, sustainable ways to care for yourself.  

5. Declutter your schedule  

Your time is one of your most valuable resources. Take a hard look at your calendar and ask: 

Does this activity align with my values and goals?

Say no to commitments that don’t serve you, and leave plenty of room for downtime. By reducing the number of things craving your attention, you can approach each task or event with greater joy, focus and energy.  

6. Simplify your decision-making  

Decision fatigue is a major source of stress. Streamline your daily choices by creating simple routines for recurring tasks. For example, plan your weekly meals, create a family chore schedule, simplify your wardrobe, or outsource certain tasks if helpful. Mindfulness also plays a role here - take a moment to pause and check in with yourself before making decisions, or sleep on it if needed. By focusing on what feels right in the moment, you can reduce overthinking and gain clarity.  

7. Practice mindful consumption  

From material goods to information, we often consume far more than we need. Simplify your life by being intentional about what you bring into it. Ask yourself: 

Do I really need this? Will it add value to my life? 

This applies to shopping, social media, and even your conversations. Consuming less but with purpose reduces overwhelm and creates more physical and emotional space for what truly enriches you.  

8. Create space for rest and recovery  

Many of us are caught in the hustle culture, believing we need to be busy to be successful. 

But rest is not a luxury - it’s essential!

Schedule time for rest, whether it’s a 10-minute pause, walk or power nap in your day, a quiet evening at home, or a weekend away from your responsibilities. Recurring rest allows you to recharge, gain perspective, and return to your commitments with renewed energy. 

9. Simplify your relationships  

While relationships are vital to our wellbeing, not all connections are equally nourishing. Reflect on your relationships and consider which ones bring joy and support and which feel draining.

Focus your time and energy on the connections that truly matter. Simplify your approach by being present during interactions - put away your phone, listen deeply, and appreciate being in the moment.  

10. Focus on the present moment   

Living in the present is one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to simplify your life. Mindfulness practices, like deep breathing, meditation, or simply observing your surroundings, help you let go of worries about the past or future. When you focus on the here and now, life becomes less complicated and more enjoyable.  

What did we learn today?

Simplifying your life isn’t just about reducing - it’s about connecting. When you simplify one area, it ripples into others: a decluttered home fosters mental clarity, a mindful work routine enhances overall wellbeing, and nurturing relationships brings emotional balance. By viewing wellbeing as an interconnected whole, you can make small changes that have a bigimpact on your quality of life.  

Streamlining your life is an ongoing journey, not a one-time event. It’s about making intentional choices to focus on what truly matters, whether that’s spending time with loved ones, finding joy in the little things, or taking care of your health. Start small - declutter a single drawer, say no to one unnecessary commitment, or take three minutes to breathe deeply.  

Each step you take toward simplicity brings you closer to a life that feels lighter, more aligned, and more joyful. 

And the beauty of it all? It´s not the destination, the growth is in the journey.

Helena Zachariassen is a mum of 2, an expert in simplifying and home organising, and a lover of all things beautiful in life. A certified KonMari Consultant and Lifestyle Coach, she is the founder of Switzerland’s first KonMari and Lifestyle Coaching Consultancy - My Happy Home. She is passionate about empowering and inspiring people of any walk of life by organising their living spaces according to the KonMari Method by simply choosing joy.

Having her roots in Finland, the Nordic country of pure, quiet, and beautiful wilderness, and being deeply inspired by nature, beauty and simplicity, Helena lovingly encourages and supports her clients in transforming their homes into havens of serenity.