10 Ways to Make Your Life Less Chaotic and Busy

Does life seem busy, stressful, and chaotic? Does it never seem to slow down long enough to get caught up or to enjoy it? Many people live like that, and they aren’t sure how it happened or how to make it better. Fortunately, there are ways to have a life that’s more enjoyable and less stressful. Here are 10 ways to get started.

1. Plan Life With a Calendar

A calendar might sound like one more thing to do, but it won’t take long to create. Once everything is listed out, with due dates and deadlines, it’s much easier to see what needs to be done now versus what can get done later. Tackling life becomes easier that way, with a little time management and a focus on the important stuff.

2. Let Unimportant Things Go

Some things just don’t matter that much, and if those things are causing chaos in life it may be time to make a change. Take a look at the things that are on the to-do lists and the calendar. If there are any of them that truly don’t matter, let them go. Take them off the list and forget them. They aren’t as important as peace, joy, and tranquility.

3. Learn to Say No to People

It really is okay to say no. People and things can steal a lot of time and a lot of joy. If there are toxic people around or there are tasks that just don’t fit into the schedule, saying no to those people and those things is okay. People should give themselves permission to say no, so they can say yes to the things they love to do and the things that need to get done.

4. Ask for Help From Others

Delegating tasks at work and asking people to help around the house isn’t a bad thing. Don’t be afraid to do that, and to reach out for guidance and assistance. It makes life less chaotic and can also really help with mental and physical health. Some people might need more help than others, and taking stock of how they’re really feeling is an important part of reducing chaos in their life the right way.

5. Declutter Personal Space

Living with a lot of clutter around can make people more anxious. It can also make them feel like they can’t get a handle on their life or like there is always so much that needs to get done. But decluttering helps put things in perspective. It can be hard to make time to do that when life is already busy, but it’s a short-term project that can be done in stages and the benefits are often well worth it. A less cluttered space lends itself to more peace and tranquility overall.

6. Make Time for Hobbies

Life shouldn’t always be about work and obligations. Making time for hobbies and personal interests is important, as well. When there are enjoyable things to do but they are always neglected, that can lead to a feeling of stress and even anger. People who want to be less busy don’t always mean they want to do nothing. They just want time to pursue the things that matter to them.

7. Set Goals That Are Realistic

Realistic goals are those that can actually be accomplished in a reasonable time frame, and goals that need to be accomplished. There are a lot of time-wasters in life, and no reason to get pulled into those so the important things in life continue to get overlooked. By setting realistic, actionable, and attainable goals a person can have more success and reduce the chaos and stress in their life.

8. Donate Rather Than Sell

Having a yard sale or selling things online can bring in some extra money from all that decluttering. But it also takes a lot of work and can contribute to the stress level. Unless there are some pieces that are highly valuable, just donate the things that have been decluttered and need a new home. Freeing up physical space often frees up time and mental space, too.

9. Create a Routine That Works

Even people who have busy lives by design, such as a corporate job and three kids at home, can reduce chaos with a good routine. The right routine maximizes the things that matter and eliminates or reduces the ones that don’t. That can mean better priorities, more fun, and time for all the things in life that are enjoyable but sometimes get overlooked.

10. Consider Living the Simple Life

One of the ways people reduce chaos and make their life less busy is through deliberately living a simpler life. It’s not for everyone, but it works well for some people. This could include downsizing a home, moving to a quieter location, changing jobs, or anything else that would work to reduce how busy and stressed someone is. While bills must be paid and obligations met, mental and physical health as well as joy and quality of life are also important.