Word of the year 2024

Simplify: to make less complex or          complicated; make plainer or easier

Humans used to suffer from scarcity. These days lots of us in Canada and America suffer from overabundance. There's just too much in our lives, we feel -too much stuff, too much information, too many worries.

1. Learn to say no.

'No' is just a little word, but many of us still struggle to get it out of our mouths often enough. But if you want a simpler life, you're going to need to start saying no more often.  To find yourself, to find simplicity - you need to say no to everything that doesn't matter, You can't do everything.

2. Stop complaining.

Moaning about what's wrong with your life might feel like a great way to let off steam, but, in fact, science says it's just likely to make you more negative and therefore more prone to further problems and unhappiness.

3. Use the 10-year test.

Simplifying your life is as much about clearing out mental space as it is about tossing out physical clutter.  Ask yourself will it matter in 10 years?

4. Accept others' imperfections.

"Don't expect your friend/significant other/parent/colleague/children to be perfect. You aren't perfect, either," says respondent Srishti Singh, who adds. We're all here to learn from our mistakes. Don't be so critical of others (or yourself). The more you accept these imperfections, the simpler your life gets.

Don't expect too much from other people, everyone reacts differently to situations, and you never know what the other person is going through. The more you judge, worry about, or compare yourself to others, the more complicated life will be.

5. Reduce your communication channels.

How much time do you spend checking social media each day? A lot, right? This year I've gotten rid of Twitter. I've also stopped reading news articles. 

6. Have fewer opinions.

This doesn't mean be uninformed or uninvolved. It just means you should limit yourself to only forming opinions on subjects you actually care about. We would all save a lot of time and aggravation if we confined our opinions to domains over which we actually have control. 

7. Head clutter off at the pass.

It's easier to stop useless stuff from entering your home.  Get yourself off of junk mail lists, and take bills and statements electronically. Sort any mail that still arrives over a recycling bin, before you set it down. Before you buy any item, have a specific use and a specific place in mind for it."

8. Do what works for you.

The best simplifying measures and life hacks in the world won't work for you if they don't fit in with your own preferences and lifestyle,

What tips would you add to this list?