Let me share with you a good book, entitled “If I really wanted to SIMPLIFY MY LIFE, I WOULD…” prepared by W.B. Freeman Concepts, Inc. It is a small book but is a “witty collection of practical advice and insights (that) will encourage you to downsize, prioritize, and simplify.” I have identify some of the entries which I especially like and I hope you will also find them beneficial to ease and clean up the clutter and disorder of a busy life. This is the third part:

Make Lists
If you pride yourself on being able to remember every detail, remember these words: “Good Luck”.  That’s what you will need, especially as you age.  Making lists – of things to buy, events to remember, projects and chores to do – may not be as compelling for the ego, but it is guaranteed to unclutter your mind and create an environment where you are more efficient and less likely to make errors.

Written lists make prioritizing easier and planning simple.  They can help you make wiser decisions, think through a project more exactly, communicate more clearly, and organize more effectively.  Plus, marking things off a list can create an internal sense of reward.

Written lists can give you back your confidence.

Turn off the Television and feed the soul
There are many types of “soul food” – reading a book, watching the sun set, spending time with a friend, or just listening intently to the rhythm of life.  These and many nutritious activities are known to feed our desire for truth and other noble, beautiful. And virtuous ideals.  Sadly, we too often settle for “junk soul food” like watching television.

A constant diet of television’s fare may be easy but it certainly is not simple.  Too much television can muddle and confuse your sense of morality, ethics and virtue.  It can stunt your ability to think and create, and can inhibit your spiritual growth.  Look for activities that build up and cause an active mental or creative response.

You are what you eat.

Keep receipts & tax information in one place
Don’t wait until you are facing a BIR audit or up against a tax deadline to try to find and organize receipts.  That’s a mistake that will lead you down a long, frustrating, and costly road.  Do yourself a favor and don’t go there!

Keep financial papers organized and in a place where you can access them quickly.  Something as simple as an accordion file can be a great help in sorting and storing tax deductible receipts and other pertinent information.  Remember to do this even if someone else is preparing your return.  No matter who fills out the forms, you will be asked to provide the information.  A little bit of forethought can save you a big headache.

Plan now or pay later!

Listen more and Talk less
What you don’t say can’t complicate your life.  That may be the very reason God gave us two ears and only one mouth!  Prove this to yourself by making a conscious effort to listen twice as much as you speak.  You may well find that it is more difficult than you imagined.

The best tactic is to find a middle ground somewhere between syllables and silence.  Practice thinking before you speak rather than after and remember that when you avoid speaking carelessly, you also avoid hurt feelings, embarrassing gaffes and misunderstandings.  This is especially true if you are learning to listen intently at the same time.

Mum’s a GOOD word.