Life can get overwhelming fast, especially with modern demands pulling us in every direction.
For some time, I also lived with the idea of constantly chasing productivity and setting goal after goal. My days were a continuos rush to reach something that was getting further and further – From my expectations but also from what I truly wanted in life.
So when finally the switch happened, simplifying my life wasn’t about giving things up just for the sake of it but creating space for what genuinely matters.
If you feel overwhelmed by the chaos around you, and disconnected from the fast-paced world you are surrounded by, this post is for you.
Here are seven things I let go of that truly helped me bring peace and clarity and live a simple happy life.
1. The Urge to Rush
I used to think that the faster I moved, the more I’d achieve. So I ended up overbooking my days with things to do. The faster I was able to do things, the more things I could do and, therefore, I would have felt super-productive.
But constantly racing against the clock led to burnout rather than fulfilment.
Without any doubt, there are occasions where you “need” rush – for example, a deadline at work, an appointment you cannot attend at any different time, and so on.
But this doesn’t mean that also the rest of your life has to be a constant rush.
Learning to slow down, savour the present, and let things unfold in their own time has been transformative.
Now, I’m less focused on rushing and more on enjoying the journey. I might do fewer things in a day, but I’m proud of those fewer things because I feel I truly enjoy them. And, most important, I don’t feel burnout.
2. Chasing Quantity Instead of Quality
In the past, I’d prioritised having more of everything. More clothes, more knick-knacks, even more friendships.
Do you know that feeling when you want to buy another beauty product and then, you arrive home, put it in place, and you just realise that is just another product that you’ll never finish, it will just pile dust on it and it will make even more mess?
I found myself surrounded by excess rather than meaning. I’ve since shifted to choosing quality in what I buy, what I keep, and the relationships I invest in.
I trained myself to be more conscious of my spending habits. Now I buy a new beauty product when the other is completely finished. Or if I see a piece of clothing that I really would like to buy, I think twice and if I really need it and if I’m really going to wear it.
This change brought a lightness to my life because it also allowed me to declutter the space around me – for example by keeping only the clothes I really wear in my wardrobe.
And the best part is that I feel I’m missing anything!
3. Seeking Validation from Others
For a long time, I needed external validation to feel confident. But constantly looking for approval outside myself made me lose sight of what truly mattered to me.
I realised that everyone has their own idea, formed according to their values and points of view. So everybody sees things in a different way.
You can’t make everybody happy.
I switched to focusing on self-acceptance and valuing my own perspective. I must say that it’s probably one of the most difficult things to do, for me, especially if you are a bit of a “people-pleaser” person.
Of course, it doesn’t mean you have to stop doing good things for others or just do something for the sake of it, just to say “I’ve done it”.
But detaching the feeling of happiness from other people’s validation and switching perceptions can be extremely helpful to simplify your life, and focusing on your own perspective instead.
4. Holding on to Unfulfilling Relationships
Relationships are so important, especially if you like me live abroad and don’t have your “close circle” nearby. But not all of them are meant to last.
It’s hard to acknowledge when a connection no longer serves us because maybe we don’t want to upset the other person or we just feel we’re going to miss out on something.
Letting go of an unfulfilling relationship is like cutting off an “invisible umbilical cord”.
The way I look at it is that, in this kind of relationship, one person is feeding off the other. Maybe they don’t do it on purpose to harm, or maybe they do. But in the end, is a relationship that doesn’t bring any benefit, especially to yourself.
I let go of people who weren’t bringing me any joy anymore or didn’t have any meaning in my life.
Because someone had a space in your life before (say an ex-partner) it doesn’t mean it has space in your life now (you might be a completely different person from before, for example).
Letting go of unfulfilling relationships has created room for deeper, more positive people who truly have a purpose in my life and I feel I have a positive impact on their lives too.
5. Relying on Others to Get Things Done
There’s a fine balance between leaning on people when you need to and becoming overly dependent.
Of course, there are things that you cannot do on your own and have to rely on others to complete them – let’s say, the roof of your house is broken and you have no idea how to fix it so you need to call a specialist.
But if you’re waiting for others to be able to do your own things, the time will never come.
So I realised that depending on others for small, everyday tasks was subtly complicating my life because I was literally putting my happiness in someone else’s hands.
By understanding which are the things I can do on my own, I gained independence and expanded my comfort zone.
Taking on these responsibilities helped me build confidence and reduced the little stresses that came from waiting on someone else’s schedule.
What would you let go of to simplify your life?
Every small change can bring you closer to a more intentional, fulfilling way of living.
The change doesn’t happen overnight and it’s a consistent learning curve.
I believe is also important to find a balance that goes well with ourselves. For example, some people might not feel ready to completely abandon a relationship instead for others might be fairly easy.
But with this article, I want to encourage you to take the first steps and get out of your comfort zone to reach what truly matters to you.
