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Are your days filled up, frenzied and jammed with drama/distractions that it feels like they are bursting at the seams then perhaps Marc Chernoff’s 7 Little Ways To Make Life Simpler will help.

• The craziest part of it is that we get so accustomed to our kind of chaos that we think it is normal and thus go about each day without every questioning why we feel so darn stressed out.

1. Identify what’s most important, and eliminate the rest.
   1. It is easy for today to fill up with time wasting activities if you aren’t careful.
      1. What one thing can you eliminate right now?
   2. Remember that being productive isn’t just getting things done but also leaving things undone.
   3. The simplicity and efficiency of today relies heavily on eliminating the non-essential tasks even though they may have once been essential
   4. Don't take things personally often people just want you to “feel their pain”
2. Declutter your physical space which also leads to a less cluttered mental space
   1. The visual distractions in your workspace pulls on you more than you realize
   2. Give yourself some extra breathing room
   3. Remember its not just how many things you own that matter its whether you make those things count
3. Schedule at least one distraction free time block each day
   1. Distractions are nothing more than complications
   2. Eliminating all distractions for a set time while you work is the most effective way to get things done
   3. Just lock your door, put a sign up, turn off your phone, close your email app, disconnect your internet connection, get out of your office or whatever it takes
4. Leave space between things on your To Do List
   1. While it is temping to fill every waking minute of your day with tasks don't do this to yourself
   2. Life shouldn't be constant busyness, rushing and stress but instead mindful contemplation, creation and connection with people and projects that bring meaning into your life
5. Disconnect from the drama
   1. When your day gets stressful and the people around you aren’t helping, keep in mind that the battle your are going through is never fueled by the things other people do; its fueled by your mind that gives these things importance.
      1. Examine carefully what you are saying to yourself
6. Let go of life’s uncontrollable outcomes
   1. Waste not a minute on things you can’t control
   2. Sometimes you just need to let go, take a deep breath and love what is
   3. Stop trying to change people-just notice who they truly are by appreciating every idiosyncratic part of them
7. Reflect on the goodness
   1. When you are not grateful you lose your enthusiasm and then go looking for it in all the wrong places
   2. Never let the all the things you want make you forget about all the things you have
   3. Consider everyday how very fortunate you are and make today a masterpiece

Comments are always welcome.