When Life Can’t Be Simplified, Start Here
There are seasons when life feels heavy no matter what I do. My calendar is full, people need me, my emotions are loud.
In the past, I thought “simplifying” meant clearing my schedule, decluttering my house, or redesigning my routine. But sometimes that just isn’t possible. Life doesn’t always make space.
So I’ve learned to start somewhere else: on the inside.
My breath. Even if I can’t change the pace of my day, I can take a breath that belongs to me. A pause. A reminder I’m here.
My tone with myself. When I can’t slow the demands around me, I can soften my words inside. Less pushing, more gentleness.
My expectations. Sometimes the simplest thing I can do is lower the bar. To stop demanding perfection from a tired system.
It doesn’t sound dramatic. It won’t look impressive to anyone else. But simplifying inside has been the difference between bulldozing myself through hard days versus moving through them with a bit more compassion.
How You Can Practice Internal Simplification
Set a breath cue. Choose one ordinary moment (before opening your email, turning the car on, brushing your teeth) to pause for one slow breath. Let it mark a reset.
Check your self-talk. At least once today, listen to how you’re speaking to yourself. Ask: Would I say this to someone I love? If not, soften it.
Lower one bar. Identify a place where your expectation of yourself is higher than it needs to be (the spotless house, the perfect answer, the ideal routine). Ask: What would “good enough” look like today?
Simplifying inside doesn’t erase the full calendar or the busy season. But it changes the way you meet it. And that often is enough.
When life feels too full, which of these three could help you come back to yourself: your breath, your tone, or your expectations?
