52 weeks to simplify your life challenge
Note: Click the link if you want to read the original 52 weeks to simplify your life post in full as this is an edited version.
Do you find yourself dealing with the same issues over and over again year after year?
Do you struggle to get your home organised?
Do you find your life is complicated and not following the path you intended? Do you feel like someone else is directing the show?
Do you make “resolutions” each January only to forget what they were by Valentine’s Day?
I will share ideas, techniques, tips and challenge you to explore and make changes one week at a time – building on what we learn together as we go. I am not an expert or guru, but have been down this road and feel I have a plan / idea for tackling this once and for all. I would like to change with all of you rather than on my own and share what I have already learned.
I will post every Monday on the blog with new information and a “take action challenge”. I will open up a linky each week for you to share your updates on the previous week’s challenge (or whatever challenge you are up to). If the week’s subject is something you already have under control I hope you will write a post and share what works for you and add your wisdom and experience to the pool. I hope there will also be lots of discussion on the HLS Facebook page. If you join the challenge after the start please make sure you at least do the reading and challenges in the Who you are series and the Inner clutter sections (will be at least January and February). Apart from those foundations jump in on any other subjects as you see fit.
Find your simple,
Deb
The challenge ran in 2012 with support and collaboration through the blog. It is not being run again on the blog, but the posts are included below for you to access freely. Work through them at your own pace. Work through topics that you need help on in your life. Leave out ones that don’t speak to you. This is not a case of “must do every challenge” , but rather do what works for you and how it works for you.
Setting up as blog, linking up and other questions answered
Week 1:Focus on the positive: What went “right” in the past year
Week 2: Values. What do you stand for? (includes link up for week 1)
Week 2 Guest Post: The Importance of Values
Week 2: Refining my values to core (includes my 5 Values)
Week 3: Creating a family mission statement (includes link up for week 2)
Week 3: Guest Post: Life Planning for your family – how to get your partner on board (coming Wednesday)
Week 3: Sharing my family mission statement and my process (coming Thursday)
Week 4: Exploring Balance (Wheel of Life exercise) (includes link up for week 3)
Week 4: Sharing My Wheel of Life
Week 5: A Moment to Catch your Breath (includes link up for week 4)
Week 6: Goal Setting and Priorities (includes link up for week 5)
Week 6: Resources to help you achieve your goals
Week 7: How to Create a Vision Board (includes link up for week 6)
Week 7: Guest Post on creating Vision Boards
Week 8: Happiness Defined (includes link up for week 7)
Week 8: Guest Post on finding Pockets of Happiness
Week 9: Go Easier on Yourself (includes link up for week 8)
Week 10: Facing your fears (includes link up for week 9)
Week 11: Gratitude, Kindness and Altruism (includes link up for week 10)
Week 11: 30 ways to teach children about gratitude and kindness
Week 11: Guest Post: How to spread Kindness as a family
Week 12: Dealing with Change (includes link up to week 11)
Week 13: Checking in on our goals (includes link up for week 12)
Week 14: Time management: Planning (includes link up for week 13)
Week 14: Routines, Goals and Planning for Type B personalities
Week 15: Time Management: Priorities (includes link up for week 14)
Week 15: How to gain extra time in your week
Week 20: Goals check in and catch up
Week 23: Declutter your wardrobe
Week 26: Finding homes for everything (dealing with hot spots)
Week 29: Paper and Information
Week 30: Habits and motivation
Week 32: Balance – checking in with our wheel of life
Week 36: Beauty – rituals, care, indulgence, simplify
Week 40: Toxic or negative people
Week 43: Holidays – Setting your intentions and expectations
Week 44: Holidays: organising and planning
Week 46: Holidays: Gifts simplified
Week 47: Catch up and a note on finding your simple
Week 48: Financial awareness – where you are and where you want to go
Week 49: Reducing outgoings to meet financial goals
Week 50: Increasing income to meet financial goals
Week 51: Work and life – passion, balance, priorities
Week 52: Reflections and assessment
Image credits: If you change nothing, nothing will change - poster available from etsy
Stop living your life their way
{ 67 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Deb, I think this is a great idea. I have filled out the survey and will try to participate in the challenge but Monday’s aren’t always a day that I can always blog – I will do my best to try!
That’s great Kirsty – and the linky will stay open the whole week so you can blog another day and link up if you want. It will be great to have you on board and we can all learn from each other.
LOVE!
I am so in! Can’t wait, what a great idea!
X
Yay – i am a bit stressed and might have bit off a lot with this but I am game if you all are!
This sounds great. I am interested. Look forward to what you will be doing.
Fabulous – i might get in touch with you about the financial section! perhaps you have a few tips you can offer up – will be in touch Kylie!
Sure thing. Sounds good!
Filled out the survey. I’m a bit different in that our household is all adults – no kids. but I think the simplifying issues are universal no matter the ages of the family members!
Pam – there are a lot of things that will be non parenting specific – starts with identifying your true values, priorities and goals, will go into areas like relationships, finance, health etc. Everything can be applied to anyone. Many of my examples and suggestions may be parent-centric at times as that is where I am coming from, but how anyone else applies the information and ideas will be unique to them (as is the whole point of the 52 weeks- figuring out what is important to you, finding your path, and using all that info to start cutting out what you don’t need or desire
I love the sound of this Deb – it fits with with my Crash Challenges and Crash Tests really well. I’ll be sure to link up
Great Laney – I look forward to reading your ideas and posts – now go get some rest and have a very Merry Christmas!
ThiS sounds fantastic. Im looking forward to joining in
So happy to have you with us Sara xx
I’m in
Thrilled to have you along Katie!
I am so in! This is perfect timing, I have been struggling with feeling so overwhelmed and lost when it comes to home organization… I am considering starting a blog, but I don’t want to tip over the apple cart with something else! I can only just balance it now!!
Sarah – it will be great to have you join in. If you want to start a blog you can keep it simple – you could do a free one, just write about your journey and link up and you don’t even have to tell anyone about it if you don’t want any pressure. Just a thought as a way to get support from others trying to make changes too – strength in numbers and all that! otherwise the fb page will be another way to connect.
Im also in – Im bad at resolutions, SELF promises & finishing challenges off but 2012 I will be changing all of this and this will be my first challenge im going to stick with (its going to be a challenge to completely commit myself lol)
The way I envision this is going super slow 1 step at a time so if we all stick with it together you should reach december having made some permanent changes. Better to reach the end of the year with 3-5 things achieved in this than none or 20 half started super ambitious goals. we will seriously be spending more than a month just looking at values, life balance, priorities etc. This is about making changes from within before you try to get a handle on the outside stuff like money, possessions, weight loss etc. xx deb
Oh I have already done this! We sold off everything that we own, and only kepts what we had to! Then we moved into our Motorhome – with limited storage space…so our lifestyle is so much easier. I hardly have any cleaning to do, nor have too much “Stuff” laying around..there is no room for it!
Love the simplify your life challenge.
Cheers
Lisa
Thanks Lisa – would be great to have some of your experiences shared with others as inspiration!
Hi
I am so looking forward to doing this! Have had a new baby this year and so everything has gone downhill and I feel like I am in a rut! This will also give me an opportunity to ‘relieve’ myself of some tension as I love to write. Thank you so much for this idea. Can’t wait to start!!!
Andrea
Great to have you Andrea – and already your attitude seems great – you aren’t beating yourself up, just acknowledging your rut (oh how i hate those ruts) and even putting a great positive onto this with the writing – so looking forward to your posts! A baby causes so much change in our lives and it can take a while to settle on a new normal that works for everyone!
Deb
Have just spent some time and organised my blog! Cant wait to get started. Thank you so much for this inspiration…..so excited!
Andrea
You are welcome – I am so happy you have done that! I think blogging will help – just having people go back and forth and connect can be motivating to tackle big issues. Now to have my vision come to life and work the way I see it. I appreciate all of you coming along for the ride and trust we will all have many things to celebrate 1 yr from now. xx
I am in!
Yay – i look forward to your posts and insights lee. I loved your recent post for end of 2011!
I’m always decluttering, but things have gotten out of control…even for me! I’m so ready to simplify even more… I’m so ready for life to go back to normal and get started!
Looking forward to seeing you here on the 2nd! One day at a time you will regain control – that I am sure of. happy new year!
Deb, just saw this post referenced in your F/b update. I’m so on in on this challenge. It is exactly the goal my husband & I have set ourselves for 2012. Great idea!
Great Lynette! It will be great to get the perspective of a couple who are both on board as some people will be struggling with a family member who is not 100% enthusiastic. In my own case, my hubby is less talk and more action so my challenge will be getting him to sit and talk abut values, goals and mission statements.
I’m in too. Really looking forward to putting some order in my life and decluttering (not only the house). I love a challenge and think this is a fantastic idea.
This sounds like a positive thing to participate in , though I am always over-committed and busy, so not sure how much I can dedicate. That being said, I am very interested in making positive changes in my life, I often struggle with depression and negativity. I am not sure where the survey is?
Thanks, Tina
Still not sure about the survey, but I did find the week #1 challenge. I am not going to blog it,( I don’t have a blog, or time for one at the moment). I am going to do it at home, as I am able.
No need to blog – you can still comment and get support if you need to work through anything or want to share a tip or two for others. Great to have you here!
This looks great and exactly what I need!
I am sooo looking forward to this challenge – thank you for opening up a new world to me and i hope that this time in 2013 I am a changed and happy person!!!!!
my new blogg – whoo hoo is at http://www.pjg2012.blogspot.com !!!!!!
Looks great Paula! congrats and welcome to blogging
I’m in! I’m pretty new to blogging so I’ll be learning that as we go also!
I’m feeling like my whole life is a bit of a mess at the moment and I’m not really sure why! Will be interesting to see what I learn and share the experience along the way!
Hi, I’m in…sounds like just what I need & want in my life. I’m contemplating making a blog, but rather than make something too much from the get go (which more time at the computer probably would be for me), I’ll start by journalling (which I can squeeze in bit by bit throughout the day, do in bed, do in the car if my little ones are asleep while I’m waiting to go in somewhere etc) & keep pondering whether I’ll blog or not. I’m looking forward to it, thanks
That sounds like a very realistic approach – welcome along!!
I’m joining the challenge and have also been inspired to finally start a blog (procrastinated over it for a long time). My first blog was actually about my procrstination lol.
http://waltzingmatildamadness.blogspot.com/
It’s obviously a work in progress!
Hello
I am loving your website and finding it oh so inspirational and motivating! I plan on jumping on the bandwagon! I am having problems viewing the week 1 challenge! I can read the post but when I get to ‘Week 1′ underneath is blank (if that makes sense)! I have looked at the page on another computer and also tried three different internet browsers. Unfortunately I am not very tech savvy.. Does anyone else have the same problem Or is it just me hahaha!
Thanks
Angeline x
So sorry Angeline – all the action has been happening on the week 1 post and I have not added it to the page yet – will fix it up in a minute here but if you go to the main blog you will see the post for week 1.
Thank you so much
Can’t wait to get started! x
Not sure if this is the right spot to leave this, but I’ve done my blog and finished Week 1! Looking forward to getting more involved
Great Melissa – there will be a link up open on Monday – can’t wait to see it!
Looking forward to it!
This is going to be great! I am really looking forward to it.
I am in! I put my first post about this challenge up last night. I also thought I commented on here, but I can’t see my comment? No problem!
Here is a link to my week one post:
http://terborg.typepad.com/blog/2012/01/what-went-right.html
Hi Sonya – the spam filter is struggling with the volume of comments and is actually marking a few a day as spam that are not – found it in the spam folder and approved it! sorry about that
Gosh, I dont even know if I have posted this in the right spot, but I am in too and hoping this is a project I see through !
Welcome Kristie – take in one day at a time and don’t even think about whether you will see it through. Some people have had enough of a light lit by week one’s challenge that the value for them is already there. No pressure or expectations! I look forward to seeing you in the challenge!
I want email notifications of each week’s topic if possible? As in are we gonna get emails if we signed up?
Hi there Amber – there are no emails set up specifically for this challenge – you are welcome to sign up for the blog by email (in my sidebar) which will include all blog posts i put up including the challenge ones or I post links on facebook as well if you want to follow that way. I hope that helps.
http://jgraves27.wordpress.com/2012/01/10/simplify-your-life-challenge-week-1-what-went-right-last-year/
Here is my link. Not sure if this is the right way to do this as I am a complete novice. Thanks for your guide for setting up the blog! We’ll see how I go.
HI Jenny – there is a link up each week on the next week’s challenge launch – so this week 1 post goes in the linky on syl week 2. i will put this there for you this time no problem – you will get there !
my word for 2012 is less, my husband’s is organise – I am so lucky to have found this website – a little late but i’m so in!
talk about 2 words working together! you declutter all areas of your home and life and then let him get it organised! you are not late – we just started and it is easy to catch up any time – welcome
A great list of value words for anyone struggling http://karlbimshas.com/images/Value_Words_List_KB.pdf
thanks for sharing that – my husband read this and used that link to find some of his words.
Looking forward to this journey!
Ok, I am a bit late but I’m in.
Welcome – just jump in when you can – each linky stays open until Sunday night but if you miss a linky you can just put your blog post on another week and label it with the week you have done.
Just found this site – looking forward to looking back – is it carrying on next year?
HI Gill – i am not running it again as a link up but the posts will all be there for anyone who wants to start at the beginning any time. I am hoping to pull it all together into a book format once i review everything and look at what is essential and decide a format.
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